How to get to Holbox: ADO bus to Chiquilá + ferry
Holbox has no bridge and no cars. Take an ADO bus to Chiquilá, the ferry port, then a 20–25 minute boat to the island. Direct buses from Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid and Mérida, from about US$17.
Why travel to Holbox with ADO
A direct bus to the ferry port, booked online in English, with these benefits:
Straight to the ferry
ADO buses stop in Chiquilá, a short walk from the Holbox ferry pier, with no transfers on the way.
Ultra comfort Seats
Your seat guaranteed — spacious, comfortable, and adjustable.
Bulky luggage included
Your ticket includes 25 kg of checked luggage at no extra cost. Buy extra space at the counter if needed.
Entertainment & Wi-Fi
Selected services offer onboard screens and Wi-Fi. Amenities vary by service class.
Book Online in Advance
Climate Control
Onboard Bathrooms
USB Ports & Power Outlets
Certified Safety Standards
Digital ticket
Directly to your email
Mobile Download
Compatible with your phone
Travel Safely
Certified Vehicles
Do you have questions?
Contact us at our customer support channel (in Spanish). We're here to help.
Feel free to check out our Frequently Asked Questions below.
Getting to Holbox at a glance
Bus and ferry on a typical day:
ADO bus to Chiquilá
→
Ferry to Holbox, about 20–25 minutes
Getting to Holbox: the essentials
Isla Holbox is a car-free island off the northern tip of Quintana Roo, inside the Yum Balam protected area. There is no bridge: everyone crosses by passenger ferry from Chiquilá, a small port on the mainland. ADO buses go directly to Chiquilá, and the bus stop is a short walk from the ferry pier.
Step 1: take the ADO bus to Chiquilá
- Cancún (ADO bus station, downtown): 5 buses a day at 8:15 AM, 9:15 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 3:15 PM, about 2h 35min, from US$24. See this route
- Playa del Carmen (ADO bus station): 1 bus a day at 11:35 AM, about 2h 10min, from US$23.
- Tulum (ADO bus station): 1 bus a day at 10:25 AM, about 3h 20min, from US$31.
- Valladolid (ADO bus station): 1 bus a day at 10:10 AM (Yucatán time), about 2h 40min, from US$17. See this route
- Mérida (Paseo 60 terminal): 1 bus a day at 6:55 AM (Yucatán time), about 5h 55min, from US$36.
The bus from Tulum stops in Playa del Carmen on the way, and the bus from Mérida stops in Valladolid.
Step 2: take the ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox
- Two companies, Holbox Express and 9 Hermanos, cross to the island roughly every 30 minutes from early morning until about 9:30 PM.
- The crossing takes about 20–25 minutes.
- An adult one-way ticket cost about MXN 300–330 in late 2026. Buy it at the pier; the ferry is not included in your ADO ticket.
- In low season or bad weather the last crossing can be cancelled, so try not to arrive in Chiquilá late at night.
Step 3: arriving on the island
There are no cars on Holbox. Golf-cart taxis wait at the pier, and the main square is about a 10-minute walk away. Most streets are sand, so a backpack or a small bag is easier than a large suitcase. ATMs on the island are few and can run out of cash, so bring some pesos with you.
Leaving Holbox
Take the ferry back to Chiquilá, then the ADO bus. Direct buses from Chiquilá:
- Cancún Airport (Terminal 2): 5 buses a day at 11:20 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM, 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM, about 2h 05min, from US$31. See this route
- Cancún (ADO bus station, downtown): 5 buses a day at 11:20 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM, 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM, about 2h 50min–3h, from US$23. See this route
- Playa del Carmen: 1 bus a day at 2:30 PM, about 2h 20min, from US$23.
- Tulum: 1 bus a day at 2:30 PM, about 3h 40min, from US$31.
- Valladolid: 1 bus a day at 1:45 PM (Yucatán time), about 2h 30min, from US$17.50. See this route
- Mérida: 1 bus a day at 1:45 PM (Yucatán time), about 5h 25min, from US$36.
Schedules, travel times and bus fares on this page come from the ADO booking flow for Wednesday, December 2, 2026, and can change. Search your travel date for live times. Ferry times and prices are set by the ferry companies; check them at the pier.
Flying into Cancún? Plan around the last bus
There is no direct ADO bus from Cancún Airport to Chiquilá. Take an ADO bus from the airport (Terminals 2, 3 and 4) to the downtown ADO bus station, about 45–65 minutes, from about US$8.50, then the bus to Chiquilá. Buses to Chiquilá leave downtown Cancún 5 times a day, from 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM.
Allow time for immigration, baggage claim and the airport bus. If you land after about 1 PM, the last bus will be tight: consider a night in Cancún and an early bus the next morning.
On the way back it is easier: 5 direct buses a day run from Chiquilá to Cancún Airport Terminal 2, about 2h 05min. Take a ferry at least an hour before your bus, and choose a bus that gets you to the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one.
Coming from Valladolid or Mérida? Mind the time zone
Yucatán state is one hour behind Quintana Roo. Buses leave Mérida and Valladolid on Yucatán time and reach Chiquilá on Quintana Roo time, so the bus seems to take an hour longer than it really does. On the way back it seems an hour shorter.
Getting to Holbox: frequently asked questions
Bus, ferry and planning tips