Mérida to Bacalar by bus with ADO
About 11 ADO departures a day, fastest trips around 4h 50min, fares from MX$738.
Next departures are shown below. Pick one to book, or search another date.
Mérida to Bacalar at a glance
Buses per day
About 11 ADO departures
Fastest trip
From around 4h 50min
Fares
From MX$738
Timetable
First 06:00 · last 23:59
The journey from Mérida to Bacalar
Rather than going around the coast, the Mérida–Bacalar bus cuts diagonally across the peninsula through the rural south of Yucatán state into Quintana Roo, making a brief stop at José María Morelos. It then joins Highway 307 near Felipe Carrillo Puerto for the run south to the lagoon. The road passes farming towns, village churches and long stretches of low forest, a side of the peninsula few tourists see.
Buses leave from Mérida's central TAME terminal on Calle 69. Some services are routed toward Chetumal and set down passengers in Bacalar on the way, arriving at the ADO station on Highway 307, about 1 km from the town centre.
When the buses leave
- Morning (5:00–11:59): about 4 a day
- Afternoon (12:00–17:59): about 3 a day
- Evening (18:00–23:59): about 4 a day
- Night (0:00–4:59): none
A typical trip takes around 5h 10min; the fastest services take around 4h 50min. Times and fares come from current ADO timetables for the next 30 days and change by date and service class.
ADO services on this route
- ADO: about 8 a day
- ADO GL: about 3 a day
ADO is the standard first-class service; ADO GL adds more legroom and extras, and ADO Platino has the widest seats. AU and ADO Aeropuerto cover regional and airport routes.
Sample departure times
06:00, 07:00, 07:50, 08:40, 09:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00
Departure times vary by day and station. Search your date above to see every bus, seat availability and the exact fare.
Bus stations in Mérida and Bacalar
The terminals most buses on this route use. Check the station printed on your ticket.
Depart from: Merida Unica Bus Station
Calle 69 554
Coordinates: 20.96253, -89.63030
About 10 ADO departures a day on this route
Open in Google MapsGet directionsDepart from: Merida Bus Station
Calle 26 202
Coordinates: 21.01480, -89.58420
About 1 ADO departures a day on this route
Open in Google MapsGet directionsArrive at: Bacalar Bus Station
Av. 19 o libramiento Reg 4 Mz 64 LT 5 entre calles 42 y 40
Coordinates: 18.69014, -88.39034
About 11 ADO departures a day on this route
Open in Google MapsGet directionsArriving in Bacalar
After Mérida's colonial streets, Bacalar offers water and quiet. The Laguna de los Siete Colores shifts from pale turquoise to deep blue and is ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing. Cenote Azul plunges about 90 m deep at the south end of town, the stromatolites at Los Rápidos are among the oldest life forms on Earth, and the Fuerte de San Felipe recalls the town's history of pirate raids and Caste War sieges.
Tips for the Mérida–Bacalar bus
Tip 1
Search for Mérida–Chetumal departures as well; buses to Chetumal can stop in Bacalar and widen the choice of times.
Tip 2
ADO schedules on this route are often published only a few weeks ahead, so check again closer to your travel date.
Tip 3
Lagoon tours have been suspended on Wednesdays under a rest-day rule; plan boat trips for other days.
Tip 4
Carry cash in Bacalar, as central ATMs are often empty or out of service.
Other ways to travel
The Tren Maya reaches Bacalar only by a long loop, and flying means going via Chetumal. Driving follows the same inland roads as the bus. The direct ADO bus is the most straightforward way across the peninsula.
Mérida to Bacalar bus: FAQ
Return trip and related routes
Bacalar to Cancún
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Bacalar to Tulum
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Cancún to Bacalar
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Mérida to Cancún
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Mérida to Valladolid
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Tulum to Bacalar
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Valladolid to Bacalar
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Photos: Wasquewhat / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.