Is Maui Hostels in Hawaii?

No. Maui Hostels is located in Mexico — specifically in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, on the Riviera Maya (Quintana Roo). We have no affiliation with the island of Maui, Hawaii.

Where is Maui Hostels located?

Maui Hostels operates two properties in Mexico's Riviera Maya: Maui Tulum in the La Veleta neighborhood of Tulum, and Maui Playa del Carmen one block from Quinta Avenida and the Caribbean beach.

Why is it called Maui if it is in Mexico?

The name reflects the laid-back, beachfront, tropical vibe of our hostels — but Maui Hostels is a Mexican brand operating exclusively in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Cancún Airport to Tulum: The Cheapest Way in 2026

The Quick Answer

The cheapest way from Cancún airport (CUN) to Tulum in 2026 is the ADO bus at ~$15–18 USD per person. It runs every 1–2 hours, takes 2 h 15 m direct, and drops you at Tulum's central ADO terminal — a 10-minute walk from most hostels.

The fastest door-to-door option is a private transfer at $90–120 USD for 1–4 people (1 h 45 m, no stops).

The best balance for groups is a shared shuttle at $25–35 USD per person (~2 h 30 m, hostel pickup).

Below is the full breakdown.

---

Option 1: ADO Bus — The Backpacker Default (~$15–18 USD)

This is what we recommend to almost every solo and budget traveler.

Where to buy: Booth inside Terminal 2, 3 or 4 (just follow signs for "ADO"). Or pre-book at [ado.com.mx](https://www.ado.com.mx) — same price, guaranteed seat
Price: 299–369 MXN one way ($15–18 USD) depending on time of day
Duration: 2 h 15 m direct, 2 h 45 m with one Playa del Carmen stop
Frequency: Roughly every 90 minutes between 8 am and 8 pm; gaps overnight
Drop-off: Tulum ADO terminal (Av. Tulum), walking distance to most central hostels

Pros: Cheap, safe, comfortable AC coach, no scams, USB outlets

Cons: Set departure times, last bus around 8 pm

> If you land before 8 pm and are flexible, this is the no-brainer.

Option 2: Shared Shuttle / Collective Van ($25–35 USD)

Door-to-door vans that pool 6–10 passengers landing within the same window.

Operators: Cancun Shuttle, USA Transfers, Happy Shuttle
Price: $25–35 USD per person
Duration: 2 h 15 m – 3 h depending on hostel drop-offs
Booking: Online, 24–48 h in advance

Pros: Hostel-door drop-off, runs late

Cons: Slower than ADO, you wait for other passengers at the airport

> Best if you're landing after 8 pm or traveling with luggage you don't want to drag across Tulum.

Option 3: Private Transfer ($90–120 USD for 1–4 people)

A pre-booked private car waiting for you at arrivals.

Price: $90–120 USD total (not per person) for a sedan/SUV
Duration: 1 h 45 m
Booking: Through your hostel, or with companies like Yellow Transfers, Tulum Cars Rental

Pros: Fastest, door-to-door, totally private, runs 24/7

Cons: 3–4× the cost of ADO. Only worth it for groups of 3–4 (then it's ~$25/person)

> Maui Hostels can arrange this at fair prices — message us on WhatsApp at +52 984 178 2718 before you fly.

Option 4: Colectivo via Playa del Carmen (~$10–12 USD)

The hardcore backpacker route. ADO from CUN to Playa del Carmen (~$10 USD), then colectivo (shared van) from Playa to Tulum (45 MXN, ~$2.50 USD).

Total cost: ~$12–13 USD
Total time: 3.5–4 hours including waits

Pros: Cheapest possible option

Cons: Slow, two transfers, harder with big luggage. Only worth it if you're stopping in Playa anyway.

Option 5: Taxi from the Airport — DO NOT

Official airport taxis quote $150–200 USD to Tulum. They're not technically scamming you, they're just expensive because of monopoly concession rules. Walk past the taxi desks at arrivals.

The exception: Uber and Didi are now legal in Cancún but cannot pick up at the airport itself. You can take any of the options above to a hotel or restaurant 5 km from the airport, then call an Uber. Rarely worth the hassle.

---

Cheat Sheet

Option

Price (USD)

Time

Best for

ADO bus	$15–18	2 h 15 m	Solo, budget, daytime arrival
Shared shuttle	$25–35	2 h 30 m	Late arrival, hostel-door drop
Private transfer	$90–120 total	1 h 45 m	Groups of 3–4, families
Colectivo via Playa	$12–13	3.5–4 h	Hardcore budget + stopover
Airport taxi	$150–200	1 h 45 m	Never

Getting to Playa del Carmen Instead

Same setup — ADO is $10–12 USD and takes 1 hour. See our [Best Hostels in Playa del Carmen 2026](/blog/best-hostels-playa-del-carmen-2026) for where to land.

What About the New Tulum Airport (TQO)?

Tulum's new international airport opened in late 2023 and now has direct flights from New York, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Mexico City and a handful of European hubs. If you can fly direct to TQO, you're 30 minutes from Tulum town instead of 2 hours. Always worth a price comparison at booking time.

Where to Stay When You Arrive

Most central hostels are a 10-minute walk from the Tulum ADO. Maui Hostels Tulum in La Veleta is one of them — see our [Best Hostels in Tulum 2026](/blog/best-hostels-tulum-2026) breakdown or book direct at [mauihostels.com.mx](https://www.mauihostels.com.mx/tulum).