How to Get from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar

Reviewed by Jean Nájera, Transportation Industry Expert

From Playa del Carmen to Bacalar, the ADO bus is the easiest way to go: about US$33 per person, roughly 4 hours 10 minutes, with around a dozen departures a day from the Terminal Alterna.

AU evening buses start at about US$29, ADO GL gets there in about 3 hours 50 minutes, and a private car for up to 4 people costs from US$266.

Bacalar lies about 275 to 280 km south of Playa del Carmen, so plan on most of a day for the trip.

A morning bus puts you on the lagoon in time for a late lunch.

The detail everyone misses: buses to Bacalar do not leave from the ADO Terminal Turística on Fifth Avenue, where the airport buses arrive.

They leave from the ADO Terminal Alterna on 20th Avenue at Calle 12, several blocks inland, so travelers who go to the wrong terminal can miss their bus.

At a glance

• Distance: about 275 to 280 km on Highway 307, roughly 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours by car
• Best choice: ADO bus, about US$33 per person, about 4 hours 10 minutes
• Fastest bus: ADO GL, from US$39, about 3 hours 50 minutes, three times a day
• Cheapest: AU at 18:35 and 21:40, about US$29
• Door to door: private car for up to 4 people from US$266
• Leave from: ADO Terminal Alterna, 20th Avenue and Calle 12, not the Fifth Avenue terminal

1. ADO bus, the one I’d book

ADO runs first-class buses from the Terminal Alterna in Playa del Carmen to its terminal in Bacalar. The ride takes about 4 hours 10 minutes, with a short stop in Tulum on the way.

Bookaway lists the standard ADO fare at about US$33 and ADO Primera seats at about US$36. GuateGo lists ADO at US$34.

ADO departures from Playa del Carmen

The two booking sites show slightly different times. Treat the times below as a guide, since your ticket shows the departure that counts.

A bus between 9:00 and 11:00 is the sweet spot. It reaches Bacalar in the early afternoon, with daylight left for a swim.

The night buses arrive between about 4:40 and 5:50 in the morning. Only take one if your host can let you in that early.

Where to catch it in Playa del Carmen

The ADO Terminal Alterna sits on Calle 12 Norte at 20th Avenue, about a 5 to 10 minute walk from Fifth Avenue.

From Playacar or the north end of town, a short taxi ride is easier with luggage.

Arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in your bag. Long-distance buses run cold, so keep a sweater in your day bag.

My verdict: the best mix of price, comfort and choice of times for solo travelers and couples.

2. ADO GL, the fastest bus

ADO GL is the premium tier, with more legroom and fewer passengers.

Bookaway lists three departures from the Terminal Alterna, at 01:29, 08:40 and 19:40, taking about 3 hours 50 minutes.

The standard GL seat costs about US$39 and the Ejecutivo seat about US$41. The 08:40 bus arrives at 12:30, which is the earliest daytime arrival on this route.

My verdict: worth the extra US$6 if you want a quieter, quicker ride and the 08:40 time suits you.

3. AU evening bus, the cheapest ticket

AU (Autobuses Unidos) is the budget brand in the ADO group. Bookaway lists two departures from the Terminal Alterna, at 18:35 and 21:40, from about US$29.

The ride takes about 4 hours 10 minutes on simpler buses. The 18:35 bus arrives at 22:45 and the 21:40 bus at about 1:50.

My verdict: fine for tight budgets, as long as your room in Bacalar has late check-in.

4. Private transfer, for families and groups

Valentina’s Tours and Transfer and Wayak collect you from your Playa del Carmen hotel or rental and drive you to the door of your Bacalar stay.

On the road, expect about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours.

Ask when you book if you want a stop in Tulum or at a cenote on the way. Bookaway lists free cancellation on these transfers.

My verdict: the best choice for 3 or 4 people, or if you are staying at a lagoon resort outside town.

5. Tren Maya, only if the timetable fits

The Tren Maya runs south from Playa del Carmen through Tulum to Bacalar, but only a few trains a day continue past Tulum.

Rail guides list Tulum departures at 10:45 and 17:07, reaching Bacalar at 13:36 and 20:09.

Whether you get a through train from Playa del Carmen or need to change depends on the day, so check the timetable when you book.

Both stations sit outside town. The Playa del Carmen station is about 6 km from the center, roughly 100 pesos by taxi.

In Bacalar, an official shuttle runs from the station to the ADO terminal in about 10 minutes for 25 pesos.

Door to door, the trip takes 5 hours or more.

Fares changed recently and reports differ on what foreign visitors now pay.

Expect up to about 985 pesos (around US$53) one way in tourist class, and confirm the price when you buy.

My verdict: a comfortable ride for train fans, but slower and pricier than the bus for most people.

6. Rental car, if you want to explore

Highway 307 runs south from Playa del Carmen through Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Bacalar. Allow about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours of driving.

South of Tulum the road runs through jungle with few services, so fill up in Tulum or Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Drive in daylight on this stretch.

To compare prices, see rental cars in Playa del Carmen. Check the one-way fee if you will not return the car to Playa del Carmen.

My verdict: the best way to see the Muyil ruins and the cenotes south of Bacalar on the same trip.

Step by step: the ADO bus to Bacalar

1. Book your seat a day ahead, or two in high season. Check that your ticket says Terminal Alterna.
2. Walk or take a taxi to Calle 12 Norte and 20th Avenue. Arrive 30 minutes early.
3. Hand over your suitcase at the bay before boarding and keep the claim stub for Bacalar.
4. Stay on board in Tulum. The bus only pauses there to pick up passengers.
5. Collect your bag in Bacalar at the ADO stop on Calle 19 Libramiento, where the highway skirts the north edge of town.
6. Take a taxi to your hotel, or walk about 25 minutes to the center if you travel light.

What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people

For 1 or 2 people, the bus is far cheaper.

For a group of 4, a private car costs about twice the bus fares, but it saves a taxi at each end and takes you door to door.

Which option should you choose?

• Solo or couple: a mid-morning ADO bus.
• Want to arrive early: the 08:40 ADO GL.
• Tightest budget: the 18:35 AU bus.
• Family or group of 4: a private car.
• Planning stops on the way: a rental car or a private driver.

Arriving in Bacalar

Buses arrive at the ADO terminal on the Highway 307 bypass, Calle 19 Libramiento, at the north end of town.

It has a waiting room, a ticket office and a small shop.

The Fuerte de San Felipe, the main square and the lakefront are about 1.7 km south. That is roughly a 25 minute walk or a 7 minute taxi ride.

Taxis wait outside but are not metered, so agree the fare first. One recent guide quotes 30 to 50 pesos to most hotels in town.

Train passengers reach the same terminal on the station shuttle. Lagoon resorts south of town are a longer ride, so arrange a pickup with your hotel.

Bacalar: things to do and where to stay

Bacalar is a laid-back town on a freshwater lagoon more than 40 km long, famous for its bands of blue.

After the crowds of Playa del Carmen, the pace here is slow.

Most visitors book a sailboat or pontoon tour to the Pirate Channel and the Cenote Esmeralda, float with the current at Los Rápidos, and swim at the 90-meter-deep Cenote Azul.

You can book these in the tours section below.

Which area to stay in

• Town center: walkable to the fort, restaurants and tour docks, about 1.7 km from the ADO terminal.
• The Costera, along the lagoon: small hotels with their own piers, a short taxi ride from the terminal.
• South toward Cenote Azul: quieter boutique hotels, a few kilometers from the terminal.
• Far south and north of town: secluded resorts and eco-lodges, best with a transfer or a car.

Best luxury hotels in and around Bacalar

• Habitas Bacalar: a minimalist lagoon-front retreat of A-frame bungalows, with a spa and wellness program.
• Hotel Amainah Bacalar: an adults-only boutique hotel with 16 lagoon-view rooms, an infinity pool and private jetties on the south shore.
• Mia Bacalar: an eco-luxe lagoon resort with a swim-up pool bar, glass-bottom kayaks and a dock with a diving platform.
• Rancho Encantado Bacalar: large casitas with lagoon or jungle views, an overwater spa and daily breakfast.
• Akalki Bacalar: a holistic retreat south of town, with rooms on private decks over the water.
• La Albarina Bacalar: an adults-only hideaway with a long private lagoon front, where every room has a lagoon view and terrace.

Several of these resorts sit outside the center, and the bus does not stop there.

Book a private transfer on Bookaway for a door-to-door ride, or pair the ADO bus with a taxi from Calle 19 Libramiento.

Good to know about this route

• Which side to sit on: the road runs south through jungle, so there is no view to fight over. Pick the right side in the morning for less sun.
• No tolls: the whole trip uses Highway 307, a free federal highway, with towns like Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Limones on the way.
• Stops by car: the small Muyil ruins on the edge of Sian Ka’an, a short drive south of Tulum, make a good leg-stretch that the bus skips.
• Luggage: one large suitcase under the bus and a carry-on is the norm. Pack snacks and water, since food stops are scarce south of Tulum.
• Weather: November to April is the dry season. Hurricane season runs from June to November and can delay buses and boat tours.
• No sargassum: unlike Playa del Carmen’s beaches, the freshwater lagoon is free of seaweed all year.

Practical tips before you leave Playa del Carmen

Take out pesos in Playa del Carmen. Bacalar has few ATMs, and taxis, boat tours and small restaurants often want cash.

Use a VPN on shared Wi-Fi. The networks at the Alterna terminal and in lagoon guesthouses are shared, so switch on ExpressVPN before paying for tickets or tours.

Reserve early for holidays. The 8:00 to 11:00 departures fill first around Christmas, Easter and Mexican school breaks.

Plan two nights or more. The round trip eats 7 to 8 hours, which leaves almost no time for the lagoon on a same-day visit.

Breaking the trip? Spend a night in Tulum with our Playa del Carmen to Tulum guide, then follow our Tulum to Bacalar guide for the second leg.

Heading further south? From Bacalar it is a short hop to Chetumal and the Belize border.

See our Tulum to Chetumal guide and our Tulum to Belize City guide for the buses and border details.

Flying in? If you are coming straight from the airport, our Cancun to Bacalar guide covers the direct buses.

For the way back, ADO buses run north from Bacalar to Playa del Carmen on the same road.

Tours from Bacalar

Lagoon sailing tours, sunrise paddleboarding, Los Rápidos and day trips to the Chacchoben ruins are the most popular.

Frequently asked questions

Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: ADO, ADO GL, AU and private transfer fares and departures from GuateGo’s and Bookaway’s live listings; Tren Maya times, fares and station shuttles from rail guides and fare-change reports; terminal locations from OpenStreetMap; distances, area and hotel details from local travel guides and hotel listings.

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AnaMarija Mishachkovska( SEO writer specialized in Transportation in Mexico )

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.

Expertises: Transport in Costa Rica, Transportation in Mexico, Transport in Guatemala, Transport in Peru, and Transport in Thailand