Bacalar does not have its own airport. Most visitors travel here from Cancún, Tulum or nearby Chetumal.

In our view, the ADO bus is the best option for most travellers. It runs frequently, you don’t have to worry about parking, and it takes you straight to Bacalar.

The Tren Maya is mainly a good option if it connects well with your flight or if you’re continuing on to Chetumal, Tulum or Cancún airports.

I’d hire a car for a longer road trip around Yucatán and Quintana Roo.

From where	The most practical transport	Journey time	Usual price
Cancún city centre	Direct ADO bus	5.5 hours	600 mxn
Cancún Airport	Tren Maya or hire car	4.5 hours by train	By train 1 163 mxn
Tulum town centre	Direct ADO bus	3 hours	350 mxn
Tulum Airport	Tren Maya	2.5 hours	494 mxn
Chetumal	ADO bus	45 minutes	120 mxn
Playa del Carmen	ADO bus	4.5 hours	450 mxn

The bus prices shown vary depending on the operator, departure time and how far in advance you book.

Where are the bus stations in Bacalar?

It’s important to know this before choosing your transport: neither the railway station nor the ADO coach terminal is located directly by the lagoon or in the main square.

ADO bus station

The ADO Bacalar terminal is situated on the main road 307 on the western outskirts of the town. It is still about 2 km from the main square and most of the accommodation by the lagoon.

If you don’t have much luggage, you can walk there. However, in hot weather or if you’re carrying a suitcase, a taxi or Uber is more comfortable.

The journey to most hotels takes just a few minutes, and taxis are usually waiting for the buses to arrive.

Tren Maya station

Bacalar railway station is situated a few kilometres outside the town. It doesn’t make sense to walk there with a suitcase.

Shuttle buses run between the railway station and the ADO terminal, timed to coincide with train arrivals and departures. A ticket costs 30 mxn and is not included in the train ticket.

However, the shuttle will only take you to the ADO terminal, not to your hotel, the lagoon or the main square. You will therefore often need to take a taxi or an Uber from the ADO terminal to your accommodation.

We took an Uber from Bacalar to the railway station in the morning and it arrived without any problems. There are also taxis waiting at the station when trains arrive. We’d allow plenty of time for the journey to catch a morning train, as there aren’t as many cars available as there are in Cancún.

How to get from Cancún to Bacalar

The Cancún–Bacalar route is the most commonly searched-for option. You can choose between the ADO bus, the Tren Maya train and a hire car.

By ADO bus from Cancún

Direct buses to Bacalar run throughout the day from the main ADO terminal in the centre of Cancún.

There are usually around 15 to 18 services a day on this route, which works out at roughly one service an hour during the day.

The journey takes about 5.5 hours. Standard ADO services and cheaper AU services are most often listed at 588 mxn and 710 mxn.

Buy your tickets on the official ADO website. Cheaper promotional fares are available if you book in advance.

From Cancún Airport, you must first take an ADO bus to the Cancún Centro terminal and then continue on to Bacalar. If the connections are poor, the Tren Maya or a hire car is a more convenient option.

By train from Cancún Airport

The Tren Maya runs from Cancún Aeropuerto station to Bacalar twice a day. The journey itself takes about 4.5 hours and a Turista Internacional economy ticket costs 1 163 mxn.

The train is only faster than the bus when travelling directly from the airport. Once you factor in the journey to the station and the subsequent transfer from Bacalar station, the time saving is often negated.

From Cancún city centre, we would therefore opt for ADO. Travelling directly from the airport by train may make sense if one of the two departures suits you.

Buy your tickets on the official website,reservas.ventaboletostrenmaya.com.mx.

By car from Cancún

The distance from Cancún to Bacalar is approximately 340 km, and you should allow 4.5 hours for the journey. You’ll be travelling almost entirely along the 307, which is toll-free on this route.

The journey is lengthened by traffic around Playa del Carmen and Tulum, as well as numerous speed bumps in the villages.

We recommend travelling by car, particularly if you wish to visit Tulum, the cenotes or other places on the Riviera Maya along the way.

Compare car hire prices in Cancún

How to get from Tulum to Bacalar

By ADO bus from Tulum

Direct buses to Bacalar run about 10 times a day from the ADO bus station in the centre of Tulum.

The journey takes about 3 hours and the fare varies depending on the operator and the specific service, ranging from300 mxn to 520 mxn.

In our opinion, this is the easiest option for travelling from the centre of Tulum. You don’t have to make your way to a distant railway station, and upon arrival, you only have a short journey from the ADO terminal to your hotel.

Buy your tickets on the official ADO website.

By train from Tulum

There is a direct Tren Maya service to Bacalar twice a day from both Tulum Aeropuerto station and Tulum station (closer to the centre).

The journey takes 2.5 hours, but in practice you should allow up to 3 hours (including travel to and from the station). An economy ticket for foreign visitors costs 494 mxn.

We took the train in the opposite direction, from Bacalar to Tulum Airport, where we collected our hire car.

However, for the journey between the centre of Tulum and the centre of Bacalar, the ADO bus is usually more practical, as both train stations are located outside the town.

By car from Tulum

The journey is just over 200 km and takes about 3 hours. Once again, you’ll be travelling along the toll-free Route 307.

It’s worth hiring a car if you want to carry on to Los Rápidos, the cenotes or further on to Chetumal upon arrival.

Compare car hire prices in Tulum

How to get from Chetumal to Bacalar

Chetumal is only about 40 km from Bacalar and has the nearest airport.

If you can find a suitable domestic flight, this is the quickest way to get there.

From the bus terminal in Chetumal, ADO, AU and Mayab buses run to Bacalar very frequently throughout the day, usually every 20 to 60 minutes. The journey takes about 40 to 50 minutes and costs 50 mxn to 150 mxn.

From Chetumal Airport, first take a taxi or an Uber to the bus terminal.

The Tren Maya connects Chetumal Aeropuerto station with Bacalar twice a day. The journey takes about 40 minutes and an economy-class Turista Internacional ticket costs 124 mxn. The train is comfortable, but as there are only two services, it’s only worth taking if your arrival time allows for a good connection.

A taxi or hire car will cover the journey from Chetumal Airport to Bacalar in around 40 minutes.

How to get from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar

Direct ADO and Mayab buses run from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar several times a day. The journey takes about 4.5 hours and tickets cost between428 mxn and 560 mxn.

By car, the journey is about 280 km and takes between 3 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours.

The Tren Maya also runs on this route, but only twice a day, and the Playa del Carmen station is located away from the main bus terminal. For most journeys, therefore, a direct bus is still the better option.

The Tren Maya to Bacalar: prices, timetables and frequency

There are two trains a day in each direction on the Cancún–Tulum–Bacalar–Chetumal route.

Route	Journey time	Frequency	Fare
Chetumal Airport–Bacalar	40 minutes	2 services a day	124 mxn
Tulum Airport–Bacalar	2.5 hours	2 services a day	494 mxn
Cancún Airport–Bacalar	4.5 hours	2 services a day	1 163 mxn

When booking, select the ‘Turista Internacional’ fare. The cheaper ‘Turista Local’ and ‘Turista Nacional’ fares are intended for residents and citizens of Mexico, and proof of eligibility for the discount must be provided upon inspection.

Please purchase your ticket via the official booking system. The frequency is lower than with ADO, and times are subject to change.

Don’t forget to include the final leg of your journey in your comparison:

• Bacalar railway station is located outside the town
• The shuttle to the ADO terminal costs 30 mxn and is not included in the price of the train ticket
• The shuttle drops you off at ADO, which is also not in the city centre or near most of the hotels on the lagoon shore
• You may therefore need a taxi or an Uber from ADO
• There are also taxis waiting at the train station on arrival

ADO buses to Bacalar

ADO is the most versatile way to travel to Bacalar. The main Chetumal–Bacalar–Tulum–Playa del Carmen–Cancún route runs frequently, and many services are direct.

The buses are air-conditioned, have a toilet, and luggage is stowed in the hold underneath the vehicle.

The air conditioning is usually very strong, so it’s a good idea to bring a jumper. On longer journeys, buy your ticket in advance, especially on Fridays, Sundays and during public holidays.

The terminal in Bacalar is not in the town centre. However, a taxi or Uber is an easy solution, and the journey to most hotels takes just a few minutes.

If you’re still deciding where to stay, compare accommodation in Bacalar on Booking.com.

Car hire and one-way hire

You don’t need a car to stroll through the town centre or to visit the Seven Colours Lagoon itself. However, it’s useful for Los Rápidos, the more remote cenotes and a road trip along the coast.

A very good plan is to fly into Chetumal, collect your car at the airport and return it at Tulum or Cancún airport. This way, you’ll avoid the journey back south and can follow the route Chetumal–Bacalar–Tulum–Riviera Maya–Cancún.

Here is an example of a 7-day hire booked 3 months in advance for a period before the peak season (late November to early December).

Pick-up and drop-off	Total rental price
Chetumal Airport – Tulum Airport	from 5 100 mxn
Chetumal Airport–Cancún Airport	from 6 250 mxn

The one-way fee is usually included in the total price and may vary significantly depending on the car hire company, the date and the car category.

Tulum came out cheaper in our comparison. However, Cancún offers more flights and a wider choice of car hire companies.

Compare offers for car hire at Chetumal Airport on Booking.com and tick the box for ‘return at a different location’ in the form.

When comparing, don’t just look at the daily rate. Make sure to check the following in particular:

• The total price, including one-way and airport charges
• The amount of the security deposit and credit card terms and conditions
• The scope of insurance and excess
• Unlimited mileage
• Fuel policy
• Exact return location in Tulum or Cancún

Do not drive the hire car into Belize unless the hire company expressly permits it and provides the necessary insurance.

Which mode of transport should we choose?

• From the centre of Cancún, Tulum or Playa del Carmen -> ADO bus
• From Cancún Airport -> Tren Maya, if the connections are good; otherwise, a one-way hire car
• From Chetumal Airport -> a hire car for the next road trip north
• From Chetumal to Bacalar without any further travel -> ADO bus
• To Tulum Airport -> Tren Maya, if one of the two daily services suits you

In our opinion, ADO is the best option for public transport alone. The Tren Maya is a more comfortable experience, but due to its low frequency and the need for two connecting journeys in Bacalar, it isn’t necessarily any faster.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport is closest to Bacalar?

The nearest airport is Chetumal, about 40 km from Bacalar. Cancún, which is about 340 km away, offers the widest choice of international flights.

Is there a direct bus from Cancún to Bacalar?

Yes. Direct ADO buses run from the Cancún Centro terminal throughout the day, and the journey takes about 5.5 hours.

Is ADO or Tren Maya better?

From the centre of Cancún and Tulum, ADO is usually the more practical option.

The train only runs twice a day and its station in Bacalar is located outside the town. Tren Maya makes more sense when travelling from Cancún Airport or to Tulum Airport.

Can you walk from the station?

From the ADO bus station, yes, provided you don’t have heavy luggage and aren’t staying far away by the lagoon. We wouldn’t walk from the train station; use the paid shuttle, a taxi or Uber.