Written by Andreas Keller, Marika Maslanka, Miguel Lopez
01/08/2025
Ali Alcántara, Pexels
Bacalar itself does not have an airport; the closest airport is Chetumal International Airport (CTM), located approximately 38 km away. Tulum International Airport (TQO) is another option, roughly 202 km from Bacalar. Cancun International Airport (CUN) is further, about 333 km away. Bacalar has an ADO bus station, and a new, larger terminal is currently under construction on the federal highway to meet increasing demand, expected to be operational by October 2024. There are also car rental services available in Bacalar and at nearby airports.
Flying:
Fly into Chetumal International Airport (CTM), the closest airport, then take a taxi (around 30-45 minutes, $20-$30 USD) or an ADO bus (around 40 minutes, $6-$8 USD) to Bacalar.
Fly into Tulum International Airport (TQO), then arrange for a private transfer (around 2.5 hours) or take an ADO bus.
Fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN), then take a private transfer (around 4-5 hours, starting from $300-$500 USD) or an ADO bus (around 5.5 hours, $28-$47 USD).
Bus (ADO):
Direct ADO buses are available from major hubs like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal to Bacalar.
From Cancun, a direct ADO bus takes about 5 hours and 40 minutes and costs approximately $28-$47 USD.
From Chetumal, an ADO bus takes about 40 minutes and costs around $6-$8 USD.
From Tulum, an ADO bus takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Car Rental:
Rent a car from Cancun International Airport and drive to Bacalar, a journey of about 4 to 5 hours on Highway 307. Rental costs in Bacalar average around $27 per day.
Private Shuttle/Taxi:
Private transfers offer door-to-door service and are the fastest and most convenient option, though generally more expensive.
From Cancun Airport, a private transfer can cost around $300-$500 USD and take 4-5 hours.
From Chetumal Airport, taxis cost between $20-$30 USD and take about 30-45 minutes.
Colectivo (Shared Van):
For a budget-friendly option, consider colectivos. From Playa del Carmen, you would typically take a colectivo to Tulum and then transfer to another colectivo to Bacalar. The cost from Chetumal to Bacalar by shared van is around $7 USD and takes about 40 minutes.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
