ADO Bus Cancun Guide in 2023

Wondering how the ADO Bus Cancun works? Look no further! In this post, I will tell you all about it.

I live in Cancun I have used the ADO bus terminal in Cancun multiple times! I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you so that you “know before you go”! 😊

Taking the ADO bus in Cancun is a great way to explore the Yucatan Peninsula. There are many great destinations near Cancun to check out while on vacation, including the coastal towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and the colonial city of Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Although I always prefer renting a car in Cancun, when I can afford it, I admit that the ADO buses in Mexico are an affordable and comfortable way to travel.

In fact, traveling by ADO you can save yourself the hassle of worrying about driving and navigating to your location, and just sit back and relax in the air-conditioning.

In this post I will tell you all about it.

ADO Bus in Cancun: overview

The ADO bus company is the largest bus company in Mexico. ADO stands for Autobuses de Oriente, but everyone just called them ADO.

There are also many smaller bus companies in Mexico. In Cancun, you will find other bus companies at the main bus station.

These companies often offer more local routes, with lots of stops to let passengers on and off. 

For moving around the Yucatan Peninsula, the ADO bus is your best option because it is fast and efficient.

Buses leave on time and do not make extra stops at all the small pueblos in between your departure city and destination. This gets you to where you want to go faster. 

The ADO is easy to use, even if you are not used to using public transportation to get around. You can find the schedule online or at any bus station or ADO office, and buses leave from well-marked bus stations. 

Some routes are served by the ADO low-end brand called Mayab, which can’t be booked online. If you want to book a route that’s served by Mayab you can use the Chat service in the ADO site and they will tell you when it’s scheduled to run.

Why should you take the ADO Bus ride in Cancun?

Using the ADO buses is a great way to explore the Yucatan Peninsula. They have comfortable seats and they have air conditioning- in fact, sometimes they are too cold, if you are someone who gets cold easily, pack a sweater for the ride!

ADO buses have comfortable, spacious seats, and they are not overcrowded. Each person is assigned a seat with their ticket price- it is not like movies of more and more people crowding in! 

In addition to being comfortable, the ADO buses are affordable and convenient. You can move around without worrying about renting a car, getting lost, or finding parking at your destination. 

Is it safe to take the ADO bus?

Yes, the ADO buses are safe. Locals and tourists use them, and you can confidently travel on them, even as a solo female traveler. If you have luggage, it will be ticketed and locked underneath the bus.

Then, when you arrive at your destination you will need to show your ticket to take your suitcase.

Like any time you travel on public transportation, you will want to keep an eye on any valuables you have onboard with you. 

A few safety-related tips:

✔️ Never use the overhead compartment for personal belonging of value. That is not safe.

✔️ Keep the passport handy, first of all, because you don’t want to lose it, and second, because immigration officers would stop the buses and do random checks and they want to see your passport.

Where is the ADO Bus station in Cancun located?

ADO Bus Cancun Map

The ADO station is conveniently located in downtown Cancun. Its address is Calle Pino, SM23, MZ56.

It’s close to Av. Tulum, and Av, Nader, my favorite area to hang out in, with cute bars and restaurants and lots of affordable Airbnb and Hotels.

How much is the ADO bus in Cancun?

The ADO bus is an affordable way to move around Mexico, specifically, the area surrounding Cancun. The price of the bus depends on the distance you are traveling and what kind of ticket you purchase.

For some routes, the ADO offers different class seats, and you can pay for additional comfort, but for shorter distances, there is only one option available. 

How do you pay for the ADO bus?

There are several ways to buy your ADO bus ticket. You can go to any ADO office or bus station and purchase tickets. You can also use the ADO website to buy tickets; however, the site is all in Spanish. If you prefer to use an English website, you can look for tickets on busbud.com. 

How to take the ADO bus in Cancun?

If you are on a tight schedule, it is a good idea to purchase your bus tickets in advance. This guarantees that you will be able to depart at your desired time, and you don’t run the risk of the bus filling up.

Your ticket will tell you what gate number your bus will depart from at the bus terminal. Simply wait for your bus to arrive, give the driver your ticket, and enjoy your ride. 

ADO bus from Cancun Airport

The ADO bus is a great, affordable way to get from the Cancun airport to downtown Cancun. After you clear customs and immigration and are exiting the airport you will see an ADO kiosk.

There you can purchase your bus tickets, then walk outside and wait for your bus. During the day, buses run about every twenty minutes from the airport to downtown Cancun and cost around $6.

This is one time when you probably do not want to buy your ticket online ahead of time. If your flight is delayed you will then lose your ticket. 

Terminals and routes

The ADO bus will pass by every terminal in the Cancun airport to take people to downtown Cancun. You do not need to move between terminals in order to get on the bus.

Once it leaves the airport the bus will go directly to the downtown Cancun bus station or the other available destinations mentioned here below.

Mind that the ADO doesn’t run from the Cancun Airport to the Hotel Zone or may any stops at the hotel. For this destination, we recommend using Cancun Airport Transportation service.

It’s a little more expensive than the ADO, but it´s safer and more convenient than taxis and it saves time and stress.

ADO bus to Downtown Cancun

Planning to use the ADO bus to get from the airport to downtown Cancun is a great option. Do not try to negotiate with taxi drivers who will try to overcharge you, just look for kiosks marked with the red ADO letters.

Bus ticket prices

It costs around 100 pesos to go from the airport to downtown Cancun. You can pay in dollars or pesos. 

Travel Duration

It takes around 20 to 25 minutes to get downtown from the airport.

Bus schedules

Buses leave about every twenty minutes during the day, and less often late at night. You can check the schedule online to make sure there will be buses running around your arrival time if you arrive in the middle of the night or very early morning. 

ADO bus to Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a beach town known for food, shopping, and a fun atmosphere that is about 70 kilometers south of Cancun. Whether you want to go there for the day or plan to spend a few nights there, the ADO bus is a great way to get there. 

Bus ticket prices

The bus from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen costs a little over 100 pesos. 

Travel Duration

With normal traffic, it takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Playa del Carmen.

Bus schedules

Buses run from around 6:00 am to midnight from Cancun to Playa del Carmen and depart every twenty minutes. 

ADO bus to Tulum

Tulum is located about 130 kilometers to the south of Cancun. It is known for its beautiful beaches, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and great food and music scene. 

Bus ticket prices

Bus tickets from Cancun to Tulum cost around 240 pesos. 

Travel Duration

It takes about one hour and forty minutes to get from Cancun to Tulum on the ADO bus. 

Bus schedules

Buses run all day from Cancun Downtown to Tulum, starting around 6:00 am until 11:00 pm. Buses leave Cancun for Tulum about every forty minutes. 

There are fewer buses leaving from Cancun airport. So in case you have missed your buss when you land, and have to wait more than 1 hour for the next one, you can take the ADO to Cancun Downtown and get the Bus to Tulum from there.

ADO bus to Merida

Merida is a beautiful, colonial town located on the Yucatan Peninsula a little over 300 kilometers from Cancun. Merida is known for delicious food, a rich history, and being close to archeological sites. 

Bus ticket prices

Bus tickets from Cancun to Merida cost 610 pesos. There are some departure times that offer ADO Platino, which is a more comfortable ticket, for 908 pesos. 

Travel Duration

It takes a little over 4 hours to get to Merida from Cancun. 

Bus Schedules

Buses from Cancun to Merida run all night. During the day there are departures every half hour and at night every hour. 

Also for Merida, if the airport bus schedule doesn’t fit with your arrival time you can always take an ADO bus to Cancun downtown and hop on the next one to Merida.

Taking the ADO bus back to Cancun airport

At the end of your vacation, you can take the ADO bus back to the Cancun airport. Make sure you consider some extra time, in case of heavy traffic on the road, especially if you are coming from Tulum.

ADO bus terminals going to the airport

You will depart for the Cancun airport from the downtown bus station. The driver will stop at all the terminals in the Cancun airport. They will shout what terminal they are at, so just pay attention and know what terminal your flight will leave from.

Bus schedules

The first bus for the airport leaves downtown at 4:00 am. During the day there are departures every 25 minutes to the airport. 

Types of ADO buses in Cancun

ADO offers three different classes. Some of the shorter routes only offer their standard class, which includes a comfortable seat, air conditioning, and shared entertainment. 

ADO Platino

Platino is the most luxurious way to travel on the ADO. The seats are wide, comfortable, and recline almost flat. Each seat has its own entertainment, there is WIFI, you can charge your electronics, and they offer you snacks. There is also a separate male and female bathroom onboard. 

I wouldn’t rely on the WIFI, though.

ADO GL

GL is not quite as luxurious as Platino, but still, a great way to travel. The seats recline, have individual entertainment, snacks, and separate male and female bathrooms.

ADO

The standard class is the most common, especially for shorter routes, and is still very comfortable. All buses have air conditioning and shared entertainment- they show movies in Spanish, and very loud, and bathrooms. 

MAYAB

It’s the cheapest and least comfortable bus fleet of the ADO, but still works when you need to reach a destination that is not covered by the other busses. It has Air Conditioning, too, but the busses may be a little older.

Facilities and Amenities inside the ADO bus

As mentioned above, ADO buses are a nice way to travel. The seats are comfortable, the buses all have air conditioning, and there are bathrooms on board. The buses show popular movies too.

Seating & luggage

Your ticket will come with an assigned seat. You can store large pieces of luggage underneath the bus. The driver will give you a ticket and you will need to turn that in at the end to get your suitcase back. You can take any small bags onboard with you.

Tips before taking the ADO Bus in Cancun

Taking the ADO buses around the Cancun area helps you avoid the stress of driving yourself and lets you relax and enjoy the journey. The buses are safe, but make sure to keep an eye on the bag that you have onboard with you.

Also, if you decide not to buy tickets ahead of time, at least check the departure schedule before planning your trip. Bus schedules can change. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: ADO Bus Cancun Guide

ADO buses are a great way to move around the Yucatan Peninsula. There are so many great destinations near Cancun, and ADO site lets you get wherever you want to go without any stress. The ADO service is convenient, comfortable, and affordable, and popular with locals and visitors.