Firsthand Look: Tulum’s New Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport

16.04.2024 - 21:59 / travelpulse.com / Spirit Airlines / North America / U.S.Airlines / Laurie Baratti / Riviera Maya / Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Coming home from a recent trip, I had the opportunity to transit through the brand-new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, located outside the increasingly popular Mexican Caribbean destination of Tulum in the state of Quintana Roo. 

The new Tulum International Airport officially opened to domestic flights from around Mexico on December 1, 2023, but only began operating international routes at the end of last month. 

Situated about two-and-a-half hours south of the bustling tourism hotspot of Cancun, it is expected to offload some of the pressure from Cancun International Airport, which is Mexico’s second-busiest (after Mexico City’s airport) and has heretofore served as the primary gateway, not only to Cancun itself, but to the nearby Riviera Maya region (which includes Tulum) and other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula. 

Check-in lobby at Tulum's new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)

So far, the U.S. airlines that are operating flights to Tulum’s new airport include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines, though others are bound to follow as time goes on. 

If you choose to fly through Tulum’s new airport, you can expect a better experience in many ways than if you were to come through the Cancun airport, although it still seems pretty far from operating at its full potential. 

The facility itself is, as you might expect, brand-spanking new and shiny with an impressive glass-paneled roof and a shape that’s reminiscent of the ancient Mayan stone temples Tulum is famous for. 

Terminal inside Tulum's new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)

The airport is well-staffed with check-in desk agents, custodial employees, security officers and gate agents, most of whom looked like they could have used more to do. When I was there, I didn’t even have to wait to go through airport security and get my bags scanned, the place was so empty. 

I saw a sign that reflected the airport’s nickname as “the airport of the jungle”, which it truly is, as the airfield is visibly surrounded by miles of pristine tropical forest. The motifs adorning the walls and pillars, and the patterns on the glistening stone floors, all reflect these verdant surroundings, with representations of exotic wildlife, vines and broad leaves. 

Small children's play area at Tulum's Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)

There is a duty-free area that’s already open, as well as a couple of small sundry shops, but the restaurants, and larger food and beverage outlets appear to be still under construction. There are also of a couple of brightly