In the most exciting news to have come out of Mexico since the Maya Train was announced, local authorities have confirmed Tulum’s long-awaited airport – Felipe Carrillo Puerto International – will finally begin operations this winter.
For the first time in History, international visitors will be able to fly to the trendy beach resort directly, without touching down first in Cancun and then proceeding to find a ground transfer that will take them to their final stop, which was still a two-hour drive away.
The opening date of the airport had already been confirmed previously – December 1 – but up until now, we were still waiting for the first international flight routes to be announced.
Finally, we have three U.S. hubs that have confirmed they will launch flights to Tulum:
Atlanta To Tulum
One of America’s largest carriers and one of the airlines that boast great connectivity with Mexican destinations at that, Delta has been the first to announce nonstop flights to the Mayan town.
Beginning March 28, 2024, at the end of the peak tourist season, Delta customers will be able to board Tulum-bound flights from the airline’s hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL).
The daily service will operate year-round on a 160-seat Boeing 737-800, and passengers can choose between First Class (featuring a chef-curated meal and premium wine or beer), the signature Delta Comfort+ (including complimentary beverages and more leg room), and Main Cabin.
The most exciting thing, however, is that all ticketholders, irrespective of the cabin, will be able to access 1,000 hours of entertainment via Delta Studio, sure to make the estimated 2h30 – 2h50 journey a lot more enjoyable.
Additionally, Delta SkyMiles members are guaranteed fast, free WiFi on this route.
Launch-date tickets can be found for as cheap as US$196 one-way, with First Class seats being considerably more expensive as expected, at US$401.
The timetable is as follows:
- Atlanta (ATL) to Tulum (TQO): departs 11:00 AM – landing 1:00 PM (daily)
- Tulum (TQO) to Atlanta (ATL): departs 2:25 PM – landing 5:55 PM (daily)
Fort Lauderdale/ Orlando To Tulum
The second airline to have confirmed Tulum flights is Spirit Airlines, officially the first U.S.-based low-cost carrier to offer service to and from Tulum.
For the inaugural flights, Spirit has picked two key cities in Florida that have historically been strong markets for the wider Mexican Caribbean: Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Again, from late March 2028, Floridians will be able to book nonstop flights to their favorite Mexican getaway without requiring them to arrive first at the chaotic Cancun International Airport and then book an additional landside transit.
Similarly to Delta’s approach for the Atlanta-Tulum route, Spirit will be operating year-round daily flights, with ultra-affordable fares starting at just US$149 for a Standard Economy ticket.
Interestingly, launch-date fares are currently ridiculously expensive booking through Spirit’s official website, with the cheapest tickets selling for a whopping US$497 one-way.
This may be due to a sudden spike in demand for Tulum vacations following the announcement of the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando flights, as well as the expected further popularization of the town once the Maya Train launches simultaneously with its own international airport.
In any case, we would suggest you wait for the dust to settle or plan your Tulum trip later in 2024 to benefit from the lower fares Spirit has promised.
The timetables for both the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando flights can be found below:
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Tulum (TQO): departs 10:20 AM – landing 11:35 AM (daily)
- Tulum (TQO) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL): departs 12:05 AM – landing 3:00 PM (daily)
*Note this is still subject to Government approval
- Orlando (MCO) to Tulum (TQO): departs 3:00 PM – landing 6:10 PM (daily)
- Tulum (TQO) to Orlando (MCO): departs 2:55 PM – landing 6:05 PM (daily)
*Again, this timetable is still subject to Government approval
Tulum is one of the most sought-after and certainly most beautiful towns in the Mayan Riviera.
Home to a bustling resort strip, a myriad of nightclubs and bars, historical Mayan ruins that precede the European colonization of Mexico, and bounded by thin white sands and a turquoise-colored ocean, it combines both beach and culture into a single destination.
Flight tickets are already being sold on all of the aforementioned routes.
Credit: Source link
