Tren Maya or ADO bus? Times, fares and stations compared
The Tren Maya is faster on some long legs, but it runs a few times a day from stations outside town, and foreign visitors pay a higher fare. ADO buses run all day between city-centre terminals. Compare both before you book.
Why travel the Yucatán Peninsula with ADO
Frequent buses between city centres, booked online in English:
Centre to centre
ADO buses leave from terminals in town and at Cancún Airport, so you don’t need an extra transfer to reach a station.
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.
Cancún to Mérida at a glance
Train and bus on a typical day:
ADO: about 4h 10min–4h 20min, town centre to town centre
Tren Maya: 3h 28min, station to station
Tren Maya vs ADO bus, route by route
The Tren Maya runs on about 1,550 km of track around the Yucatán Peninsula, with 34 stations. ADO buses cover the same cities, and many smaller ones, from bus terminals in town. Here is how they compare on the busiest routes:
- Cancún ↔ Mérida
Tren Maya: 6 trains a day, 3h 28min, from MXN 1,041.50, between Cancún Aeropuerto and Mérida-Teya stations.
ADO bus: 23 buses a day, about 4h 10min–4h 20min, from MXN 744, from the downtown Cancún ADO terminal to the Mérida TAME terminal (Calle 69). See the ADO route - Cancún ↔ Playa del Carmen
Tren Maya: 5 trains a day, 45–49 min, from MXN 232.50, between Cancún Aeropuerto and Playa del Carmen stations.
ADO bus: 23 buses a day, about 1h 20min, from MXN 128, from the downtown Cancún ADO terminal to the Playa del Carmen ADO terminal (Av. Juárez). See the ADO route - Cancún ↔ Tulum
Tren Maya: 5 trains a day, about 1h 35min, from MXN 467, between Cancún Aeropuerto and Tulum stations.
ADO bus: 15 buses a day, about 2h 40min–2h 50min, from MXN 226, from the downtown Cancún ADO terminal to the Tulum ADO terminal. See the ADO route - Cancún ↔ Valladolid
Tren Maya: 6 trains a day, 1h 43min, between Cancún Aeropuerto and Valladolid stations.
ADO bus: 6 buses a day, about 2h 25min–2h 30min, from MXN 402, from the downtown Cancún ADO terminal to the Valladolid ADO terminal. See the ADO route - Mérida ↔ Valladolid
Tren Maya: 6 trains a day, 1h 43min, from MXN 574.50, between Mérida-Teya and Valladolid stations.
ADO bus: 12 buses a day, about 2h 25min–3h, from MXN 372, from the Mérida TAME terminal (Calle 69) to the Valladolid ADO terminal. See the ADO route - Mérida ↔ Chichén Itzá
Tren Maya: 6 trains a day, 1h 14min–1h 19min, from MXN 440.50, between Mérida-Teya and Chichén Itzá stations.
ADO bus: 2 buses a day, about 2h, from MXN 296, from the Mérida TAME terminal (Calle 69) to the Chichén Itzá bus stop. - Mérida ↔ Campeche
Tren Maya: 3 trains a day, 2h 24min–2h 59min, from MXN 646, between Mérida-Teya and San Francisco de Campeche stations.
ADO bus: 39 buses a day, about 2h 25min, from MXN 386, from the Mérida TAME terminal (Calle 69) to the Campeche ADO terminal. - Mérida ↔ Palenque
Tren Maya: 2 trains a day, 7h 35min–8h, from MXN 1,727.50, between Mérida-Teya and Palenque stations.
ADO bus: 4 buses a day, about 8h 25min–8h 45min, from MXN 1,150, from the Mérida TAME terminal (Calle 69) to the Palenque ADO terminal.
Train times and fares come from the official Tren Maya booking site, checked on November 1, 2026 for travel in November and December 2026, and show the standard-class (Turista) fare for foreign visitors. ADO times and fares come from the ADO booking flow for Wednesday, December 2, 2026. Both change: check the live times before you travel.
Station guides
- Tren Maya Cancún Aeropuerto station: where it is, how to reach the airport and the hotel zone, and ADO alternatives
- Tren Maya Mérida-Teya station: getting from Teya to central Mérida
- Tren Maya Playa del Carmen station: getting to Quinta Avenida and the beach
Train or bus: how to choose
The Tren Maya may suit you if
- you are travelling between Cancún Airport and Tulum or Mérida, where the train is faster than the bus
- a train time fits your plans and you are happy to get to and from stations outside town
- you are a Mexican national or a resident of the peninsula and qualify for a lower fare
The ADO bus may suit you if
- you want to leave from the town centre, or go straight from your airport terminal to Playa del Carmen
- you need more departure times: ADO runs many more buses than there are trains on most routes
- you want a lower fare as a foreign visitor: on most routes compared here the bus costs less
- you are going somewhere the train doesn’t reach, such as Chiquilá for Holbox or Puerto Escondido
Several Tren Maya stations are outside the towns they serve. Mérida-Teya is about 14 km from central Mérida, Valladolid’s station is about 5 km north of the town, Campeche’s about 15 km from the historic centre, and Cancún’s is by the airport, not in the city. Tren Maya runs its own connecting buses, called Tren Maya Conecta, in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Mérida.
Time zones
Yucatán, Campeche and Chiapas are one hour behind Quintana Roo. Train and bus timetables show local time, so a trip between Cancún and Mérida seems an hour longer going west and an hour shorter going east.
Tren Maya vs ADO bus: frequently asked questions
Times, fares, stations and tickets