ADO Bus Service in Cancun and Yucatan in Mexico

ADO is a private bus service that runs luxurious, clean, safe and comfortable buses in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. ADO has modern buses equipped with clean washrooms, ample leg room, and comfortable seats. ADO is the best public transportation option to popular destinations like Cancun, Chichen Itza, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid, and Merida in the Yucatan Peninsula.

ADO Bus Destinations and Cost

ADO buses cover a majority of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the best public transportation option to the popular destinations of Yucatan Peninsula. The prices are fairly affordable.

Some popular ADO bus routes with average one-way prices in Mexican Peso (MXN)

Note: US$ 1 = MXN 17.90 (August 2017)

Note 2: Cost in MXN (US$), Travel Distance (in km) / Travel Time in Hours: Minutes format

• Cancun Airport to Cancun Downtown: MXN 72 (US$ 4.02), 18 km / 0:30
• Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: MXN 178 (US$ 9.93), 55 km / 1:10
• Cancun to Tulum: MXN 100 (US$ 5.58), 131 km / 02:20
• Cancun to Chichen Itza: MXN 237 (US$ 13.22), 197 km / 03:05
• Cancun to Merida: MXN 350 (US$ 19.52), 303 km / 04:20
• Tulum to Chetumal: MXN 200 (US$ 11.15), 253 km / 3:30
• Cancun to Palenque: MXN 750 (US$ 41.83), 835 km / 13:00

NOTE: There are ADO buses in between other locations in Yucatan. Cancun is mentioned only as a reference.

How to book ADO Bus Tickets Online

ADO buses can be booked either at the bus station or on their website – Autobuses ADO. The ADO bus website is in Spanish. That is why I am breaking it down for you in English.

Steps to book an ADO Bus:

• Enter Origin City in ‘Donde Sales?’
• Enter Destination City in ‘Donde Vas?’
• Select Date of the journey in ‘Cuando?’
• Click ‘Busca Tu Viaje’ which means Search

• The site will display a list of times and prices. Select a bus of your choice
  1. ‘Hora De Salida’ is departure time
  2. The prices even though mentioned in “$” actually are in Mexican Peso (MXN)
  3. The prices may differ based on the class of the bus (see the image below)
  4. ‘Solo 44 asientos’ mentioned beneath the prices is the number of available seats
  5. Travel time is mentioned next to the clock icon in Hours: Minutes format
  6. ‘Elige Este Viaje’ means select this bus option

• At this point, you will have to register with your email address
• Select the seat(s) of your choice and select passenger type. Adulto is adult 13 years or older. Nino is kid less than 13 years old. Inapam is senior citizens
• Click ‘Continua’ (Continue)
• Enter the name(s) of the passenger(s) and click ‘Continua’
• Pay with a credit or debit card. Enter the relevant credit/debit card info and click ‘Debes Aceptar Los Terminos y Condiciones’ after reading the terms and conditions clearly mentioned in Spanish
• If the payment is successful you will get an e-ticket in PDF format
• Show this e-ticket on your cell phone or show the ticket printout when you board the bus

ADO Buses vs Other public transportation options in Yucatan

The two most common forms of public transportation in the Yucatan are ADO buses and colectivos, big white passenger vans. The colectivos are slightly cheaper than the ADO buses but they are hot and crowded. They stop frequently to pick-up/drop-off passengers, hence they are rarely on time and definitely take longer than the ADO buses. Also, the colectivo stands are not clearly marked and can be harder to find in different cities.  Overall, unless travellers are on an extremely tight budget, ADO is generally considered a better option for the high quality and comfort offered on ADO buses.