Mexico - Transportation
Getting around in Mexico without renting a car is not all that difficult, especially at Cancun, Tulum, and Valladolid. There are a few transportation options if you decide not to rent a car.
ADO Bus
This is a very convenient and inexpensive way to travel between major cities. Under the ADO bus umbrella there are three different classes. The classes are ADO, Mayab, and Oriente. Some people refers ADO line be the first class bus and Mayab and Oriente be second class bus. Either class will give you a smooth ride to your destination.
The bus schedule can be found on the ADO bus website. Although it gives you the option to purchase tickets in advance, you cannot do so without a Mexican credit card. As a result, you can't take advantage of the discounted ticket prices.
The bus has a luggage compartment to transport your luggage with you. Sometimes as you handed them the luggage, they will tag your luggage and give you a receipt. When you arrived at your destination, you need to give them the receipt to pick up your luggage.
There is also a restroom on bus. It is clean, looks like the restroom on an airplane. I only saw them on the ADO bus line, not sure if there is one on the Mayab and Oriente lines.
I recommend purchasing tickets at least a day before your departure. You can purchase the same day, but may not get a seat for that particular scheduled bus. Therefore, you will be pushed to the next available bus. Sometimes the next bus may not arrive until 2 hours later.
At the bus station, there will be announcements made in Spanish and English. There is also a TV board which shows today's schedule. In addition, the driver will yell the name of destination very loud and direct you when you show them the ticket. The driver checks your ticket before letting you on the bus. Therefore you shouldn't need to worry missing one or getting on the wrong one.
Colectivo
Another convenient and even less expensive way to get to places in short distances. It is called the shared taxi in English and basically is a shuttle van that has maybe 12 seats. It can get crowded, especially in the morning because a lot of locals take it going to work. Even though there is no seat, you can still stand on the aisle.
At Tulum, you can take Colectivo anywhere on Boulevard Tulum. Just make sure you on the correct side of the street, going north bound or south bound. I found them easier to stop by the intersections of two major streets like Boulevard Tulum and Satelite.
Look for the Colectivo logo shown below. Wave at them and they will pull over. When the door opens, you tell the driver where you want to go. Then just hop on and find a seat. I was advised that the driver may or may not remember where you need to get off. You should know your stop and make a mental picture of the buildings and signs you will pass by on the road. Just a precaution if the driver doesn't remember your stop.
I recommend asking people at your hotel or hostel how much it is going to your destination. Once you get there, you just hand them the coins. Exact change is better, but they do have changes in small amounts. Colectivo doesn't take you to all places. For example, no Colectivo going to Gran Cenote or Coba ruins. I took the Colectivo from Tulum to Akumal, which was a 30-minute ride and cost only 35 Pesos. I also took Colectivo from Tulum town to Tulum Ruins, which was a 10-minute ride and cost only 15 Pesos.
Although this may not be the most comfortable transportation, it's definitely a fun way to experience local culture.
Taxi
This is the most comfortable, fastest, yet the most expensive transportation comparing to taking ADO bus and Colectivo. Look for the taxi's official logo and always ask the price before getting in the car. You can try negotiating, but some of the prices are published and set. The taxi does drive fast relatively speaking, but not dangerously.
ADO Bus
This is a very convenient and inexpensive way to travel between major cities. Under the ADO bus umbrella there are three different classes. The classes are ADO, Mayab, and Oriente. Some people refers ADO line be the first class bus and Mayab and Oriente be second class bus. Either class will give you a smooth ride to your destination.
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| ADO bus at Cancun airport |
The bus schedule can be found on the ADO bus website. Although it gives you the option to purchase tickets in advance, you cannot do so without a Mexican credit card. As a result, you can't take advantage of the discounted ticket prices.
The bus has a luggage compartment to transport your luggage with you. Sometimes as you handed them the luggage, they will tag your luggage and give you a receipt. When you arrived at your destination, you need to give them the receipt to pick up your luggage.
There is also a restroom on bus. It is clean, looks like the restroom on an airplane. I only saw them on the ADO bus line, not sure if there is one on the Mayab and Oriente lines.
I recommend purchasing tickets at least a day before your departure. You can purchase the same day, but may not get a seat for that particular scheduled bus. Therefore, you will be pushed to the next available bus. Sometimes the next bus may not arrive until 2 hours later.
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| Bus station at Valladolid |
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| Bus station at Playa del Carmen |
Another convenient and even less expensive way to get to places in short distances. It is called the shared taxi in English and basically is a shuttle van that has maybe 12 seats. It can get crowded, especially in the morning because a lot of locals take it going to work. Even though there is no seat, you can still stand on the aisle.
 |
| Colectivo stopping by Akumal stop by the highway |
Look for the Colectivo logo shown below. Wave at them and they will pull over. When the door opens, you tell the driver where you want to go. Then just hop on and find a seat. I was advised that the driver may or may not remember where you need to get off. You should know your stop and make a mental picture of the buildings and signs you will pass by on the road. Just a precaution if the driver doesn't remember your stop.
 |
| Tulum Colectivo logo |
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| Another Tulum Colectivo logo |
I recommend asking people at your hotel or hostel how much it is going to your destination. Once you get there, you just hand them the coins. Exact change is better, but they do have changes in small amounts. Colectivo doesn't take you to all places. For example, no Colectivo going to Gran Cenote or Coba ruins. I took the Colectivo from Tulum to Akumal, which was a 30-minute ride and cost only 35 Pesos. I also took Colectivo from Tulum town to Tulum Ruins, which was a 10-minute ride and cost only 15 Pesos.
Although this may not be the most comfortable transportation, it's definitely a fun way to experience local culture.
Taxi
This is the most comfortable, fastest, yet the most expensive transportation comparing to taking ADO bus and Colectivo. Look for the taxi's official logo and always ask the price before getting in the car. You can try negotiating, but some of the prices are published and set. The taxi does drive fast relatively speaking, but not dangerously.
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| Tulum taxi waiting by the ADO bus station |
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| Taxi fare published by the supermarket, Chedraui in Tulum |
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| Tulum taxi logo |
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