Boasting some of the world’s most spectacular beaches, Mayan ruins, and an eclectic, off-the-beaten path vibe, Tulum, Mexico will become easier to access for those looking to explore the popular Caribbean destination. Two massive infrastructure projects, the Tulum International Airport and the Maya Train, are already underway and will provide alternative modes of transportation to the current one-and-a-half hour drive that visitors must undergo from the Cancun International Airport.
While the Tulum International Airport could be described as a long-lost myth by many Riviera Maya locals, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has confirmed that it will be completed in 2023. The rapid growth and international attention that Tulum has garnered over the past several years has provided the necessary catalyst to renew governmental interest in the airport and make it a priority. While connecting cities have not yet been announced, this new route will support and boost the millions of dollars being invested in real estate development for the purpose of vacation rentals.
Before, and in addition to, the completion of the airport, the 120 km stretch of track connecting Cancun to Tulum will be the first section of the 1,500 km Maya Train that will be completed (scheduled for 2022). This new form of ground transportation will provide safer and less expensive access to Tulum from the Cancun airport, and take some of the stress off of Highway 307 that becomes easily congested.
Mexico’s less restrictive COVID policies throughout the past year allowed the area, which is heavily reliant upon tourism, to survive, and even gains new markets as the cruise ship industry remains inactive. With these two new transportation projects underway, the growth of the area shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
