Cancun (CUN): the ADO bus, and why it sells out
ADO picks up at every terminal and runs non-stop to the bus stations in Cancun Downtown, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It does not call at hotels, and services sell out daily.
- ADO buses stop at all airport terminals.
- They run direct to the ADO stations in Cancun Downtown, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
- They do not stop at hotels or anywhere in between.
- Routes sell out every day. Buy in advance.
- The downtown terminal is on Avenida Tulum at Avenida Uxmal.
- A separate ADO route serves the Hotel Zone and Punta Cancun.
What ADO does and does not do
- ADO buses call at all the airport terminals, which matters at Cancun because the terminals are far apart and served by different airlines.
- They then run direct to the ADO bus stations in Cancun Downtown, Playa del Carmen and Tulum Downtown.
- They do not stop at hotels and they make no stops along the way. If your hotel is on the highway between two towns, this is not your bus.
- The Cancun Downtown terminal is on Avenida Tulum at Avenida Uxmal, in the centre rather than the Hotel Zone.
The Hotel Zone
- A separate ADO route serves the Hotel Zone and Punta Cancun. That is the one to look for if you are staying on the strip rather than in the town.
Book ahead
- Many routes sell out every day. ADO recommends buying tickets in advance, and in high season that is not a formality.
- Buy online before you land, so that the timetable decides your plan rather than the queue.
The alternative
- Pre-booked private transfers are the norm here and are worth it for a family with luggage going to a specific resort.
- Avoid being sold a transfer inside the terminal. The touts at Cancun arrivals are famous, and a timeshare pitch dressed as a transfer desk is the local specialty.
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