How to take the ADO Bus from the Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun
If you need to about take the ADO bus from the Cancun Airport to the downtown of Cancun but not sure how, here if your simple guide. We have schedules for the bus and where to get the bus at the airport for your trip.
The downtown of Cancun is located about 20.7 km (12.86 miles) north of the Cancun Airport. Even though the airport is “in” Cancun, it still takes some time to get to the downtown. In this guide we will tell you everything about getting from the Cancun Airport to the downtown by ADO bus.
Important note: Do not confuse downtown Cancun with the Hotel Zone of Cancun. If you really need to go to the Hotel Zone, see our article about how to take the ADO bus to the Hotel Zone which is the cheapest option. Since the ADO bus does not service all of the hotel areas, we do have one article on all transportation options to the Hotel Zone from the Cancun Airport.
What is the ADO Bus?
The ADO Bus Company is one of the main long-distance bus services in Mexico, operated by the company ADO (Autobuses de Oriente). It’s widely used by both locals and tourists as a comfortable, safe, and affordable way to travel between cities, especially in regions like the Yucatan Peninsula and Riviera Maya. ADO is also the only bus service to and from Cancun and the Cancun Airport. This is considered the only “public” transportation to and from the Cancun Airport.
Where Do You Get the ADO Bus at the Airport?
Each of the terminals at the Cancun International Airport has service by ADO.
- Terminal 1 This terminal is currently being renovated. But when it opens it is easy to see the buses. This is a smaller terminal, and the ADO buses are just in front of this terminal. Exit the terminal and look right. It is about a one-minute walk.
- Terminal 2 Exit the terminal and walk immediately down the sidewalk in front of the terminal to the right. At the end of this walkway, you will see the bus platforms. This can be a four-minute walk.
- Terminal 3 Exit the building and walk straightforward and in about 30 seconds you will see the bus platforms with the iconic red buses to your right.
- Terminal 4 When you are leaving the terminal, there are two exits. One is straight ahead and one of the exits is the left and down a covered walkway. The exit straight ahead is for friends and family. The exit to the left is where you will walk out to the bus platforms. It is about a 3-minute walk. If you accidently walk out the wrong exit, you can ask the security to let you back in and go out the other exit to catch the ADO bus.
Tip: Don’t listen to taxi drivers or other people that say the “next bus is in on hour or longer” or “there are no more buses today“. These are just tricks to get people to take a taxi or van service.
How Long Does the ADO Bus Take to Get from the Airport to Downtown?
It will take between 45 minutes and 1 hour 5 minutes to get to downtown Cancun from the airport. Why the range of times? It is because there are multiple terminals at the Cancun Airport and the bus stops at each of them. The journey starts from Terminal 3, then goes to Terminal 4, and then to Terminal 2 (Currently Terminal 1 in in renovations).
This means that travel time will depend on what terminal you arrive at.
What is the Schedule for the Airport Bus?
There are currently 34 buses a day that leave the Cancun Airport and go to the downtown of Cancun. The first one is around midnight, and the last one is around 11:00 pm. There is roughly one bus per-30 minutes during the day. The complete schedule is here on the ADO website. The website is in Spanish, but fairly easy to navigate to find schedules and other information. Just search “aeropuerto Cancun” and select terminal number. Then select your destination as “Cancun“.
How much is the ADO Bus to Downtown Cancun?
The current price for the ADO bus to downtown Cancun is 145 Pesos. That is roughly about $8.50 USD according to the current exchange rate.
How Do You Buy the Tickets from the ADO Bus?
Tickets are available upon arrival at the Cancun Airport. You can purchase tickets online ahead of time, but we do not recommend this. You don’t know if your flight will arrive on time or how long it will take to go through immigration and customs (Usually count on 40 minutes at the Cancun Airport). The tickets are timed and if you arrive late, you will need to get another ticket.
Once you arrive at the Cancun Airport and leave the customs area, you can purchase ADO tickets at an ADO booth or a stand on the bus platform. Usually, it is quicker to buy them outside on the bus platform. It also means you might be able to jump on a bus that is just leaving if they see you buying a ticket. Note: In the early hours of the day and after about 6:30pm, the outside ticket sellers are not working, so you need to purchase them inside.
Payment Methods Accepted for Tickets
You can pay with credit card, USD or Pesos. If you pay with USD, make sure you have small bills, nothing bigger than a 20-dollar bill. Change is in Pesos.
Tickets are also assigned a seat. Sometimes when purchasing the tickets the person will turn the screen toward you to select seats, or they might just be automatically assigned.
Where Does the ADO Bus Drop You Off in Cancun?
The ADO bus from the Cancun Airport only goes to the Cancun ADO Bus Station on Juarez Avenue and 5th Avenue. There are no stops along the way once you leave the airport. Outside of the bus station you will find taxis and public buses to get around Cancun.
Going Back to the Airport on the ADO Bus?
From the Cancun ADO Station you will board the bus to the airport. We do recommend buying your return ticket in advance. Buses can fill going to the airport. Once the bus gets to the Cancun Airport, it passes all the terminals, dropping people off. The order of the drop-off at the airport goes like this:
Alternative Airport Transportation Options to Cancun
Here are some of the other airport transportation methods available to get to the downtown of Cancun.
Private Transfer
This is one of the most popular transportation methods to connect between the airport and your hotel. These are prebooked vans that are just for you and those traveling with you. They are waiting for you at arrivals and take you directly to your hotel. You can also book a round trip and have all your transportation to and from the airport all planed even before you take off.
- One Way price is $49 USD. Round trip is $88 USD. When you purchase a round trip, you save about 10%.
Luxury Private Transfers to Downtown Cancun Hotels
If you are traveling for a special occasion or just want to make your trip a little more special, there are luxury transfers available from the Cancun Airport going to Downtown Cancun. Cancun luxury transportation is regularly provided with Suburbans or Similar vehicles, like Expeditions. This is for transportation of up to six people.
Prices for the luxury transfer from the Cancun Airport to downtown Cancun are:
- $120 USD one way or $176 USD round trip. To save money you just need to book a round trip at time of booking. Click the reserve now button below to go to the official booking website.
Taxis
There are plenty of taxis at the Cancun Airport, but they are also one of the things that people like the least about the Riviera Maya. Since there are no set prices or a taxi booth to get tickets, you must negotiate with the drivers. Often people get overcharged. This is why most people prebook a transfer and do not have to worry about paying too much.
Rental Cars
If you plan on doing some road trips or driving around on vacation, this might be a good option for you. We will just give you a few tips here about renting cars at the Cancun Airport.
One good place to check for a rental car online is Discovery Cars. This website searches all the rentals and offers good prices on Cancun Airport rentals.
Here are our best tips for renting a car at the Cancun Airport:
- There are rental car companies inside the airport property and some just outside along the highway. If you rent from a company outside the airport you will need to take their shuttle both ways. This does add about 20 minutes to the process of pick up and drop off.
- For the convenience fee, we prefer the rental car companies in the airport.
- Liability insurance is required in Mexico. Your credit card company might not cover Mexico, or you might need proof of coverage. You can buy it locally when you rent. It is recommended you buy it locally because you have local agents to help you if something happens.
- In general, we prefer the larger car rental companies because they have more options, and in general a more streamlined check out and in.
Uber
Uber has started in Cancun but has been very limited since it has clashed with the taxi unions. The area that Uber works in does not include all the Riviera Maya, mainly just Cancun. Because the service is limited and there are only a few drivers, we don’t recommend trying planning on trying to take an Uber.
About The Author
Be the first to comment