Hola Reader,

If you've read anything I've written you probably know that I am a huge fan of the Mexico bus system and I even wrote a whole Mexico Bus Guide to help people see this service for what it is and embrace it as a way of getting around Mexico.

So when I had to get from Cozumel in Quintana Roo to Mérida in Yucatán I knew I was going to skip the long wait at the airport and opt for a bus.

This week I'm going to tell you how to make this journey, what the ferry is like, the local alternative to taxis in Playa del Carmen you should definitely know about, my experience on the ADO Platino bus service, and what happened when we were stopped by the police crossing state lines.

Taking The Cozumel Ferry

I'm going to write a wider post about taking the ferry to/from Cozumel so if you want more info, keep an eye out for that but today, I'm going to cover the basics.

Whether you're heading to Playa del Carmen from Cozumel or you're doing a day trip onto the island, the only way to make this journey is by ferry.

There are three companies that do this journey Winjet, Ultramar, and Xcaret.

Winjet is the worst option since they have the oldest ferries, cause the most seasickness and have the least reliable service.

I opted for Ultramar which I highly recommend but Xcaret is fine too.

While you can purchase ferry tickets online, I found it to be a little cheaper to actually just walk down to the terminal the day before and purchase a ticket from the window.

The bonus for this is that the lady who helped me told me the ferry wasn't busy so I could arrive 10 minutes in advance instead of the usual 30 minutes. Since I was taking the first ferry, I was happy to have the extra 20 minutes of sleep.

The ferry terminal is clearly marked as you make your way through. I went through a metal detector and bag scan, and then just followed the signage to the Ultramar ferry.

I decided to pay the extra $60MXN [$3.50USD/$4CAD] to travel first class which meant priority boarding and more importantly, I could keep my carry on luggage with me instead of needing to check it.

Since I usually travel with just a small carry on, this meant as soon as we reached Playa del Carmen I could just get right on my way without any waiting around.

The ferry was really comfy! I decided to stay inside but there is an outside deck for anyone who wanted to ride that way.

There's a snack bar inside with a full Starbucks (not just drip coffee) so I ordered an iced latte and a cornbread which they warmed up and delivered to my table.

The ride was a quick and easy 35 minutes but can take 30-45 minutes depending on the water conditions. And although these ferries do have stabilizers, if you're prone to seasickness I recommend taking something before you board.

The ferry ports in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen are right downtown so it really doesn't get much more convenient than this.

Skip The PDC Taxis & Do This

Taxis in Playa del Carmen are a bit notorious for fleecing visitors.

There is a tarifa (rate sheet) that they are supposed to follow but since so many visitors don't know about it and don't ask for it, they can kind of get away with whatever they want, and many of them do.

More specific to taking the ferry, there's another reason why you might want to skip a traditional taxi.

The ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen is downtown, but it's right next to the Plaza Fundadores (famous square with the big sculpture) in a pedestrian only area.

So this means making your way down the dock, through the terminal, and then either over through the park to the tourist ADO bus terminal or straight up the pedestrian road to one of the main avenues to find a taxi stand.

These walks take about 5-10 minutes altogether but with luggage on a hot day, and followed by a taxi fare negotiation, it can be a lot.

So what do I recommend instead?

Tricitaxis!

Tricitaxis are like bicycles with carts on the front. These are a legitimate, regulated and licensed service in Playa del Carmen and they're way more fun that a taxi.

Basically your luggage is loaded into the bottom of the cart and you sit on the bench seat above.

Unlike a regular taxi, the tricitaxis can come right down onto the dock and pick up passengers as soon as they get off the ferry.

I paid $100MXN [$6USD/$8CAD] to go from the ferry dock to the ADO Alterna bus terminal which is about 1.2km or 3/4 a mile away.

Since it's powered by a human you don't have to worry about it going breakneck speeds but it's definitely faster than walking and we were able to ride through the pedestrian promenades instead of being stuck in traffic or trying to navigate unreliable sidewalks.

Tricitaxis are a super local way of travelling so you may catch some smiles from people surprised to see visitors using them! Remember to pay cash and I like to tip to say thanks.

The ADO Platino Experience

Up to this point in my Mexico travels, my favourite bus service has been the ETN luxury service which really only operates from Mexico City and up whereas ADO operates mainly from Mexico City and down (with a few exceptions).

The most comparable ADO service to ETN is the Platino (platinum) which is the best of the best they have to offer. So for a 4.5 hour bus ride I decided to go for it.

The ticket cost $972MXN [$56USD/$76CAD]. I was given cold bottled water at boarding and had my own pod reclining seat that I preselected online. This has individual air control, seatback entertainment (in Spanish), adjustable seat and footrest, charging ports, adjustable reading light, drink holder and seatback pocket.

The curtains were drawn and everyone onboard respected that this was a quiet time, so to be honest I slept through almost the whole ride which for me is very unusual.

But the thing that really impressed me was the bathroom.

Bathrooms on buses have never been a good experience for me but the bathrooms at the station were closed for cleaning so I didn't really have a choice.

The bathrooms are in a separate space at the back of the bus with a soundproof door. There are separate mens and womens bathrooms and lights at the front of the bus to tell you when they are free, like on an airplane.

These bathrooms were bigger and nicer than on any airplane I've been on! They are clean, they filter the air to get rid of odours, and are fully stocked with soap, tissues, and paper towels.

It was honestly worth upgrading just to have this amenity but the spacious, extra plush seats were so comfy and had me arriving in Mérida feeling fresh and ready to explore.

What Happen When The Cops Stopped My Bus

As we approached the state line I noticed our bus slowing so I took a peek out the window and saw a makeshift checkpoint filled with law enforcement.

An officer boarded the bus and I quickly figured out they were looking specifically for non-Mexicans.

She stopped at me (my Irish eyes gave me away!) and I told her I was Canadian. She asked to see my passport and took it to an officer who checked my immigration status to make sure I hadn't overstayed my visa.

This also happened with the other few international visitors and while we waited for the checks to be done another officer boarded the bus with a drug sniffer dog who walked the bus front to back.

Thankfully, no one had used or carried drugs and everyone had their documents in order so our passports were returned to us and we carried on our journey.

Back in October I sent an email with information about what happens if you overstay your visa and how so many travellers, for one reason or another, don't think it's a big deal to break immigration laws in Mexico.

This surprise immigration stop is the exact reason why I advise to never overstay your visa and to always have the correct documentation handy.

If you have any questions or comments about this week's email remember to hit reply and share them with me! I love hearing from readers and helping advise on travel to Mexico.

Next week I'll be back to cover the Mérida part of my trip and if there's anything you'd like me to cover next, about this trip or anything else to do with Mexico just hit reply and let me know.

Hasta luego,

-Ashlea

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