Cancun to Merida by bus

[Fletcher921]

How challenging is this?? How expensive?

We can't get frequent flier seats out of Cancun on our desired day so I am thinking of taking the bus to Merida on checkout day, spending one night, and flying home from Merida at 3:30 in the afternoon the next day.

Is this do-able? Are there interesting things to see in the area? Can we see Chichen Itza in this amount of time? Are we crazy to not spend 2 nights there?

 

[geoffb]

Not difficult and not expensive. We have done the same in reverse and gone to Cancun by bus (ADO GL) after a few days in Merida.

If you like ruins then Merida is a great place to use as a base of operations while visiting ruins on the Puuc Route.

 

[Fletcher921]

Yuk. Husband is poo-pooing my plan due to his concern about a 4 hour bus ride in mexico in the heat of summer (late June).

Would renting a car one way be feasible here??

 

[ragtop]

These buses are air-conditioned and can be so cold that your husband's bigger concern might be whether he's dressed warmly enough!

 

[jschmidt]

Yuk. Husband is poo-pooing my plan due to his concern about a 4 hour bus ride in mexico in the heat of summer (late June).

My wife and her friend had to buy long sleeve shirts at the Wal-Mart in Merida for the bus trip back to Cancun. They froze on the trip there.

You could also take a plane from Merida to Cancun. We’ve done that in the past. It’s a very short trip.

I won’t rent a car in Cancun anymore. When I was there two weeks ago, I talked with a guy at Hora Feliz and he told me his horror story. He rented a car at the Tri-Royals and was less than 2 km down the road when the Policia stopped him. They claimed he was speeding and that they would let him go if he gave them U.S. $100. (No receipt!) They claimed the fine would be U.S. $200 if he went to court. No one at Hora Feliz knew for sure how much the actual fine was, but we felt that the average Mexican could not afford U.S. $200.

After that I started watching for the Policia when I was riding on the bus. In three bus trips to El Centro I saw at least six tourists that were stopped by the Policia. The Policia had the drivers outside to the rear of the car and were putting the “Pay-off” pitch on them. These guys have to making at least U.S. $1,000 a day in bribes. The rental car stickers on the car bumper are like a Policia Magnet. They just can’t resist stopping them.

 

[Fletcher921]

Who flies that route?

 

[jschmidt]

Who flies that route?

Mexicana Airlines is the one we used. There may be others.

If you fly, you will have gone through customs in Merida, which means when you arrive in Cancun it will be very simple to claim your baggage and catch a cab or van to your resort. You will arrive at Terminal 2.

 

[geoffb]

These are first class buses... air conditioned, movies, snacks.

Nicer than some planes I have been on.

 

[RFW]

A couple of years ago, we took the bus from Cancun to Merida and back. It was a no brainer, and a very comfortable ride, as others have said. There are actually two bus stops in Merida. The bus stops at the Fiesta Americana, then proceeds to the downtown bus terminal. We opted to come and go at the Fiesta Americana, to avoid the hub bub at the bus terminal. A taxi was readily available to get downtown, where we were staying, and way cheap.

 

[Fletcher921]

Thank you - It now is just my 22 year old daughter and I - husband and son not going. We now are planning to stay overnight enroute in Valladolid. Does the following seem feasible?

We are thinking about leaving Cancun (after staying at Lagunamar for the week) in the morning, taking bus to Valladolid (booked at Casa Hamaca B&B), visiting a ceynote that afternoon/evening and then checking out Chichen Itza bright and early in the morning before we depart via bus for Merida to catch a 3:35 pm departure to Mexico City/Tijuana (domestic flight).

Any other suggestions?

And, can we do the Uno bus stopping in Valladolid or do we need to look at the Ado bus? Is there a significant difference?

 

[MULTIZ321]

Babs,

Here's a previous Tug thread on Bus travel from Cancun to Merida


Richard