ADO bus stations in Quintana Roo & the Mexican Caribbean: terminal guide

Travelling by bus in Quintana Roo & the Mexican Caribbean

Quintana Roo is Mexico's Caribbean coast: Cancún and its Hotel Zone, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, the Bacalar lagoon and the state capital Chetumal on the Belize border. Most visitors fly into Cancún or Tulum and then move along Highway 307, the coastal road that links nearly every town on the Riviera Maya.

Buses are the most common way to travel between these places on your own. Knowing which terminal serves which route, where the airport buses stop and how to reach ferries for Cozumel or Holbox saves time and taxi fares, especially in a region where several towns have more than one ADO station.

How ADO serves Quintana Roo & the Mexican Caribbean

Grupo ADO, which began operating in 1939, runs most intercity buses in the state. First-class ADO buses link Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar and Chetumal, with ADO GL (Gran Lujo) and ADO Platino as the premium classes. ADO Aeropuerto runs the services from Cancún International Airport to downtown Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and since March 2025 ASUR and ADO have also run a one-way airport bus to the Cancún Hotel Zone. Second-class Mayab and Oriente buses cover smaller places such as Chiquilá, the port for Holbox, and ADO also runs an international service from Cancún via Playa del Carmen and Tulum to Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize City.

Cancun ADO Bus Station (Terminal ADO Cancún Centro)

Address: Av Uxmal 10, 77524, Cancun
Coordinates: 21.16453, -86.82682
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, ADO Platino, AU
Departures: about 330 ADO connections a day to 49 cities

Cancún's main bus station, in the downtown area (Centro) rather than the Hotel Zone. ADO first-class buses leave here for Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Mérida, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá and the airport, and second-class Mayab, Oriente and AU buses also use it, including the buses to Chiquilá for Holbox.

Getting there: The terminal is just northwest of the roundabout where Av. Tulum meets Av. Uxmal, with its taxi rank on Calle Pino. Hotel Zone city buses (R1 and R2) run along Av. Tulum behind the station, and Wikivoyage listed the fare at M$12 in November 2025. Playa Express colectivos to the coast leave from across the street at Pino and Av. Tulum.

Facilities: Several bank ATMs often stand side by side at the station, which makes it easy to compare withdrawal fees. Food stalls in front sell tortas and tacos.

Tip: Hotel Zone guests can ride the R1 to this terminal and buy onward tickets here rather than going back to the airport. Buying on the ADO app or website lets you skip the ticket queue, and foreign credit cards are accepted.

Cancún Airport Terminal 2 (ADO Aeropuerto Cancún (Terminales 2, 3 y 4))

Address: Terminal 2, 77565, Cancun
Coordinates: 21.03951, -86.87327
ADO lines: ADO Aeropuerto (R)
Departures: about 91 ADO connections a day to 4 cities

ADO Aeropuerto buses stop outside Terminals 2, 3 and 4 of Cancún International Airport and run to downtown Cancún, Playa del Carmen (Terminal Turística) and Tulum, with some services to Puerto Morelos and Mérida. Buses only stop at ADO stations, never at hotels. A separate one-way route launched in March 2025 runs from Terminals 2, 3 and 4 to Plaza Fiesta in the Hotel Zone.

Getting there: In Terminal 3 the bus platforms are straight ahead as you exit; in Terminal 2 walk right along the sidewalk to the end; in Terminal 4 take the left-hand exit and covered walkway. Buses usually call at Terminal 3, then 4, then 2, and a free shuttle links the terminals if you are at the wrong one. The Hotel Zone route cost 140 MXN at launch and ran every two hours between 10:25 and 18:25.

Facilities: ADO ticket booths are inside the terminals and there are sales stands on the bus platforms. Booths inside accept cards, platform stands may only take cash, and if you pay in US dollars your change comes in pesos.

Tip: Ignore anyone outside arrivals who says the next bus is hours away or not running; it is a common sales tactic for taxis and vans. Direct buses to Tulum are limited, so outside those times ride to Playa del Carmen and change there.

Cancun Hotel Zone – Punta Cancun (Zona Hotelera (Punta Cancún))

Address: Boulevard Kukulcán Km. 12.5 Mza.52, 77500, Cancun
Coordinates: 21.13480, -86.74822
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R)
Departures: about 33 ADO connections a day to 2 cities

Street-side ADO stops in Cancún's Hotel Zone along Boulevard Kukulcán, around Punta Cancún and Plaza Fiesta. The airport-to-Hotel Zone service that ASUR and ADO launched in 2025 ends at Plaza Fiesta, and it runs one way only, from the airport into the Hotel Zone.

Getting there: The Hotel Zone is a long strip, so walk or take a taxi to the stop named on your ticket. For most intercity departures the simplest option is the R1 city bus along Boulevard Kukulcán to the downtown ADO terminal.

Facilities: These are kerbside stops rather than a terminal, so plan to buy tickets online or in the ADO app before you go.

Tip: Check the exact stop name on your ticket, as Punta Cancún is not the same place as the downtown terminal. To get back to the airport from the Hotel Zone, ride to the downtown terminal and take the airport bus from there, or book a taxi or shuttle.

Playa Del Carmen ADO Bus Station (ADO Turística / Terminal Quinta Avenida)

Address: Av Benito Juárez 251, 77710, Playa del Carmen
Coordinates: 20.62290, -87.07530
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R)
Departures: about 249 ADO connections a day to 9 cities

Playa del Carmen's tourist terminal, right on 5th Avenue at Av. Juárez in the heart of town. Every bus from Cancún Airport arrives here, and it also handles departures to Cancún, the airport, Tulum and the Xcaret and Xel-Há parks, plus some second-class Mayab and Oriente buses.

Getting there: It sits a short walk from the main square, and Av. Juárez continues to the Cozumel ferry dock just south of the plaza. Most hotels in central Playa are within walking distance or a short taxi ride. Colectivo vans to Cancún and Tulum do not leave from here: they start about 500 m away near Chedraui.

Facilities: There is an ATM upstairs (Santander and BanBajío, according to Wikivoyage).

Tip: Airport buses start here and then call at the Alterna terminal, so board here for the best choice of seats. For the Tulum ruins, choose the stop 'Tulum zona arqueológica' rather than 'Tulum'.

Playa del Carmen Alterna (ADO Alterna)

Address: Calle 12 Nte, 77710, Playa del Carmen
Coordinates: 20.62937, -87.07427
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, ADO Platino, AU
Departures: about 345 ADO connections a day to 45 cities

Playa del Carmen's second ADO terminal, at Calle 12 Norte and Av. 20 Norte. Long-distance buses from Bacalar, Chetumal and Mérida arrive only here, and buses to Tulum, Cancún and Cancún Airport also depart from it.

Getting there: The terminal is in the city centre a few blocks inland from 5th Avenue. Getting to or from the Turística terminal means a short taxi ride or a long walk.

Facilities: Ticket counters sell first-class ADO and second-class tickets.

Tip: If you are going south to Bacalar or Chetumal, or west to Mérida, check whether your bus leaves from Alterna. Leave enough time to cross town if your ticket names the other terminal.

Tulum ADO Terminal Autobuses (Terminal ADO Tulum)

Address: Av. Tulum, 77780, Tulum
Coordinates: 20.21061, -87.46502
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), AU
Departures: about 121 ADO connections a day to 28 cities

Tulum's main bus station in the town (Tulum Pueblo), on Highway 307 (Av. Tulum) at Calle Júpiter. Buses run north to Playa del Carmen, Cancún and the airport and south to Bacalar and Chetumal, and it is also the town stop for the ADO service from Tulum airport.

Getting there: The beach is about 3 km from town, so most people take a taxi, bike or colectivo. Colectivos to Playa del Carmen leave about half a block from the terminal, and vans towards the ruins stop across the road. Taxis are unmetered, so agree the fare first.

Facilities: A small, often crowded terminal, served by clean, modern, air-conditioned buses.

Tip: There is a separate 'Tulum zona arqueológica' stop on the edge of town, which is only useful for the ruins or nearby hotels. Arrive early in high season, as the waiting area fills quickly.

Tulum International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum (TQO))

Address: Macario Gomez, 77796, Tulum
Coordinates: 20.16624, -87.65903
ADO lines: ADO Aeropuerto (R)
Departures: about 8 ADO connections a day to 4 cities

The ADO stop at Tulum International Airport 'Felipe Carrillo Puerto', which lies south of Tulum near Highway 307. ADO coaches run to Tulum town, ending on Av. Tulum near the bus terminal, and to Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida terminal. A Chetumal service was also announced.

Getting there: Taxi fares into Tulum are high and unmetered, colectivos do not serve the airport, and ride-hailing is hard to use in Tulum, so the ADO coach is the budget option. The launch fare to Tulum town was 175 MXN (January 2024). Later guides report higher prices, so check the current fare when you buy.

Facilities: ADO sells tickets at a counter in the arrivals hall and online at ado.com.mx.

Tip: Departures are limited and do not match every flight, so check the timetable the week you fly and prebook a transfer if you land late. For flights out, buy your ticket at the Tulum town terminal.

Bacalar Bus Station (Terminal ADO Bacalar)

Address: Av. 19 o libramiento Reg 4 Mz 64 LT 5 entre calles 42 y 40, 77935, Bacalar
Coordinates: 18.69014, -88.39034
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, AU
Departures: about 95 ADO connections a day to 16 cities

Bacalar's bus station serves first-class ADO and second-class Mayab and AU buses on the Highway 307 corridor, linking the lagoon town with Chetumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Valladolid and Mérida.

Getting there: The station is on Highway 307 about 1 km northwest of the town centre. Taxis are available and inexpensive; colectivos from Tulum and Chetumal are an alternative, but they carry only small luggage because they have no trunk.

Facilities: Ticket booths sell ADO, AU and Mayab tickets. Staff can show Mayab times on their screen, while ADO and AU schedules are in the ADO app and website.

Tip: Bacalar is small and popular, so book in advance in high season. Second-class Mayab buses cost less but stop more often than ADO.

Chetumal Bus Station (Terminal ADO Chetumal)

Address: Av Palermo 398, 77038, Chetumal
Coordinates: 18.51897, -88.31360
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, AU
Departures: about 123 ADO connections a day to 29 cities

The main terminal of Quintana Roo's capital, where all ADO first- and second-class buses arrive and depart. It is the gateway for Bacalar, Xpujil and Calakmul, the rest of the Caribbean coast, and Belize, with ADO buses to Belize City via Corozal and Orange Walk.

Getting there: The terminal is on Av. Insurgentes in Colonia 20 de Noviembre, about 4 km northwest of the centre. Taxis are cheap for the short ride into town (Wikivoyage listed M$25 to M$30 in 2022), and colectivos run towards the Mercado Viejo, though not on Sundays.

Facilities: There is a Santander ATM inside the building.

Tip: Buses to Belize also leave from the former ADO terminal on Calle Salvador Novo; they are older but run more often than the services from the main terminal. Carry your passport and keep your Mexican tourist card for the border.

Chiquilá Bus Station (Chiquilá (Holbox))

Address: Kantunilkin - Chiquila 6, 77710, Chiquilá
Coordinates: 21.43139, -87.33605
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R)
Departures: about 15 ADO connections a day to 5 cities

Chiquilá is the small mainland port for ferries to Isla Holbox. ADO's second-class Mayab and Oriente buses run here a few times a day from the main Cancún terminal, and a night bus comes from Mérida via Valladolid.

Getting there: The bus stop is about a two-minute walk from the ferry dock. Holbox Express and 9 Hermanos ferries take about 25 to 30 minutes and leave roughly every half hour between 6:00 and 21:30 (Wikivoyage, April 2025).

Facilities: 9 Hermanos has a ticket booth at the ADO stop, and both ferry companies have booths at the dock. Car parks near the port charged about M$100 a day in 2025.

Tip: There are only a few buses a day, so book your seat back to Cancún in advance and allow time for the ferry. Check the last ferry time before you leave Cancún.