Can it get any more convenient than this? Right in the middle of downtown Tulum. Few steps away from the town center. The bus terminal is small but is so intelligently designed and very strategically located. Another addition to the long list of outstanding things about this wonderful town called Tulum!
Here are some of the key highlights:
1. It's best to book your tickets a few days in advance given how much the locals and tourists rely on the bus connections going in and out of Tulum. Especially if you are going to the Airport or down south to Chetumal or even up north towards Merrida. Playa del Carmen - maybe not. Too many collectivos plying back and forth on that route.
2. Booking in advance also helps you choose the seats on the buses. It is not first come first serve system for boarding here. Seats get assigned and you can choose your preference when you book them. (take notice Greyhound / Peter Pan / Megabus / et al!)
3. The staff at the counter is very friendly. And they all speak la ingles!
4. One very important point: During the month of February. some parts of Quintana Roo (that includes Tulum), turn the clocks forward by an hour as compared to Cancun time. The buses leave according to the Tulum time. So booking the tickets at this bus terminal becomes even more important so that you know you are going to board your bus at the right time and not miss it by an hour. There are 2 Big Clocks showing The 2 different times - right next to the bookin window! This is of importance because in this modern day and age, the cell phones (if they get the wireless network you are riding on) refuse to come to terms with this reality that is followed only in this beautiful region. No auto update for Quintana Roo time? Take that iOS and Android devices - some place you guys are completely useless!
5. There is a small store attached to the bus terminal that sells essentials - water, soda, juices, coffee, to go snacks and sandwiches, Hola magazines en espaniol, and such. Pretty awesome! PS: No cerveza! (Nothing in this world is 100% awesome)
6. The terminal also has a very well kept, Neat and Very Clean public rest room that is pay-to-use. Huge, tall 8+ feet turnstiles to get access after you drop in the coin. Guess what - 5 pesos Only! ~ 35.3 US cents - that's some DEAL!
7. The information board outside the booking counter has a lot of information - in English and Spanish. Destinations, departure times, trip time, and fare prices that you can read and plan your move towards the booking counter with less queries. My many a college degrees come handy somewhere at least!
8. Finally, the seating area is not huge. For a terminal that can handle 4 buses standing next to each other, the hall has benches that can seat approx 30-40 (depending on people sizes and accompanied luggage) max and can get crowded pretty fast. But the benches are well apart that when to full capacity, you won't be feeling like one of the 37 sardines crammed in a tiny can. No - you will be just fine. As goes common sense - arrive a little early. Grab a good spot. Do some people watch. Maybe you will get lucky, catch a free show, before you go. Awesome tourists from somewhere in Wales, taking out zip locks of baby carrots, eating healthy before a bus ride to Chetumal, asking their tour Italian guide about whether the mini bus they will be on for the second trip will really be a chicken bus and he replies, yes, but no birds on board, but crowded enough that there won't be seats - just standing space for the 2 hour ride through the mountains... Precious!! I know where I will be going to next...
Enjoy!! read more
