If your plans go beyond the Hotel Zone, a day trip to Playa del Carmen, or a stay split between Cancun and Tulum, ADO is the bus line locals and budget travelers actually use. It's air-conditioned, comfortable, and connects Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum (with routes reaching further into Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and beyond).
ADO serves Cancun Airport (Terminals 2, 3, and 4), the main Cancun Centro terminal, plus dedicated terminals in downtown Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Book online at ado.com.mx or in person at the terminal ticket counter, buying online in advance occasionally comes with promotions of up to 50% off. Seat selection is available based on what's open; if you'd rather not watch a Spanish-language movie on the onboard TV, pick a seat away from the screen.
Schedules are limited, especially very early morning or late at night, so check available times ahead rather than assuming a bus will be running when you need one. Bring pesos as a backup even though card machines are usually accepted. They don't always work. Onboard WiFi has been inconsistent recently (station WiFi is a better bet, when it's working). Checked bags get a claim ticket, so keep it safe, and it's worth tipping the staff who handle luggage.
Note: routes between Cancun and Tulum occasionally pass through immigration checkpoints where ID may be requested, a normal part of travel in the region, not something specific to any one bus line.
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