How to Get to Bacalar, Mexico: Our In-Depth Guide

Bacalar has been affectionately nicknamed the Maldives of Mexico, and honestly, we get it. This little town near the Belize border feels a world away from places like Tulum or Cancun. We got serious island vibes the second we arrived: sleepy streets, colourful buildings and that insanely blue lagoon. It reminded us of some of the Caribbean islands we’ve been to.

But, getting here is a bit of a mission. Which, in a way, is a good thing. It keeps Bacalar from feeling too busy or touristy. Still, planning how to get to Bacalar in 2025 can feel a little confusing – especially with new airports, scattered info and different routes depending on where you’re coming from.

So in this guide, we’ve broken it all down: your airport options, the best ways to get here (cheap or fast), plus tips we wish we knew before doing it ourselves.

Quick Comparisons: Best Ways to Get to Bacalar

Route	Duration	Cost (est.)	Notes
Cancun → Bus	6.5 hrs	$25–$35	Cheapest, longest option
Cancun → Fly to Chetumal → Bus	2.5 – 3.5 hrs + wait	$410–$610 return	Fast but expensive combo route
Tulum → Bacalar Bus	2.5–3 hrs	$20	Best balance of speed and value
Chetumal → Bacalar Bus	1 hr	$5–$10	Shortest route, local connection needed
Taxi (Cancun – Bacalar)	5–6 hrs	$300+	Easiest, but costly

First, Choose Your Airport to Arrive in Mexico

Which airport should you fly into for Bacalar?

Although Bacalar is in a more remote part of the Yucatan Peninsula, there are actually three airports within a relatively close distance of Bacalar: Cancun, Tulum and Chetumal. If you’re flying internationally, you’ll likely land at either Cancun International Airport (CUN) or Tulum International Airport (TQO). There’s also Chetumal Airport (CTM), the closest to Bacalar, but it only serves domestic routes from Mexico City and Cancun, so we won’t explain that option just yet.

Distances to Bacalar:

• Tulum Airport (TQO): ~202 km (2.5–3 hrs)
• Cancun Airport (CUN): ~333 km (4.5–5.5 hrs)
• Chetumal Airport (CTM): ~40 km (1 hr)

💡 Planning to drive? Here’s our favourite tool for finding deals on rental cars in Mexico, we always use DiscoverCars and recommend them for renting a car to visit Bacalar and beyond.

How to get to Bacalar from Cancun: Cheapest and Easiest Routes in 2025

Option 1: Cancun to Bacalar by ADO Bus

Sadly, you can’t jump on a bus at Cancun Airport and go directly to Bacalar. You’ll have to hop on an ADO bus, or get a taxi, to the central bus station in Cancun. From here, you can get a bus directly to Bacalar (with a few stops along the way). 

💡 Buses run directly from Cancun Airport to the central station – they’re just outside arrivals and easy to spot. We were overwhelmed with how busy it is outside arrivals, so just be prepared for this after landing.

Obviously, if you’re already in Cancun, you can head straight to the central bus station.

This is the longest journey you’ll find in this article. It takes around 5 hours and 40 minutes from Cancun to Bacalar. If you’re coming from the airport, add 45 minutes for that journey. So it could be a whopping 6 hours and 25 minute journey (not including the time you’re waiting for the bus).

• Step 1: ADO bus from airport to Cancun Centro bus station = 45 mins
• Step 2: ADO bus to Bacalar = 5 hrs 40 mins
• Total travel time (excluding waiting for busses) = 6 hrs 25 minutes
• Cost: $25 – $35 pp one way
• Our tip: ADO buses are clean, comfy with AC and toilets onboard

🌮 If you’re arriving in Bacalar late, here are some great restaurants for dinner and our top things to do the next day.

Option 2: Flying from Cancun to Chetumal, then onward to Bacalar

To get yourself a lot closer to Bacalar without the hassle of two buses and a near-7-hour journey, you can hop on a flight from Cancun to Chetumal (the closest city and airport to Bacalar). Chetumal is an international airport, but the only flights that arrive here are internal Mexican flights (unless you’re on a private jet), and the only airline we can find that does a direct route from Cancun to Chetumal is Aerus. 

The flight will set you back around $200 – $300 per person (return), but it only takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, saving a few valuable hours.

• Airline: Aerus (direct flight from CUN)
• Duration: 1.5 hrs + 1 hr transfer to Bacalar
• Cost: $200 – $300 return (flight only)
• 💰 Add $100 for a private taxi or $5 – $10 for an ADO bus from Chetumal to Bacalar.

Getting from Chetumal Airport to Bacalar (Bus)

Once you arrive in Chetumal, you’ll have to jump on a trusty ADO bus. You’ll go into the city to the main bus station, then take a 1-hour bus from there to Bacalar.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi which will likely cost around $100 US.

• Step 1: Fly from Cancun to Chetumal = 1 hour 30 minutes
• Step 2: Bus from Chetumal to Bacalar = 1 hour
• Total travel time (excluding waiting for the flight and bus) = 2 hours 30 minutes

💡 We didn’t end up flying this route ourselves, but people have said it is a smooth journey. Just don’t expect full service airport lounges and it’s a small airline so the flights are limited.

How to get to Bacalar from Tulum (or Tulum Airport)

Tulum is around 2.5 hours closer to Bacalar than Cancun, so those lengthy bus journeys don’t sound so scary. In fact, we did the journey from Tulum to Bacalar and it was easier (and faster) than we expected. 

If you’re wondering – is there a bus from Tulum Airport to Bacalar? Well, we took the bus from Tulum centre, not the airport, so we’re not 100% sure if there is a direct bus from Tulum Airport to Bacalar, you may have to get the bus into Tulum centre and then hop on a bus from there. For some reason, ADO hasn’t got their Tulum airport bus schedule online.

💡 We took the ADO bus from Tulum centre bus station to Bacalar and it arrived 40 minutes faster than expected (so the journey was just over 2 hours) – comfy seats and AC too.

• Travel Time: 2.5 – 3 hrs (ours was fast, just over 2 hours!)
• Cost: $20 one way (for the bus from Tulum town to Bacalar)
• The safest bet is to take a taxi into Tulum town (rather than airport) and catch the bus from there.

📸 If you prefer to stay in Tulum first, here’s our guide to the 23 Most Instagrammable Places in Tulum that you don’t want to miss.

Final Transfer: Getting from Bacalar Bus Station to Bacalar town

When you arrive in Bacalar, the ADO bus will drop you at the main highway, about 5 – 10 mins outside the town centre.

Luckily, there are plenty of taxi drivers waiting at the bus stop to take you to your accommodation. We were in a taxi within 30 seconds of getting off the bus – no stress, no haggling, we just agreed 50 pesos and were on our way.

Make sure you agree a price with your driver before getting in, but you should expect to pay around 50 MXN pesos if you’re staying in the area where most tourists stay in Bacalar.

💦 If you’re spending a few days in town, don’t miss our Bacalar restaurant guide and our list of things to do in Bacalar beyond the lagoon.

Can You Get a Taxi or Private Transfer to Bacalar?

You have the option of not jumping through the hoops of additional flights and changing buses in favour of taking a taxi, but it will be expensive. As we’ve mentioned, journeys from Tulum and Cancun are long, and taxis in this part of Mexico aren’t cheap. You can expect to pay around $300 from Cancun and $250 from Tulum, if not more. Even a taxi from Chetumal Airport to Tulum is around $100 or more.

Can You Take a Colectivo or shared taxi to Bacalar?

Technically yes, but we wouldn’t recommend it.

Colectivos are small shared minivans used by locals – they’re cheap and run frequently, but they’re not made for long journeys (especially if you’ve got luggage). You’ll likely need to make multiple transfers, and there’s no room for big backpacks or suitcases.

For short distances, Colectivos can be handy. But for getting to Bacalar, we honestly think it’s just not worth the hassle. Stick to the ADO bus or rent a car as both are far more comfortable and way less stressful.

Can You Drive to Bacalar?

Yes, and it’s actually a great option if you prefer the freedom of exploring on your own schedule. Especially if you plan on moving around a lot while you’re in Mexico – it can be much more enjoyable than waiting on buses and Colectivos. 

🚗 Compare rental car prices in Bacalar on DiscoverCars – we always use them when driving around Mexico (they have great insurance coverage as well).

What airport do you fly into for Bacalar?

You can fly into three different airports to get to Bacalar. The closest airport is Chetumal, but you can only get there from Mexico City or Cancun. The better options are Cancun airport or Tulum airport, as you can easily get to Bacalar from either on the ADO bus.

What is the best way to get to Bacalar?

Using the ADO bus network is 100% the best way to get to Bacalar. All of the cities and towns in Quintana Roo are easily connected by this frequent, reliable and cost-effective bus network. When we spent 6 weeks in this part of Mexico, if we needed to do any longer journeys, we used ADO.

What are ADO buses like?

There are three different types of ADO buses:

• AD GL (luxury)
• ADO (regular)
• ADO Au (cheaper)

We haven’t travelled on ADO Au but can confirm the regular buses are comfy, spacious and air-conditioned. We travelled with a backpack, carry-on and checked luggage each. All of the suitcases were safe in the main bus storage and we kept our backpacks and valuables with us.

More FAQs: How to Get to Bacalar in 2025

What’s the easiest way to get to Bacalar from Cancun in 2025?

The easiest and most budget-friendly option is to take an ADO bus from Cancun’s main terminal. It’s a long journey (around 6.5 hours), but the buses are comfortable, reliable and run multiple times a day. If you’re short on time and don’t mind spending more, you can also fly from Cancun to Chetumal and then take a short bus or taxi to Bacalar – it’s much quicker at around 2.5 hours (plus wait times).

Is Bacalar close to Tulum?

Yes, and getting to Bacalar from Tulum is one of the quickest routes. The ADO bus from Tulum town takes around 2.5 to 3 hours and is usually under $25. It’s a straight shot with no connections, making it one of the easiest ways to get to Bacalar in 2025 if you’re already in Tulum.

Which airport is closest to Bacalar?

The closest airport is Chetumal International Airport (CTM), about an hour away. But it only serves a few domestic flights, usually from Cancun or Mexico City. If you’re flying here internationally, Tulum Airport (TQO) or Cancun Airport (CUN) are better options – and both are well connected to Bacalar by ADO bus.

Is it worth flying into Chetumal to get to Bacalar?

If you’re already in Mexico and can get a cheap internal flight, yes – it saves hours travelling by road. But if you’re flying internationally, it’s usually easier (and cheaper) to fly into Cancun or Tulum and take the bus from there. See how to get from Chetumal airport to Bacalar.

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