Getting Around the Yucatan, Mexico

Whatever your budget, there are lots of options when it comes to transport in the Yucatan.

Budget travelers will most likely stick to bus services, run by the ADO company. Tickets tend to be fairly well priced despite the fact there is a monopoly in the Yucatan, and you can buy second-class tickets on less comfortable Mayab buses if you are really short of cash. For longer trips, ADO runs GL and Platino services, better equipped and more comfortable than the standard services.

For shorter trips, it’s also worth looking at colectivo minibuses that run between major cities on the Riviera Maya. There tend to be regular services throughout the day, but not at night. On longer trips you might have to change vehicles because most companies only run short journeys. For example, to get from Cancun to Tulum by colectivo, you’d have to change in Playa del Carmen.

There are lots of places to hire cars throughout the Yucatan, but be aware a mandatory insurance policy will likely increase the price dramatically over deals you can find online. Large groups might find it is still fairly economical to hire a car, but the Yucatan is by no means the cheapest place to drive.

Everywhere you go you will find taxis and, for the most part, they are fairly affordable. In cities such as Cancun and Merida you will also be able to use the Uber app. It tends to be cheaper than local taxis, but there have been problems with the authorities and taxi drivers persecuting Uber drivers due to the arrival of the app.