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Travel leg · Tulum & Riviera Maya

Tulum to Bacalar

Tulum and Bacalar sit about 197 km (122 mi) apart in a straight line, with Bacalar to the south-west. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Tulum & Riviera Maya itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.

Directions in Google Maps See the full Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Tulum, where this leg starts
From · Tulum
Bacalar, where this leg ends
To · Bacalar
Straight-line distance
197 km · 122 mi
Est. road distance
236–275 km
Est. drive time
2 h 30 min – 4 h 15 min
Direction
Heading south-west
Curated routes
1 itinerary

Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.

Ways to get there

We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.

By car

Most travelers on our Tulum & Riviera Maya itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 236–275 km (147–171 mi) of road and 2 h 30 min – 4 h 15 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.

From Cancún airport, shuttles, buses and rental cars run down the coast through Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Colectivos and taxis cover short hops. Bacalar is a longer drive south of Tulum, and many groups rent a car for the whole route.

Open Tulum → Bacalar directions in Google Maps ↗

Worth stopping for

Picks from our curated guides at both ends.

When you arrive in Bacalar

Spend 2 days on the lagoon: a sailboat tour, cenote swims and slow lakeside meals.

Before you leave Tulum

Spend 2–3 days: the cliffside ruins early, cenote swims, a biosphere boat trip, and beach-zone dinners.

On this curated route

Where Tulum → Bacalar sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.

Going the other way? Bacalar to Tulum is the same 197 km in a straight line, heading north-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗

Weather at each end

Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.

Average monthly high temperature and rainfall in Tulum and Bacalar
MeasureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulum high27°28°29°30°31°30°30°30°29°29°27°27°
Bacalar high27°28°29°31°31°30°30°30°30°29°28°27°
Tulum rain5041414111018111614918520811160
Bacalar rain6840383913020112015417222112881

Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Bacalar month guides.

Tulum to Bacalar: questions travelers ask

How far is Tulum from Bacalar?

Tulum is about 197 km (122 mi) from Bacalar in a straight line, with Bacalar to the south-west. By road, we estimate 236–275 km (147–171 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.

How long does it take to drive from Tulum to Bacalar?

An estimated 2 h 30 min – 4 h 15 min, assuming 236–275 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.

Which itineraries include the trip from Tulum to Bacalar?

Our Tulum & Riviera Maya itinerary includes this leg. Tulum & Riviera Maya runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Dec – Apr.

Getting to Tulum

Guides for both ends

Bacalar by month

More to explore

Plan Tulum → Bacalar with your crew

Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.

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