Playa del Carmen to Cancún by bus with ADO

About 313 ADO departures a day, fastest trips around 35 min, fares from MX$57.

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Playa del Carmen to Cancún at a glance

Buses per day

About 313 ADO departures

Fastest trip

From around 35 min

Fares

From MX$57

Timetable

Departures around the clock

The journey from Playa del Carmen to Cancún

The ride north follows Federal Highway 307, the toll-free divided highway that links the Riviera Maya towns. Leaving Playa del Carmen, the bus runs past resort entrances, the overpasses at Playa and Puerto Morelos, and long stretches of low jungle before the outskirts of Cancún appear. The coast is mostly hidden behind hotels and mangrove, so expect a green, flat landscape rather than sea views.

There are two ways to finish the trip. Regular ADO services go to the downtown Cancún bus terminal at Av. Tulum and Av. Uxmal, where city buses run on to the Hotel Zone. ADO Aeropuerto services turn off for Cancún International Airport and stop at each passenger terminal in turn (T2, T3 and T4), so you are dropped right at departures. The approach to Cancún and the Puerto Morelos junction are the usual slow spots, especially on weekday mornings.

When the buses leave

Morning (5:00–11:59): about 128 a day
Afternoon (12:00–17:59): about 114 a day
Evening (18:00–23:59): about 58 a day
Night (0:00–4:59): about 13 a day

A typical trip takes around 1h 10min; the fastest services take around 35 min. 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 Aeropuerto: about 196 a day
ADO: about 113 a day
AU: about 2 a day
ADO GL: about 2 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

00:05, 05:15, 07:40, 09:20, 10:40, 12:25, 13:35, 14:40, 16:35, 18:40, 20:30, 22:40

Departure times vary by day and station. Search your date above to see every bus, seat availability and the exact fare.

Bus stations in Playa del Carmen and Cancún

The terminals most buses on this route use. Check the station printed on your ticket.

Depart from: Playa Del Carmen ADO Bus Station

Av Benito Juárez 251
Coordinates: 20.62290, -87.07530
About 158 ADO departures a day on this route

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Full station guide for this region

Depart from: Playa del Carmen Alterna

Calle 12 Nte
Coordinates: 20.62937, -87.07427
About 154 ADO departures a day on this route

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Full station guide for this region

Arrive at: Cancun ADO Bus Station

Av Uxmal 10
Coordinates: 21.16453, -86.82682
About 66 ADO departures a day on this route

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Full station guide for this region

Arrive at: Cancún Airport Terminal 3

Terminal 3
Coordinates: 21.03774, -86.86779
About 64 ADO departures a day on this route

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Full station guide for this region

Arriving in Cancún

Most travellers on this route are heading for a flight out of Cancún International Airport, and the airport service saves a change of vehicle. Those going downtown use Cancún as a base for the Hotel Zone beaches along Blvd Kukulcán, the Isla Mujeres ferries from Puerto Juárez, the Mercado 28 craft market and the Maya Museum, or as a hub for longer ADO routes to Holbox, Valladolid, Mérida and Chichén Itzá.

Tips for the Playa del Carmen–Cancún bus

Tip 1

Playa has two ADO terminals: Terminal Turística at 5th Avenue and Juárez (by the Cozumel ferry pier) and Terminal Alterna at 20th Avenue and Calle 12 Norte. Airport buses can leave from either, so check the station printed on your ticket.

Tip 2

Know your airport terminal before you board. The airport bus stops at each terminal in sequence and the terminals are not walkable from one another, so get off at the right one.

Tip 3

Buy your airport ticket at least a day ahead, and earlier around holidays; seats are assigned and buses fill quickly in high season.

Tip 4

If your flight is the last terminal on the loop, allow extra time; the bus serves every terminal before reaching the last one.

Other ways to travel

Playa Express colectivos run between Playa and downtown Cancún but do not serve the airport, and the Tren Maya's only Cancún station is at the airport, with the Playa station about 6 km from the centre and only a few trains a day. For flights, the ADO airport bus is the most direct shared option because it drops you at your terminal door.