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How to Book the ADO Bus in Mexico: A Complete Guide

Thanks for reading! If you enjoy this post, please join my FREE Mexico Travel 101 course for even more Mexico travel insights, and follow me on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram !

ado tours mexico

Wondering how to use the ADO bus line to travel through Mexico? Read on because I’m covering everything (and I mean eeeeverything) you need to know about Mexico’s ADO bus!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my  Disclosure  &  Privacy  policies for more detail.

Mexico bus station with ADO buses lined up in bays on either side of a walkway. Travelers pulling suitcases approach the buses

If you’re wondering whether traveling through Mexico by bus is a good idea, I’m here to tell you that it absolutely is.

I lived in Mexico for about four years and have visited over half of the states in the country. I reached almost all of them (except those in Baja) by bus. 

Mexico’s bus systems are prolific, affordable, and safe! And, once you learn the basics, arranging bus travel is super simple. There are multiple ADO departures each day in most cities, making it easy to plan your trips, even at the last minute. 

ADO is one of Mexico’s largest bus companies and one of the best-regarded. It operates in southern Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula. If you’re traveling within Oaxaca , Chiapas , Puebla , Veracruz , Quintana Roo , Yucatan state , or any others in between, the ADO bus company is what you will use. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through absolutely everything you could ever want to know (and then some) about how to navigate the ADO bus in Mexico.

(After this article, you will be!)

ADO pronunciation

Once you’re on the ground in Mexico, knowing how to pronounce ADO correctly will serve you well. Later in this article, I’ll share some essential bus-related vocabulary , but for now, let’s start with this…

In Spanish, ADO is pronounced, “Ah-Day-Oh.” 

Use this pronunciation, and locals will know what you’re talking about. If you use the English phonetic pronunciation, you’ll get nowhere.

📘 Want to read this offline? 👉 Get the PDF Version: This blog post outlines everything you need to know about taking the ADO bus in Mexico. It’s a long read, so I’ve created an ad-free, image-free version for your convenience. You can print it out for reference. Click here to purchase the PDF file for $5 . This fee goes toward maintaining this site, and your support is much appreciated! 

Where Does ADO Travel?

While ADO serves many of Mexico’s most popular destinations , it does NOT travel throughout the entire country. 

ADO stands for Autobuses de Oriente, which translates to “Buses of the East.” ADO serves Mexico’s East Coast, southern Mexico, and the Yucatan peninsula.

The service area is so extensive that it’s impossible for me to include a route map!

Map showing a dense network of ADO bus stations across Mexico, indicated by red markers, highlighting the extensive reach of the ADO bus service.

If you’re planning to travel North of Mexico City, you’ll have to use a different bus company. The company you use will depend on where you are going. 

For long trips, you may even have to switch bus lines part of the way through. Use the website Busbud to help plan your route and determine which bus lines serve your destination. 

Did you just realize that ADO doesn’t go where you’re hoping to travel? I’ve written extensively about Mexico’s bus systems here , so check that article out for further assistance. 

Are ADO Buses Safe?

ADO buses are one of the safest ways to travel in Mexico. Passenger carry-on bags are searched, and every passenger must travel through a metal detector before boarding, so you can rest easy knowing that nobody will be bringing weapons on board. (Not that one need be particularly concerned about this anyway… but the metal detector does offer peace of mind, I suppose).

Most importantly, ADO buses travel on toll roads whenever possible . Toll roads are the safest routes in Mexico since they are regularly patrolled and generally are in good repair.

Generally, there is no cause for concern, but there is a small possibility of petty theft on buses , especially on really touristic routes such as those in the Riviera Maya. It’s unlikely, but I have heard of things being stolen inside the cabin. 

With this in mind, don’t leave any valuables (like your laptop or passport) in an unattended bag. I never put my purse in the overhead bin. Instead, I like to carry it with me in my seat so I can keep a close eye on it.   

Concerned about petty theft? Travel with an anti-theft purse !

rows of empty chairs in front of a plate glass window in the ADO Platino and GL lounge in TAPO Bus Station, Mexico City. ADO GL bus is seen through the window.

ADO Service Levels

ADO offers various classes of bus service, and they also have a couple of partner companies under their brand umbrella that offer more economical service options: AU and OCC.

Each service level provides different amenities and has different price points. It’s worth understanding the differences so you can decide which option will be most comfortable for your trip.

Generally, the higher the level of service, the more comfortable you’ll be and the more efficient the journey. Economy buses tend to make lots of stops, which draws the trip out a lot. 

For long trips (5 hours or more), go with the most premium service you can afford. Platino is fantastic, but GL would be perfectly comfortable too. If you want to save money for shorter trips, an economy bus would be comfortable enough.

Traveling soon? Don’t forget to buy travel insurance for Mexico. Insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing you can get the help you need if anything goes wrong. SafetyWing is the provider that I recommend.

Platino is the most premium of the ADO bus service levels. These first-class buses are equipped with just 27 seats, providing each passenger with plenty of personal space. Each seat also offers a personal entertainment system, a USB charging port, an electrical outlet, and a tray table. 

The cabin is equipped with a men’s and a women’s restroom, air conditioning, and a coffee station. Passengers are also provided with a “travel kit” upon boarding, containing a sandwich, snacks, and a bottle of water or soda.

When you travel on the ADO Platino bus, you get to wait in a special departure lounge at the bus station. These lounges usually offer complimentary WiFi, a coffee station, televisions, and a restroom just for Platino and GL passengers.

Platino buses are the most costly of all the service levels, and they don’t run as frequently as the others. If you have a long journey ahead of you, you can’t go wrong with Platino, but I’d opt for a GL bus if the departure time was more favorable.

Interior view of an ADO bus in Mexico showing spacious seats with blue patterned fabric and individual controls and amenities for a comfortable ride.

GL stands for “ gran lujo ” or “great luxury.” These buses hold 40 passengers. While there is no individual media center, GL buses have televisions throughout the cabin that broadcast a movie during travel.

Each seat is equipped with an audio jack so you can listen to the film if you want to. Seats also have a USB port and an electrical outlet for charging devices.

The cabin is air-conditioned and equipped with a men’s and women’s restroom. Passengers receive a complimentary beverage (water, juice, or soda) upon boarding.  

GL passengers typically have access to the same premium departure lounge as the Platino passengers. 

GL operates on a much more frequent schedule than Platino but offers a comparable level of service for less money . I almost always book GL unless there happens to be a Platino leaving at a convenient time.

📞 Want to stay connected in Mexico? Check out my favorite eSIM!

ADO Primera Clase

Primera Clase , or First Class, is the most basic of ADO’s service levels. These buses hold 44 passengers. 

The cabin is air-conditioned, and the seats each feature a USB port and an electrical outlet. There are television screens throughout the cabin, but they do not have individual audio connections– the sound is broadcast through cabin speakers, which can be annoying, depending on the film. 

The biggest downside to the Primera Clase buses (in my opinion) is that they offer just one onboard restroom . This may not seem like a big sacrifice, but sharing one bathroom with 43 other passengers is not a recipe for a good time in my experience. Especially if you end up sitting next to it (#beenthere!).

Primera Clase has a much lower price point than GL and Platino, but I don’t recommend it if you’re traveling for more than a couple of hours. 

You’ve already suffered enough in life. Book GL or Platino whenever possible. 

OCC stands for Ómnibus Cristóbal Colón , and it is a brand owned under the ADO umbrella. OCC offers a very similar level of service to ADO’s Primera Clase buses. 

Their air-conditioned cabins have 44 seats, each with an electrical outlet (no USB ports on these buses, sadly). There are televisions throughout the cabin, but no individual audio ports, so pack earplugs if you don’t want to listen to it!

OCC buses only have one restroom. 

AU stands for Autobuses Unidos and is also part of the ADO brand. These economy buses each have 49 seats in an air-conditioned cabin. 

They do not have bathrooms onboard. As a result, AU buses typically stop a few times on journeys over 2 hours to ensure passengers have a break. While this is appreciated, it also adds a lot of travel time.

AU travels between Mexico City and the southeastern states of Mexico, stopping in most cities along the way. 

If you’re looking to save money or traveling only a short distance, AU is a good option, but it may not be the most comfortable, and it’s definitely not the fastest way to go. 

Traveling on a budget? Check out my guide to backpacking through Mexico !

Pinnable image for a blog post titled 'ADO Bus in Mexico: The Ultimate Guide', featuring a woman at a bus station and the interior of an ADO bus station with red buses.

How to Buy ADO Bus Tickets

You have so many options for purchasing ADO bus tickets that it might be a bit overwhelming. You can’t go wrong. Just choose the method that is most convenient for you.

Buying ADO bus tickets through their website

One way to book ADO bus tickets is on their website . ADO’s website is in Spanish, but the booking process is pretty straightforward, so you should be able to navigate it even if you don’t speak Spanish. Keep Google Translate open in a separate tab, just in case! 

Struggle alert: Inputting your departure point and your destination can be a bit finicky on the ADO website, especially in cities where there are multiple options. For instance, in Mexico City, you can choose from Mexico City, Mexico City TAPO, Mexico City Norte, etc, and it’s tough to know which option is best if you’re unfamiliar with the city. If you find yourself overwhelmed, just book tickets in person so the agent can guide you through the process.

The ADO website doesn’t accept foreign credit cards, so choose PayPal as your payment method.

a screenshot of the ADO bus checkout page showing options to pay with debit, credit, or paypal

Don’t have PayPal?

Select the “efectivo” (cash) payment option. Then you can reserve the tickets online, but you’ll have to go to one of the businesses listed below to complete your cash payment. Once your transaction has been completed, ADO will email you the tickets.

The businesses where you can complete the payment include:

  • BodegaAurrera
  • Farmacias Benavides
  • Farmacias del Ahorro 

Before choosing this payment method, make sure one of these businesses is nearby! 

You usually receive a discount If you buy your ADO bus tickets online at least a day ahead of your trip. 

ADO Bus App

There is an ADO app (called ADO móvil ) that you can use to book bus tickets from your smartphone. The ADO website is notoriously buggy and terrible, so this is a solid backup option. However, the app is often buggy too.

You cannot switch the ADO app to English from Spanish, which may make it challenging for some travelers to use.

If you can’t get the website or the app to work, Busbud is the best way to book your bus ticket online.

Booking through Busbud

Busbud is a ticket aggregator that enables you to buy ADO bus tickets online. It does charge a small fee on top of the ticket price, so you pay a tiny bit more (seriously, only a tiny bit) than you would by booking directly through ADO, but Busbud has some major advantages.  

  • The website is in English.
  • Busbud enables you to book tickets for routes that require you to switch bus operators . For instance, if you are trying to travel from Veracruz to Queretaro, ADO buses don’t go all the way. You’ll have to switch to a different bus company at some point, but Busbud enables you to book that entire trip in one go instead of reserving each leg through a different provider.
  • You can pay for bus tickets using a foreign credit card!

With all this in mind, if you prefer to book bus tickets online, definitely book through Busbud.

Where to buy ADO bus tickets in person

If you prefer to purchase bus tickets in person, you still have plenty of options. 

  • Oxxo : You’ll find this convenience store in every city in Mexico. You can purchase bus tickets at the counter. You may pay a small commission to Oxxo on top of the price of your ticket, but it won’t be anything too extravagant. 
  • ADO satellite office: ADO often has satellite offices or kiosks inside airports, malls, or in the downtown core of cities. These offices make it easy to purchase tickets without going all the way to the bus station. 
  • ClickBus kiosk: ClickBus kiosks are another great way to purchase ADO bus tickets in person without going all the way to the bus station. Like the ADO satellites, these kiosks are often found in shopping malls, busy downtown areas (usually around a city’s zócalo), or airport terminals. These kiosks can sell you tickets for any of their partner bus lines, so if your trip requires multiple carriers, ClickBus can likely help you book the whole trip. 
  • Bus Station: Of course, you can always purchase your bus tickets at the bus station. I always prefer to book ahead for peace of mind, but if your schedule is flexible, you can show up shortly before the bus departs to purchase your ticket. 

Related Reading: Tips for Managing Money in Mexico

inside the TAPO Bus Station in Mexico City, a sign for ADO platino and ADO GL hang above ticket windows as travelers approach to purchase bus tickets

Bus Stations in Mexico

Bus stations in Mexico are set up kind of like airports. Each bus line has its own ticket window, and buses depart from numbered (or lettered) gates.

At large bus stations, such as those in Mexico City or Puebla, your taxi driver may ask you which bus company you’re traveling with to determine where within the bus station to drop you off. Depending on where you’re traveling, you may be able to catch the ADO bus from the Mexico City airport .

In Mexico City , there are bus stations in different areas of the city. ADO doesn’t travel out of all of them, so you need to know which one you will depart from. In most other cities in Mexico, there is only one bus station. 

Boarding the ADO bus

When it comes time to board your ADO bus, the process is simple. Your bus’s departure platform will be listed on your ticket. Sometimes it’s a letter, and sometimes it’s a number. 

Boarding usually begins about 10 minutes before departure. 

Usually, there is an announcement over the PA system in the bus station, but often these are hard to hear (especially if your Spanish is spotty). In some bus stations, there are digital screens (like in airports) showing which buses are currently boarding. 

Failing that, keep an eye on the platform and head outside about 5 minutes before your scheduled departure. The buses each show their destinations on a screen in the front window, so it should be easy to tell which one is yours. If in doubt, ask a fellow traveler, or peep someone’s ticket.

Before boarding the bus, you must pass through a metal detector. Then, you will be asked to present your bus ticket and a piece of ID. Once the driver is satisfied that your name matches, you’re free to board. If you have a large piece of luggage with you, you’ll be directed to place it in the cargo compartment of the bus before you board.

women load suitcases onto a luggage cart in a bus station

Checking Your Bags with ADO

When you travel with ADO, you will have to place large pieces of luggage in the cargo compartment under the bus. This is perfectly secure. There is no luggage limit on ADO and no restrictions on the weight of your bag. You can check as many bags as you like for no additional cost.

If you are traveling on a Platino or ADO GL bus, you can usually check your bags about 30 minutes before boarding your bus. If there’s no bag check counter inside the bus station, you’ll check your bags as you board.

Line up next to the bus and pass your bag to the attendant to have it stored in the cargo hold. They will attach a tag to your luggage and tear off a piece of it for you to keep (kind of like a coat check tag). You will have to present this ticket to collect your bag at the end of your journey.

Once your bag is safely stowed in the cargo compartment, go ahead and find your seat onboard. 

Bus Vocabulary to Know

A common hangup when it comes to learning Spanish is not having the vocabulary you need for the situation you currently find yourself in. 

I’ve definitely been there, and let me tell you, the bus ticket agent doesn’t care who is comiendo manzanas. Thanks for nothing, Duolingo! 

This is my attempt to combat awkward situations like that. 

Here are some handy words and phrases you should know when traveling by bus in Mexico. 

  • Central de autobuses – Bus station
  • Con anticipación – In advance
  • Directo – Direct
  • De paso – Buses that travel “de paso” make stops along the route, as opposed to direct buses, which don’t
  • Parada – Bus stop
  • Boleto – Ticket
  • Destino – Destination
  • Sala – Salon or lounge; this refers to the waiting room
  • Asiento – Seat
  • Fecha – Date
  • Nombre – Name
  • Apellido – Last Name
  • Llegada – Arrival
  • Abordar – To board (verb)
  • Abordando – Boarding
  • Origen – Origin
  • Saliendo – Leaving
  • Salida – Exit
  • Viaje – Trip
  • Conductor – Driver

📚 Determined to finally improve your Spanish? I recommend this program .

passengers boarding a bus with their luggage

What to Pack on an ADO Bus

The following are a few items I recommend traveling with when taking the ADO bus. If you need more assistance packing for Mexico, click here to grab my detailed Mexico packing checklist!

  • Travel insurance: You should never leave home without travel insurance. Policies cover everything from trip interruption to unexpected illness and injury. There are even policies that cover the costs associated with testing positive for Covid-19. I recommend SafetyWing insurance policies.
  • Face masks: Masks are required in enclosed spaces throughout Mexico, so make sure you pack a comfortable one (or two) for your bus journey.  
  • Tissues: Restrooms are not always well-stocked in Mexico, so it’s wise to carry some spare tissues in case you need them. 
  • Hand sanitizer: It’s worth keeping a little bottle of hand sanitizer gel (or a pack of wet wipes, but the gel is smaller) in your bag just in case bathrooms don’t have soap. It’s also wise to sanitize your snacks before eating to avoid any GI issues. You likely buy this at OXXO at the bus station if you don’t remember to pack it. 
  • Pepto Bismol tablets: A bus journey is one of the worst times for Moctezuma’s revenge to strike. I always stash a few chewable Pepto tablets in my purse just in case my stomach starts to rumble. 
  • Water bottle: Depending on the service level you select, you may receive complimentary beverages when you board your bus. But it’s always wise to bring your own, just in case. I’m a fan of Nalgene bottles because they’re sturdy and light for travel.
  • Headphones: Some ADO buses have personal entertainment systems, but you will need headphones to listen to the content. Usually, they offer complimentary earbuds, but the sound quality is terrible. Bring your own set if you want to listen to anything during the trip (you will need wired ones). 
  • Audible: I’m a big reader, but reading in moving vehicles makes me motion-sick. If you’re the same way, audiobooks are a great workaround! An Audible subscription is a super affordable way to access all kinds of great reads (…listens?)! 
  • A sweater: Most buses are heavily air-conditioned, so pack a warm layer, just in case! 
  • Anti-theft purse: While the chance of having anything stolen is low, an anti-theft purse offers great peace of mind. With locking zippers and scan-proof fabric, you don’t have to worry about anyone snagging your personal items or information. I have a Travelon Hobo crossbody , but there are many other anti-theft purse styles to choose from!

Related Reading: The Ultimate Mexico Packing List for Female Travelers

a yellow colonial building in mexico with turquoise trim and a large leafy green tree in front of it.

Popular ADO Bus Routes

As you saw on the map above, ADO serves many cities throughout Southern Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula. The route options are seemingly endless. These are a few popular routes in those regions where you may find yourself traveling by ADO. 

ADO from Mexico City to Oaxaca

Oaxaca City is about 6 hours from Mexico City driving. The ADO bus is a super easy and safe way to get there. You can depart from Mexico City’s TAPO bus station and arrive at the Oaxaca ADO bus terminal. The trip takes about 7 hours. 

There are ADO buses to Oaxaca from other Mexico City bus stations, but TAPO is the main one, and it’s likely to be most central for you. It is the closest to the Mexico City airport, Centro Historico , and the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods, where many travelers stay. 

Other bus stations in Mexico City include Terminal Norte or Ejecutiva del Sur, among others. 

ADO Bus in Cancun

The ADO bus is a convenient, cost-effective way to get from the Cancun airport into the city proper . All you have to do is take the bus from the airport to the ADO bus station in downtown Cancun. There are departures about every 30 minutes from Terminal 3. The ride costs $130 MXN.

Book your Cancun airport to Cancun tickets with Busbud!

From the ADO bus station, you can take a taxi to the hotel zone, Puerto Juarez, or anywhere else you need to go in Cancun. It will cost much less than taking a taxi from the airport.

Cancun to Merida

ADO is a fantastic way to get from Cancun to Merida. You can hop on a bus right at the airport (or from the bus station in downtown Cancun, if that’s more convenient) and ADO will have you in Merida in 4 to 4.5 hours. 

Sure, it’s not as quick as driving, but it’s cheaper, easier, and safer than a rental car. If you decide you need a car to get around in Merida, just rent one when you get there! 

ADO from Cancun to Tulum or Playa del Carmen

ADO is the safest and most cost-effective way to get to Tulum from the Cancun airport. You can board the bus right at the airport, and it will drop you at the bus station in downtown Tulum.

The tickets cost about $15 USD, and the journey takes about 2 hours. You can buy tickets online in advance or purchase them at the airport once you get through customs. 

If you’re headed to Playa del Carmen , the process is the same. 

ADO Tulum to Playa del Carmen

It’s super easy to get between Tulum and Playa del Carmen on the ADO bus. The trip takes about an hour and costs around $7 USD. If you’re hoping to make a day trip between these two cities, the ADO bus makes it easy!

Related Reading: How to Get to Tulum or Playa del Carmen from the Cancun Airport

Promotional pin image featuring a group of travelers boarding an ADO bus with luggage, over the text 'ADO Bus in Mexico: The Ultimate Guide', and a scenic view of lush green mountains in Mexico, representing the travel destinations accessible with ADO bus services.

Taking the ADO Bus: FAQs

Skimmed the article? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about traveling with ADO.

Is it safe to take ADO buses?

Absolutely! While you should be cautious about petty theft, generally, there’s nothing to worry about when traveling on the bus.

Is it safe to take the bus at night in Mexico?

Probably, but it’s not recommended. While buses do take care to travel safe routes, night travel in Mexico poses many risks. Animals may unexpectedly cross the road and cause collisions, bus drivers may fall asleep at the wheel, impaired drivers could cause accidents, and more. If possible, avoid traveling on night buses.  

I took many night buses back in the day, but I don’t anymore for the reasons listed above. 

Is ADO Covid-safe?

In general, ADO seems to be trying to protect passengers against the spread of COVID-19, but it’s not perfect. Many passengers wear their masks haphazardly, and there is no social distancing protocol onboard the bus. It’s up to you to decide whether you feel comfortable in this environment.

Are there toilets on ADO buses?

Yes! ADO buses have toilets onboard, so there’s no need to worry about bathroom breaks. The only exception (in my experience) is ADO airport shuttles, which are sometimes smaller vans. However, if, for some reason, the bus doesn’t have a functional restroom, the driver will make a planned stop so passengers can use a bathroom.

Do I need to book ADO bus tickets in advance?

It usually isn’t necessary to book your ADO ticket in advance (unless you’re traveling on holidays), but booking online with Busbud may save you some time and confusion, especially if you don’t speak Spanish.

In most cases, there will be several different buses departing for your destination each day, so if one fills up, you can just catch the next one.

However, it can provide tremendous peace of mind to make your arrangements ahead of time so you don’t waste time sitting around the bus station. There’s usually an advance purchase discount when you buy ADO bus tickets online, too.

That said, you may have trouble finding the ADO bus schedule more than a month in advance. Generally, I recommend that you buy bus tickets a day or two ahead of time.

If you’re planning your trip months out, use the current month’s calendar to predict future bus schedules. The info may not be completely accurate , but it will give you an idea of how many buses run along your selected route each day.

Is my luggage safe on an ADO bus?

Your checked luggage is very safe on ADO. There’s a slight chance that someone could steal from your bags in the cabin since they’re not locked away. I’ve never had an issue personally, but I’ve heard tales of pickpockets on popular tourist routes, such as Cancun to Tulum.

To be safe, keep your most precious items (passport, phone, etc.) in your seat with you, not in the overhead compartment. 

Additionally, paying for a GL or Platino ticket probably cushions you from the likelihood of pickpockets onboard. I suspect that most petty thieves aren’t going to splurge for a 500+ peso bus ticket. 

Can you eat on the ADO bus?

You sure can, and you should absolutely pack snacks. Most bus stations have convenience stores and quick takeout food options, but these are often greasy (like Dominos, Burger King, etc). Plan ahead and pick up some healthier road trip snacks at the market or grocery store before your trip.

Can I take drinks on the bus?

Yep! Pack your favorite non-alcoholic beverages for your bus journey to stay hydrated. I don’t think alcohol would be advisable, but I’m sure someone has tried it in the past.

The ADO bus website is not working. What can I do?

Unfortunately, this is really common. Book your tickets online through Busbud or buy them at the station or from a convenience store near you. They sell them at Oxxo, Fasti, and other Mexican convenience stores.

Mexico Travel Planning Resources

🌡️ Do I need travel insurance?

Yes! Healthcare in Mexico is affordable for minor ailments, but travel insurance will give you peace of mind if an emergency arises. Plus, you can add coverage for trip interruption, theft, etc. Get a quote from SafetyWing . 

🏨 What’s the best way to find accommodation in Mexico?

I use a mix of Booking, Airbnb, and Hostelworld. 

Booking.com  is awesome for booking hotels and resorts,  Hostelworld  is great for hostels, and  Airbnb  specializes in apartment rentals, making it a great place to find long-term stays.

💸 How should I exchange money in Mexico?

Use local ATMS to withdraw cash. US travelers should open a Charles Schwab bank account because they’ll refund ATM fees at the end of the month.

Travelers from outside the US should open a Wise account to secure the best currency exchange rates. 

📱 Where can I buy a local SIM card in Mexico?

Pick up a Telcel SIM card at any convenience store. Or, buy an Airalo eSIM online so you’re connected as soon as you land. 

🗣️ Do I need to speak Spanish in Mexico?

No, but it definitely helps you feel more confident and connected. 

RocketSpanish is my favorite program for learning the foundations of the language. If you’re more focused on improving your conversation skills, hire a tutor through iTalki to prep for your trip. 

✈️ What’s the best way to find affordable flights?

I use Skyscanner because it makes it easy to compare rates across different travel days. 

🚖 How do I find a safe airport transfer?

I recommend GetTransfer for airport transfers anywhere in Mexico. 

🚗 What’s the best way to find rental cars in Mexico?

I recommend Discover Cars because they aggregate prices across rental car companies, making it easy to find competitive rates. 

🚐 How do I book bus tickets online in Mexico?

Plan your routes with Rome2Rio , and book your tickets with Busbud — the site is in English and takes foreign credit cards. (Read more here)

🤿 How do I find cool activities and tours in Mexico?

I recommend Viator and Get Your Guide . Viator usually has more options, but it’s worth comparing offerings across both platforms. 

🇲🇽 How can I experience Mexico like a local?

Solo female travelers can hire a local female guide through Greether . Greeters will tailor tours based on your interests— it’s basically like experiencing a destination with a local bestie!

🧳 What’s the best luggage for Mexico?

Unless you’re staying at a resort, a travel pack is recommended. I’ve used this one from Osprey for the last 8+ years. 

👯‍♀️ How do I connect with fellow travelers in Mexico?

Join my Female Travelers in Mexico Facebook group , a supportive community of fellow Mexico travel enthusiasts, where you can find answers to all your travel questions!

Is there anything else you wish you knew about traveling by ADO bus in Mexico? Let me know in the comments!

ado tours mexico

Janine is a full-time content writer and travel blogger. In 2017 she and her cat moved from Los Angeles to Mexico and never looked back. Now, she writes in-depth articles to help women travel Mexico safely and confidently. Connect with her on Instagram.

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38 Comments

Hi! Thank you so much for all of your helpful information! Do you know if car seats can be installed on ADO buses? I will be traveling with a 5 month old and would prefer to have him in a car seat if possible. If not, do you know if it is ok to hold babies on the bus? Thank you!

Hi Anne, I’m so glad you found this info helpful! I’m not 100% sure about car seats, but the seats on the GL and Platino (and probably all the rest, but I’ve never noticed) do have lap seatbelts, so I think you could secure a car seat that way. Otherwise, it’s definitely permitted to hold babies on the bus– I’ve seen many travelers do it!

Very efficient service! I used ADO from Mexico City to Puebla as well, and from Cancun Intl Airport to Tulum. I am very impressed! I will definitely use it again in the future.

Hi Janine, thanks for all the really useful info! Do you know whether it’s possible to take food on board the ADO buses? Thinking of packing a lunch with me but not sure if it´s allowed. Thanks!

Thanks for your comment Janet! Yep– you can absolutely take food on ADO buses.

My friend and I need to take a night bus from Merida to Bacalar. You advise against night buses – should we make other arrangements?

Hi Jayne — Ultimately it comes down to your risk tolerance. Personally, I would recommend making other arrangements, as I do have concerns about things like road stops and accidents. Even though the chances of anything going wrong is probably pretty low, hold-ups and accidents do happen from time to time. I’m not familiar with the road conditions on the Bacalar end of that route, but the portion closer to Merida is very good, so the risk of accidents is probably minimal.

Hi Janine. We wanted to book two one way tickets ex Chiquila to Valladolid – at the booking process ADO is adding a surchage of MXN 12,- for “IDA” Do you know what it is and do we need it? Maybe you also had this situation. Thanks. Sandra

Hi Sandra, I believe the 12 peso fee you’re referring to is the “Asistencia Total” fee. It somehow goes toward emergency medical assistance in the event that it becomes necessary. It’s a flat rate of 12 MXN per ticket. In the ADO app you have the option to decline this small fee if you wish.

Hi Janine! Insightful article! Question, how would I know which bus is “de paso” and which is not? I will like to take one at the airport but my destination requires me to stop short.

When you put in your trip details on the ADO website it denotes on the bottom of the trip description whether the trip is de paso, etc. See the linked image for an example.

ado trip description

I’m planning to go to Mexico next week & looking for some vehicle benefits in Mexico. I’m really impressed with the quality & look of the ADO buses. I hope it will make me more comfortable than others. But the funniest thing is the pronunciation of this ADO. It is very informative to know this and I hope I will catch this bus.

Hi Janine, thanks for such an informative article. My partner and I plan to travel from Mexico city to Oaxaca. We are currently working and travelling, and have between us 90 kg worth of luggage,more than they typical amount.

Do you know if there is a luggage limit o the ADO Platino buses, and if so how much would the extra luggage cost? Our Spanish is very rudimentary, and we are concerned that things may get lost in translation if we were to call up the bus company. Would you know? Thank you so much for your help!

Hi Irene! My understanding is that there are no restrictions regarding luggage on ADO.

Hi, Janine! Thanks for the detailed article, we`re heading to Mexico City on Friday! I got one question left, does the busses stop for food and breaks? Is there e.g. a lunch or dinner break at some point or do we need to bring a foodie bad? 😀 Thanks a lot!

Great question! The cheap busses (OCC or AU) will stop for occasional bathroom and snack breaks, but generally no, ADO doesn’t stop. Good idea to pack snacks or lunch!

Just wanted to say thank you – this has been so useful!

Thanks so much! I’m so glad you found it helpful!

Just wanted to add to this section as I just had an 6-7 hour ride from CDMX to Oaxaca with the ADO regular/primera bus.

This bus is what I consider a luxury bus. Seats are soft end large, and there’s plenty of leg space ( I’m 1,86).

The bus stops 2-3 times for a small snack/toilet break (app. 5 min).

The toilet is fine. Looks like an older airplane toilet. I used it once, and in generally it didn’t seem to be used that often. We picked some seats far a way though. Yes – you pick your seats when you buy tickets (online or at the TAPO).

My biggest downside is the TV that played three dupped movies a long the journey. I managed to watch the whole of penguin bloom with Spanish dubbing. It can be quite exhausting if you want to sleep.

Thank you so so much for this. I’ve subscribed! Could you help me work out which is the most central Oaxaca station to use for the ADO bus down to Puerto Escondido? The list of their website is a bit confusing . Huge thanks

Hello, I am trying to book a ticket from Cancun to the Valladolid online but I keep getting an error message. I have to buy the last ticket of the day because of my flight and that one does not show on busbud. There is only 16 seats as this one is Ado Connect. Do you think I will be able to buy at the airport or it is risky not to find availability? I am travelling Jan 2.

Hi Sakine, Have you tried purchasing through the ADO website ? It can be glitchy, so it might not work, but you should be able to buy tickets there if you choose the Paypal checkout option. I think you’d be fine to buy them at the airport but since it’s the last bus of the day it’s worth trying to book ahead of time.

Really helpful article! Do you know if busbud will incur international card charges? I’m coming from the UK and wondered if the site is recognised as overseas

Hi George! That’s a great question, but unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you. Maybe they cover this on their FAQ page?

Thank you for the helpful info! This is our first time going to Mexico – we have connector tickets from Playa Del Carmen to Valladolid. I’m not able to find information on where we connect to the finish our journey to Valladolid, or how long we will have to change busses…do you happen to know where I can get this information? I’m a little concerned about the connection. Thank you!

Hi Tina! There should be a code on your ticket that denotes which bus station you’ll connect in (probably Cancun). It may not designate a “puerta” (gate) just yet, but you should be able to find it easily once you get to the bus station. You can always ask someone at the bus station in Playa del Carmen and they should be able to help you find the answers to these questions.

I completely agree with the points made in this article about the safety of ADO buses in Mexico. It’s reassuring to know that passenger safety is taken seriously, with thorough checks and security measures in place, including the use of metal detectors and baggage searches. Thank you for sharing these insights and practical tips. ADO buses really do seem like a reliable and secure way to explore Mexico.

Awesome information! How do i find out which buses have a bathroom on board. Im trying to take a bus from mexico city to oaxaca? Im someone who needs a bathroom kinda a lot and im worried ill be on a bus without a bathroom. Do most buses have them? Thank you!

I believe all ADO service levels have bathrooms onboard. You can see the layout of the bus when you go to book tickets online (so even if you’re planning to book at the bus station, you can still check). For a bus to from Mexico City to Oaxaca, the ADO GL or ADO Platino will be the most comfortable and both of those will definitely have bathrooms.

Hey there! We are looking for an ADO bus to take us to our resort from Cancun to Mayan Riveria as we require a washroom during travel. Is it possible to be dropped off at the resort?

Hi Brea, the buses run on a set route, so you can’t get door-to-door service to your resort. Depending where your resort is located, the bus may pass by it along the highway. But, it sounds like it may be better to organize a private shuttle– I’m a fan of Cancun Airport Transportation . You won’t have a bathroom onboard, but I’m sure the driver would be willing to stop if needed. The trip from Cancun to Riviera Maya is only an hour to an hour and a half, depending on where you’re going.

Hello, you write that you can check in as many bags as you want. However, it seems to me that you can only have one checked-in bag when trying to buy a ticket. Do you know if it is still valid to have 2 large checked-in bags? Or can it be purchased as an add-on?

Hi Mathilde– I have never been asked to declare how many checked bags I would be bringing and I have never had to pay any fees for checked luggage on ADO. The information in the article is derived from my experience and verified through the ADO website, so I believe it to be accurate. I would contact them directly if you have concerns.

Nice to read

Hi Janine ,great website. We are a family of four arriving in Cancun and travelling to Valladolid. The ADO website is showing me the bus goes straight to Meriden, not sure if that stops in Valladollid. Busbud is showing buses to Valladolid from Cancun. Is there a transfer bus that goes from airport terminal to Cancun or is that a taxi ride ? Also, if I pre buy tickets and then miss the bus for whatever reason (customs) what would be my next best option to get to Valladolid ? Gracias

Thanks for your comment!

I don’t believe there are any buses that go from the Cancun Airport to Valladolid (at least not based on my search attempts on the website). If the bus to Merida doesn’t specify stopping in Valladolid then I don’t believe it will.

You can catch an ADO bus from Terminal 2 to the cancun bus station. It will cost around $130 MXN per adult. Then, from the bus station there are frequent departures to Valladolid.

If you pre-buy tickets and then miss the bus you’ll have to purchase them again. Otherwise, you could organize a private shuttle to Valladolid . I would highly recommend booking the shuttle in advance.

I wouldn’t worry about booking ADO tickets ahead of time- at least, not from the airport to the bus station. You’ll be able to get there one way or another. There are fairly frequent departures from the airport to the bus station, and you can always take a taxi as a backup.

Hello Janine, Very good article. I was wondering about buying tickets online. Do you get an electronic boarding pass like the airlines use that can be scanned or do you still have to physically see a ticket agent?

Great question Scott! You get a PDF with a barcode or QR code that they will scan when you board. So no need to see a ticket agent 🙂

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The Ultimate Playa del Carmen ADO Bus Guide for 2024

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Are you traveling to Playa del Carmen soon and trying to make sense of the ADO bus? You’ve come to the right guide!

As a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen , I’ve taken the ADO bus countless times from the Cancun Airport and to other nearby destinations. 

So I know just how confusing and nerve-racking it can be your first time taking the ADO, especially if you don’t speak Spanish!

In this detailed Playa del Carmen ADO Guide , I’m sharing everything you need to know about the ADO bus system in Playa del Carmen, including where it is, how to use it, and step-by-step guides for booking tickets.

So if you’re looking for the most affordable way to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen or other nearby destinations, I’ve got you covered in this comprehensive guide.

Ready to find out how take the ADO in Playa del Carmen? Let’s get started!

About ADO in Playa del Carmen 

First, let’s start with a little background info on the ADO bus. 

What is the ADO?

ADO is the name of one of the largest bus systems in Mexico. The ADO bus line serves the southern part of Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula.

It offers a safe, comfortable, and economical way to travel between many cities and airports.

How do you pronounce ADO?

In Spanish, ADO is pronounced as “Ah-Day-Oh”.  Remember this pronunciation in case you need assistance and need to communicate with non-English speakers. 

ADO Bus Playa del Carmen to Cancun

Where can you take the ADO?

In Playa del Carmen, the ADO bus is most commonly known as the airport bus, as it’s the most economical mode of transportation between Playa del Carmen and the Cancun Airport.  

However, the Playa del Carmen ADO also serves as a Riviera Maya transportation hub to reach other nearby destinations like Tulum , Cancun , Puerto Morelos , Bacalar , Holbox , Merida, and Valladolid. 

Travelista Tip:  The ADO bus can also be taken from Playa del Carmen to some of the most popular  Xcaret parks  like Xcaret and Xel-Ha , as well as the Tulum Ruins .

What are the ADO buses like?

The ADO Mexico buses are large, comfortable charter-style buses.  They are usually bright red and white in color which makes them easy to spot.

On the bus, you’ll find comfortable seats, air conditioning, restrooms, and television screens. Some even have power outlets or USB outlets.

Playa del Carmen ADO Airport Bus Parked at the ADO Station

How much does the ADO cost?

The ADO bus is the most economical mode of longer distance travel. Prices depend on the destination but can range from $5-$40 USD one way.

Here are the ADO prices for some of the most common routes from Playa del Carmen:

  • Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: $250 pesos (~$15 USD) one way
  • Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport: $240 pesos (~$14 USD) one way
  • Playa del Carmen to Tulum: $120 pesos (~$7 USD) one way
  • Playa del Carmen to Cancun (downtown): $108 pesos (~$6 USD) one way
  • Playa del Carmen to Merida: $682 pesos (~$40 USD) one way
  • Playa del Carmen to Bacalar: $510 pesos (~$30 USD) one way
  • Playa del Carmen to Chiquila (Holbox): $370 (~$22 USD) pesos one way

Is the ADO safe?

The ADO is a safe and reliable form of transportation in Mexico. I have taken the ADO countless times as a solo female traveler and have never felt unsafe.

As in many places in Mexico, petty theft can occur onboard so it’s best to keep your valuables on your lap or under the seat in front of you.

What payment methods are accepted?

If you book at the ADO bus station, cash or credit cards are accepted.  However, as in many places in Mexico, credit card machines are not always working, so it’s usually safest just to pay in cash.  Cash payments can be made in pesos or USD. 

ADO Buses Pulling into the Station in Playa del Carmen Mexico

ADO Stations in Playa del Carmen 

In Playa del Carmen, there are two different ADO bus stations:

5th Avenue ADO Playa del Carmen Station

The 5th Avenue ADO Playa del Carmen Station (“Playa del Carmen Turistica” in Spanish) is the most popular ADO station in Playa del Carmen and the one that most tourists will use. 

Conveniently located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Avenida Juarez, the 5th Avenue station places you in the heart of Playa del Carmen’s tourist zone, just one block from the Playa del Carmen beaches and a short walk away from the ferry to Cozumel. 

Playa del Carmen Turistica ADO Station

Playa del Carmen Alternative ADO Station

Located at Calle 12 and Avenida 20, the Playa del Carmen ADO Alternative Station (“Playa del Carmen Alterna” in Spanish) is a less well known ADO station in Playa del Carmen.  

This station is much less crowded, however it does not always serve the same routes as the 5th Avenue Station so you’ll want to double check this when booking your tickets. 

If you’re staying closer to the Alternative Station, then I would definitely recommend this option for airport transportation. 

Playa del Carmen ADO Alterna Station

How to Take the ADO from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen

Follow these steps to take the ADO bus from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen :

1. Check the ADO bus schedules

Check the schedules on the ADO website in advance just to be sure there are buses running after your arrival time.

ADO buses from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen typically run every 30 minutes from 8:00AM–1:00AM.

I would recommend not booking your ticket in advance because customs and immigration can take an insanely long time and you might miss your bus. 

Alternatively, you might arrive earlier and have to wait for your scheduled bus even if there are other ones leaving earlier. 

2. Purchase your ADO tickets at the ADO Counter 

Once you clear customs and immigration at the airport, look for the red ADO counter at the airport. The ticket counters will be BEFORE you exit the airport. 

In terminal 4, there are 2 ADO counters–one just around the corner on the right side after you collect your luggage and another just past the sliding doors.

Approach the counter to purchase your ticket to Playa del Carmen. If the attendant doesn’t speak English, you can simply say “Uno para Playa del Carmen”.  The cost will be $250 pesos (~$15 USD) pesos and you can pay with pesos or USD.  

Credit cards are also accepted at the ADO airport counter but I wouldn’t recommend paying with a credit card.

The only reason I say this is because I did this once and the next day I had tons of fraudulent charges to my credit card. 

I don’t know for sure but I suspect it was from the ADO purchase. To be safe, have some cash on hand. 

ADO Counter at Cancun Airport Terminal 4

3. Head to the ADO bus parking area

Once you complete your purchase, you’ll receive a printed ticket with your departure time and the number of the bus parking slot.  

Exit the airport and walk past the large crowds of salespeople that will likely be harassing you until you reach the bus parking.  You’ll see the slot numbers posted above each parking spot.  

You’ll also see a small red ADO stand with attendants outside of the parking area. You can always check with them to make sure you’re in the right place. 

When the buses arrive, you’ll see the destination name on the electronic scroll board above the dashboard.  Be on the lookout for one that says Playa del Carmen.

ADO Bus Parked at Cancun Airport

4. Board the ADO bus

Once your bus arrives, boarding will begin and they’ll likely be a small line of people waiting to board.

If you have suitcases you’ll be able to store them in the cargo hold underneath the bus.  An ADO attendant will take care of this so be sure to have a few pesos on hand for a tip. 

I wouldn’t recommend leaving any valuable items in your checked luggage. It’s best to keep everything of value with you on the bus. 

In addition, don’t use the overhead bins and keep your backpack or personal items in your lap or under the seat in front of you.  

Unfortunately, theft has been known to happen on ADO buses and it normally occurs from the overhead bins. 

Girls Seated on an ADO Bus in Mexico

5. Take your seat

Once your luggage is stored, the driver will scan your ticket as you board the bus.

Seats are assigned and you’ll find your seat number listed on your ticket. On the bus, you can find the seat numbers above the seats.

6. Enjoy the ride

Once you’re seated, get comfortable as the ride will be a little over an hour to Playa del Carmen depending on traffic.

They usually play movies but they will be in Spanish. There’s also typically USB ports above the seats if you need to charge your devices.

7. Collect your luggage

Once you arrive, the ADO terminal in Playa del Carmen can be very crowded and hectic. 

I would recommend grabbing your luggage as soon as you can to avoid any theft or luggage mixup.  

8. Head to your final destination

After exiting the Playa del Carmen ADO station, you’ll be able to walk or take a taxi to your Playa del Carmen hotel , vacation rental, or final destination.

There will be a line of taxis waiting on Avenida Juarez but keep in mind these taxis will be priced at a surcharge for the convenience. 

Travelista Tip:  If you don’t have a ton of luggage and want to save money on a taxi, head up to 10th Avenue (just one block away) and hail a taxi there.  It will likely be about half the price.  

How to Take the ADO from Playa del Carmen to the Cancun Airport

Booking the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to the Cancun Airport is a little more straightforward. 

I would definitely recommend booking these in advance because ticket lines can be long at the ADO station and the seats can fill up quickly. 

Visit the ADO website and plug in your travel date to double check the airport schedules (see the step-by-step instructions in the next section).

The ADO bus schedule from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport typically runs every 30 minutes starting around 3:00AM and with the last departure around 9:45PM.

2. Lookup your terminal

Next, you’ll want to find out which terminal you’re flying out of at Cancun Airport.  This is an important step as the ADO bus will drop off at each of the terminals so you need to know which one to get off at. 

Check your flight reservation or usually a quick Google search of your flight number will tell you the terminal. 

3. Book your tickets head of time

ADO tickets can be purchased on the ADO website , through Busbud, or directly at the ADO station.

The ADO website is only in Spanish but it’s pretty straight forward and I’ve outlined step-by-step instructions in the next section. However, sometimes there are issues with the website not accepting international credit cards.

If you don’t speak Spanish or you run into any issues with your credit card, then I would recommend booking your ADO tickets on Busbud .

This is a third-party online booking tool and the website is in English but it usually costs a tiny bit more for the convenience.

Alternatively, you can always buy your tickets at the ADO station.  However, I would recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early as the line will likely be very long. 

👉 Book ADO tickets on Busbud by clicking here !

4. Arrive early and board

If you’ve already purchased your tickets online, then you’ll need to arrive around 15-20 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

Once the bus arrives, you’ll load your luggage and take your seat on the bus. 

Online tickets will be scanned via a QR code so you’ll want to make sure your ticket is saved to your phone and easily accessible. 

5. Arrive at Cancun Airport

The ride from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport takes a little over an hour depending on traffic.  Once you arrive at the Cancun Airport, the ADO bus will make drop-offs at each of the terminals.  

⚠️ Important: Make sure you know which terminal you’re flying out of as the driver will announce the terminal stops on the bus speaker.  A lot of times this announcement will be done in Spanish and broken English so really try to listen to make sure you’re getting off in the right place. 

Normally the stops are made in the order below but this isn’t a guarantee as the airlines are constantly changing terminals:

  • First Stop: Terminal 4 (International)
  • Second Stop: Terminal 2 (Domestic)
  • Third Stop: Terminal 3 (International)

6. Collect your luggage and head to the airport entrance

Once you get off the bus, the luggage attendant will help you collect your luggage and then you’ll head to the airport entrance.

Depending on the terminal, the ADO bus drop-off point is sometimes a little ways from the departing flights entrance so expect a bit of walking. 

How to Book ADO Tickets Online

Follow this step-by-step guide to book ADO tickets on the ADO website.

1. Open the ADO website 

Open the ADO website to begin your search for ADO tickets. The ADO website is only available in Spanish but it’s pretty straightforward.

If you don’t know Spanish, you can always use the Google translate plugin to translate the entire page. 

Here are the basic translations needed to search for tickets:

  • Ida = One-Way
  • Ida y Vuelta = Round Trip
  • Origen = Origin
  • Destino = Destination
  • Fecha y Hora de Ida = Date and Time of Departure
  • Fecha y Hora de Vuelta = Date and Time of Return
  • Buscar Viaje = Search 

2. Enter the search details

Enter your search details with your destination and travel dates. Here’s an example of what you would enter when booking tickets from Playa del Carmen to the Cancun Airport:

  • Origen : Playa del Carmen Turistica
  • Destino : Aeropuerto Cancun (Choose T2, T3, or T4 depending on your terminal)
  • Fecha y Hora de Ida : Enter your travel date and preferred departure time

ADO Website Screenshot of Search Page

3. Choose a desired departure time

The search will return a list of available departure times.  Note times will be in military time (24h) so be sure to select the correct time.

If you’re going to the Cancun Airport, it’s recommended to leave Playa del Carmen around 3 hours before your flight. 

Click on the “$240 MXN” button next to your desired departure time to proceed to the next page.

ADO Website Screenshot of Schedule Selection

4. Select your seat

On this page, select your desired seats from the seat map.  “Ocupado” (gray) means taken and “Disponible” (white) means available.

Once you’ve selected your seat, click “Continuar” to proceed to the next page.

ADO Website Screenshot of Seat Selection

5. Enter passenger details

Enter your passenger details by entering your First Name (Nombre) and Last Name (Apellido) exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID or passport. 

You’ll also enter the email address (correo electrónico) where you want to receive the tickets and check the box to accept the terms and conditions. Click “Continuar” to proceed to the next page.

ADO Website Screenshot of Passenger Details

6. Confirm details

On this page you’ll confirm the details you’ve entered are correct.  Careful here as they will automatically add $15 pesos for “Asistencia Total”, which is an optional insurance. 

Decline this if you wish and click “Continuar” to proceed to the next page. 

ADO Website Screenshot of Confirmation Page

7. Enter payment details 

Enter your payment details. Payments can be made with credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX), Paypal, bank transfer, or in cash at an Oxxo or convenience store. Click “Pagar $240.00 MXN” to complete your purchase.

I’ve always been able to pay with an American credit card but I have heard other people have had issues.

If for some reason your card doesn’t go through you can always book on Busbud or directly at the ADO station.

ADO Website Screenshot of Payment Methods

8. Save the ticket to your phone

Once your purchase is confirmed, you’ll receive an email with a PDF attachment of your ticket. 

Be sure to save this to your phone as you’ll need to present the QR code to be scanned when boarding the bus. 

Tips for Taking the ADO Bus

Follow these tips for a safer and more stress-free ADO experience:

  • Don’t be nervous: I know trying to figure out transportation in a different country can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t speak Spanish.  If you follow the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll find that taking the ADO bus is actually pretty easy.  I gave these same instructions to my mom when she came to visit me and she was able to figure it out without any problems. 
  • Pay in cash at the airport: As I mentioned, I would recommend paying in cash at the airport just because I suspect my credit card information was compromised after using it there.  However, I’ve never had issues paying with a card on the ADO website. 
  • Don’t use the overhead bins: Petty theft is an unfortunate reality in Mexico so it’s always best to keep your valuables in your lap or underneath the seat in front of you where you can keep an eye on it at all times. I personally love traveling with this cute belt bag , which allows me to keep my passport and valuables strapped to my chest yet hands free to handle my luggage.
  • Have some cash on hand for tips: It’s best to have some change or small bills on hand to tip the luggage attendant for assisting with your luggage. 
  • Look up your terminal: When going from Playa del Carmen to the Cancun Airport, don’t forget to check which terminal you’re flying out of as you’ll need to know which stop to get off at at the airport. 

Other Places to Take the ADO

Once you get the hang of the ADO, you’ll open a world of other nearby destinations. Some of the closest you can visit are Tulum , Cancun , Bacalar , Holbox , Merida, and Valladolid. 

Once you reach these destinations, you’ll also be able to connect to other bus systems to reach even further destinations in Mexico. 

A girl on a wooden swing over the water at Bacalar Lagoon Mexico

Conclusion: Playa del Carmen ADO Guide

I hope this Playa del Carmen ADO guide was helpful if you’re traveling to Playa del Carmen and throughout the Riviera Maya region. 

Once you get the hang out of it, the ADO bus is an easy and economical mode of transportation. And it’s the cheapest way to get to and from the Cancun Airport.

Plus, you can use it to explore other parts of the Yucatan peninsula like Holbox or Bacalar.

Make sure to follow the tips outlined in this guide and you’re sure to have a safe and enjoyable ride!

  • How to Get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum
  • How to Get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen
  • How to Get Around Playa del Carmen
  • Is There Uber in Playa del Carmen?

🇲🇽 Traveling to Mexico soon?

These are the Mexico travel resources I use and recommend:

🏨 Hotels : I always find the best deals for Mexico hotels and resorts on Expedia or Booking.com . If you prefer a vacation rental, check VRBO as they are often cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!

✈️ Flights : I recommend using Skyscanner for the best Mexico flight deals. Be sure to sign up for their price alerts for your preferred travel dates.

🚗 Rental Cars : I recommend using Discover Cars because you can compare multiple car rental companies and see detailed ratings for overall value, ease of pick-up, efficiency of agents, car condition, and overall time spent.

🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation : I recommend booking a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation for the quickest and most hassle-free option!

🤿 Tours & Activities: I always use Viator or GetYourGuide for booking tours and activities in Mexico. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, plus they have excellent customer service if you were to have any issues.

🚨 Travel Insurance: After my Dad broke his hand in a taxi accident in Playa del Carmen, I always recommend buying travel insurance before your trip for added peace of mind! I recommend Travel Insurance Master for short trips or Safety Wing for digital nomads.

☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen : Don’t forget to add biodegradable sunscreen to your Mexico packing list ! Regular sunscreen is prohibited when swimming in the ocean and cenotes in Mexico, so you’ll need to pack some biodegradable sunscreen for sun protection. I recommend Sun Bum Sunscreen , which is reef-friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free.

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Allison Sicking is the founder of Viva La Travelista. After moving to Playa del Carmen, Mexico in 2018, she created her travel blog to empower others to travel safely and confidently in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Using her Spanish language skills and expertise in Mexico travel, she is passionate about teaching others to travel Mexico like a local.

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A Complete Guide to Bus Travel Around Mexico

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There are three main ways to travel around Mexico: by plane, by private vehicle or by bus.

In this blog post we’ll tell you everything you need to know about bus travel around Mexico. This post is aimed at backpackers staying in the country for a longer period of time, for those who don’t want to rent a car and for those looking for affordable and more sustainable travel options to flights.

For reference, we spent just under three months in Mexico and only used buses to travel between places. During this time we travelled with many different bus companies, on day-time and overnight buses, and waited at many different bus stations. Whilst this doesn’t make us experts, our experience allows us to provide you with insider advice, tips and comparisons of the various bus operators. 

Over the years we have also travelled across the USA and backpacked around Europe using plenty of buses as a means of transport. Therefore, we have lots of experience when it comes to taking long-distance bus rides and will be able to provide good comparisons to other countries too.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something. Clicking these links won’t cost you anything, but it will help us to keep this site up and running! Learn more about our affiliate policy.

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Table of Contents

About Bus Travel Around Mexico

Before we delve into the details let’s start by saying that taking the bus isn’t only going to save you money. It will also exceed your expectations. At least it did with ours…

Mexico actually doesn’t have a national bus company. Instead, the country has many regional companies which cover most of the places you’re likely to travel to during your stay. I’ll detail these further below.

Apparently Mexico has invested a lot of money in high-speed toll roads and roads in general since the 1990s. In addition, bus operators have also invested to create an extensive bus network across the country. These inter-city buses normally have three different classes: executive, first and second class. Executive and first class buses definitely offer a safe, modern and comfortable environment to travel in for long hours. Second class buses are normally just as safe but they are more common on shorter journeys. Sound too good to be true? 

Well, after using many well-known bus companies across the USA and Europe such as Greyhound, Megabus and National Express, I can safely say that Mexico’s buses became our absolute favourite ones. We had massive, comfortable seats that we’d only ever seen as we walked past the business class section on planes. We had fantastic leg room with leg rests that made us feel like we were in bed. In addition, many services provided on board entertainment that helped to kill the time.

What to Consider Before You Decide to Travel by Bus in Mexico

Before you start purchasing bus tickets after hearing us raving about how good they are, ask yourself the following questions to make sure that bus travel is the best mode of transportation for YOU:

Do I get motion sick easily? – I wouldn’t recommend taking buses across the country if you suffer from serious motion sickness. The journeys are generally long, the roads can be bumpy and very windy in certain areas. In that case flying is probably a better option for you.

How much time do I have? – If you need to be somewhere on a certain day or time then make sure to take an earlier bus, travel the day before or pick another method altogether. Whilst buses are generally on time with very minimal delays, you really never know what’s going to happen on the roads. You don’t want to risk missing an important flight for example.

Do I know some Spanish? – Whilst you’ll be able to communicate in English at airports, this isn’t the case at bus stations. We found very little English-speaking staff even at massive stations such as Mexico City. Therefore, I recommend learning the basics prior to your trip such as how to ask for bus tickets, dates, times and numbers. There is also the life-saving Google Translate App which will be your best friend during your travels.

Where to Find Information About Bus Routes and Companies

Although I’ll detail and link the main companies we used below, it’s always good practice to do your own research too.

Our main online sources that helped us to find bus routes and companies operating to and from our next destination were Rome2Rio and Moovitapp.  These websites are also great if you’d like to travel locally and are looking for smaller bus operators and detailed bus routes.

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Is It Safe to Travel by Bus in Mexico?

I guess there’s one more important factor you’ll want to consider before committing to a long-distance bus ride: Is it safe?

My short answer is: YES.

We never felt unsafe on any of the buses whether it was during the day or at night. We never felt unsafe waiting at the bus stations either. However, crimes are not uncommon, especially in densely populated cities. You might also read some scary stories that happened to people who were unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time, but in my opinion this is very rare.

Whilst you’re most likely to have an uneventful journey, below are a few of my general tips for extra safety:

  • If you’re travelling solo, or having to travel to the bus station for an overnight bus, I suggest calling an Uber or official taxi. 
  • We used public transport to get to the station many times, but make sure to avoid travelling during rush hour. It’s really uncomfortable and awkward to be squeezed onto a busy metro with all your belongings. Plus, it’s also harder to pay attention to every bag you own.
  • Once at the station, make sure to have all your belongings with you at all times. It’s obviously easier to grab food or go to the toilet if you’re travelling in pairs or small groups.
  • For extra security, consider putting a lock onto both your big bag and smaller backpacks.
  • I know it’s obvious, but don’t put any valuables into the bag that’s going under the bus. They can get thrown all around not just stolen.
  • Lastly, having good travel insurance is key in case your bag gets lost or stolen. 

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Bus Stations

Most cities and towns you’ll be travelling to will have a central bus station called Central de Autobuses. Although they’re called ‘central’, the bus stops are likely to be located quite a bit further from the town than the centre.

Unlike in Costa Ric a , it’s very rare if individual bus companies have their own terminal, but not unheard of. In big cities there will usually be a long distance bus station and a local bus station. Mexico City actually has 4 different long distance bus stations! Therefore, make sure to check the location where your bus departs from prior to your journey.

Once at the bus station, you’ll normally find different bus companies selling tickets, convenience stores selling drinks and snacks, fast food places and cafés. Bus stations will also have toilet facilities. The use of these toilets normally costs between 5 or 6 pesos.

Top Tips – Make sure to have some coins to be able to use the metal gates. You might have to pay extra for toilet paper, so either have extra change on you or carry some. 

Bus stations also have seating areas at the gates where you can wait until your bus is ready for boarding. 

Top Tip – At the ticket office they will tell you which gate your bus will depart from, but if you’re unsure, you can always double check it with the staff at the gates. 

Normally the number and variety of facilities depends on the size of the bus station. Therefore, I recommend doing some research and buying enough food and drinks prior to arriving at the bus stops in case they don’t have sufficient facilities. For example, some touristy bus stops such as in Puerto Escondido felt a bit bare and there wasn’t any supermarkets close by either.

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Purchasing Bus Tickets Online vs at the Bus Station

Online reservations.

Many companies now have their own websites where you can purchase your bus ticket. Sometimes they even offer a discount if you buy your ticket online which is great.

However, bear in mind that these websites might not be as advanced as you’re used to. In many cases you might not even be able to book your ticket online for various reasons:

  • We noticed that some websites only accept credit card payments from bank cards that were issued in Mexico.
  • Another issue we had when trying to buy tickets online was that at the card detail section they asked for the postcode that your card is registered to, but you could only put numbers in. In the UK, we have letters in our postcodes as well as numbers so couldn’t complete the section correctly.
  • Some bus companies will want to see your passport and Immigration Form (FMM) when you purchase a ticket, especially when travelling between states. This means that you will likely have to buy it at the station instead of online.

Even if you can’t book your ticket online, the websites at least will allow you to see their timetables and prices. 

Buying Ticket at the Bus Station

In many instances you’ll have no other choice than to buy your ticket from the ticket office.

Before heading to the bus stop, I recommend making a note of the bus company you want to use, your planned travel date and time and have it all in your head in Spanish as well. Don’t forget to take your passport and Immigration Form (FMM) with you too.

Bus stations will have all the bus operators’ names on the counters so you’ll know which one to queue up at. Luckily, most of the ticket officers will have a monitor which they usually turn towards you so you can double check the date, time, destination, route and seat you’d like to reserve. If you’re buying bus tickets in advance, make sure to double check that your travel date is correct.

You’ll normally have the option to pay by cash or card especially in bigger cities. To avoid a lot of exchange fees, I recommend converting your own local currency to Pesos with a Wise card.

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Overnight Bus or Daytime Bus?

Another dilemma you might have is whether to travel during the day or at night. Obviously, this is only applicable if a company offers these types of services. For some routes you will have no choice. 

During our 3 months in Mexico we had a good variety of overnight and daytime bus trips. Below we detail the pros and cons of each to help you decide which one you should take.

Note – During my research, I read many articles that generally advise you against travelling long distances at night. I think this is more true if you’re renting a car and driving yourself and I also advise you against driving at night in Mexico. However, we felt completely safe on every single night bus we took. These buses normally travel on toll roads which are considered much safer at night than the more remote non-toll roads. Just make sure to avoid second-class buses for overnight travel. 

Overnight Bus

  • Saving one night’s accommodation.
  • Buses are comfortable with plenty of leg room, leg rests and reclining seats for even more comfort.
  • If you arrive early to your next destination, you have a full day to explore.
  • You can always ask if your accommodation is ready for you to check in early or alternatively hold your bags while they prepare the room.
  • Might not get a good night’s sleep.
  • Won’t see much of the beautiful landscapes, towns and villages that are located between your origin and destination. 
  • If you arrive early you might not be able to check in to your accommodation.
  • You’ll probably have to store your luggage at your accommodation until check-in. If you’d like to explore in the meantime, you’ll likely have to leave some of your valuables behind.

Daytime Bus

  • Be able to admire the beautiful landscapes, towns and villages that are located between your origin and destination. 
  • You’ll be able to check in to your accommodation straight away.
  • Have to have an accommodation booked for the night.
  • You’ll lose a day of exploring by being on the bus all day.
  • Some bus companies (OCC and ADO) will play movies on their TV screens during the entire journey which some might find slightly too loud and annoying.

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Things to Do Before, During and After Your Bus Ride

Before your bus journey.

  • Have your ticket and documents ready. The bus driver will ask for your seat number when he fills out the luggage tag.
  • Buy enough food and drinks for the ride. (You can normally find plenty of options at the station, but some might only have snacks. In that case come prepared and buy what you need beforehand.)
  • I suggest having a few layers on you. The A/C on these buses can be strong.
  • Take all valuables and everything you might need with you onto the bus. 
  • Download offline entertainment, such as movies, books, music and games. (4G might not be available between settlements.)
  • Charge all your electronic devices in case the plugs don’t work. Alternatively, I recommend carrying a portable charger with you. They normally have USB cable slots but bring your adapter with you too just in case they have normal outlets.
  • Know where you’re going after you get off the bus. Download offline maps of the area or screenshot the address and route you’re travelling to. This is especially important if you have no local sim card or your 4G doesn’t work.

During Your Bus Journey

  • Make sure to keep both the bus and luggage ticket as you’ll be asked for that when collecting your bags.
  • Keep your passport and Immigration Forms (FMM) handy too. Some areas in Mexico –  especially around the southern states – will have regular random checks where you might be required to show your travel documents.
  • Always be mindful of your fellow travellers and create as little noise as possible. Headphones can be very useful if you have noisy fellow travellers. Some of the better buses will have on board entertainment like on flights so you can always practice your Spanish by watching a movie or two. A few companies were giving out headphones but they are mostly cheap and just a waste of plastic, so have your own.
  • Some buses will let people who sell snacks and drinks on board. This is completely normal in Mexico. It’s up to you whether to purchase something or not, but have small change on you in case you start to crave something.
  • We noticed that ADO and OCC buses stop for 10-15 minutes at certain bus stations to refuel and clean the vehicle. This provides a great opportunity to stretch your legs or purchase some extra food and drinks. Don’t forget to take your valuables with you and also have your ticket in hand when the bus is ready to leave. 

After Your Bus Journey

  • Before leaving the bus make sure to check that you have all your belongings, including overhead storage, under and in between the seats.
  • Get your luggage ticket ready to collect your bags. (I really liked how strict they were with double checking the tickets.)
  • Don’t forget to take your rubbish with you and dispose of it in a bin at the station. I suggest bringing a garbage bag with you where you can collect all your waste. 

A Review of Bus Companies We Used in Mexico

The above map shows the bus routes we took during our three months in Mexico. Below is our short itinerary and the company we travelled with. These are only the long-distance routes, but we also used many local buses which I provide more details of in the relevant blog posts.

  • Mexico City to Guadalajara – Primera Plus (daytime)
  • Guadalajara to San Luis Potosi – Primera Plus (daytime)
  • Ciudad Valles to Mexico City – Omnibus de Mexico (overnight)
  • Mexico City to Puerto Escondido – ETN (overnight)
  • Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas – OCC (overnight)
  • San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque – OCC (daytime)
  • Palenque to Merida – OCC (daytime)
  • Merida to Valladoid – ADO (daytime)
  • Valladoid to Cancun – ADO (daytime)

As I mentioned before, there are many other regional and local bus companies operating across Mexico. However, this list definitely includes most of the names that you’ll come across during your research. 

Please Note – The short review of the companies below is purely based on our experience. We all travel differently, have different needs and events out of our control can influence our experiences. So in short, just take everything with a pinch of salt. 

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Primera Plus

Our first long-distance bus journey experience was with Primera Plus travelling from Mexico City to Guadalajara. We also used the company to travel to San Luis Potosi. 

Primera Plus is definitely one of the biggest bus companies in Mexico. It also covers a relatively big network of bus routes around central Mexico and some Pacific destinations. 

They had everything on board to make our journey comfortable: large seats, USB outlets, individual screens, A/C, working WIFI and even male/female toilets. We really enjoyed travelling with the company.

Top Tip – If you buy your tickets online you get an extra 10% off. Make sure to print off your ticket prior to your journey or ask for it at their ticket desk.

Click here to plan your trip with Primera Plus.

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Omnibus de Mexico

We chose Omnibus de Mexico for our overnight bus journey between Ciudad Valles and Mexico City. This was also our very first overnight bus experience in the country. The bus had pretty much everything we needed for the night such as big, comfortable and reclining seats with leg rests that made sleeping much easier. It also had USB and normal outlets so we could charge our electronic devices. Toilets and A/C was also available. It said that WIFI was available on board, however it didn’t work for us. We also couldn’t book our tickets online so had to pre-book them at the bus station.

The bus company definitely operates one of the most extensive bus networks in Mexico.   You can travel with them in the northern, western and eastern regions around Mexico City. However, they don’t operate in the southern states.

Click here to plan your trip with O mnibus de Mexico.

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One bus company we really wanted to try during our trip was ETN. It is known to be one of the best luxury bus companies in the country . 

We picked the company for our overnight trip between Mexico City and Puerto Escondido. It was probably the longest journey we had (13 hours) so we wanted to have maximum comfort. ETN normally have double decker buses, very large seats with enormous leg room, reclining seats and leg rests that make it feel like you’re in bed. They also had individual screens for entertainment, USB cable slots for charging, A/C and of course toilets. We definitely felt like we were in first class on an airplane. 

They operate between many major cities along the Pacific Coast, central, northern, eastern and some southern cities. It’s probably one of the most expensive bus companies too, but you can get approximately 10% discount if you book your ticket online.

Click here to plan you trip with ETN.

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ADO (Autobuses de Oriente)

Autobuses de Oriente aka ADO is a massive bus company in Mexico that owns several smaller bus companies such as OCC. You’ll very likely be travelling with either an ADO or OCC bus if your itinerary includes states such as Chiapas, Yucatan and Oaxaca.

We used the company on quite a few occasions travelling through these states. They obviously had toilets on board, USB outlets and A/C. The buses had comfortable seats but they felt slightly smaller, there wasn’t comfortable leg rests and the leg room also felt less than what we got with the other companies.

They also had on board entertainment, however the screens weren’t individual ones as on the other buses. They actually played movies during the entire journey and only switched them off during the night. This can be fun, especially if you’d like to learn some Spanish, but it can also be very disturbing if you’d like to sleep or read on the bus.

You can easily book your ticket online and just show the PDF version when boarding. There’s no need to print them off which is great.

During longer journeys the bus stops at least once at a bigger station for 10-15 minutes to refuel and they disinfect the entire bus inside-out. Both OCC and ADO had a very strict cleaning policy in place that we hadn’t experienced with the other companies. This also offers the opportunity to stretch your legs a bit and to grab a coffee or snack from the station.

Note  – Make sure to have all your travel documents in hand. There are many checkpoints around these areas of Mexico and you could be asked for your passport and ticket at any of them. Many times they also came on board with a camera and filmed all the passengers.

Apparently they have different classes and have some more luxurious services, however we never travelled with them. 

Click here to plan your trip with ADO.

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We travelled both overnight and during the day with OCC branded buses. As I mentioned above OCC is part of ADO, but they didn’t change the branding. So you’ll book through the ADO website and essentially your ticket will either be with an ADO or an OCC branded bus depending on the route. 

The OCC branded buses were pretty much exactly the same as the ADO branded ones. They had the same level of comfort, facilities and were operating the same way in terms of stops and cleaning. 

Click here to plan your trip with OCC.

Final Thoughts on Bus Travel Around Mexico

We really enjoyed travelling by bus across Mexico and I never ever thought that these bus trips would become some of the most comfortable ones we’ve ever taken as well as some of the safest and most secure. 

Although the journeys were long, we felt like time passed very quickly and we even managed to have decent night’s sleeps on the overnight buses. Travelling by bus didn’t just reduce our carbon footprint but also made us feel like we saw a lot more of Mexico. Travelling during the day also allowed us to experience the crazy changes in scenery and really appreciate the scale of the country. 

Have you ever travelled around Mexico by bus before? If so, let me know about your experience in the comment section below. If not, would you want to try out any of the routes or bus companies we mentioned? 

Now, let your adventure begin,

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Our Top Travel Resources

Accommodation:  For hotels we always use  Booking.com  and  Hostelworld  for hostels. We also book longer stays on Airbnb or  Vrbo.

Flights:  To find the best flight prices we always check  Skyscanner ,  Google Flights  or  WayAway.  Then we also check the airlines’ websites too for comparison.

Car Rentals:  We use  Discover Cars  when we want to rent a car as it compares local, national and international companies.

Activities:  If we book organised tours we always check either  GetYourGuide  or  Viator.

Foreign Currency:  Whenever we can we prefer to pay in local currency and for that we always use our  Wise card.   We can easily withdraw money from the ATM or pay by card at most shops and restaurants.

Travel Insurance: We never go anywhere without travel insurance. You never know what will happen on your trip, so good travel insurance like SafetyWing can protect you in case of injury, illness, theft and cancellations.

eSIM and VPN: To get data abroad we use  Airalo which is an app that allows you to download a prepaid eSIM to your phone in over 190 countries. Make sure to have a VPN to avoid hackers accessing your personal data when using public WIFI. We use  Surfshark  which is the only VPN that offers one account on unlimited devices. 

Remember…It all starts with a Pin…

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Thanks for all the great info. I was hoping to find out if it’s possible to buy a multi-segment ticket, and stop for various periods of time along the way. Is this permitted, or do you have to be on a specific bus at a specific time?

Thanks for the feedback Danny. I don’t think you can buy that type of ticket, since most routes are run by different bus operators. I think it’s best to just book your ticket for a specific bus once you know when you would likely be on it. Hope this helps. Safe travels.

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Everything Playa Del Carmen

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ADO Bus and Stations Guide in Playa Del Carmen

Getting into and out of playa del carmen.

Playa Del Carmne bus station

Coming to Playa Del Carmen often entails a bus ride from the airport to Playa Del Carmen (see our article on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen by bus). The main bus company is ADO and provides service to many tourist destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula and beyond.  Here is a guide to using the bus and information about the stations in Playa Del Carmen. (See video at end of this article for more information)

Important note : When buying bus tickets you might be asked for identity or even your tourist visa or residential visa. It is required to travel with these documents. Mexico is checking immigration statuses and can stop buses. You will need to have the originals with you. 

Playa Del Carmen Bus Stations

Playa Del Carmen has  two bus stations. One station on 5th Avenue with Juarez Avenue and the other one is on 20th Avenue with 12th Street. Buses coming from Cancun, Cancun Airport and places along the coast, such as Tulum, arrive at the 5th Avenue Station, at the corner of Juárez Avenue. The other Station on 20th Avenue services buses coming from destinations in the interior of the peninsula or out of state in general. Both stations have service  GOING TO  the Cancun Airport . ADO bus line is what most everyone uses.

Playa Del Carmen bus station

Second class busses in Playa Del Carmen

There is a type of second class bus service called Mayab . These bus tickets are cheaper but these busses stop often and is generally used for people commuting rather then going as a tourist to a destination. You will probably only use them if you are going to a smaller destination where ADO does not service.

Mayab Bus

ADO Bus Company-The main bus that everyone takes

To look at ADO bus schedules you can look at their website in Spanish only: http://www.ado.com.mx/ado  Bus travel with ADO is comfortable and air conditioned. ADO does offer several different levels of service, some with a little more comfort. Longer route busses will have a bathroom on board. Buying tickets is pretty straight forward. They may ask for your name or a name to be printed on multiple tickets. They may also show you the screen so you can select your seats. Luggage gets tagged and put under the bus. For unusually large items there is  supposed to be a small charge. There is not a major problem with theft on the buses regarding luggage. For some routes they do not tag luggage.

Tip : ADO stations in Playa will take USD as payment usually at a good exchange rate.

Tip : If you are a resident, check for discounts on your ticket. For example Playa Del Carmen to Cancun for residents of Qroo will be discounted. Just show ID

5th Avenue ADO Bus Station in Playa Del Carmen

The first bus station is located on 5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue, near the Cozumel Ferry Pier. All busses from the airport  ARRIVE at the 5th Avenue bus station. They do  not make a second stop at the other bus station, so you will be disembarking there. If you are going to the airport, your ticket will allow you to get on at this station or the other bus station since the bus starts at the 5th Avenue station and makes a second stop at the other terminal before going to the airport. Just make sure you know the correct time for the station where you bought your ticket or where you are getting on.

The 5th Avenue terminal  offers much of the same services as the other terminal. This station offers luggage storage, currency exchange, pay toilets, ATM’s (although we recommend using a bank’s ATM machine because they are more secure and less likely to be tampered with) see our article on exchanging money which has a map of banks near the bus stations. There are two ticket counters, one regular and one that sells just tickets to Cancun.

Ado Bus Station Playa Del Carmen

20th Street ADO Bus Station in Playa Del Carmen

The 20th Avenue Station is between 12th St. and 12 Bis St. This station has some of the basic tourist services as the other station. If you are going to the airport, the buses will stop here second before continuing on to the airport. It is open seating and you will have less seat selection if you get on here but it may be more convenient to where you are staying.

20th Avenue Bus Station in Playa Del Carmen

If you accidently go to the 5th Avenue bus station and realize your bus leave from the other one, you can hop in a taxi and be at the other station in just 3 min. Although you should note that taxis outside of the bus station notoriously overcharge for taxi rides.

Bus ticket prices

Bus transportation around the area is relatively affordable. If you are going longer distances and there you are traveling by yourself or up to three people, it is often cheaper to take the bus. Some roads have tolls and gas cost can add up quickly.

Prices do seem to change yearly on ADO buses do to inflation. So we will give you some rough samples. From Playa Del Carmen to Cancun or Tulum the bus cost about $4USD each way. To Valladolid, which is in the center of the Yucatan Peninsula it is about $14 USD one way.

Children tickets prices on ADO Busses

There is a discounted price for children on ADO buses. Children under 5 years old can travel for free with an adult (usually required to sit on the lap of an adult if bus is full). Children 5-12 years old get 50% off.

Bag storage at ADO Bus Stations in Playa Del Carmen

Many people ask about bag storage at the bus stations. Here is a photo we took of the storage area. Prices are per hour. Long term storage is not really cost effective. Bag storage is based on size of bags.

Note : Please do not leave anything of value in the bags! We have heard from numerous readers about things missing from bags.

Bus Station in Playa Del Carmen

Bus schedule for Cancun Airport and Playa Del Carmen

For both direction see our article here on ADO bus schedules in English . This will tell you the first bus to the airport and how to get there for an early flight.

Other transportation in Playa Del Carmen

You also might like to read about how to take the colectivos up and down the coast . This is another form of public transportation. These vans are shared rides and go between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum and between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. 

Here is a video we made that shows the bus stations in Playa Del Carmen and more about the colectivos. It should be noted that the location of the colectivos has changed. It is now under the highway just south of Juarez Avenue by the Chedraui. 

Do you have a question about taking busses or transportation in Playa Del Carmen or the Riviera Maya? Ask us below in the comment section below. We are hear to help.

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259 Comments

Hola soy Keiko de japonesa. quiero ir a Parroquia de Cristo Resucitado con tu Autobus. how to get to there from Playa del carmen? I want to know station number and bus stop. Im very grad to see you. Gracias;)

Hello. You need to take the ADO or cololectivo bus to Cancun. Both go to the bus station called ADO in Cancun. From there you can take a public bus that runs on the road next to the bus station. You want any bus that goes to the Hotel Zone. You want to get off at Kilometer 3.5 and you should be at your destination. You should know where you want to go because the driver might not know where you are asking to get off. We hope this helps.

Hi. I am trying to reserve seats on bus from Playa to Belize City, but the web site simply does not work. Is there a phone number I can call?

Are you outside of México? Their site usually does not work for people not currently in Mexico. You will have to wait until you arrive. If you are in Mexico you will need to go to the station and buy your tickets. The ADO website is not the most user friendly and is why we like to provide as much info as we can in English.

Hello,is there any ADO bus station near the x-caret?? Because i want to go to the Chichen Itza, or any bus can go to Chichen Itza form x-caret?? thank you!

There is no ADO bus station or route that would work for you. If you are coming from Chichen Itza you will need to take a bus to Playa Del Carmen and then get transportation to Xcaret. Currently ADO has busses to Xcaret three times a day and all are in the morning so you can get there for the day and enjoy the park. Also check out our article on colectivos for transportation options from Playa Del Carmen to Xcaret. We hope you have a great time exploring the area.

Hello-we are looking to store our luggage in lockers when we head over to Cozumel for the day, are there lockers for rent at the ADO?

Thank you for any information 🙂

Hello. There are lockers in both ADO bus stations in Playa Del Carmen. That is about the only place near to the Cozumel Ferry you can store luggage. In our video of the bus stations you can see the luggage storage areas. We hope you have a great trip over to Cozumel and the Riviera Maya.

Can you get a bus going to USA border From playa del Carmen?

You can bus across the whole country in sections. There are busses that cross from north Mexico into the US so it is possible. Would you want to do it as an adventure or because you don’t like flying? There are many options depending on your answer.

Hey very cool site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site!­I am happy to find so many useful info here in the post, thanks for sharing. . .

Thanks or the detailed info on the bus stations in Playa. Do you know where the bus for Holbox leaves from?

We checked on this a couple of weeks ago at he bus station. It was leaving from the bust station at Juarez Avenue and 5th Avneue. Since it only leaves once a day it is a good idea to buy it the day before and also check which station it is leaving from. Since ADO launchd this service they have changed the time several times and the location of where it leaves from. To further confuse things, it is not on their website.

Please note the comment in this post about theft on AdO buses being uncommon is simply not true. It is very common, they particularly go for itemsbin bags under seat anf enter from row behind or in front while passenger sleeping, in toilet or distracted. They fo not take whole bag but valuables inside bag so that passenger doesnt notice. Tjey then get off at next stop and hop on to another ADO looking for more victims. So BE AWARE!!

We have to disagree with you that this happens often but can happen. Travelers should be aware of where their belongings are and not make it an opportunity for people to steal without you noticing. This can happen anywhere in the world and Mexico is not exempt. Travelers should use common sense.

Hello. This is good information on the buses in Playa Del Carmen. I run a hotel here and use your site a lot to answer my guest problems or questions. I am glad you guys are on the streets finding all the stuff you recommend. It helps me a lot.

Hello. We just got back from a trip to Playa Del Carmen. We took the bus everywhere around the area and really found your guides helpful. Keep up the good work. We will be following your website for our next trip down. We are already looking over your huge guide to tours and planning what we want to take.

HI, I will be traveling from Cancun to playa del carmen.I travel with an emotional support dog.I have the proper documents for my need for the dog as well as his vaccines up to date.I keep him in his bag carrier which fits on my lap. Also, I’ll be traveling with my niece as a companion. Would I have a problem traveling on the ADO bus? Thanks for your hel.

Hello Cordelia We have contacted ADO with your question and are awaiting a response. It can be very hard to get in touch with the ADO bus company and often their website does not work. We do have one question for you, are you coming from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen? The reason we ask is the answer might be more of a yes. In Mexico emotional support dogs are not really recognized. It is more common to have seeing eye dogs. We would guess now that you have a 50/50 chance of getting on with a dog on your lap. It is not that common to see animals on busses so we will wait to see what the official answer is from ADO. As for your adult niece, she should be allowed on the bus albeit with a ticket.

Does anyone know if I can take a mountain bike on the ADO bus from Cancun to Belize?

We have seen people take bikes on the ADO bus. They are placed under the bus with luggage. There are fees for large items like that and is kind of enforced regularly.

I don’t suppose you know about the shuttle bus from the airport to playa?

Sure we do! If you are looking for an English schedule for the bus here is a link for the ADO bus from Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/ado-bus-schedule-from-cancun-airport-to-playa-del-carmen/ If you are looking on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen see our guide here where we talk about taking the ADO bus or a private transfer: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-get-from-cancun-airport-to-playa-del-carmen/ If you need anything else just let us know. We love helping people with directions and logistics.

Did you ever hear from ADO on this? I also have an emotional support dog that travels in a small carrier on my lap. I will be travelling from the airport to Playa Del Carmen

Hi Im looking to gdt the bus from playa del carmen go mahahusl Can you tell me the times it leaves and shich bus ststion i need Thanks

You should go to either ADO Bus station and ask if they have a direct bus to Mahahual now. You might need to take a bus to the town of Limon and get a colectivo from there. It is about another hour on this colectivo. It is not the most convinent but Mahahual is out of the way. You will be rewarded with a nice beach and diving if you go.

Thanks for all the great info on busses. We did a trip around the Yucatan including Playa Del Carmen. We loved seeing the countryside and back roads. The buses were very comfortable and affordable. One tip we had was to make sure you buy your tickets the day before. Sometimes they get full.

we are two senior citizens form the US and plan to bus it to Belize on the night express. Anyone know the cost? what about comfort? Any comments are appreciated Jim & Maureen W.

Hello Jim and Maureen

The ADO bus from Playa Del Carmen to Belize leaves at 11:40pm at night and takes 6 hours and 45 minutes to arrive. It is 600 pesos one way. The busses are the ADO regular bus and they are comfortable. If you did not want a late night trip you could take one of the frequent busses from Playa Del Carmen to Bacalar and nice stay by the lake and then go from there to Belize, but we know this is slower and but it is an option if you don’t want to be waken up in the night as your cross the boarder. We hope you have a great trip.

Hello I live in Mexico and did not know about where the busses were and I found your website in English. THank you for all you do for the tourism of my country. I know it can be hard for people to travel to a place they don’t speak the language and figure out how to get places. I am sure many people like your guide.

Greetings from Ohio! We are looking to go to Chichen Itza by bus but are thinking of renting a car. What do you think is better for a family of four?

Taking the bus compared to renting a car for visiting Chichen Itza will depend on several things. You can rent a car for about 700 pesos a day but you have to account for 500 pesos of gas round trip and tolls. The tolls can add up depending on what way you go. For a family of four and your kids are younger, it can be similar in price. One thing you have to take into consideration is where are you going to eat. There are a few basic place in Chichen Itza. If you have a car you can stop along the road. Also you need to think about how comfortable driving in a foreign country.

Which station do you leave from for the direct bus from Playa Del Carmen to Mahahual? It leaves at 8:10 am? Thank you

Hello Michele

The ADO website just says Playa Del Carmen station which usually is the Juarez Avenue Station. Also the Juarez Avenue ADO bus station usually serves the coast. So our bet is that station but it would be good to ask in the ADO bus Station to make sure.

What is the current time the ADO bus leaves from Playa Del Carmen to Holbox and what station? Thanks

The bus schedule does change from time to time so I am glad you checked with us. It leaves at 9:15 in the morning once a day from Playa Del Carmen and leaves from the ADO bus station on Juarez Avenue and 5th Avenue. We hope you have a great time in Holbox.

Hi, What do you think of this plan?: We’ll be staying at Playa del Carmen (PDC). We’ll take an ADO bus to Tulum, then a taxi to visit Grand Cenote and another to see the “Ven a la luz” sculpture at Ahau Hotel. We’ll get back to the bus station in taxi and get a colectivo to Cenote Cristalino and finally another to return to PDC. I prefer to get to Grand Cenote first thing in the morning. Are Mayab buses a better option to come back from Tulum? Where do I get them? If there are better options to organize this road trip, please let me know. It will be our first time in Mexico. There is a tour option available but it will double the cost. Thanks for your help.

Hello Mayab is not a good option because they are 3rd class and stop a lot. Taking taxis around will be your only option but they are expensive in Tulum. With these trips it could cost $80 USD. So renting a car for the day can be good so you are more relaxed and can get around cheaper. Here is one good option for a car for the day. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-car-rental/

Do you have first class buses that provide a round trip to chitchen itza?

Thank you for contacting us at EverythingPlayaDelCarmen.com We are not the ADO Bus website but we can answer your questions because much of the information is in Spanish only. The ADO Bus Company does not have first class busses from Playa Del Carmen to Chichen Itza. This is a regular ADO bus and makes local stops on the way. It takes 3 hours and 50 minutes. The price is about 295 pesos each way. Since the round trip is near $30USD we do recommend a tour. You will also get to stop at a town or cenote also on a tour. Tour prices range from about $40-100 USD We have some listed on our article on Chichen Itza. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/why-does-everyone-want-to-go-to-chichen-itza/ Your other option is to rent a car. Just note that tolls, gas, parking and car rental add up and do not make it very economical for just a couple of people

Thanks for this guide. I was looking for information on the busses and your site was the first to come up and was the most helpful.

I see a some ADO buses at the Plaza Las Americas mall in Playa Del Carmen. Is this a new ADO Bus Stop?

ADO Bus does use the Mall for some new routes. However this is not anything that tourist would be taking. The other two ADO Bus Stations service all the cities that people want to go to. Only if you live near to the mall would these limited routes be helpful.

I am looking at ADO’s website and want to book some tickets but it is not allowing me to. How can I book bus tickets?

Hello. Unfortunately Ado’s website is not that tourist friendly and credit cards not from Mexico are usually declined. You will need to book your bus tickets when here. Not to worry though, most busses do not get sold out more then a day or two in advance. Just purchase them as soon as you can when you arrive in the Riviera Maya.

How far is it from the Ado bus station to Pure Mareazul Hotel?

There are two ADO station so the distance will be a little different. Pure Mareazul Hotel is about a 10 minute taxi ride and often cost about 90-120 pesos. Of course it is best to ask before getting in. Pure Mareazul Hotel is on the north end of Playa Del Carmen and out of the center.

I just want to make sure that I can get a bus from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum from the Juarez Avenue bus station.

This is correct, busses leave from the Juarez Avenue Ado Bus station Tulum.

You are my aspiration, I want to provide this helpful of information on my website. I know how hard it is especially with changing bus schedules and other information.

My flight (Southwest) arrives 11PM in Cancun Airport. I plan to take the ADO bus to PDC. Do you think I would have any problems catching the 11:50PM bus? I am sure I will have some check-in baggage.

Here is the normal disembarkation process and time in Cancun Airport. Most flights do arrive on time at that hour. It takes about 15 minutes to get off the plane and to the luggage belt. Then about 10 minutes to get your bags. This will take you to 11:25pm. Then there is immigration. This can take 10 minutes if there is just your plane arriving or 30 minutes if there is a line. So if it is the fastest it will take you to 11:35pm. Nest you have customs. Sometimes they do not scan your bag and you just exit the airport, turning in your customs form. Best case this will take 6 minutes to walk through and out to the bus. This means that in a best case scenario you will get out of the airport at 11:41pm and get to buy your ticket. Of course you might arrive at terminal 2, which is usually for domestic but sometimes international flights can arrive here. The walk to the bus will take you about 5 minutes because it is at the far right hand side as you exit. This would make it 11:46pm. This will be very tight to catch the bus. Here are the options in our Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen guide. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-get-from-cancun-airport-to-playa-del-carmen/ Sometimes it is just easier to book the Private transfer and have a ride waiting for you. Maybe even if you meet someone on your flight going to Playa you can get them to pay for part of it. It usually is better then a taxi to Playa Del Carmen. If you do arrive early and think you can make it, be sure the taxi drivers do not tell you that the last bus already left. We have heard of them saying this when it is not true. We hope you have a good trip and an easy transfer from the Cancun Airport.

Great website, and thanks for making your comments section the ‘bus information section’. I am staying at Mayan Palace. I plan to go to chichen Itza overnight. I am aware ADOtends to leave PDC around 8:00 a.m. And that the website schedules can change. Questions – which ADO station would I catch the Chichen Itza bus from? Can I buy the ticket the same morning? Second questions are about collectivos. Are there published or set prices for where you get on and off? For example, I may want to take the colectivo to PDC from Mayan Palace or to Puerto Morelos. I am no good at bartering or knowing if the price is right. Any tips? Thanks.

Hello Maria

The ADO website says the bus leaves from the Juarez Avenue bus station. Usually when the schedule says Playa Del Carmen alternative, it is the bus station on 20th Avenue. But, it is best to arrive early and buy your ticket and make sure. The stations are fairly close so it is easy to take a taxi or walk for 13 minutes to the other one. You should be available to buy it the same day but that means getting to the station early. There is only one bus a day so if you can, by it ahead of time.

The colectivos do have a price chart. Sometimes with destinations in between they charge a little more but the over cost is less that $3USD one way. So a minor charge is nothing. Be sure to use pesos. Drivers do not need to take dollars but we have seen some accept them, but it is at whatever rate they decide. It is more polite and correct to use pesos.

There are no stops that are official except the end points. You just wave them down. The Mayan Palace will be easy to get one and get off at. You can also see our article on colectivos for more details. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-take-the-colectivos-to-tulum-or-cancun/

Thanks Mr. Yucatan. I have caught up on the colectivos articles as well as some of the other great articles.

WARNING: LUGGAGE STORAGE AT ADO BUS TERMINALS IS NOT SAFE OR SECURE i paid them 100 mxn to “look after” my suitcase yesterday only to have my passport and bank card stolen they have no cameras, and din not even offer an apology or refund.

Thank you Kris for your message. We will try to talk to ADO and recommend they install cameras. We are sorry to hear this happened to you. Can you let us know what ADO station this was?

I need to go from Playa Del Carmen to Merida. What do I do please?

There are many busses that go from Playa Del Carmen to Merida. You can just go to either bus station and buy a ticket. You can also check on ADO’s website for the schedules. We hope you have a nice trip. It is a fast a smooth transfer between the cities.

I like what you guys are usually up too. You cover Playa del Carmen in a unique way. Thanks for all the tips and articles.

Hi I am going from Puerto Morelos to PDC. Which station will I arrive at?

Appreciate it.

Hello Elizabeth

You will arrive at the Juarez Avenue station. Make sure you are on the right side of the highway to catch your bus in Puerto Morelos.

HELP ME PLEASE To the lost and found of the Ado bus station at Playa del Carmen. Please, can you help? On December 1st, 2016 on the 5:05 bus from Playa del Carmen to Terminal 2 at the Cancun airport. Unfortunately, I left my backpack on the bus, or in the luggage hold. My seat was 17. Please if you have this let me know and I will send you the money and direct where to send the backpack. It is filled with my artwork on postcards and precious drawings from my children. It also contains very important personal papers. My mobile phone which you may text or call is America +1 323 537 9210. PLEASE HELP ME. IT WAS THE 5:05 DEPARTING FROM THE FERRY STATION at Playa Del Carmen to the Airport.

Hello Nancy

We are very sorry to hear you have lost your backpack. We will forward this to the correct department at ADO. We are only a website that has this information on busses for tourist. We would like to help but even if we could, we do not know what your back pack looks like or have any reason to give for letting ADO have a strangers bag. We hope they contact you and have your bag. You can also try to contact ADO directly to ask them.

Can you tell me if the ADO bus will allow my 20 lb dog with me in the cab from Cancun airport to PDC? I won’t go with them if they want to put her under with the luggage. Thanks in advance

We doubt they will allow your dog with you unless he is a seeing eye dog. Your best bet is to book a private transfer from the Cancun Airport but make sure you ask them about dogs.

A similar incident has happend with me. I forgot a case with camera on-board ADO bus from PDC 5th avenue to cancun airport on 16th December ( around 4:45 PM ) . I have tried multiple times calling bus station but except a pre-recorded spanish message, no one really talkes. This camera had all our trip pictures and pictures from so many other trips . I don’t know, what to do here .

PLEASE HELP . PLEASE ! , my phone is +1-6106182132

We are sorry you left your camera on the bus and that ADO does not have a good customer service to return or answer calls. If we ever get a chance to talk to ADO we will address your issues. Thank you for letting us know. If we find out anything we will send you a message.

Hello! thanks so much for all the helpful information. i am staying in cozumel, but plan to ferry over to catch a bus or colectivo to see the tulum ruins. since i’ll be in cozumel and you can’t order ADO tix online, i can’t really get ADO tickets in advance of my trip. do they typically sell out? i’m thinking if we can’t get an ADO bus ticket we can just grab a colectivo, assuming those are close to the bus station?

You should be able to get an ADO bus since they leave about every 30 minutes from the ADO Station on 5th Avenue and Juarez. The colectivos leave from 2nd street between 15th and 20th Avenue if you choose to go that route.

Thanks for the bus guide. It was super helpful because we were trying to figure out the details of our trip. The ADO site is not that helpful.

We had been told it would be safe to leave luggage for a weekend trip we would like to take without it at the ADO station lockers in PDC-I don’t know, sounds kinda scary to me.

There are lockers at the ADO Bus Stations. However if you read the comments here, some people have had their bags opened while in storage. So if you do, don’t leave anything in the bags of value. There are not really any other places to leave bags in Playa Del Carmen unless you can arrange something with where you are staying. It probably would have a better chance of being ok at a hotel.

Do you know how to get to Grand hyatt Playa Del Carmen from the PDC bus station? I will take a ADO bus from Cancun airport. Also what type of transportation will be avialable from Grand hyatt to Xcaret?

To get from the ADO bus station you would need to take a taxi. There is no other public transportation to the Hyatt hotel or near to there. To Xcaret you can take a taxi, buy transportation with your ticket, or make your way to second street to the colectivos and take colectivos to the highway stop and get the free shuttle into Xcaret park. Those are your best options.

Hi, I would appreciate ideas on travelling from Cancun Airport to Tulum (Dreams Hotel) I believe the ADO bus travels to Playa Del carmen and I then have to change?……Please advise on time and cost of the journey

You would have to take the ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen and then take a taxi since the ADO bus does not make stops between Playa and Tulum. This would be expensive and it is better if you just take a private transfer from the airport. The transfer company we recommend is here in this article. They will only take you and will take you directly to your hotel. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-get-from-cancun-airport-to-playa-del-carmen/ The other ADO bus option and then a taxi not only will take you longer but also cost more or about the same.

Hi Awesome site. we wish to travel from Playa to Orange walk town during the day. Is there an early morning bus to Chetumal where I can get a bus to OWT. I know I have to switch stations in Chetumal and hope we can make an afternoon bus into Belize. Cheers Gary Also can you recommend a hotel near the Terminal Ado

The ADO only has service from Playa Del Carmen to Belize city where you can get a bus to Orange Walk. There are two busses a day that take 7 hours. The best option would be leaving Playa at 11:40pm and arriving in Belize city in the morning. There are other smaller bus connections but the main way does not give you many option.

I thought I seen on the ADO site that there is a bus at 720 830 and 930am that goes to Chetumal. I was hoping to then catch a bus from there to Orange Walk so we could avoid the overnight bus as well as traveling all the way to Belize city only to have to come back to Orange walk. Is this possible. Cheers Gary

Are you looking to leave from Playa Del Carmen? There are much more busses to Chetumal that you can take. It takes about 4:30 minutes to get there. There is a bus at 6:20, 7:20 , 8:30 and 9:20 from there you can work you way across the boarder. ADO has no service to Belize except the direct to Belize City. We have no information on the boarder crossing busses and transport to Orange Groce since that is a little out of our jurisdiction.

Yup the early bus to Chetumal will work well as then I can get another one into Orange walk, just need to change bus stations. Thank you Gary

Hi! I’m arriving in Cancun this Friday around 11:00am and needing to get a bus to Limones. From what I understand, I will need to take the ADO bus from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen, then Playa to Limones. Which there I’ll have friends pick me up and drive to Mahahual. Does that sound accurate?

Hello Brooke. This is a good plan. The town of Limones is just before the turn to Mahahual. Just make sure the ADO schedule from Playa Del Carmen to Limones to line up the transfers and meeting your friends.

I am traveling from Cancun Airport to Tulum next month. The ADO web site (I do not speak Spanish fluently) will allow me to book a ticket from the Aiport to Tulum for $228. I cannot tell if this is a direct bus, or if it involves transferring in PDC. Can you advise? It departs at 10:35am and takes about 2.5 hours. If there is a transfer, how will I know what time it is? I appreciate your help!

Most likely you are using a foreign credit card to try to book and the ADO website usually does not accept them for whatever reason. The ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen takes 1 hour and it takes one hour to get from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum. So the bus will arrive in Playa and you will most likely have a 25 minute layover. The bus will depart from the same station so you only need to wait there. We wish you a great trip here.

Thank you – but no, I had not even got to the stage of booking or having to enter a credit card, just searching for trips. It doesn’t indicate anywhere that there is a transfer. It just says departing Cancun Airport, arriving in Tulum 2.5 hours later, so it looks like a direct trip. Another question for you – since I can’t book online with a Canadian credit card, is there another way to purchase in advance? Or do I just have to try my luck at the airport bus stop?

Most everyone books when here. If you are coming from the airport, you never know what time you will actually get out of the terminal and they tickets are timed, so it is best to buy when you arrive anyways. The bus does not take 2.5 hours to make the trip from the Airport to Tulum so it must stop in Playa, not really requiring a transfer but might require you to wait on the bus or move to a bus next to it. So it is not really that big of deal. If the bus drove straight from the airport to Tulum it would be about 2 hours 10 minutes.

We plan to purchase 2 bicycles in Playa and transport them to Puerto Aventuras. We have heard you can do this on the Mayob buses which let you off on the highway by PA. Can you tell us which bus terminal in Playa to catch the Mayob bus to PA? Gracias.

Hello Janet

You can catch the Mayab busses in the 5th Avenue Terminal. We hope you are able to get your bikes to Puerto Aventuras this way.

This site is very helpful. I was hoping you could help me with a question. I am traveling from Merida to the CanCun airport. The ADO site lists the Fiesta Americana in Merida as a pickup location. Do you know the address and can I purchase my ticket there as well? Thank you.

Hello Pamela

The ADO bus station in Merida that is located at the Fiesta Americana is located behind the Fiesta Americana Hotel. This is a small station and you can buy your ticket there. The ADO station is on Avenida Colon and Calle 60.

I have heard that ADO bus station in PDC sells admission tickets to Xcaret and then provides free transportation from PDC to Xcaret after buying tickets there. Is that correct? If so, what other attractions does ADO sell tickets for and then provide transportation there?

We have only seen and ADO ad for going to Rio Secreto but we cannot confirm that transportation is free with ticket purchase. We will say that if you purchase Xcaret tickets 21 days in advance you get the largest discount.

Fabulous website! I was able to purchase tickets online through aq site called Clickbus – and even purchased one for my 66 year old husband at a senior discount (half price). Having them printed out and ready to go, with seat assignments is awesome.

This is a great suggestion. We had not heard of this website but we are going to look into it more. Thank you.

Can you take the ADO from Playa del Carmen to Xel-Ha? If yes, how much would it cost?

We have already bought our trickets to Xel-Ha.

Yes, there are four busses a day that go there all before 11am. The prices range but are basically 50-60 pesos each way and it takes one hour 5 minutes.

Hello! I am planning a trip to Bacalar on March 2 and would like to travel during the day. I will be leaving from Playa Del Carmen. Can you please help me with some bus info? Also, I will return on March 6 and would like to travel during the day. Price? Thanks so much…

Thank you for writing to us at our website. We have information on the bus to Bacalar and prices here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/amazing-bacalar-the-lake-of-seven-colors/ We hope you have a great time there!

We will be arriving from Cozumel off the ferry. Which ADO bus station should we use to go to Copa? We want the fastest way because we are on a strict time limit?

You would get off the ferry and get go to the ADO station at Juarez and 5th. There is only one bus a day so make sure you plan your arrival accordingly. The ADO also leaves late from Coba so you also want to take that into account as well. See our transportation options and tips here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/feel-like-indiana-jones-and-visit-coba-ruins/

Hola Attention Public Relations Owning a Condo across from Ado on 20th I have two complaints. First the bar at the turn around at exit is loud, iritating and never stops, wakes the neighbourhood up constantly. Please tell me why it is even has to be , what purpose does it serve?????Also the loud speaker for announcing trips is also so loud you can hear it a kilometer away Please lower the volume we as people are not deaf. Thank you for your time

Hello D. Kirkland

Thank you for your comments to our website. We are however not ADO. To express your comments, it would be best if you send them to ADO directly. Thank you.

I am diving in Cozumel in early March. I am planning on taking a ferry to Playa del Carmen from Cozumel and taking a bus to Merida from the ADO station on 5th and spending 4 days there. I do not want to travel with all my dive gear. Will the ADO luggage storage hold my dive gear bag for 4 days ? What is the daily rate ?

Hello Gautam

Both ADO bus stations have storage. The last time we checked it was either per hour or per day. The day rate is 100 pesos. Just note not to leave anything like cell phones, passports or other valuables there. We have gotten reports of theft.

Thank you Mr. Yucatan !

Hello, I would like to take the bus from Playa to the ferry at Islma Mujeres. Is there a station close by I could get off at? Thank-you

Hello Shawna

You would need to take a bus to Cancun and then get off at the ADO station there (this is the main bus station in Cancun. From there you can take the small vans or a taxi to the ferry for Isla Mujeres. It is about 8 8 minute ride.

Hello. Me and a friend are coming staying at riviera maya this summer, and instead of going on tours, we thought we’d look at local things. We will get the bus to playa del, but just asking if there are any destinations you’d recommend that we can get to by bus from playa del. we are 22, into photography, food, drink, shopping. Thank you

That is great you are going to explore on your own. Taking the bus to Tulum is easy and you can rent bikes. If you go to Valladolid you can have a great time taking photos. We have an article on what is good to see there that might be helpful. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/valladolid-colonial-town-with-everything-we-like-part-1/ There are more places but not sure if you want to do overnights. Our article on tours and places to go has an interactive map that you can use to find places you might want to go by bus.

How much would it cost for the taxi to go from the ADO station to the Grand Hyatt PDC?

Hello Richard

From the bus station to any place in downtown is 30 pesos. Into the Grand Hyatt is more. However taxi drivers often charge more then the chart price. We would expect 60/90 pesos if you ask them before getting in.

is it possible to buy water taxi tickets directly from the ADO bus station in Playa del Carmen ? We would like to plan one part of our trip that will include PdC – Tulum – Chetumal – San Pedro – Caye Caulker. I have heard that it is possible to buy both ADO and boat tickets in Tulum , but those blogs were few years old , so any updated information would help us a lot 🙂 Reason I ask this is because we would prefer to buy these boat tickets directly in Mexico rather than from the water taxi website , because they have two now and both are really chaotic , one has the booking section broken , the another has only a contact form that they havent responded to. Thanks and keep up the great work , your website already helped us a lot with so many valuable informations 🙂

Hello Peter

We do not think that you can buy the tickets in ADO for the Belize water boats. You could be able to buy them with a travel agency. There are several in Playa on Constituyentes Avenue. One is on the north side between 10th Avenue and 15th Avenue. You might start there.

We are arriving in playa del Carmen April 4 and then need to find transportation to Catalonia Privelege Maroma what is available and approx cost. Then in a week we need to go back to Cancun airport. What transportation is available direct to airport.

Hello Crystal

Since there are no busses that go from the airport to your hotel you will need to take a private transfer. We recommend one company that all of our readers have enjoyed. They offer some of the best rates and good service. You can find a link to them in this article where you can check prices and book. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/transfers-from-cancun-airport-to-playa-del-carmen/ We hope you have a great vacation here and smooth transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Hope you can help. We want to take the First Class ADO Bus from Chetumal to Playa Del Carmen. We rode it a couple weeks ago. We are moving our “stuff” in 6 duffle bags and 2 carry ons. Is there a limit to how many checked bags under the bus one can have? We found a transfer service in Corazol, Belize for a hefty price. Would rather do the bus. Thanks.

Kathy San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Hello Kathy

Technically we think there is a maximum but you can pay for extra baggage. It should be a lot cheaper to do on the bus and we would recommend it. We wish ADO had better online service and a chat, but they do not.

Hi, I just looked at the ado link you provided and the price from Cancun to PDC is listed as “$178 “. This gives me the impression it’s dollars, and if so, you are claiming it’s $9. Could you please help clarify? Many thanks

The Mexican peso sign is $ and so is the USD dollar. So usually we put $9 USD if it is dollars. We try to keep is separate but it can get confusing. We hope you can see now that the bus is cheap and easy.

We are planning to bring our two little dogs with us on our next trip to Playa Del Carmen. We like to take the ADO from th airport and are wondering if they allow our little dogs on the bus?

We don’t think there is any written policy but can be up to the discretion of the driver. Most people take transfers. There is one private transfer that will take pets for free as long as they are in carriers. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/pet-transportation-cancun-airport/ This is $60 one way and will take you to your hotel. If you are two people on the bus it will be about $20 plus a taxi to where you are going. Most taxis in Playa do not allow dogs. So that might be a problem even if you get on the bus. This transfer is just a sure deal in our opinion.

Hello, I will be doing an internship with GVI for 8 weeks and hope to swim with the whale sharks in Isla Holbox. Is there a bus that runs from Playa Del Carmen to Holbox? If so can you tell me the times of departure, how long the trip takes and price of ticket? Does the price include ferry from the land to the island? Are reservations required? Thank you.

We have most of that info in our Holbox guide here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/the-most-laid-back-island-holbox/ The ferry ticket is separate and it is good to book the day before since there is only one bus a day.

Hi, Are there quite a few buses leaving Playa Del Carmen going to Tulum and back daily. Do you stop at the Ruins or in the Town. Thanks

There is about one bus an hour going to Tulum. Some stop at Tulum ruins and some only go to the center of town to the bus station. It is good to check the schedule for the Tulum ruins stop. You can also take the colectivos between Playa and Tulum which leave from 2nd St. These are small shared vans that are a little faster but not as much space. These vans leave every 10 minutes or so and all of them will stop at Tulum ruins if you ask.

Hi, First of all I love your website, thanks for all the information!we are 4adult ladies and a 2year old girl.. could you tell me please what is the best option for us to arrive to playa del carmen, suites corazon from cancun airport? suites corazon is 10mins walk from the ADO juarez stop, so we are happy with that…but I wonder how much would cost to go by a private bus… Also We have tickets to xelha. Collectivos with a child is okay? Is there any collectivo stops around our hotel? Or better from the ADO bus stop?? How much is it aprox and how much a private bus would cost us again? 4of us sharing…but we want to save as much as we can on transport. We have a ticket to xcaret too.. And would like to go to tulum too. Thanks for your time!

Hello Monika

The best way to get to your hotel from the Cancun Airport is going to be a private transfer. Here is a link to the best company. The cost is $70 one way or 120 round trip. This will be very easy for the six of you and very affordable. It would be door to door. You can walk to the colectivos on 2nd street and take them to Tulum, Xel Ha and Xcaret. Xcaret is the closest to get off at and from the highway there is a short walk and a free shuttle to the entrance. For Xel Ha and Tulum you could take the ADO bus. With everyone going there may not be space in many vans for you and you might have to split up or wait a whiel for one.

Hello and thanks for the information. My family will be leaving a bus station in playa del carmen for trip to Chetumal(flying into Cozumel) Would a bus be the best option versus a collectivo or something else? Which station should we go to in Playa del carmen to buy our tickets? Also, our destination is actually about 45 minutes north of Chetumal. Any advice on how to get to that area? Thanks again!

If you are flying into Cozumel and then taking the ferry to Playa and then getting a bus ticket it would be best to go to the one on Juarez and 5th Avenue. When buying your ticket confirm if it leaves from that station or the other one. It sounds like you might be going to Bacalar? That is about 45 minutes north of Chetumal. Even if not it might be better to go there and then get a colectivo to where you need to go. It would save transport all the way to Chetumal and then turning around and going back another 45 minutes. If you are going to Bacalar, see our guide here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/amazing-bacalar-the-lake-of-seven-colors/ Just so you know, there is not a lot of public transportation in that area so expect it to take some time transferring and getting to where you need to go especially if it is more remote. ADO busses only stop at designated stops.

To provide a bit of detail regarding taking the ADO to Belize city from Playa del Carmen. Exciting the ferry with lots of luggage is no problem since young men with tricycle taxis are right there where you reclaim your bags. I was charged 50 pesos for a ride for me and my 4 bags to the terminal on 5 and Juarez.

Unfortunately, this is NOT the correct terminal for the Belize bus. I purchased the ticket at the main terminal, then caught a taxi to the alternative terminal on 20. I was charged 90 pesos for the trip.

The ado left on time (1140) crossed the border at about 5am and arrived in Belize city at 7 local time. ( q too and rest of Mexico and Belize are on different time zones)

Thanks for this great site.

We are going from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. Does the 5th Ave. bus go directly to the ADO terminal in Cancun? If not, which ADO bus do we need to take? Thank you.

Hello Cindy

Yes the buses leave from the Terminal Juarez to Cancun. From there you can take a taxi of a mini bus to Puerto Juarez which is the ferry terminal location to Isla Mujeres. Have fun!

Hi Mr Yucatan! Your site is very very helpful! Congratulations!

I have some doubts that I couldn't see an answer anywhere.

I intend to take colectivo or ADO bus in PDC to go to Tulum ruins, Xcaret and La Isla Shopping Mall (in Cancun).

Where I take the bus/colectivo back to PDC from these places?  1) Xcaret: in front of the park entrance? 2) Tulum Ruins: where?  I need to go to the downtown? 3.a) La Isla Shopping Mall: in front of the Mall? What bus?  R1? 3.b) The colectivos to Cancun (Playa Express etc) go to Hotel Zone in Cancun? Passes in front of La Isla Mall?

Xcaret can be reached by the colectivos along the highway and a connecting Xcaret free shuttle will take you to the park. There is limited ADO busses that leave from Playa to Xcaret All colectivos that go to Cancun will only go to downtown. You will need a taxi or the public bus from the ADO bus station to the hotel zone and get off there. It will take about 25 minutes on the bus depending on traffic.

Hi, I got a bus from tulum to playa last night. It was supposed to leave at 8:20. It said mayab on the ticket but I remember it not being ADO or this. Anyway, I think I left a small silver make up bag on it. I can’t find any lost property numbers, any help to would be great!

Hello Sarah

According to their website you need to go to the terminal you arrived at and report it. We have not heard of much being found though on busses. Best of luck.

I was reading through some of your content on this site and this website is really instructive! Keep on putting up more articles on Playa and the Riviera Maya. Coming in May.

We are thinking of spending the last couple of days of our trip in Holbox,so will need transportation to Cancun airport. Canada Transfer is quoting $193US so looking for something else. ADO shows 306 pesos but don’t fully understand Spanish. It looks like bus leaves at 1:45, but I don’t see arrival time. I’m assuming 3-4 hour which make it late for many flight back to the US. Can you clarify travel time . Also do you have any Idea what at taxi for 4 people may cost. Any other sugestions? Thanks

Hello George

We have a little more on transportation options from Holbox in our article here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/the-most-laid-back-island-holbox/

There is a ADO bus to Playa that comes back in the afternoon to Playa and then you would need transportation to the Airport. It is easier though if you book a transfer direct from Holbox to the Airport. There are taxis that will be there at the dock to take people to Cancun but we do not have the current prices. It is similar to the transfer vans. You can also check with Holbox Express. So you do have several options and you can figure out what one you want when you are there.

The ADO bus company does have a once a day bus but it is very slow and not a very happy option. It would be almost two more hours then a transfer.

hi can you use the ADO buses to get to Tulum for the day? also can you see the ruins and not be part of a tour. could you please let me know. gracias, mariangela

You can use the ADO bus to visit Tulum town and ruins. There are many busses a day so it is possible to go in the morning and come back later. See our complete guide here for visiting the ruins. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/visiting-tulum-ruins-our-everything-to-know-guide/

Hi, I am planning to get the bus from Playa del Carmen to Belize city. Firstly do you know which station it departs from in PDC? Secondly I will only be able to purchase tickets that evening (land in Cancun at 6pm and come to PDC to drop off some bags); are there set times you can buy tickets from the station? And is the bus likely to get full? If this is likely I’d rather get a taxi back to Cancun and take it from there… Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello Laura

This should leave from the bus station on 20th Avenue. Sometimes these change so just check. We looked at the seating one week from now and all seats were available. This gives you an idea of the booking, so not likely to be sold out. You can buy tickets at all hours so that is not an issue. If it is for some reason it is better to stay in Playa and get the next bus. It would save two hours of transit and taxi fare. But that is up to you. We hope this helps.

do you have the ADO bus schedule from Playa del Carmen to chetumal if I read the ADO Mexican schedule correctly there are several a day starting with 6:20am and 7:40am I would like to confirm those which would put me in town to catch the 3pm boat to Belize City

There is about one bus every hour departing from Playa Del Carmen to Chetumal. It takes about 4:40 minutes for the journey and each bus has a slightly different time it takes. The 7:20 would put you there about 12 noon. This might be good so you have time to eat something and go through the international customs for the ferry. The next bus after this is 8:30am.

Hello, I am trying to book a bus from Mahahual to Playa Del Carmen on the 29th December 2017 and then from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun on the 30th December 2017 but the website says there are no ADO buses from Mahaual to Playa Del Carmen. It seems to only have some for the next couple of days and then nothing. Will new times be added? Thanks

We see there is no busses scheduled for this time. We do not believe more will be added. There are colectivo vans that make the trip to the 307 Highway where you can connect with busses going north to Tulum and/or Playa Del Carmen. There are always local options, it just might take a little planning. Also note that the ADO website does not usually take foreign credit cards so you might need to book here your tickets. Usualy a day or two in advance is fine and they will not be sold out.

Hello, does the bus from Playa del Caremen to Belize city stops at the border and you can obtain visa on the border? What is necesesary to prepare for Belize visa? thank you

Hello Helen

We have not done this crossing but as with any international crossing the bus stops and usually all passengers get off and present ID’s and pass through customs. Depending on your citizenship and visa requirements it is easy to cross. Most citizens just get their tourist stamp there.

How late and often do the buses go South from PDC? Will be staying at a resort 45 minutes from PDC. The collectivos only run until 10:30 PM I’ve read. Will the bus let us out on the highway in front of our resort?

TY! Gracias!

ADO busses do not let people out. The colectivos run late but you should consider a taxi as your best late night option.

Hello. Are you able to tell me what time the overnight bus from Belize City arrives in Playa del Carmen? Thank you.

Sorry we cannot we tried consulting the ADO bus site but it would not allow us to pull up the schedule. We tried several days but it is not helpful. We think you will just need to go in person and ask. We would go to the station to ask but we are not available in the next few days to go by. We know how frustrating it is to find information and unfortunately ADO’s website and customer service is not the best.

Hello again Kate. We had a chance to check with ADO and the bus leaved from Belize City around 5pm and arrives early morning in Playa. We hope this gives you some idea of the schedule.

Is there a colectivo from Playa to Tulsayab? Where is the colectivo terminal in Playa?

If you are referring to the neighborhood just north of Tulum, yes the colectivos pass there on the highway. You would need to walk from there. Here is our article on colectivos. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-take-the-colectivos-to-tulum-or-cancun/

I want to go to Mahahual from Playa del Carmen, does the ADO go that far? How much is it and what times does it leave from Playa Del Carmen?

The ADO website is not showing it as available. This does not mean it is not running. Often the website is not offing the best info. It is from our experience this route is not the most popular and has been on and off over the years. You will need to go check at the station to ask about it. If it is not available then the next best thing is take a local bus to Limones and get a colectivo to Mahahual.

Just need basic info as of Dec.17/2017: What is the current price of both a one way and a return trip on the ADO bus from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen?

The current price is 184-190 pesos depending on the time.

Buen dia. I will be staying in Tulum. My flight leaves at 8:00am on Sunday January 7. I want to be at Cancun airport at 6:00am. Which bus company do I take? Mayab at 02:46? This bus arrives at Cancun terminal at 05:40 then I take Riviera bus to airport and arrive at 06:30. This is too late, no? Is there a bus at 01:00? 01:30? 02:00?

There is a bus from Tulum to Playa Del Carmen at 3:45am that arrives at about 4:30am and then you can take an airport bus at 4:40 or the next one at 5:30. This would put you at the airport at either 5:55 or 6:45. Since it is so close and you need to get a bus it would be good to buy the ticket in advance but you might miss the 4:40 bus. Really a transfer is the best option so you don’t have to worry or stay in Playa the night before you go.

Hi I’ve been trying to book a ticket from Playa Del Carmen to Mahahual for Sunday 12/31 and I know that there is an ADO bus that runs three times a day from that route, but everytime I search it on the ADO website it doesn’t show up. Has that bus been discontinued or do I just have to wait till I get there to get the ticket? Do you know of any other way to pre-purchase the ticket before I arrive in Mexico?

We had someone ask us the other day and we could not find it online as well. In addition to finding it often non Mexican credit cards don’t work. It will be best to get here and figure out transportation. This bus route changes often.

Hello, Great site you have!

We are two that will be traveling from Puerto Morelos to Vallidolid. I have received information saying takethe ADO bus from the Cancun bus station, and also someone said take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen. Can you please confirm what the best option is? Also, if the bus to Vallidolid would be at risk of filling up on a Saturday afternoon, requiring us to buy tickets in advance – and if so what are the options/locations to buy them. Gracias,

Hello Tracy

The truth is both people are correct because you have to go north or south to get to Valladolid and then inland. The best way though with a slight advantage is going to Cancun. The bus from Cancun to Valladolid is 30 minutes shorter and often a little cheaper. We hope this helps you. We also have a guide and video to Valladolid here. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/valladolid-colonial-town-with-everything-we-like-part-1/

Great infos thank you! I am going from Playa to Tulum in a few days, my friend lands at 1pm in Cancun and I have agreed to meet her at the bus station in Playa to go to Tulum as I am already here. However, I don’t want to book bus tickets in advance in case her flight is delayed for any reason, do you think we will have trouble getting seats from Playa to Tulum on Saturday afternoon? Many thanks in advance.

Hello Ali There is not much of a worry to get tikets when she arrives. There are busses often so even if you have to wait a little, you can visit the park right by the bus station and step out to see the ocean before hopping on another bus.

I know the ADO website does not accept international credit cards. I reserved seats on-line with the option of paying at the station 2 hours before departure. Can I use a US credit card at the station?

Yes the ADO station does accept US cards. Just as a tip when traveling make sure you tell your credit card company that you are traveling so they do not block it for fraud filtering.

We are traveling from playa Del Carmen to Holbox with 4 adults and 3 children. Do we need to make reservations with the ADO bus. When do the buses leave.

Hello Linda

The bus leaves at 9:25am and is 260 pesos. Since you have a larger group we recommend booking at least two days in advance. We have gone the morning of and it was booked. There is only one bus a day.

If we stay at a hotel in playacar (Maybe the riu playacar) is there a bus to playa del carmen?

Thanks for your help. I can’t seem to find the answer online.

There are no busses that run in Playacar to the downtown. Your only options are a taxi or walking. It is about a 25 minute walk but there are sidewalks that are nice to walk on.

Will be traveling from Playa Del Carmen to Mahahual March 6, 2018, for 1 day so will need round trip, 7 people, just wondering if someone has information on the current schedules and prices since the ADO sight does not show anything except the airport info… Hoping they still have the early morning bus going both ways. Usually not an issue when only my husband & I traveling, but with 5 others it changes the situation a little.. thanks in advance for any help/information anyone can offer.

Hello Phyllis

We wonder why ADO has no schedule online and this route is often none existent or intermittent. Since you do have a group you might just as well hire a driver. This local van charter service is a good one to check out. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/charter-transportation-playa-del-carmen/

Hi! Congrats on your website. I’m using it constantly. Quick question: do we absolutely have to reserve/purchase our ADO bus ticket online or can we just arrive at the terminal, buy the ticket and jump on?

Is there anywhere to find out the schedule for Mayab buses from Playa del Carmen to Limones? We don’t want to wait until after 6 p.m. to catch the ADO bus to Mahahual (it arrives so late). (Taking Mayab to Limones and a taxi the rest of the way seems to be a better option). Thanks!

The only place is at the ADO station. There are no Mayab bus schedules online. We wish there were. It would make travel easier but, hey, why would a transportation company want to be more user friendly anyways? (insert sarcasm here)

Hello, we have a group of 15 friends who will be travelling from the Sandos Playacar hotel to Cancun on March 4th to run the Cancun Marathon. The race starts at 6:45am in Cancun. Can you tell me if buses run directly past, or from the hotel, and if they run that early in the morning? I’m guessing we’d have to take a 5:15am bus to make it to Cancun in time? Thank you

There are no busses in Playacar. You would need to take a taxi to the bus station and then when you arrive in Cancun you need to take another taxi to the starting area. The best option is book a transport for your group. Here is one local company that is good to work with. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/charter-transportation-playa-del-carmen/

Hola! Es seguro dejar las maletas en la estacion de la 5 Avenida? Cuanto cuesta? Muchisimas gracias!

El precio depende del tamaño de la bolsa. Puede ser entre 6/14 pesos por hora. Solo es seguro para cosas básicas. No dejes cosas valiosas en la bolsa. Los lectores se han quejado de esto.

Can you tell me the cheapest way to get to Hotel Akumal Caribe from Playa Del Carmen. I am a senior traveling alone so I don’t want to have to walk to far on any busy highways.

You can take Mayab busses from the Juarez station and get off at Akumal then take a local taxi to the hotel. Mayab busses do not run as frequent and are more local. ADO busses do not stop in Akumal so that is not an option. You can also take the colectivos from 2nd street to Akumal and take a taxi from the highway. If you have luggage though this is not a good option since they are for people hopping on and off and there is no bag storage.

Hello There!! I am wondering what would be the best way to get from Playa Del Carmen to the Hotel Emporio Cancun, Thank you

Hello Brian Since ADO does not go to the Hotel Zone a private transfer is best. This option is better than a taxi with a fixed price. We reccomend this company here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/private-hotel-zone-transfers-cancun/

Hello, We will be taking the ferry to Cozumel and need to store our luggage. We only need to store our luggage for the day. What are the hours for the luggage storage at the ADO station near the Ferry?

The luggage storage area is open all day. It should be noted that you should not leave valuables in the bags. We have heard from readers about things missing from bags.

Hello, I am trying to find out if there is an ADO Bus that goes from Tulum to Coba but on the ADO website it does not give me any results. Want to go from PDC to Coba ruins and was planning on taking collectivo (or bus) to Tulum and then transfer. Any advice? Thanks,

There is one ADO bus a day from the ADO bus station at 10:11am. There are other local busses like Mayab which there are no schedules online. There are no colectivos that go between Tulum and Coba but sometimes you can also get a colectivo taxi (shared taxi) back to Tulum.

First, thank you for all of the amazing advice I’ve found on your site! I’ve read a ton of different articles with a wealth of information. We are staying in PDC for a mo th and are getting the most bang for our buck with your advice. My question: Do you know if ADO or the Colectivo stops at (or near) the entrance at Xcaret or is a taxi needed to get to the entrance? Thank you for your help!

Thanks so much for reading the website. There is a few ADO busses that directly go to Xcaret but you have to follow their schedule. Alternatively you can take the colectivo and then get off and walk under the road on a sidewalk. There is a free Xcaret shuttle to the park. It is pretty easy either way.

How do I go about renting a bus for private transportation from chetumal to cancun?

Hello Tyler

How many people do you need to transport? We can think of two options for you. ADO does not really rent busses but you might be able to book a complete one if you have enough people.

Hi there! I am travelling from Australia to Mexico next week. Firstly, will there be an ADO bus from Cancun airport to playa del carmen? If so do you know how far this would leave me from Panama Jack Resort, Playa del Carmen?

Secondly, is there any way that you can send me a timetable or roster of different destinations that the ADO bus goes to?? 🙂 I’m interested especially in visiting Tulum and Akumal! How much would this roughly cost?

Thankyou so much, Nat

Your bus uestuons are answered here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-get-from-cancun-airport-to-playa-del-carmen/ Panama Jack is about a 16 minute walk up 5th Avenue. It can be hot with a bag or you might like it. A taxi from the bus will be about 70 pesos.

Hello, I would like to travel from Tulum to Orange Walk in Belize. I heard that ADO is running on that way but I can not make a booking online for it. I found on ADO’s site that there is a bus from Tulum to Belize City which probably stops in Orange Walk also, but for return, even if I search from Belize city to Tulum I cannot find any bus. Must be booked only in the station? If yes, is it possible to buy a round trip from Tulum bus station or I have to buy for return a ticket from Orange Walk station only?

We don’t think ADO stops in Orange Walk. It is a direct bus to Belize City. A better option for you is to take the bus from Tulum to Chetumal and then look for a more local bus option to cross the boarder. Chetumal is the last big town in Mexico and a good place to change busses.

I am SO glad I found your site! We are going from Playacar to Xel HA this Friday and I was curious if you knew the schedule to and from the 5th ave station to Xel HA and roughly what the price is?

The ADO bus ranges in cost from 58-94 pesos each way and leaves at 8:31, 9:51 and 10:51

Hello, first of all I love this website, thank you for all this informations. Just a few more Questions. Is there a bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum? Where is the bus station in Tulum? How much is it? And the same questions for a bus from Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza Ruins. Thank you!

Hello Janina

Thank you for reading our website. The answer to your questions are: The bus station at 5th Ave and Juarez has busses to Tulum about every half hour. Some only stop at Tulum ruins and some also go into town. Make sure you buy the correct ticket. The ride takes about one hour. There are also busses that go to Chichen Itza. There is one per day at 8am. If you buy this ticket in advance you often can save half the price. There is not the complete details for this online, like how long it takes and what route it goes. It most likely is the same bus that goes to Valladolid and then goes to Chichen Itza. One alternative is go to Valladolid and stop, enjoy the town to break up your journey and then get a local bus or colectivo there. There are more connections to get to Chichen Itza from Valladolid since it is about 30 minutes away.

ADO vs Playa Express which is faster? If you take Playa Express to Cancun. Where do you take Playa Express to Playa de Carmen.

Hello Robert

Playa Express is faster but not if you are more in the center of Playa and need to get to 2nd street to get the van. Also if you have luggage the ADO bus is better. ADO will not let you off along the way but Playa Express will.

Hi! How much is the Colectivo from Playa Del Carmen to Grand Mayan Vidanta resort along Hwy 307? Thx!

It is about 35 pesos. Here is more about taking the colectivos. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-take-the-colectivos-to-tulum-or-cancun/

This site is the only helpful updated information I have been able to find, thank you very much! I’m wondering if there is an ADO bus from Playa to Limones? If so, how often a day?

Hello Janice. We get that question often and we don’t know why ADO does not put their schedule to Mahahual online. Do you only want to go to Limones or to Mahahual? Since the exact time changes, it is best to at the hotel in Mahahual or if you are only going to Limones to ask in ADO. Sorry we don’t have the current and ever changing info on that bus route from Playa.

Hi- I am looking to travel from PDC to Bacalar and back but I would be taking a night bus back to PDC the same day. I will be traveling with my 11 year old daughter and my only concern is safety from the bus station back to my hotel at the Grand Princess, at night. Should I feel safe/unsafe doing this? About how much would a taxi charge at night to take me to my hotel? Thank you.

Hi- I am looking to travel from PDC to Bacalar and back but I would be taking a night bus back to PDC the same day. I will be traveling with my 11 year old daughter and my only concern is safety from the bus station back to my hotel at the Grand Princess, at night. Should I feel safe doing this? About how much would a taxi charge at night to take me to my hotel? Thank you.

It is fairly safe to do. Most people do not take a day trip to Bacalar because most of the day you are on the bus. About 8 hours in transportation time. A taxi from the bus station to your hotel will be around 300 pesos although the bus station taxis love to see what they can get.

Hello! I hope I am lucky enough to get an answer from you this evening – I truly wish I was better prepared for our trip. We are staying at iberostar beach and are trying to get to the Jungle Place by 10:30 in the morning (Saturday). We were going to take a taxi to playa del carmen and then take ADO to Chemuyil. The online booking does not show Chemuyil as a destination. It does show Xel-Ha which is close,but when I tried to enter the date (March 30) it just kept showing today (Friday, March 29). Do you know if 1) the bus runs on Saturday? and 2) Does it go to Chemuyil? If so how early do we need to be in PDC to get to Chemuyil for 10 am?

Ado does not go to Chemuyil. There is a very local bus that goes there called Mayab. We are not sure where you are trying to go? jungle place? What is this?

Hello I would like to ask if there is any bus stop near Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort. We would like to go to Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Thank you

Hello Agata

There are no ADO bus stops near this hotel. The only options are a taxi or the colectivos that run on the highway. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/how-to-take-the-colectivos-to-tulum-or-cancun/

Had to leave for the airport from Playa Del Carmen at 3:00 am on Monday April 15 2019. The bus fare was 218 pesos, I paid the cashier, an older lady, 500 pesos and should have gotten back 282 pesos but she gave me back 218 pesos. I tried to show her she was wrong but she kept saying her exchange rate was 16%. I told her I paid in pesos there is no exchange rate. She continued to play me as a fool thinking I couldn’t speak the language. I finally said, fine I know you ripped me of about 82 pesos, I hope your boss knows you steal from tourist but probably not because you still work here. in Spanish and she just looked at me. Then I walked away. ADO should know the have thieves in the cash box not only to protect their interests but their reputation. Reputation is important because it means business. Just saying. I would advise to have correct pesos when buying your ticket and don’t use cash from your home country.

Thank you Michelle for relating your experience here.

We are palnning to go by bus from Playa del carmen to Chichen itza in July. Is it possible to go by bus from ADO and can i buy a ticket online?

It is possible by ADO but it does take 3 hours and 49 minutes. See our article here for more information https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-to-chichen-itza/ It is cheaper if you can buy it in advance but often foreign credit cards don’t work on the ADO website. You might have to buy it when you arrive here. Usually it is no problem to get a seat two days or more in advance.

We want to travel to Merida and back from Playa del Carmen. Are there regular buses and approx how much would it be?

Hi am leaving from belize traveling to playa Del Carmen I wanted to know where will my bus stop the terminal on 5th ave or the one on 20th ave

You should be arriving at the bus station on 20th Avenue.

Hello If I want to go Mayakoba,(Jardines de Mayakoba) what transport do you recommend from ADO at Juares/20th

Well, a taxi will take you directly there and enter the property. The only alternative is one of the colectivos going north on the highway. You will need to ask for that stop and they might not know it since it is not common for people to go there. Then you will get off and have to walk into the property.

Wonderful website. Thank you so much. We have visited PdC resorts 4 times now, and can’t think of a better place to spend time. Or nicer people to spend it with. Best dentistry I have ever experienced, and the savings on a few small things paid for my last resort vacation (including air fare!)

We are planning on using ADO, taxis and collectivos (and/or Mayab busses) exclusively on our next trip. For ADO, the sentence above says, “From Playa Del Carmen to Cancun to Tulum the bus cost about $4USD each way.” Does that mean “…to Cancun OR to Tulum”? Same distance N or S from PdC.

How about PdC to Coba?

Hello. We changed that sentence to say Cancun or Tulum is about $4 from Playa Del Carmen. On the ADO website, which has a link in the article, you can find current prices and schedules to Coba. There is limited service to Coba and often you need to take a bus to Tulum and transfer to a bus to Coba.

we are getting into Cancun at 7:04 am Jan 5 2020 and was wondering if the ADO buses are going that early we are going to Playa Del Carmen to the Ferry?

There is a bus around 8:15 (it depends on the terminal) but that is the first bus. By the time you clear customs you should be able to get a bus.

I need to go from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujueres. It looks like I can take an ADO bus to Cancun city and not the airport and then taxi to the PUerto Juarez ferry terminal but it’s not clear what the schedule is to Cancun city and whether I should go to the 5th Av or 12th/20th station. The ADO website only shows luggage service when leaving from 12th/20th but the busbud app only shows service from 5th Av.

The ADO bus service between Cancun and Playa is about every 30 minutes, so it is easy to get between the two. In Cancun, from the bus station it is a short taxi ride of about 12 minutes. If you have luggage, a taxi is the best way to go. There are three ferries piers that take people to Isla Mujeres. The main one is Puerto Juarez. This is where you should ask to go. The other two are a car ferry and the other is in the hotel Zone and more expensive. There are colectivo vans also near the bus station to Puerto Juarez which are cheaper, but more crowded and not good for luggage.

I want to get off at playa on 20th st, coming from the airport. I do see the note that it only stops at the 5th Can I get on another bus to go back towards 20th St. from ADO? Or should I take a taxi? It’s not that far but I have luggage.

There is no bus service that connects the two bus stations. The only option is a taxi. It will not cost a lot and there is a price chart on the sidewalk. It is only the downtown area of Playa that you are traveling. It should be noted that the taxis charge extra from the taxi stands and often try to charge more. If you are going in zone one it should be around 50 pesos. Check with the driver before getting in.

I will be taking the bus from cancun airport to hilton all inclusive playa del carmen. How do I get from the. bus stop to the hotel.

There are taxis outside of the bus station that can take you the rest of the way. It is a little too far to walk.

Hello I wan to take a bus tomorrow morning from Playa to Tulum and then back. How do I find the schedule? Do I have to reserve ahead of time?

http://www.ADO.com.mx is the website of ADO and you can check schedule there.

Hello, just wondering if the ADO station on 20th is safe at night (looking to take an overnight bus to Chetumal, leaving around 1-2 a.m. from the station) for a solo female traveler. Thank you in advance for your reply!

Yes, the station is centrally located and there are always people there. It is also the bus station for all the people visiting Coco Bongo nighclub, so it stays busy until 3 am. There is bag storage but often things get opened at that station.

Good to know, thank you!

Thank you for this post! It was very helpful! I was quoted $70 USD from the airport to my hotel from a private transportation company. I paid less than $20 usd using Ado and a taxi. The ADO bus was very clean and on time. I will use ado again and will recommend it to others traveling to the area.

Thanks for telling us an others about your experience. Ado is pretty easy to take form the airport. It just depends on where you are going and how far your hotel is from the bus station.

What is the best way to go from 5th avenue in Playa to Catalonia Playa Maroma resort? And how much would it cost?

You really only have a taxi as an option. There are posted prices for the resorts at the taxi stands. If you wanted to do a round trip you can book one of the private transfer companies like this one. They not only do airport runs but point to point. When you do book a round trip you get about 20% off. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/cancun-private-transfers/

Staying at ocean riviera paradise, Wanting to go to isla mujeres could you provide the best way for us via bus and times plesse

Well it will be a bit complicated. ADO buses do not make stops along the highway. The cheapest way is go to the highway and catch a colectivo for Cancun. Then at the bus station take a van to Puerto Juarez for the ferry to Isla Mujeres. If you have a group or more than three people, you might not even get in one colectivo because they often leave very full from Playa Del Carmen. The other option is booking a transfer from your hotel to the ferry. If you book a round trip you get a discount. Here is one company that is recommended for this. These transfers and not just to and from the airport. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/airport-transfer-cancun/

Hi, I have a few questions regarding long-distance travel on buses around Mexico. Can I take an ADO bus to Veracruz from Cancun? What are the bus services like during the Christmas season? is it best for me to purchase tickets online, or as I’m travelling with children, will it be best to do so at one of the stations?

Hello and thank you for your questions about bus travel here in Mexico. ADO does have service to Veracruz. It takes about 21 hours and is about 2000 pesos for an adult. You can fly for that amount as well or for a little more. Viva aerobus and Volaris are two low-cost airlines in Mexico. The schedules we looked at were almost sold out or only 1/4 full. ?Odd. Christmas time is a very busy travel time in Mexico. If you want exact dates, I would buy tickets for flights or bus now. It is fine to buy online because they allow you to buy both adult and children’s tickets. You will need to travel with your passports! There are checkpoints and all foreigners need their ID at all times.

Hello.. Thank you for all the wonderful information on your site. We are travelling to Playa Del Carmen in a couple of weeks with our 8 year old. We are not renting a car and would be relying on public transportation. We are renting an AirBnb and have a few options.. A few near 15th Avenue and Calle 6 and a few near 5th Avenue and Calle 42/Calle 50 We plan on doing day trips to Xcarat, Rio Secret, Thulum , conzumel etc. Can you please recommend which one is quieter and has good transportation to these places. I have gathered that the 2nd option is more peaceful but am not sure about the ADO buses or the taxis/collectivos.

Hello and thank you for your question. A lot of transportation like the colectivos and ADO bus stations are on the south end. So, the first Airbnb option is closer to many transportation. We however prefer the upper end of Playa because it is newer and has more things, we are interested in. We will also say you have a lot to fit into your vacation. We hope you are coming for more than a week.

Which terminal in playa del carmen to leave from for most direct route to corozal belize

The bus to Corazal leaves from the ADO bus station on 20th Avenue. It takes about 6 hours and 20 minutes to get to your destination. The ADO website has the schedules and terminals.

Hello! Do you know if the Ado bus will be going from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport in March? It’s not possible to find any tickets or info online. Available connections are till end of February only

This is normal here. Often the bus line does not have the schedule up for later. They might also see how the Tren Maya affects rides and reschedule things.

Hi, I am comming from Puerto Aventuras QRoo in a Collectivo to the 5th Station Terminal, for The Mayab Bus Sevices, to The Central the Abastos in Cancùn. What is the most cheap transportation from Cancún stop to The Central Abastos at The enter of Cancùn? On this address https://maps.app.goo.gl/T8L7oiWiNt765qun8 Right after The Airport. All info will be helpfull & gratefull, since I am bringing 6 boxes for OverSeas Shipping.

For one, if you have six boxes with you, you cannot take the Mayab or the colectivos. They are not mean to be used as luggage movers. You technically can take the Mayab local bus to Cancun and get off near there. You will have to cross a 6 lane highway. How you expect to carry the packages with you, is going to be something else. The best is a private transfer services like the ones at the airport.

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ADO Bus Service: The BEST Way to Get Around Mexico

Home » Blog » Mexico » ADO Bus Service: The BEST Way to Get Around Mexico

The ADO bus service is one of the cheapest and most convenient ways for getting around Mexico. In this detailed guide, we give you the exact steps for riding with ADO Mexico including how to book and what to expect.

ADO bus Mexico

It goes without saying that local transportation is usually the most affordable way to get around any country. 

Mexico is an incredibly diverse country with pristine beaches, world-renowned food , and a rich cultural history, so it only makes sense their transportation options offer the same amount of variety.

If you’re looking to travel between all the best things to do in Mexico on the cheap, while staying comfortable and safe along the way, taking the ADO bus is going to be your best bet.

Sure, traveling by bus in Mexico doesn’t sound like the most glamorous option, but the ADO bus system is actually quite good, even by U.S. standards. 

Using our first-hand experience, we created this guide to the ADO bus services in Mexico to give you everything you need to know about traveling with this renowned bus system. 

ADO Bus Guide:

Ado pronunciation, where do ado buses travel.

  • Popular routes

Is the ADO bus Mexico safe?

Ado bus service levels.

  • How to buy ADO bus Mexico tickets
  • ADO bus terminals

What to expect onboard an ADO bus

Know before you go.

  • Mexico travel planning resources

Be sure to download our  complete packing list for Mexico !  It’s packed with good suggestions and  insider tips  to help plan your Mexico vacation. And it’s completely  FREE , so why not!?

ado tours mexico

At first glance, it’s tempting to pronounce ADO as “ ah-dough ” or “A.D.O.”

However, it’s pronounced in Spanish with three syllables, pronouncing the letters of the Spanish alphabet :

D = “ day ”

Fun fact: The name is actually an acronym for “Autobuses de Oriente”, or “buses of the east” since the company began running in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the east. 

The ADO bus system operates everywhere south/east of Mexico City . Specifically, the Yucatan peninsula, southern Mexico, and Mexico’s East Coast.

Although they make traveling around very seamless, they don’t operate in the northern half of the country. If you need to go north of Mexico City, you’ll need to use a separate bus company. Luckily there are plenty to choose from.

ADO bus routes focus on long-distance services rather than short, inner-city travel. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all company, but it’s easy to find a combination of buses and other transportation that works for your specific trip.

Here is an brief glimpse of where ADO buses can take you:

Popular ADO bus routes 

There aren’t many routes ADO buses don’t cover around Mexico. These are some of the most popular routes most travelers take.

Cancun to Playa del Carmen

Things to Do in Playa del Carmen | Two Wandering Soles

ADO is one of the cheapest and safest ways to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen . In fact, it’s one of our favorite ways to travel between these two hot spots!

You can board the bus directly from the Cancun Airport, or central Cancun, and be in Playa del Carmen in about 2 hours. The same bus continues onward to Tulum, where you’ll arrive about 1 hour later. 

Buses run every 20-30 minutes, so you can easily catch an incoming bus on your way out of the airport terminal. You can find out exactly where to catch the bus and buy last minute tickets in the Cancun Airport in our detailed guide .

Psst! Check out these fun things to do in Playa del Carmen before your trip!

Mexico City to Oaxaca 

Oaxaca Mexico

This longer bus route connects the two of the country’s most vibrant cities, Mexico City and Oaxaca . 

Mexico City has a handful of different terminal options, but you’ll want to leave from the TAPO bus station and arrive at the Oaxaca ADO bus terminal . 

TAPO is the most centrally located station in Mexico City, so it’s likely the most convenient. It’s also closest to the Mexico City International Airport.

ADO buses make the 6.5 hour journey from Mexico City to Oaxaca comfortable and safe.

Merida to Tulum

Tulum Mexico

Tulum and Merida are some of the best places to visit in Mexico , so it’s no surprise many travelers need transportation between these two hubs.

The route from Merida to Tulum is only about an hour and is more convenient than taking your own rental car . There are about 5 departures each day so consider looking at departure times to plan your trip accordingly.

Psst! Before you go, make sure you check out some of these fun things to do in Merida !

Other popular routes

  • Playa del Carmen to Bacalar : 4 hours
  • Cancun to Tulum : 2 hours
  • Cancun to Merida : 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • Playa del Carmen to Tulum : 1 hour, 10 minutes
  • Tulum to Bacalar : 2 hours, 50 minutes
  • Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: 9 hours

ADO Airport services

ADO bus Mexico

We mentioned above how ADO buses in Mexico are generally exclusive for longer trips, however a few airports around Mexico are an exception.

Listed below are the five different airports ADO has services and destinations you can visit from each one:

Cancun International Airport

  • Downtown Cancun 
  • Playa del Carmen 
  • Tulum 
  • Merida 

Merida International Airport

  • Downtown Merida
  • Cancun airport
  • Downtown Cancun

Chetumal International Airport

  • Chetumal downtown

Veracruz International Airport

  • Acayucan 
  • Coatzacoalcos
  • Cordoba 
  • Jose Cardel
  • Jaltipan de Morelos
  • La Tinaja, Minatitlan
  • Xalapa Enriquez

Carlos Rovirosa Pérez (Villahermosa) International Airport

  • Palenque 
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez 
  • Tabasco 

bus from Cancun to Playa del Carmen

ADO buses are one of the safest ways you can travel around Mexico.

There are a variety of rules and practices they put in place to ensure the safety of everyone riding, including the bus driver.

For starters, the buses only travel in areas that are deemed safe by the U.S. Department of Safety (DOS). You won’t have to worry about going through any of the “ do not travel states ” such as Colima, Guerrero, and Sinaloa. 

Important note : the status of Mexican states can change, so always check the travel advisories for Mexico before you head out.

Additionally, ADO buses only travel on toll roads, which are the safest routes in Mexico since they’re patrolled regularly and kept in good condition. On these roads, the driver cannot exceed the posted speed limit, otherwise the bus will emit a beeping sound. 

As for passengers, no one is allowed on the bus without a ticket. At some stations, everyone goes through a metal detector and bags are inspected. This is to ensure no one is boarding the bus with a weapon and gives that extra layer of security.

At most, you’ll need to keep an eye out for petty theft, which isn’t common but has happened before. 

Police checkpoints

It’s very common to be stopped at police checkpoints along ADO bus routes. 

This is nothing to be alarmed or concerned about, but you should know a few things so you’re in the loop in the event that the bus is stopped.

One of three things can happen: the police will waive the bus through the checkpoint, or they’ll do a partial or full bus check.

In any case, you’ll have nothing to worry about as long as you aren’t carrying any illegal substances and have your passport .

Most of the time, the police will ask the bus driver to open the luggage compartment so their dogs can sniff for drugs, then you’ll be back on route. In rare cases of a full bus check, the police may come on board and ask to see all passenger’s IDs. 

ADO bus Mexico

ADO buses offer a variety of different service levels, so you can choose one based on your budget, route, and schedule preferences. 

Each option has its own perks for different prices . You’ll want to know the difference so you can choose the best option for your trip. 

If you have a ride that is longer than 5-6 hours, we recommend getting the best service you can afford since the lower economy tickets make more stops and tend to draw out the journey.

But if you’re on a tight budget, or prefer the simple route, know that ADO buses are comfortable and clean, so you don’t need the top tier to have a comfortable ride.

Primera Clase (First Class)

  • Air conditioning
  • USB charging outlets
  • Entertainment monitors
  • One bathroom

Although named “first class”, this is the lowest level of service that ADO buses offer . 

While still fairly comfortable, the main downside is that the audio on the entertainment monitors is played throughout the bus, which can be a major headache depending on what’s playing. That, and there is only one restroom for 40+ passengers—which usually isn’t a problem for the shorter journeys. 

If your bus route is short and you want something cheap, you can’t go wrong with Primera , but if your ride is longer than a few hours, you’ll definitely want ADO GL.

ADO GL (Great Luxury)

  • Access to the Platino departure lounge
  • Wifi onboard
  • Air conditioning 
  • Mixed gender bathrooms
  • Cafeteria onboard
  • Complimentary onboard drink

ADO GL is the sweet spot for ADO bus classes as they have a consistent and frequent schedule and comparable services to Platino for less money .

GL passengers also have access to the same complimentary lounge as Platino , with free wifi, a coffee station, tv’s, and a restroom.

  • Access to VIP Platino Lobby
  • Extra legroom
  • Folding table
  • Personal monitor w/ entertainment
  • Multiple bathrooms
  • Travel kit with pillow and blanket 

Platino is the highest level of service ADO buses offer . 

If you book this service level, you have a separate waiting area in the bus terminal with complimentary wifi, coffee station, tv’s, and a restroom specifically for Platino and GL travelers.

This service tier doesn’t run as frequently as the others, and is the most costly, so you may consider booking GL for a more favorable price and departure.

Otherwise, you can’t go wrong booking this class on longer journeys, especially with all the amenities. 

ADO Conecta 

These smaller buses (more like shuttle vans) are used for shorter distances with fewer travelers. They are generally used as transportation between cities and airports .

ADO Conecta is a version of the Primera Clase , but with fewer amenities since they don’t go very far. If you are squeezing into one of these for your trip, choose the seats behind the driver for a little more legroom (you’ll be glad you did).

ADO partner buses

ADO also is considered an umbrella company for two smaller companies: OCC and AU. They also work with several other companies that we’ve listed below:

  • OCC (“Omnibus Cristobal Colon”)
  • AU (“Autobuses Unidos”)
  • Estrella de Oro

Important note : ADO bought out OCC and AU, but some buses and stations weren’t rebranded and still use the former bus names. If there isn’t an ADO bus/bus station, chances are you’ll be boarding an OCC bus.

How to buy ADO bus tickets

ADO bus Mexico ticket

Buying an ADO bus ticket is very straightforward nowadays. There are a handful of different ways you can go about getting one, so you can choose the option that works best for you.

Online in English

If you’re still brushing up on your Spanish skills and you’d rather book your ADO bus ticket in English, Bookaway is going to make your life a lot easier. 

Bookaway is an online transportation booking site for buses, ferries, and train tickets all around the world. It makes booking transportation in Mexico very seamless, especially for getting around all the hot spots in the Yucatan Peninsula .

Buying your tickets online in English gives you an immense piece of mind if you don’t speak Spanish well and prefer reserving your tickets ahead of time.

Once you purchase them, you’ll be given an e-ticket to present when you board the bus. It’s very straightforward and the most convenient option for getting your ADO bus tickets without hiccups.

At the bus station

Buying an ADO bus ticket directly from the station is very easy and good for last minute plans. You can book for the next available departure or any dates in the future.

You’ll pay the booth, the agent will give you a printed ticket, then you’re ready to board and be on your way. Many stations accept cards, but keep some pesos on you just in case the machine is broken (sometimes they don’t always work).

This is a great option if you lean on the spontaneous side of traveling or if you don’t want to jump through the hoops of buying your ticket online, in Spanish.

On most days and routes, you’ll have no issue getting the next available departure, but routes to Bacalar tend to fill up fast since there are limited departures.

It’s also worth noting to be mindful around peak weekend times and holidays since buses will fill up faster and you may have to wait for a later bus when you book on arrival, or book days in advance.

Online from ADO

You can purchase ADO bus tickets on their website or mobile app only while you are in the country. The mobile app can be finicky, but we’ve found that the online portal works just as well.

Both platforms are entirely in Spanish , so if you’re not confident in your language skills, we suggest booking online in English.

If you’re still brushing up on your Spanish and want to have a go at booking using either platform, we suggest having Google Translate on hand to ensure all your boxes are checked.

Note : While browsing the ADO bus website, Google may ask if you want to translate the page into English, making navigation much easier. But it doesn’t always translate fully, so you can reference the vocabulary below if you get stuck.

Use this vocabulary list as a reference to help you book using the ADO bus website or the ADO Mobile App :

  • Origen = origin
  • Destino = destination
  • Ver mapa = see map
  • Ver detalle = see details
  • Buscar viaje = search trips
  • Ida = one way
  • Viaje de ida = one way trip
  • Ida y vuelta = round trip
  • Viaje local = Local trip (Bus trip begins at that destination)
  • Viaje de paso = Bus began at a different destination
  • Boleto = ticket
  • Fecha = date
  • Asiendos = seats
  • Quedan “x” asientos = “x” seats remaining
  • Precio = price
  • Viaje = trip
  • Nombre = name
  • Correo electronico = email address
  • Seleccionado = selected
  • Ocupado = occupied
  • Disponible = available

Tips for booking in Spanish:

  • All prices are listed in pesos
  • Military time is used to display arrivals and departures
  • The middle of the bus is the sweet spot for seats
  • Write your name exactly as it’s seen on your passport
  • Your total will include something called “asistencia total”, which is a type of insurance. You can uncheck the box to decline, or keep it, up to you.
  • Payments accepted: VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Paypal
  • The ticket(s) will be sent in a PDF to your email, which you can present when you’re ready to board.

What to expect at ADO bus terminals

The size, amenities, and moderness of an ADO bus station will depend on what city it’s located in. 

You can expect all of them to have at least a ticket counter, snack stand, rest room (usually costs a couple pesos to enter), and seating which may be limited depending on the terminal.

At larger bus terminals, like the one in Mexico City, they operate more like an airport. Different bus companies leave from different stations labeled with either a letter or number. 

Smaller towns may have a tiny ticket office with or without seating, or they may sell tickets at a local convenience store. 

ADO bus Cancun to Holbox Mexico

ADO is considered a high-quality bus service, so your ride will be plenty comfortable even at the cheapest ticket level.

All ADO buses have AC, USB charging outlets, and varying arrangements of entertainment monitors . They’re usually playing movies dubbed in Spanish over the speakers without subtitles.

Depending on the length of your bus ride, you may want to pack some noise-canceling headphones since some movies are played at a very high volume.

Each service level will also have a bathroom on board. Some only have one whereas the higher service levels will have two. 

Rest stops 

Depending on the length of the route, the bus driver may make a rest stop (10 minutes or more) and allow people to get off the bus, use the restroom, and pick up snacks or a drink. Bathrooms at rest stops require payment so be sure to have spare pesos with you.

If the ride is very long, the bus driver will stop every 4 hours for the restroom and meals. 

It’s also not uncommon for vendors to board the bus at rest stops and offer snacks and drinks.

  • Seats are (generally) always assigned. When you buy your ADO bus ticket you’ll be able to choose your preferred seat. On shorter routes, seats tend to be first come first served.
  • The best seats are near the middle of the bus. Not in the back by the bathroom, but not at the front.
  • ADO employees generally don’t speak any English. If your Spanish is rusty, download Google translate to help you communicate more effectively.
  • Luggage restrictions are minimal. You can bring any amount of luggage free of charge, but only small bags will fit onboard and anything larger will be stowed underneath the bus during the ride.

ADO Mexico FAQs

Now that we’ve covered all the main details of traveling around Mexico by ADO bus, here are some frequently asked questions you may have.

Is it safe to take the ADO bus in Mexico at night?

bus from Cancun to Playa del Carmen

ADO buses are one of the safest ways to travel around Mexico. So yes, it is safe to take the ADO bus at night, as a nighttime airport route or overnight route.

How far in advance do I need to book my ticket?

Outside of holidays and peak time on the weekends, booking in advance typically isn’t necessary. 

Multiple different buses depart for any given location, so if you didn’t book in advance and the bus is full, you can always catch the next one.

However, we recommend booking 2-3 days in advance as there are some perks .

If you buy your tickets online with Bookaway , you’ll be able to look at everything in English and you won’t waste any time waiting at the bus station. You’ll also get a small discount for booking in advance.

ADO buses in Mexico generally don’t have a schedule available more than a month in advance, so if you’re planning a few months out, check the current schedule to get a good feel for the frequency and days of route options for the future.

Are there toilets on ADO buses?

Yes, there are toilets available on each ADO bus service level. 

Do note though, some bus routes tend to be bumpy… we think you can connect the dots there. 

Luckily, along some routes, the bus driver will stop for 10-minutes (sometimes more), where you’ll be able to use a stationary restroom (bring some peso coins) as well as pick up snacks or a drink. On longer routes, the driver will stop every 4 hours.

No matter your preference, pack travel tissue and biodegradable hand sanitizer since some restrooms lack one, the other, or both. 

Can I take food and drinks on ADO buses?

Yes, ADO buses allow food and drinks on board . Both GL and Platino classes provide drinks on board, and a snack is given complimentary on Platino services.  

If you’re not taking those classes, other buses and routes stop periodically for a snack/beverage pit stop.

Do the ADO buses run on time?

Buses generally depart and arrive as scheduled. 

Boarding is generally 10 minutes before departure. If you booked a GL or Platino bus, you can start checking your bag up to 30-minutes before the scheduled departure. 

How early should I arrive at the bus station?

If you already have your ticket booked online, we recommend arriving 15-20 minutes before your bus leaves so you have time to get a lay of the land and find your bus. 

The same goes if you don’t have your ticket, you’ll want to arrive at least half an hour early so you have time to get your ticket if there’s a line, find your bus, check bags, etc..

Is my luggage safe on an ADO bus?

In short, yes.

ADO buses offer fee-free, unlimited luggage, so you can bring all your things with ease.

Your larger bags will be stored under the bus and you’ll be able to bring a smaller bag on your person inside the bus. 

Your checked bag is safe in the cargo compartment, but do not put any of your valuables in here . Instead, keep them with you inside the bus.

Although it is safe on ADO buses, you still want to practice good street smarts by always having an eye on your bag and never leaving it unattended. 

More resources for planning your trip to Mexico

Playa del Carmen Beach Mexico

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, we’ve got loads of helpful resources for you! Start with our Mexico Travel Homepage , where you’ll find general info, and be sure to check out the articles below. Leave us a comment if you have any questions!

  • Start planning your trip with our bucket list of incredible things to do in Mexico (that aren’t beaches!).
  • You’ll wanna read up on the best places to visit in Mexico and keep this guide to the coolest Airbnbs in Mexico handy.
  • Read this first if you’re planning some travel around the Yucatan Peninsula . 
  • If you have some more time to explore, you’ll want to check out these cenotes in Mexico , and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve , the true hidden gems of the Yucatan. 
  • If you’re a digital nomad, you’ll want to try out all the fun things to do in Playa del Carmen .
  • And don’t leave without spending some time exploring Mexico’s safest city, Merida . 
  • If you decide traveling by ADO bus isn’t your cup of tea, you might consider getting a car rental in Mexico to explore more hidden gems. 
  • There are tons of things to do in Mexico City , which makes a great destination for all types of travelers.
  • While you’re at it, this 3-day Mexico City itinerary makes for an epic vacation.
  • Don’t skip our favorite underrated region, Chiapas, Mexico !
  • There are plenty of unique things to do in San Cristobal , which also makes a great home base for exploring the surrounding nature, like El Chiflon waterfalls . 
  • If you’re headed west, here’s a great guide for things to do in Oaxaca , which is also where you’ll find the best food in Mexico !

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ADO bus Mexico | Two Wandering Soles

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Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico |

Making Sense of Mexico’s ADO Bus System

Last Updated: November 16, 2021 //  by  Ashley Smith 135 Comments

I found my many Mexico City experiences to be a pretty straightforward place… the ADO bus system, not so much. You need to get somewhere? Call an Uber. You need directions? Ask anyone around you. You’re hungry? There’s food literally everywhere. On the sidewalk, on the corner, in the backs of trucks, everywhere.

I kept waiting for things to be difficult. Like have you ever tried to get anything done in Italy? 

But Mexico kept surprising me with its simplicity. A surprise that, no doubt, stemmed from my attempt to purchase bus tickets on Mexico’s ADO bus system.

Do This, Not That // 3 Days in Mexico City | Dos and don'ts | Mexico Travel tips | altitude sickness | Casa Azul | Frida and Diego | xochimilco | Mexican food | lucha libre wrestling | best views in Mexico | Uber | Condessa | Tequila and Mezcal | Aeromexico | Zocala | Margaritas | view of zocalo from gran hotel

Using the ADO bus system

While my plans mostly centered around Mexico City, I also worked in a side trip to Oaxaca to celebrate Dia de Muertos—a side trip for which I’d need to purchase bus tickets. I went onto the ADO bus ticket website —fast forward one million years—and the tickets were mine! Oaxaca, here I come!

Only I, too, am dead now and my bones are being dug up to use as fossil fuels for our Martian overlords. Needless to say, making sense of Mexico’s ADO bus system constituted the bulk of my Mexican travel planning.

The process is the opposite of straightforward. I couldn’t find any useful information so I had to do all the research myself. It took four attempts to actually get those tickets in my inbox.

I’ve compiled all the information you’ll need (that I wish I’d had) to make sense of Mexico’s ADO bus system so that you can explore Mexico as it is now, before the dawning of the new millennium.

You might like ─ If you’ve got similar plans, check out my guide full of tips for celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico as a foreigner.

Mexico’s ADO bus system

There are anywhere between 15-20 bus companies operating in Mexico—the one you choose will be based on your origin and destination. Knowing where you’re going in life is half the battle, no?

The one I chose, on which this entire blog post is based, is Mexico’s ADO bus system which serves primarily Mexico City and everything south of there, on around into the Yucatan peninsula for beer bongs and booty-shaking contests. So… here ⇣

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | ADO service area map

What does ADO stand for?

ADO stands for Autobuses de Oriente , “Buses of the East”, so that might help you remember. But if you don’t speak Spanish it might just confuse you even more… so maybe you should just stick to the map above that I made for my kindergarten readers.

As I’ve mentioned previously, one of the things that shocked me in Mexico was how nice these ADO buses are. Especially considering that one of the 17 things that shocked me in Belize was how they could even refer to their “buses” as transportation.

When deciding to travel from Mexico City to Oaxaca, I’d imagined something more along the lines of America’s Greyhound bus line (of which I have no personal experience but I’ve seen their filthy terminals and I’m 100% prejudging them based on those) or the chicken buses of Belize I almost can’t believe I survived.

Why I love the ADO bus system

The ADO buses are air conditioned, comfortable and offer more legroom than someone 5’4” even knows what to do with. They show movies (some of them with almost no words at all so in your face, language barrier!), have bathrooms, black-out curtains, and the nicest, most patient employees (you’ll see).

The whole ADO bus system is organized, professional, safe, affordable, and an overall pleasant experience. If. You. Can. Figure. It. Out. Oh. My. God. In. Heaven.

Things you need to know about the ADO bus system

Before you even attempt to purchase ADO bus tickets, there are a few things you need to know (besides Spanish lolz).

The majority of my frustration when trying to purchase tickets—things were thrown—stemmed from the fact that the ADO bus system uses hella abbreviations and with no explanation of what any of them stand for or any consistency in their usage. I’m going to list those for you now in hopes of avoiding all the broken lamps and frightened pets.

The different kinds of ADO buses

After choosing your origin, destination, and date, you’re shown a list of that day’s trips and the buses you can choose from. Initiating meltdown sequence numero uno, beep boop beep.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | Order selection page, bus choices and classes

My ADO bus questions

  • WTF is AU, OCC, ADO, ADOgl, ADO platino?
  • I put in “Mexico City” as my origin so… what is Santa Martha Acatitla? Mexico DF? TAPO? GL?
  • and OMFG these buses are expensive AF! (Hey Mexico, how ’bout them avocados? I can abbreviate too.)

I thought a bus was a bus but, as it turns out, there are more types of ADO buses than there are ways to mispronounce Teotihuacan . But while the list is long, the ones I consistently see the most are the ones in the picture above. Here are their descriptions in order of appearance in that picture because I still have questions.

ADO platino

The Nacho Bellgrande of Mexican buses. Only 27 fully reclining seats, a tray table, your own 12″ touch screen TV, free WIFI, electrical outlet + USB, air conditioning, bathrooms, a cafeteria (Say what now?), and a travel kit–whatever that is, but I want it!

Air conditioning, the seats recline a little, it probably has wheels… don’t take this one. I’m Mexican bus spoiled now so I can say that. BTW, AU stands for Autobuses Unidos which means “the cheapest option–you’d be wise to choose something else”.

Entertainment system with 3 HD screens, air conditioning, 44 reclining seats, bathroom. OCC stands for Ómnibus Cristóbal Colón (or, the “Christopher Columbus bus”, or just “Christopher ColumBUS” – a pun that has made my whole entire year). In other news, I have no idea what the difference is between the OCC and the…

Entertainment system with 3 HD screens, air conditioning, 44 reclining seats, bathroom.

I took an “ADO” bus on the way back from Oaxaca and it was perfectly fine. The bus was comfortable and clean, the entertainment was… entertaining, but by the last hour of our 6-hour journey the smell from the bathroom in the rear of the bus had wafted all the way up to the front where I sat. A little PP bonus?

Update: I chatted with someone at ADO to find out the difference between OCC and ADO and she said… there is none. It’s just a different brand. Same service, same quality, different name, almost a 100% price difference. You down with OCC? 

Entertainment system with 5 HD screens, air conditioning, 40 reclining seats (I was literally in the lap of the abuela behind me), bathrooms, electrical connections, cafeteria (I do not remember this), and complimentary beverages.

And it doesn’t say it on their site, but we totally got a travel kit too. There were earbuds inside and free drinks. GL stands for Gran Lujo , “Great Luxury.” Gran Lujo indeedio.

So now that my questions have been answered, the technical progression of quality would go: AU > ADO / OCC > ADO gl > ADO platino. Choose wisely… mwahaha.

Also check out ─ The earbuds may come free, but you’ll need more for your trip. Check out my full guide on what to pack for Mexico City that’ll cover you from head to toe and beyond.

The different Mexico City ADO bus stations

Besides the differences in the ADO buses, something else you should be familiar with before getting into bus ticket purchasing are the different bus stations (and corresponding terminals) in Mexico City. Initiating meltdown sequences numeros dos, tres, cuatro, beep boop beep.

When choosing your origin/destination on the main ADO page, the option for Mexico City gives you an expand arrow because there are 21 million people who live here so of course there are tons of bus stations to choose from. Or are there? Hmm…

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | what is Mexico DF, CDMX

But allow me to back up even further. And I mean, we’re going so basic here you’re gonna be like, “How in the hell did you get this far without knowing this!?”

CDMX and Mexico DF

Mexico DF means… wait for it… “Mexico City”. Or at least it did until early 2016 . DF stands for Distrito Federal (“Federal District”). And though the city is now officially known as CDMX, Ciudad de Mexico (“Mexico freaking City”), Mexico DF still shows up sometimes when you’re trying really hard to figure stuff out and you’re about at your wits end.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | List of Mexico City bus stations and terminals

ERRRRR! (That’s a buzzer sound.) There’s actually only eleven legit places you can board a bus, but one of those is an airport, a couple of them are just surface street stops, and one is a bus stop at a women’s prison and I don’t think you wanna get on any buses that stop there, if Netflix has taught me anything at all.

You might like ─ For the rest of your trip planning, read my post on the 15 best Mexico City things to do  to check out. It covers food and drink, entertainment, Mexican wrestling, celebrations, and so much more!

I had to make my own map

When trying to figure out where to start my bus trip, I tried looking these stations up on a map (pointless when you can’t decode the mystery names); I tried choosing the one closest to our hotel (pointless when you don’t know where they are); so finally I hopped on ADO’s live chat.

But back to this list ⇡⇡⇡, here’s what you need to know about each bus station: (Top to bottom, left to right)

Mexico City bus stations

1. Mexico City airport, international arrivals

2. Mexico City airport, domestic arrivals

3. Airport, Terminal 1 , Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de Mexico (Will someone please tell me why these are labeled differently!? I hope you can finally appreciate my Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Shave and a Haircut-level frustration.) For what it’s worth, Terminal 1 is not on Google Maps.

4. Mexico Ciudad Azteca , This one has a wikipedia page .

5. Mexico City Balbuena , small station that only serves ADO buses

6. Mexico City Central North terminal, This one has its own website that’s zero help.

7. Mexico City Taxqueña , the south/central bus terminal with information here .

8. Mexico Ixtapaluca , This one has a Facebook page with exactly 17 likes and a woman’s selfie as its cover photo?

9. Santa Martha Acatitla , address: Terminal Women’s Prison, 3097, Santa Martha Acatitla, Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico–need I say more?

10 – 13.The source of my biggest headache: TAPO stands for  Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente . Or, Bus Terminal for Eastbound Passengers–and though they are listed four separate times, there is only one TAPO.

TAPOs ADO, AU, OCC, Platino, GL, and Texcoco are literally just different gates at the TAPO station. TAPO is the biggest and main bus station in Mexico City and the only one you should really even concern yourself with.

14. Terminal Ejecutiva Sur , the south terminal located in Coyoacán

15.  Tlalnepantla , This one is so far north it shouldn’t even be considered Mexico City.

But where are they?

As you can imagine, the inconsistency of the Mexico City bus station names and the inability to find accurate information all in one place almost drove me to dip (another Roger Rabbit reference for those in the know).

Why are some labeled Mexico Ciudad while others are Mexico DF? Why are the TAPOs listed separately when really they are the same place? Is the women’s prison so popular they need their own bus route? Please advise.

Here is all of that information on a map I made myself because I had to:

Also check out ─ I have plenty more Mexico City tips that go beyond bus travel. Also read my post full of dos, don’ts, and tips for spending 3 days in Mexico City .

How to buy ADO bus tickets

Now, I’m going to walk you through the process of buying ADO bus tickets so I can point out everything you’re doing wrong (in the eyes of the ADO bus ticketing system).

Maybe, just maybe, it will only take you one try to get tickets to my four. Yes, it took me four separate attempts at buying tickets to make all the possible mistakes.

Couldn’t they have just pointed out everything they knew I was going to do wrong up front? It worked for my college biology professor. It works for my husband any time he sees me fiddling around in the kitchen.

It’s my belief that the ADO bus ticketing system likes you to think you’ve almost got it before throwing you an even curvier curve ball. You’ve played rigged carnival games before, you know the carny’s MO.

An hour later you’ve earned just the tiniest, crappiest token for your troubles and a question you really don’t want to know the answer to: “How many bus tickets have I bought?” The answer, by the way, is either zero or twelve.

Where to buy ADO bus tickets

There are two ways to buy ADO bus tickets in advance: the ADO website and the ADO app. I’m almost positive you can buy tickets at an ADO terminal ticket window, but it’s my understanding certain buses and routes tend to sell out.

  • ADO Bus Website
  • ADO Bus Mobile App for iPhone
  • ADO Bus Mobile App for Android

Which of the above methods you use to purchase your ADO bus tickets is not actually up to you as the two are mutually exclusive. But could you know this until you’ve completed the 10-step process? What do you think, amigo?

Use the website if: you will be paying with a Mexican credit card. Use the mobile app if: you don’t have a Mexican credit card.

More on that in a minute…

The ADO bus ticket buying process

Even if you’d told me beforehand that I had to buy my tickets on the app, I’d probably still go through the process on the website to get an idea of what all I need to do and in a format big enough even Ariana Grande could read it. ( Girl is blind. ) I’m going to use the website version anyway to show you how to do this.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | main ticket screen website

Regardless of whether or not you speak Spanish, this main page is self-explanatory if you’ve ever booked any kind of travel. If you haven’t, oh boyyy have you chosen a fun way to start!

Don’t translate the page

And if you don’t speak Spanish, do not use the translate button that your browser so thoughtfully offers. I don’t know if this is a permanent error or just, ya know, the ADO bus system testing what little patience I have to being with, but when I would translate the website to English, (besides not even translating correctly) the system would break down. And then so would I.

Try it for yourself (honestly, it’s probably just me because that’s just where my life’s at right now) but know that you may have to buy your ADO bus tickets in Spanish. It’s fine. You can do this. All those late night Taco Bell drive-thru runs have prepared you for nothing if not this moment.

Choose your bus and time

Next, you’ll choose your bus and time (like in the picture at the beginning of this post) followed by your exact seat. Personally, I prefer a window seat one row back from a TV and as close to the front of the bus as possible because… baño stinko. After clicking on a seat you’ll get a popup box telling you to choose what kind of seat you want that looks like this ⇣⇣⇣

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | choose a seat price

As you can see, these choices are about as straightforward as an episode of Lost . You’ve got Adult, Child, and Senior Citizen ticket prices–that’s normal–but then you’ve got a discounted price for purchasing in advance. I know what you’re thinking: “Whattheactualasdfuyyenskdggg!?”

Of course you are going to choose Compra Anticipada; it’s half the price. You’re probably also thinking, “In what world would someone choose a regular adult ticket when they could choose the same ticket for half as much?” And the answer is, in the world of the ADO bus system where logic is as fleeting as sands through an hourglass.

The different ADO bus ticket options

But what you don’t know at this point (because this is still your first attempt, not your third) is that this does all make sense. It’s just that they’ve labeled the choices very, very wrong. Allow me to translate ADO into English:

Compra anticipada

A discounted rate available only to Mexican residents. You know how they know you’re Mexican? Because these discounted tickets can only be paid for with a Mexican credit card. You know at what point you find this out? Right now because I’m telling you and at no other point in time.

You’ll get through the entire process, enter your credit card number, and the only message you’ll get is that your credit card can’t be processed. So you’ll try another. And if you’re the kind of person with a third credit card, why are you even worrying about pinching pesos, hmm.

So why do they call it Compra Anticipada ? Because with a Mexican credit card is the only way to pay for your bus tickets in advance. Starting over and choosing “Adulto” won’t make any difference because…

The regular, standard price for adults over the age of 12 who aren’t Mexican so they should just call it what it is–Gringo. To purchase these you must do so from the ADO mobile app, not the website.

To purchase these, you must choose the “pay at terminal” option (where you will be allowed to use your non-Mexican credit card). From the mobile app. I repeat, you are not allowed to purchase your tickets in advance if you do not hold a Mexican credit card.

The price of a ticket for a child between the ages of 4 – 12. Kids 0-4 are free but they have to sit in your lap. I imagine the same rules apply in the above two circumstances, but don’t quote me on that as I’m not a crazy person who brings children on buses with me through Mexico.

This means you’re, literally, a card-carrying member of the National Institute of the Elderly. What do you think the entry requirements are? Shuffleboard prowess? Top-notch Bingo strategies? If “inability to effectively use a computer” is one, I’m a shoo-in! Bring on the discounts, whippersnappers!

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | everything in Mexico should be so simple

Concerns you’ll have during your ADO bus travel

If you thought the questions would end after you finally got your bus tickets in your hand, you are day of the dead wrong. As with a lot of aspects regarding international travel, the only way to get to the other side is most often through trial and error. And because everything I do is to help you , I tried and erred so you don’t have to.

Should you check your bags?

While waiting to board your bus you’ll see a large window with a line of people protruding from it. This is the counter where you check your bags, not where you buy tacos. Even though the signs all imply this service is optional, you’ll still panic.

OMG should we check our bags? Everyone checked their bags! It says bags must be checked 45 minutes before our departure, but our bus leaves in 30 minutes! WHAT DO WE DO!?

This is to be expected. Remember how straightforward the ADO website was? That same pattern has flowed right out of cyberspace and into the real world of Mexico City bus terminals. And as someone who got robbed in Italy of her bags and the thousands of dollars worth of stuff inside, parting with my luggage is an absolute not-a-shot-in-hell .

So, should you check your bags? Yes. For the following reasons:

They’re going to make you anyway

(Seriously, I think the meaning of “optional” got lost in translation somewhere over Texas.) Anything larger than a backpack will need to go under the bus, and it doesn’t matter if your bus leaves in 45 minutes or 45 seconds.

It’s secure

The luggage room is attended and located about five feet from where the buses pull up. Your tickets are checked, your bags are tagged to match, and the guy who checked your bags is also the guy who puts the bags on the bus.

Yup, he pushed those suckers all of five feet.When you arrive at your destination, you can’t retrieve your bag without the matching tag stub. If it helps, you can hang back and board the bus last so you can see your bag get loaded onto the bus. (They already think you’re super weird at this point anyway. You’ll see…)

You may see signs that, when roughly translated, say something about how checking your bags is the most secure way to travel and that it will cost you $30 (30 pesos). Don’t be fooled by the Spanish you don’t really know in the first place.

Checking your bags for your bus trip is totally free. Getting your bags shrink-wrapped in colorful cellophane the way they (and Kim Kardashian) do in Latin America will cost you $30.

It’s one less thing to mess with

I’ve ridden trains and buses with my legs crossed on top of my full size suitcase and my backpack/coat/purse piled up from my lap to my chin because I was too petrified to part with my belongings on public transportation.

Letting go of the things that slow you down both mentally and physically makes traveling the world so much more pleasant.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | everything in Mexico should be so simple

Will you get on the right bus?

Yes. But what if you don’t speak Spanish or have even the slightest clue of what’s going on? Yes. But what if you’re at the wrong gate to begin with? Yes. And how do I know this? Because I tried getting on the wrong bus three whole times.

Airport-like security

Boarding an ADO bus is not unlike boarding an airplane, if you haven’t gathered that already. You’ll check your bags, you’ll walk through a metal detector, and someone will personally go through your carry-on.

They’ll check your ticket at two separate checkpoints and won’t let anyone pass who isn’t on that particular bus. Thank God! Particularly, Tezcatlipoca–the Aztec god of the nocturnal sky and embodiment of change through conflict!

You’re probably thinking I’m a complete imbecile. Like, how did I mess this up so many times? Well, the signage at the ADO gates is about as helpful as using a fire extinguisher to blow out your birthday candles.

Though about 5 or 6 buses boarded from our gate during our time there, our particular bus was the only one listed on the screen. So naturally, when people started lining up in front of our gate, we joined them like the non-Spanish-speaking sheep that we are.

Each instance was within a reasonable amount of time to board a bus, mind you. It was pretty hilarious by the fourth time the lady cop frisked me.

How early can you board your bus?

15 minutes before your departure and not a minute sooner. On the ticket itself it says to be sure to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. So naturally we got there an hour and a half early.

Forty-five minutes before our departure time people started lining up at our gate. I thought, “Oh, this is great! I can get a head start on my nap.” Nope. Same thing happened at 30 minutes. Uh-uh. Then again at 20. No ma’am.

I resolved that I wouldn’t make my way toward the lady cop again until two minutes before my bus time–there’s no way that would be too early. But at 15 minutes prior I got the go-ahead nod from Mexican law enforcement.

Where are you supposed to be?

If I learned one thing during my time in Mexico, it’s that Mexicans are the nicest people and always willing to help. I asked for help from almost everyone in the ADO bus stations at one point or another.

The metal detector guy, other people at the gate, the luggage handler, the bathroom attendant, the ticket-taker, even the SWAT guy behind the riot gear–all friendly, all helpful. If you’re lost or have a question about anything, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | everything in Mexico should be so simple

Related things to keep in mind

24-hour format.

The ADO bus timetables are shown in 24-hour format. In America we call this “military time” whereas the rest of the world just calls it “time.”

Ado bus ticket prices

The ADO bus ticket prices are shown in Mexican Pesos. Don’t let the dollar sign fool you give you a heart attack.

Seat selection

If you go through the ticket buying process and, for one illogical reason or another, have to start over, you’ll notice the seat(s) you selected is/are no longer available. Don’t freak out–you didn’t buy anything (probably).

The site holds the seat(s) you chose for 45 minutes before opening it/them back up again. So either choose a different seat or wait an hour if that was a seat you really wanted. At one point I think I held about half the seats on the bus.

ADO bus station restrooms

At the TAPO in Mexico City, the restrooms out in the main part of the train station aren’t the nicest and you have to pay to use them. The restrooms in the ADO terminal are clean, spacious, and absolutely free.

Checking out early

If you have to catch an early bus, be sure to let your hotel know beforehand. While attempting to leave Oaxaca at about 5:00am, we found we were trapped in our hotel. Literally. There was a gate of iron bars locked tight across the entrance to the lobby and only pitch blackness on the other side.

While I was off searching for a window to jump out of, I kid you not (I’m actually laughing so hard remembering that this was my actual plan), my husband pointed out the fact that we had a telephone in our room.

By some miracle dialing zero got me an actual, albeit asleep, person. I tried my best to explain that I NEED TO GET OUT OH GOD only to get in return, “ No entiendo …” uttered with about as much enthusiasm as Garfield the Cat on a Monday morning.

What to pack for your ADO bus journey

  • a travel pillow
  • an eye mask , if traveling during the day
  • ear plugs , regardless of when you travel — people chat, movies play, sleepers snore
  • some snacks + drinks — Neither of my 6/7-hour bus rides made any stops.
  • a book or something else to entertain yourself with
  • or a deck of cards if there’s two of you
  • a camera : There is so much cool stuff to see driving crossing Mexico! I saw a volcano erupt!
  • a healthy sense of wonder and excitement: Be the emoji with hearts for eyes you wish to see in the world.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | Where to find ADO live chat support on their website

If you have a question regarding ADO bus travel that I didn’t cover in this post, I suggest:

  • checking the ADO Terms & Conditions (translation may be needed) where they outline a great deal
  • hopping onto the ADO live chat which can be accessed through the link on the bottom right of their homepage (They use translators so you can type English to them.)
  • asking it below in the comments section and I’ll see what I can do about answering it

Buen viaje!

Heading to Mexico City? Find great places to stay here . How about Oaxaca? You can find those here too .  But where do I personally recommend? The adorable Hotel Anua Oaxaca What guidebook do you need? I recommend this one !  What else have I written about Mexico? See this page . Like this post? Have questions? Hit me up on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

ado tours mexico

Do you have an ADO bus question I didn’t cover? Let me know below!

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico |

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 32 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

17 Things That Shocked Me in Mexico | Mexico City, Oaxaca | altitude sickness | friendliness | language barrier | pesos | ADO buses | luchadores | safety | sickness | weird things I saw in Mexico

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Find cheap bus tickets from Mexico City to Cancún

Easily compare and book your next trip with Busbud

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ADO

Bus Mexico City to Cancún: Trip Overview

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Based on 7881 reviews, the company was rated 4.2 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. ADO ticket prices on this trip start at $144.00

Mexico to Cancún Buses

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a bus from Mexico to Cancún is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of bus fares and bus schedules to find the best deals.

We make sure you can find a bus service from Mexico to Cancún from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Cancún from Mexico, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Information on this bus route

Where are the popular bus stations and stops in mexico and cancún.

Stations map

Terminal del Sur, Av. Taxqueña No. 1320 (Col. Campestre Churubusco), 04200 Coyoacán - Ciudad de Mexico

Calz. Ignacio Zaragoza 564d, 4 Árboles, 15730 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Calle Economía, Aeropuerto Int de La Cd de México, 15620 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Terminal del Norte, Eje Central 271, Magdalena de las Salinas, 07760 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico

Calzada del Hueso 380, Floresta, Ex-Ejido Sta Úrsula Coapa 27 Bis, 04920 Ciudad de México, D.F.

Stations map

Unnamed Road, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Av. López Portillo 58, 94, 77515 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

Av. Kabah 401, SM 248, 77516 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

ADO Terraviva, Av Tulum Acanceh Plaza Terraviva, 11, 77504 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

Ado Emprendedor, 2 Mz 08, Av. López Portillo, 59, 77515 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

Frequently asked questions for your trip Mexico City - Cancún

How do i get from mexico city to cancún without flying.

The best way to travel from Mexico City to Cancún is by bus. The bus trip is an affordable, safe and convenient way to travel between the two cities. You also have the option of using carpooling services.

How long is the bus ride from Mexico City to Cancún?

The average travel time from Mexico City to Cancún is about 1d 3h, but the quickest bus can get you there in about 22h 35m. This is the time it takes to travel the 806 miles (1300 km) that separate the two cities.

How far is Mexico City from Cancún?

The distance between the two cities is 806 miles (1300 km).

How many buses travel between Mexico City and Cancún daily?

On average, there are 7 daily departures on this route, offered by ADO. The number of buses from Mexico City to Cancún can differ depending on the day of the week. Busbud can make your trip from Mexico City to Cancún a breeze! Simply check the schedules and pick the bus that matches your style and budget. It's that easy!

What time are the first and last bus from Mexico City to Cancún?

The first bus leaves at 9:45 AM and the last one leaves at 11:59 PM.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Mexico City to Cancún?

Most of the buses traveling from Mexico City to Cancún leave from Sur and arrive at Cancun Airport. These are the primary departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the cheapest way to get from Mexico City to Cancún?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. $144 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Cancún from Mexico City.

How much does a bus ticket from Mexico City to Cancún cost?

The average bus ticket price from Mexico City to Cancún is $145. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $144 to $163, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in Cancún?

Once in Cancún, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Swim with Whale Sharks, Cancun Golf Club at Pok Ta Pok, Mayan Ruins, Hotel Zone and Eco Parks and Tours.

Can I take an overnight bus from Mexico City to Cancún?

Yes, it is possible to take an overnight bus from Mexico City to Cancún. Make sure to pack a blanket and a snack to make your trip more comfortable.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Mexico City to Cancún, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $127 to $127 for a bus ticket from Mexico City to Cancún based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $127 which is on 2024-03-29.

About Bus Travel

Bus travel tips.

Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from Mexico City to Cancún.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Mexico City to Cancún, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Mexico City to Cancún.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Mexico City to Cancún, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

Will you be returning to Mexico City by bus?

Top traveled bus routes.

Cancún

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Popular Buses Connecting Mexico City

Buses leaving from mexico city.

  • Bus from Mexico to San Miguel de Allende
  • Bus Mexico - Guadalajara
  • Mexico - Cancún
  • Bus from Mexico to Puerto Escondido
  • Bus Mexico - Acapulco
  • Mexico - Tijuana
  • Bus from Mexico to Santiago de Querétaro
  • Bus Mexico - Puerto Vallarta
  • Mexico - Cuernavaca
  • Bus from Mexico to Monterrey
  • Bus Mexico - Veracruz
  • Mexico - Taxco
  • Bus from Mexico to Tepoztlán
  • Bus Mexico - Mérida
  • Mexico - Xalapa

Buses Going to Mexico City

  • Bus from Guadalajara to Mexico
  • Bus Cancún - Mexico
  • Tapachula - Mexico
  • Bus from Houston to Mexico
  • Bus Chicago - Mexico
  • Puerto Vallarta - Mexico
  • Bus from Puerto Escondido to Mexico
  • Bus Tijuana - Mexico
  • Monterrey - Mexico
  • Bus from Santiago de Querétaro to Mexico
  • Bus Chetumal - Mexico
  • Acapulco - Mexico
  • Bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Mexico
  • Bus Cuernavaca - Mexico
  • Taxco - Mexico

Popular Buses Connecting Cancún

Buses leaving from cancún.

  • Bus from Cancún to Mexico
  • Bus Cancún - Chetumal
  • Cancún - Campeche
  • Bus from Cancún to Mahahual
  • Bus Cancún - Palenque
  • Cancún - San Cristóbal de las Casas
  • Bus from Cancún to Xcaret
  • Bus Cancún - Oaxaca
  • Cancún - Tijuana
  • Bus from Cancún to Villahermosa
  • Bus Cancún - Puerto Morelos
  • Cancún - Puerto Escondido
  • Bus from Cancún to Tizimín
  • Bus Cancún - Veracruz
  • Cancún - Pisté

Buses Going to Cancún

  • Bus from Mexico to Cancún
  • Bus Chichén-Itzá - Cancún
  • Valladolid - Cancún
  • Bus from Palenque to Cancún
  • Bus Tapachula - Cancún
  • Campeche - Cancún
  • Bus from Oaxaca to Cancún
  • Bus Villahermosa - Cancún
  • San Cristóbal de las Casas - Cancún
  • Bus from Tijuana to Cancún
  • Bus Puebla - Cancún
  • Puerto Morelos - Cancún
  • Bus from Puerto Escondido to Cancún
  • Bus Guadalajara - Cancún
  • Mahahual - Cancún

Popular routes in this country

  • Bus from Playa del Carmen to Cancún
  • Bus Mérida - Cancún
  • Chetumal - Cancún
  • Bus from Tulum to Bacalar
  • Bus Tulum - Playa del Carmen
  • Chiquilá - Cancún
  • Bus from Cancún to Valladolid
  • Bus Puebla - Oaxaca
  • Cancún - Bacalar
  • Bus from Oaxaca to San Cristóbal de las Casas
  • Bus Bacalar - Cancún
  • Puebla - Mexico
  • Bus from Bacalar to Tulum
  • Bus Cancún - Chichén-Itzá
  • Puerto Escondido - San Cristóbal de las Casas

Popular airport transfers

  • Mexico to Mexico City Airport

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Terminal Autobuses ADO

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  • (0.03 mi) Luxury Suite on the beach!
  • (0.04 mi) Plaza Caribe Cancún
  • (0.07 mi) Selina Cancun Downtown
  • (0.04 mi) Hotel Plaza Caribe
  • (0.10 mi) Moloch Hostel y Suites
  • (0.02 mi) Taco Express
  • (0.04 mi) Quesadillas Tierra Del Sol
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IMAGES

  1. How to Book the ADO Bus in Mexico: A Complete Guide

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  2. ADO Buses 101: How To Explore Mexico by Bus

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  3. ADO Bus Service: BEST Technique to Get Round Mexico

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  4. How to Book the ADO Bus in Mexico: A Complete Guide

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  5. ADO (Cancún)

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  6. ADO Buses 101: How To Explore Mexico by Bus From Somone Who's Done It

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COMMENTS

  1. ADO: Boletos de Autobús en Línea y Salida de Autobuses

    Realiza una compra anticipada y obtén descuentos en el precio de boletos de autobús desde un 10% hasta un 50%. 1. Entra al sitio web o App ADO. 2. Busca tu próximo viaje. *Mínimo un día antes. 3. Identifica los descuentos de Compra Anticipada. * Estos tienen una Etiqueta Roja arriba del precio.

  2. The Complete Guide to ADO Bus in Mexico

    Autobuses de Oriente (ADO), or Buses of the East, is a private Mexican passenger bus company that was founded in 1939 in Veracruz in southeastern Mexico. ADO buses are modern and comfortable, and provide several service levels and prices ranging from their basic first-class bus to their luxury line.

  3. Boletos para Ado

    Ado fechas para el tour 2024-25, detalles del evento y mucho más. Compra boletos para Ado en Ticketmaster MX. Ado fechas para el tour 2024-25, detalles del evento y mucho más. ... Safari, Edge. Ante las recientes modificaciones en la aplicación de cambios de horario en México, te recomendamos actualizar tu navegador a la versión más ...

  4. Ado Entradas, 2024-2025 Fechas y detalles de la gira de conciertos

    Compra entradas para los conciertos de Ado cerca de ti. Obtén las fechas de la gira de 2024, detalles de la sede, comentarios de conciertos, fotos y mucho más en Bandsintown. Encuentra fechas de giras y eventos de música en directo de tus grupos y artistas favoritos en tu ciudad.

  5. How to Book the ADO Bus in Mexico: A Complete Guide

    The ADO bus is a convenient, cost-effective way to get from the Cancun airport into the city proper. All you have to do is take the bus from the airport to the ADO bus station in downtown Cancun. There are departures about every 30 minutes from Terminal 3. The ride costs $130 MXN.

  6. The Ultimate Playa del Carmen ADO Bus Guide for 2024

    ADO is the name of one of the largest bus systems in Mexico. The ADO bus line serves the southern part of Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula. It offers a safe, comfortable, and economical way to travel between many cities and airports. ... 🤿 Tours & Activities: I always use Viator or GetYourGuide for booking tours and activities in Mexico. You ...

  7. Déjate Sorprender por la Magia de los Tours en Cancún

    En Isla Contoy encontrarás uno de los corales más increíbles del mundo, además de conocer la gran diversidad de fauna y paradisíacas playas. ¡No olvides tu cámara y tu traje de baño! En la zona hotelera de Cancún encontrarás tours y ferris que salen cada cierto tiempo para llevarte a una de estas dos preciosas islas. ¡Anímate a ...

  8. ADO

    Mobility ADO is Mexico's premier bus operator, connecting cities and towns across the country with a safe and comfortable service since 1939. With a vast network of routes and a fleet of modern buses, they offer travelers convenient access to destinations big and small. And with tickets from only a few dollars, ADO makes it easy to plan your ...

  9. Travel Mexico by ADO Bus: Insider Tips for a Smooth Journey

    ADO Bus Terminals in Mexico. ADO Terminal Norte - Av. Insurgentes Norte 4469, Colonia Lindavista, Gustavo A. Madero, C.P. 07300, Ciudad de México.; Terminal Ejecutiva Sur ADO - Av. Insurgentes Sur 2465, Colonia San Angel Inn, Álvaro Obregón, C.P. 01000, Ciudad de México.; ADO Merida - Calle 69 564, Centro 97000 Centro, Yuc.; Merida Terminal - Plaza Paseo 60 - Mérida Terminal ...

  10. How to use the ADO buses in Mexico: A Guide

    The ADO in Mexico is anything but that. We've put together this guide to the Mexican ADO bus system to help you navigate your way through Mexico in comfort. First off, ADO buses are generally well priced and incredibly comfortable, and depending on the class level they have at least one bathroom in the back of the bus.

  11. A Complete Guide to Bus Travel Around Mexico

    Autobuses de Oriente aka ADO is a massive bus company in Mexico that owns several smaller bus companies such as OCC. You'll very likely be travelling with either an ADO or OCC bus if your itinerary includes states such as Chiapas, Yucatan and Oaxaca. We used the company on quite a few occasions travelling through these states.

  12. ADO Bus and Stations Guide in Playa Del Carmen

    The ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen takes 1 hour and it takes one hour to get from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum. So the bus will arrive in Playa and you will most likely have a 25 minute layover. The bus will depart from the same station so you only need to wait there. We wish you a great trip here.

  13. ADO Bus Service: The BEST Way to Get Around Mexico

    ADO pronunciation. At first glance, it's tempting to pronounce ADO as "ah-dough" or "A.D.O." However, it's pronounced in Spanish with three syllables, pronouncing the letters of the Spanish alphabet: A = "ah" D = "day" O = "oh" Fun fact: The name is actually an acronym for "Autobuses de Oriente", or "buses of the east" since the company began running in Mexico ...

  14. How To Get From Cancun To Chichen Itza: Drive, Tour & Bus

    The bus journey from Cancun to Chichen Itza (or vice versa) takes about 3 hours of driving and costs about 250 pesos ($13 USD) for a one way ticket. You can buy these tickets online at the ADO Bus website, or in person at the bus station in Mexico. The ADO buses are clean, with air conditioning and bathrooms.

  15. Bienvenidos a Turibus Ciudad de México

    Ciudad de México: Tan bella como moderna. Déjate llevar por la emoción en Turibus y enamórate de su arquitectura, gastronomía y alegría de su gente. ... EXPERIENCIAS ADO. ADO: Autotur: Teper: Mi escape: Contacto. Teléfono: 55 5133 2444 De lunes a domingo desde las 07:00 h hasta las 22:00 h.

  16. ADO Buses 101: How To Explore Mexico by Bus From Somone Who's Done It

    An ADO station at the Cancun International Airport. ADO is primarily a long-distance bus company, meaning you won't find these massive buses cruising around streets in small towns (you'll need to take the colectivo vans for that).. That said, a notable exception is the ADO buses operating at airports, which can often take you to the nearest downtown bus station.

  17. Buy ADO Bus Mexico Tickets Online (in English): What To Know

    About ADO Bus in Country. Unlike other popular tourist target, Mexico doesn't have a network of passenger trains, and buying plane tickets to hop around destinations or leasing a automotive in Mexican can quickly take a ring on your wallet.. Instead, looking rely on Mexico's robust real reliable system of passenger buses to get nearby.

  18. Paquetes, Hoteles, Autobuses y Tours en México

    Reserva hoteles, transporte, tours, atracciones y paquetes a precios increíbles. Reserva los mejores Hoteles, Autobuses, Paquetes y Tours. Aproveche nuestros Paquetes de Hotel + Autobus . Viaja con www.miescape.mx! ... Escápate a los mejores destinos del sureste de México con miscape. Reserva hoteles, transporte, tours, atracciones y ...

  19. Making Sense of Mexico's ADO Bus System

    4. Mexico Ciudad Azteca, This one has a wikipedia page. 5. Mexico City Balbuena, small station that only serves ADO buses. 6. Mexico City Central North terminal, This one has its own website that's zero help. 7. Mexico City Taxqueña, the south/central bus terminal with information here. 8.

  20. ADO: Compra Anticipada en Boletos de Autobús en Línea

    La manera más sencilla de obtener tus boletos. Para encontrar los descuentos lo único que hay que hacer es comenzar a planear tu viaje y comprar con anticipación. Conoce los precio de boletos ADO con compra anticipada y compra con tiempo. Compra en línea y viaja con los mejores descuentos de hasta el 50%.

  21. Mexico → Cancún Bus: from $125

    The cheapest trip from Mexico City to Cancún was searched and found on Mar 20, 2024 with a price of $127. To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Mexico City to Cancún, as early as possible. You can expect to pay from $127 to $127 for a bus ticket from Mexico City to Cancún based on the ...

  22. Terminal Autobuses ADO

    per adult (price varies by group size) Cancun Airport Small-Group Transfer to Cancun Hotels. 41. Transportation Services. from. $8.00. per adult (price varies by group size) BEST SELLER. Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid Tour with Tequila and Lunch.