Merida >>> Campeche
From Merida you can get pretty much anywhere first or second class, and the two bus stations are just across the street from each other. The second class buses are less frequent in many cases and you may have to fight for a seat, but the price difference can certainly be worth the trouble.
A first-class ADO bus to Campeche cost $12usd ($162 pesos) while a second-class bus can run as low as $6.70usd ($90 pesos) and the time difference between the two isn’t much, with both running a little over 3 hours.
Palenque >>> Campeche
There is a first class bus, from ADO, that leaves for Campeche at 8am, 9pm, 11pm, and 11:25pm, which means you’re best bet is the 8am… The ride is 5- 6 hours. The cost is P$348 ($26.75 USD)
Also there is a second class bus that leaves for Escarcega from Palenque at 4:30pm. This ride is 3-4 hours, and then from Escarcega, it is another roughly 3 hours to Campeche. And the cost from Palenque to Escarcega is P$150.There will be second class buses leaving from the same bus station in Escarcega, for P$90. Also, outside the station are colectivos for Campeche, which could save some cash. We didn’t see them until on the second class bus, so take a look outside the station and ask the price.
At most, the second class trip will cost P$240 ($18 USD).
(And for info on traveling second-class, but leaving before 4:30pm, check out Getting // Going : Palenque for more information.)
Campeche >>> Palenque
You have a few options here. First Class ADO buses leave for Palenque from Campeche at 12:30AM, 11:00am, and 9:45pm. The cost is around P$350.
To save around P$100, you can catch a second class bus from Campeche to the town of Emiliano Zapata for P$220. From Zapata, combis leave for Palenque about every hour, and cost P$30.
And, if you want to break up the drive and spend a night off of the tourist trail, Emily and Xavi took the following route in 2011:
Campeche >> Sabancuy >> Palenque
Campeche has two bus terminals – a first class and a second class. If asking directions to the bus terminal, be sure to clarify for which terminal you are looking. Sur is the bus line running second class — there are colectivos running through town that will have “T. Sur” listed on the window if you want to skip the walk.
We decided to break the long drive to Palenque in half by stopping at the fishing town of Sabancuy – and it was a $5.40usd ($72 pesos) bus ride in second-class. It took about two hours and made for a beautiful drive down the coast with the Gulf of Mexico to admire along the way.
For $3.30usd ($44 pesos) you can get out of Sabancuy and off to Escarcega — the buses start at 7:15 am and run about every two hours until 9:15 pm. It takes an hour and once there you can find buses to other destinations. The bus will take you to the second-class station in Escarcega, where there is a first-class terminal located at the end of the same street as the second-class terminal.
From Escarcega, you can get a first-class bus to Palenque that will cost $12usd ($162 pesos), there are three buses, one leaving at 9:15 am, the other at noon and the final bus leaves at 11 pm. The ride takes just about 4 hours, and because it is a bit of a budget buster it could be in your cards to take the overnight bus and skip out on paying a night at a hostel or hotel.
There is also a second-class option that for $7.85usd ($105 pesos) will take you to the crossroads for Palenque, Villahermosa and the beaches. Once at the crossroads (a 3-hour ride from Escarcega) you can take your time to use the toilet, or buy some lunch if you’re hungry. From here you will hop in a colectivo and after $1.50usd ($20 pesos) and a half hour, you’ll be smack dab in the middle of Palenque.
Campeche >>> Merida
Buses from both the first and second class bus stations leave almost every hour, with a few gaps throughout the day. Your best bet will be checking the day before, or even purchasing your ticket in advance.
GETTING // GOING • SLEEPING • EATING • DOING
Take me back to MEXICO // Take me HOME