Cancun Airport to Cozumel by ADO (formerly Riviera) Bus

(Also Cozumel to Cancun)

Last update: August, 2008.

There are two main terminals at the Cancun airport. Terminal 3 is typically for international aircraft from the USA. If you are on a USA carrier odds are good that you will go into Terminal 3.

Terminal 2 is the domestic terminal. This is where I was dropped off by the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen. It was near door 6 of Terminal 2. You can get a ticket at the bus.

At the bottom are departure times from Playa del Carmen (PDC) to Cancun airport ... and Cancun airport to Playa. Travel time is about 60 minutes. Also included are ferry times. Note that there are two ferries and almost every daylight hour has a ferry.

Cancun Airport to Cozumel Details

This will cover catching the bus from Terminal 2 first then Terminal 3. Followed by a discussion how to walk from Terminal 2 to 3 and vice versa. Of course you can take the ASUR shuttle between the two terminals but I can leisurely walk between them in about eight minutes.

Part 1: Arriving into Terminal 2

After you leave the Terminal 2 building you will see the overhead signs shown in Figure 1. The right sign says "Coffe" and "Cafeteria" and an arrow to the right. You will take a right as soon as possible and after walking a few yards will see the Meeting Place to your right. That is shown in Figure 2.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

Figure 1 Figure 2

Continue straight ahead and you will this view looking down the length of the Terminal 2 building (with the street to your left/building to your righ) as seen in the next picture below and to the left. The picture to the right is a different angle showing Terminal 2.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

Just continue walking the length of the building. The door numbers will increase from around 4 to 13 as you get closer to the ADO bus area. The ASUR shuttle runs from around door 10 and is shown in the next picture below and to the left. Walk down to the Door 13 area and you will look a bit to the left to see where the ADO bus will be (picture below right). There may be people waiting for the bus or a ticket agent. In the middle of the right picture are people in red shirts (yes, hard to see). Just to the right of them is the ADO bus.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

Part 2: Arriving into Terminal 3

This is really simple. Just walk outside. Just before leaving the building you may find an ADO ticket counter. You can buy the ticket there or outside at the bus. Go outside and ahead and to the right is the Coconuts bar building (pic below left). Walk past it and look right and that is where the ADO bus will be or arrive at (picture below right)

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

Below is the shuttle that goes between the two terminals.

Terminal 1

Part 3: Walking from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3

If you walked to the end of Terminal 2 (with the building to your right) and past Door 13 you will soon be a point where when you look a bit to the right you see the view shown in the pic below left. Walk in that direction and you will look down a road. A utility tube is above and to your left (pic below right). Walk to the end of this short road/sidewalk.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

When you get to the end of the road turn left and you will see the view in the picture below left. Go a short distance and look right (picture below right) and take that sidewalk all the way to the end which is where people exit from Terminal 3.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

When you get to the area where people exit it is secured by gates/fences. Depending upon where you are you will see Coconuts across the way (picture below left). Ask to get inside to catch the bus and you will soon see the ADO bus just past the Coconuts beverage hut if it is there (picture below right).

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

Part 4: Walking from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2

If you walk outside Terminal 3 after passing customs and the ADO bus is just pulling out you may be able to walk over to Terminal 2 to catch it. The ADO bus leaves Terminal 3 to go to Terminal 2 about 15 minutes before it leaves the airport. It takes me about 8 minutes to walk between the two. The picture below left shows what you will see looking down the Terminal 3 building after getting past the gates. The picture to its right is at the end of the Terminal 3 building (building to your LEFT). Just ahead the sidewalk splits. Do not turn right but continue straight ahead to the road where you will turn left.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

The next two pictures show you the view on the sidewalk almost to the first turn at the road (left) and then after the left turn looking towards the place where you will turn right (right picture).

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

After the turn to the right you will see the utility tube above and to your right. Just continue straight ahead until you get to the sign seen in the picture below right. Look a bit to the right and the covered structures ahead are where the ADO bus will be seen waiting for you.

Cancun Terminal 2 LeftTerminal 2 Right

Part 5: Playa del Carmen bus station to ferry

You have arrived at the Playa del Carmen bus station (near the ferry)

The bathroom at the PDC bus terminal is upstairs. If you face the four side-by-side ticket counters, the stairs are to your right. Entry fee is 3 pesos so have some coins. If you need toilet paper, get it from the wall dispenser before you are "committed."

Leave from the corner door and you will see McDonalds and a Diamond store to your left. Walk straight forward about 20 yards then veer left and walk down the slight slope with McDonalds to your left. Walk towards the water one block and when you get to the wall that ends at the beach turn right. The next two pics are (left to right) the Diamond store/Mcdonalds and looking east to the ocean as you start walking down the hill.

Diamond StoreEast to ocean

The two pics below are from the path past McDonalds near the ocean wall (left). The right picture is looking south towards the entrance to the ferry pier. You can see the pier in the left picture.




To PDC PierTowards Ferry

As you get near the palapa, to the right you will see one ticket counter to your right on the corner (left pic below). A bit further past the palapa on the left are two others (right pic). Ultramar is the yellow/blue colored booth and the Mexico ferry is the other one. Both are fine. Just take the next one to go and do not buy roundtrip tickets.

Ticket CounterTicket Counter

The next two pics show the smaller ticket counters and the arch over the entrance to the ferry pier (left below) and the view just outside the pier entrance facing towards the pier (Right below). Senor Frogs is to the right. There are two tickets booths. One for Ultramar and the other for Mexico ferries.

PDC ArchPDC Ferry Pier

Just proceed under the arch and you will see the lines forming for the next ferry. Enjoy the trip over. You can get refreshments on the ferry.

Cozumel to Cancun Details

The view from the square towards the Cozumel ferry pier is the next leftmost picture. The ticket Mexico ferry counter is at the left end of the right building. You can also buy your bus ticket at another counter in that building. The Ultramar ferry counter is in the left building. Ferry time to PDC about 35 minutes. The right picture is on the Playa Del Carmen pier.

Coz Ferry pierLeaving PDC Pier

The next left picture is leaving the pier. Note Senor Frogs to the left is to the right. The next pic on the right is looking to the west as you leave the pier. Rental car companies are located just ahead.

PDC Off PierWest from PDC Pier

You could go one block to the top of the hill then right two blocks to get to the bus station. We will go right after leaving the pier/arch (Next left pic). The next rightmost picture is almost at the palapa with a large banner. We can either turn left, go one block then right one block...or, we can continue straight ahead. But for now we will go straight along the beach. Of course you can cut diagonally through the plaza area.

Right from PDC PierPDC Palapa

Before we continue straight, look a bit left at the plaza. Since the construction is done you can also walk diagonally through the courtyard area (next pic on left). Go straight (next right pic) then turn left after one block (before you hit the building!).

PDC PlazaPDC Straight

After you turn left and go one block west, look back for one last look at the ocean (next left pic). A few more yards and you are at the bus station (next right pic).

PDC OceanPDC Bus Station

Bus times verified via their website - July 28, 2008

ADO Bus Schedule

Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen: 1030 AM, 1145 AM, 1245 PM, 130 PM, 200 PM, 245 PM, 345 PM, 445 PM, 545 PM, 645, 745 PM, 845 PM, 945 PM

Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport: 700 AM, 800 AM, 900 AM, 1000 AM, 1110 AM, 1210 PM, 110 PM, 210 PM, 310 PM, 410 PM, 510 PM, 615, 715 PM

Ferry Schedule (Times verified Aug 2008 - Always confirm times since it can and does change)

Playa del Carmen to Cozumel: 600 AM, 800 AM, 900 AM, 1000 AM, 1100 AM, 1200 PM, 100 PM, 200 PM, 300 PM, 400 PM, 500 PM, 600 PM, 700 PM, 800 PM, 900 PM, 1100 PM

Cozumel to Playa del Carmen: 500 AM, 700 AM, 800 AM, 900 AM, 1000 AM, 1100 AM, 1200 PM, 100 PM, 200 PM, 300 PM, 400 PM, 500 PM, 600 PM, 700 PM, 800 PM, 1000 PM

 

Websites:

1) Mexico ferry: http://www.crucerosmaritimos.com.mx/inicio.htm

Look under "Servicios" then "Horarios"

2) Ultramar ferry: http://mexicancaribbean.com/Transportation/Ferrie/Ultramar/default.htm

3) Bus system: https://www.ticketbus.com.mx/ticketbus/eng/index.jsp