How to Get from Tulum to Bacalar
Reviewed by Jean Nájera, Transportation Industry Expert
From Tulum to Bacalar, the ADO bus is the best choice: US$25 per person for a 2 hour 50 minute ride down Highway 307, with 8 to 11 departures a day.
AU evening buses are the cheapest at about US$21, the Tren Maya takes about 3 hours for roughly 590 pesos, and a private car to your hotel costs from US$392.
Bacalar sits about 213 km south of Tulum on the Lagoon of Seven Colors, so this is a half-day transfer rather than a day trip.
Most travelers take a morning or midday bus and are on the lagoon by mid-afternoon.
The detail everyone misses: ADO moved its Bacalar terminal in December 2024.
Buses now stop at a new building on the highway bypass near Calle 42, at the north end of town, about 1.7 km from the fort and the lakefront, so older guides that promise a five-minute walk to the lagoon are out of date.
At a glance
- Distance: about 213 km on Highway 307, roughly 2 hours 35 minutes by car
- Best choice: ADO bus, US$25 per person, about 2 hours 50 minutes
- Cheapest: AU evening buses from about US$21, leaving at 19:55 and 23:00, plus 18:55 on some days
- Train: Tren Maya, about 590 pesos in tourist class, two trains a day
- Door to door: private car for up to 3 people from US$392, minivan for up to 6 from US$430
- Arrive with cash: Bacalar has few ATMs, so take out pesos in Tulum
Tulum to Bacalar transport options
Compare fares and travel times, then select an option for departure points and booking details.
| Transport | Estimated fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| ADO busSeveral departures a day | Estimated fareUS$25per person (Primera from US$28) | Travel timeAbout 2h 50m |
| AU evening bus19:55 and 23:00, some days 18:55 | Estimated fareFrom US$21per person | Travel timeAbout 2h 50m |
| Tren MayaAbout two trains a day | Estimated fareAbout 590 pesostourist class, same fare for all visitors | Travel timeAbout 3h, plus station transfers |
| Private transferHotel to hotel, any time | Estimated fareFrom US$392per car (up to 3 people) | Travel timeAbout 2h 30m |
| Rental carSelf-drive on Highway 307 | Estimated fareVaries by rentalplus fuel | Travel timeAbout 2h 35m |
| Colectivo comboChange in Felipe Carrillo Puerto | Estimated fareLow costpay cash per leg | Travel timeVaries with connections |
Fares and travel times are estimates. Confirm current prices and departures before booking.
More routes from Tulum
1. ADO bus, the one I’d book
ADO runs direct first-class buses from its terminal on Avenida Tulum, in the center of Tulum town, to the ADO terminal in Bacalar.
The ride takes about 2 hours 50 minutes with no stops to change.
The standard ADO fare is US$25 on both GuateGo and Bookaway, and ADO Primera seats cost US$28 on Bookaway.
The buses are air-conditioned and have a toilet on board.
ADO departures from Tulum
The two booking sites show different ADO times, and the Bookaway list changes with the day of the week.
Use the table as a guide and confirm the exact time when you book.
| Listed on | Departures from Tulum | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| GuateGo | 10:10, 12:10, 14:10, 15:10, 18:10 | US$25 |
| Bookaway (ADO) | 01:50, 09:00, 12:00, 13:00, 13:20, 15:00, 16:00, 18:05, plus 08:00, 11:00 and 20:00 on some days | US$25 to US$26 |
| Bookaway (ADO Primera) | Most of the same times, plus 09:00 with ADO TLLD | US$28 |
A late-morning bus gets you to Bacalar in time to check in and swim before sunset.
The 01:50 night bus arrives around 4:40 in the morning, so only take it if your host can let you in.
Where to catch it in Tulum
The ADO Terminal de Autobuses Tulum sits on Avenida Tulum, the main road through town, a block west of Parque Dos Aguas.
Hotels in the center are a 10 to 15 minute walk away.
From the hotel zone on the beach road, expect a taxi of roughly 150 to 300 pesos to the terminal.
Allow 30 minutes for the ride.
Uber started service in Tulum in October 2026, but its legal status is still disputed and local taxi drivers oppose it, so a taxi called by your hotel is the safer bet.
My verdict: the best balance of price, comfort and timing for almost everyone. Book a day ahead in high season, when the midday buses fill up.
Want a confirmed seat?
2. AU evening bus, the cheapest ticket
AU (Autobuses Unidos) is ADO’s budget brand, and it only runs this route in the evening. Bookaway lists departures at 19:55 and 23:00, plus 18:55 on some days, from the same Tulum terminal.
The standard AU seat costs about US$21 to US$22, and the Directo Económico service costs about US$24. The ride also takes about 2 hours 50 minutes, on simpler buses than ADO.
My verdict: fine if you are on a tight budget and already have your Bacalar bed booked. The 23:00 bus arrives around 1:50, so plan a taxi from the terminal.
Saving every peso?
3. Tren Maya, comfortable but slower door to door
The Tren Maya links Tulum with Bacalar on its southern line toward Chetumal.
One rail guide lists two southbound trains a day, at 10:45 and 17:07, arriving in Bacalar at 13:36 and 20:09.
Since April 2026, foreign visitors pay the same Turista México fare as Mexican travelers from other states, so the old higher international fare is gone.
Expect about 590 pesos (roughly US$32) one way in tourist class, or about 700 pesos in Premier class. Fares change often, so confirm the price when you buy.
Both stations sit outside town. Tulum’s station is about 6 km from downtown, a taxi of roughly 100 to 150 pesos.
In Bacalar, an official shuttle meets the trains and runs to the ADO terminal in about 10 minutes for 25 pesos per person.
Door to door, plan on about 4 hours.
My verdict: a comfortable ride if you love trains, but it costs more and takes longer than the bus.
Check the timetable before you plan around it, since this line has run with limited frequencies.
4. Private transfer, for families and groups
A private driver picks you up at your Tulum hotel and drops you at your door in Bacalar. Bookaway lists Wayak transfers at any time of day, with free cancellation.
| Vehicle | Price per vehicle | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Standard car, up to 3 people | US$392 | Bookaway |
| Standard minivan, up to 6 people | US$430 | Bookaway |
Expect about 2 hours 30 minutes on the road. Ask when you book if you want a stop at the Muyil ruins or Chacchoben on the way.
My verdict: worth it for 4 to 6 people, or if you are staying at a lagoon resort outside town.
For one or two people, the bus plus a local taxi costs a fraction of this.
Traveling as a group?
5. Rental car, if you want to explore
Highway 307 runs south from Tulum through Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Bacalar, about 213 km and 2 hours 35 minutes of driving.
Gas stations are spread out on this stretch. Fill up in Tulum or in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, roughly halfway.
A car pays off in Bacalar, where the cenotes, beach clubs and lagoon hotels are spread along the shore.
To compare prices, see rental cars in Tulum and Cancun.
My verdict: the best way to see Muyil, Chacchoben and the cenotes south of Bacalar. Check the one-way drop fee if you won’t return to Tulum.
6. Colectivo combo, the backpacker way
Shared colectivo vans run from Tulum to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where you change to another van for Bacalar. You pay cash for each leg.
The vans are small, stop often and only have room for small bags, so this works for light travelers only.
My verdict: cheap and local, but slower and less comfortable than the AU bus. Most people are better off on a bus.
Step by step: the ADO bus to Bacalar
- Book your seat online a day ahead, or buy it at the ADO counter in the Tulum terminal.
- Get to the terminal 30 minutes early. It is on Avenida Tulum by Parque Dos Aguas.
- Check in your big bag under the bus and keep the luggage tag.
- Sit back for about 2 hours 50 minutes as the bus runs south through Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
- Get off at the ADO terminal in Bacalar, on the highway bypass at the north end of town.
- Take a taxi or walk 25 minutes to the center and the lakefront.
What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people
| Option | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADO bus | US$25 | US$50 | US$100 |
| AU evening bus | From US$21 | From US$42 | From US$84 |
| Tren Maya (tourist class) | About 590 pesos | About 1,180 pesos | About 2,360 pesos |
| Private transfer | US$392 | US$392 | US$430 (minivan) |
For one to three people, the ADO bus is far cheaper than any private option. A private minivan only starts to make sense for a group of five or six.
Which option should you choose?
- Solo or couple, staying in town: the ADO bus.
- Tightest budget: an AU evening bus.
- Train fan with time to spare: the Tren Maya at 10:45.
- Group of 5 or 6, or staying at a resort outside town: a private minivan.
- Planning stops at ruins and cenotes: a rental car.
Arriving in Bacalar
The ADO terminal is on the Highway 307 bypass (Calle 19 Libramiento) near Calle 42, on the west side of the road.
It opened in December 2024 and has an air-conditioned waiting room, ticket office and a convenience store.
The Fuerte de San Felipe and the town square are about 1.7 km south, a 24-minute walk or a 7-minute drive.
The lakefront boulevard and most town-center hotels are around the fort.
Taxis in Bacalar are not metered, so agree the fare before you get in. The town has no Uber.
If you arrive by train, the station shuttle drops you at this same ADO terminal.
Lagoon resorts south of town toward Cenote Azul and Xul-Ha are a longer taxi ride, so arrange the pickup with your hotel.
Bacalar: things to do and where to stay
Bacalar is a small lakeside town built around a long freshwater lagoon that shifts from turquoise to deep indigo.
Days here are slow: sailing and kayaking on the lagoon, swims off wooden piers and sunset drinks on the water.
The classics are a boat tour on the lagoon, the Fuerte de San Felipe museum, the 90-meter-deep Cenote Azul and the lazy-river currents of Los Rápidos.
See the tours from Bacalar below to book them.
Which area to stay in
- Town center, around the fort and square: for walkers and budget travelers, with restaurants and tour operators close by, about 1.7 km from the ADO terminal.
- The lakefront boulevard: for hotels with their own pier on the water, still walkable to the center.
- South toward Cenote Azul and Xul-Ha: for quiet lagoon resorts, a taxi or car ride from the terminal.
- North of town: for eco-lodges and cabañas on the lagoon, best with a car.
Best luxury hotels in and around Bacalar
- Habitas Bacalar: an adults-only retreat in Xul-Ha with 34 A-frame tented rooms right on the lagoon, and no pool because you swim straight off the shore.
- Akalki: a holistic retreat about 12 km south of town, with cabañas built out over the lagoon, each with its own dock, and a small spa.
- Hotel Amainah: an adults-only boutique hotel on the Costera Sur, a minute’s walk from Cenote Azul, with a shared pool and some rooms that have their own private pool.
- Rancho Encantado: 16 freestanding Maya-style casitas on the lagoon shore, some right on the water, with a private dock for swimming and snorkeling.
Habitas, Akalki and Amainah are outside the town center, and the bus does not stop there.
Book a private transfer on Bookaway straight to the door, or take the bus and a taxi from the terminal.
Good to know about this route
- Which side to sit on: the bus heads south, so the sun is ahead and to the left on morning buses and to the right in the afternoon. The road runs through jungle, so there are no big views to fight over.
- Stops worth making by car: the Muyil ruins at the edge of Sian Ka’an, about 25 km south of Tulum, and the Chacchoben ruins, a short detour off the highway before Bacalar. The bus does not stop at either.
- No sargassum: Bacalar is a freshwater lagoon, so the seaweed that hits Tulum’s beaches in summer never reaches it.
- Hurricane season: June to November. Storms can delay buses and boat tours.
- Late arrivals: the last ADO and AU buses arrive late at night. Book a room with 24-hour check-in or tell your host your arrival time.
Practical tips before you leave Tulum
Bring pesos. Bacalar has only a handful of ATMs and the ones in the center are often out of service.
Withdraw cash in Tulum for taxis, boat tours and small restaurants.
Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Bus terminal, café and hotel networks are open to everyone. A VPN such as ExpressVPN keeps your bookings and banking private.
Book ahead in high season. The midday buses sell out around Christmas and Easter.
Stay at least two nights. Bacalar is too far for a day trip, and the lagoon is best early in the morning.
Heading back north? ADO buses run from Bacalar to Tulum on the same road.
From Tulum you can continue with our Tulum to Playa del Carmen guide or our Tulum to Cancun Airport guide.
Coming straight from the airport? See our Cancun to Bacalar guide, or break the trip with a night in Tulum.
Tours from Bacalar
Lagoon sailing trips, kayak tours at sunrise, Cenote Azul swims and day trips to the Chacchoben ruins are the most popular.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the bus from Tulum to Bacalar?
The ADO bus costs US$25 per person on GuateGo and Bookaway, and ADO Primera seats cost US$28. AU evening buses start at about US$21.
How long is the bus from Tulum to Bacalar?
About 2 hours 50 minutes from the ADO terminal on Avenida Tulum to the ADO terminal in Bacalar.
How far is Tulum from Bacalar?
About 213 km on Highway 307, roughly 2 hours 35 minutes by car.
Where does the bus arrive in Bacalar?
At the ADO terminal on the Highway 307 bypass near Calle 42, about 1.7 km north of the fort and the lakefront. A taxi takes about 7 minutes.
Is there a train from Tulum to Bacalar?
Yes. The Tren Maya runs about two trains a day, taking about 3 hours. Tourist class costs about 590 pesos, the same fare for foreign and Mexican visitors, and a 25-peso shuttle links the Bacalar station with the ADO terminal.
How much is a private transfer from Tulum to Bacalar?
Bookaway lists private cars for up to 3 people from US$392 and minivans for up to 6 from US$430, hotel to hotel.
What time is the last bus from Tulum to Bacalar?
AU runs a 23:00 bus, and ADO has a 01:50 night bus. The last evening ADO bus leaves at about 18:05 to 18:10, or at 20:00 on some days.
Can you do Bacalar as a day trip from Tulum?
It is possible by car, but with about 5 hours of driving it is rushed. Stay at least two nights to enjoy the lagoon.
More routes to Bacalar
Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: ADO and AU fares and departures from GuateGo’s and Bookaway’s live listings; private transfer prices from Bookaway; Tren Maya fares and times from Tren Maya rail guides and 2026 fare-change reports; terminal locations and distances from Google Maps; area and hotel details from local travel guides and hotel listings.
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AnaMaria is a dedicated SEO specialist and content strategist with profound expertise in Transport in Costa Rica, Transportation in Mexico, Transport in Guatemala, Transport in Peru, and Transport in Thailand.
