Everything You Need to Know for a Road Trip from Cancun to Mérida

Traveling is much more than seeing things; it is a profound and permanent change in the ideas of life.

Founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo, the current Mérida of Spain began its growth over the remains of the Mayan city of T'ho or Jo, a city that was uninhabited when the Spanish Empire began the conquest of Yucatán.

Now that you are planning your trip to the Riviera Maya, it wouldn't hurt to include Mérida in your itinerary. Personally, Mérida has made me feel very comfortable and enchanted with its architecture, clean city, and friendly people. So, if you plan to visit Mérida, it's important to know a few points to enrich your itinerary.

There are mainly two options to get to Mérida from Cancun. The first option is through ADO public transport, which has quite accessible schedules for traveling. This time, I'll write about my experience traveling by rented car with Drivey to the city of Mérida.

Personally, I always choose to travel on toll highways as I feel more comfortable and safe. In this case, Highway 180 Cancun - Mérida is in excellent condition, although there are sections that are not in good condition due to the repair and construction of the Mayan Train. We hope it will be completed soon and be a valuable contribution to the Riviera.

There are two toll booths on the way, with a total approximate cost of around 550 - 600 Mexican pesos per trip. It's important to know that they do not accept credit/debit cards for toll payments, which seems to me an opportunity for improvement for the administrators of these highway sections.

The highway is of excellent quality for driving, mainly consisting of a long straight path with few curves and not much elevation. The route from Cancun to Mérida usually consumes the most gasoline. I traveled with a vehicle with a 40-liter tank, and with two tanks, I managed to go and return with some gas left.

I recommend traveling during daylight hours because with the repairs and adjustments being made on the road for the development of the Mayan Train, visibility is somewhat compromised at night. Although there are people on the road sections supporting traffic direction and surveillance, the number of signage and the potholes around the road make the night journey more dangerous.

If you are planning your trip to the Riviera Maya, the most comfortable option to explore is by renting a vehicle. The approximate cost of tolls is 600 pesos and around 1600 pesos for gasoline. This trip can be part of your itinerary if you add nearby destinations or stops along the way.

If you want to know more about the Riviera Maya, feel free to write to me!

Have a great day!