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 colored play areas designed
for young children that are available to keep the little ones entertained.
If you plan on
shopping or dining during your wait at the airport, this is definitely not the
best place to be right now in its early stages. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to keep your airport experience
as uncrowded and uncomplicated as possible, Tulum International Airport might
just be your new favorite place to fly.
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