1

You don't need to go back to Belize City.

The least expensive way is to get a Belizean bus (they're the old school buses) from OW to Chetumal -- that should cost about BZ$7 per passenger, and buses depart about every 30 to 60 minutes. If the bus terminates at Corozal, just change to another bus to Chetumal. At Chetumal, go to the ADO bus terminal and get an ADO bus to your next destination. Northbound buses depart about every 2 hours.

About the ADO express bus from BC...
ADO is not a new company but the BC route is fairly new.

In September 2011, the Mexican bus company ADO began two new daily services to Belize City – one from Cancun and one from Merida. In Belize City, buses arrive at and depart from the Belize City bus terminal (commonly known as Novelo’s) located on West Collet Canal. These buses do not go to Chetumal in either direction.

On the Cancun route, stops include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Corozal and Orange Walk, but passengers are not allowed to use these buses to travel within Belize, for example, to travel from Belize City to Corozal. Passengers can board the buses at Orange Walk and Corozal only if their final destinations are in Mexico. On the Belize City to Cancun route, the bus stops at the Cancun airport.

Belize City to Cancun
Departs from BC bus terminal daily at 7:30 pm with stops at Orange Walk (9:00 pm), Corozal (10:00 pm), Tulum (4:00 am), Playa del Carmen (5:00 am) and Cancun Airport (6:30 am). Arrives at Cancun bus terminal at 7:00 am.
Fares from BC: BZ$55.00 to Tulum; BZ$63.00 to Playa del Carmen; BZ$79.00 to Cancun (one way).

Note that this is an overnight bus; one run per day.
This schedule is not on the ADO website, and the ADO site doesn't work if you want to see schedules more than about 30 days in advance.

2

You should allocate some time to allow for delays. Belize and Mexico are not "busy schedule" places.

3

As misterbee says, ADO (Autobuses de Oriente) isn't exactly new.

It was founded in 1939!

4

Hi, You had better look at a map. You are all over the place figuratively and geographicly. Caye Caulker is not in the south like Placencia. Orange Walk is already half way from BC to Mexico. It sure sounds like you are already spinning your wheels but at least you are getting more realistic than you were in the original post. Trust me. Nothing goes as planned. Leave some space.

5

You don't need to book anything...but it will take you most of a day.

Local bus OW to Chetumal...taxi to the main terminal there....another bus north (goes through Tulum etc. on to Playa and Cancun).

6

I can't thank you all enough for your help.

To hear we can get to Playa Del Carmen from Orange Walk is great news.

What I struggle to understand is how I allow more time for delays in transportation. I have already allocated 1 full day per journey. Are you suggesting I allocate more than that!?

Because the journey from Orange Walk to Playa Del Carmen will take quite some time, we would much rather use the ADO bus, if it means we are in one of their new, luxury buses. It may cost a little more, but I've decided it's well worth it.

And do others agree with lucapal that I do not need to book this journey in advance? Is this only if I take their local buses? What if I decide to take ADO's bus from Orange Walk?

Thank you again. This forum is fantastic for the likes of me (the ignorant traveler).

7

Option 1 -- Belizean bus from OW to Chetumal, then ADO express to Playa
Belizean buses depart from OW about every 30 minutes, so you can leave whenever you want.
You can't reserve Belizean buses in advance.
Belizean buses stop crossing the border around 6 or 7 pm, so leave early.
The trip from OW to Chetumal is about 2.5 hours.

The ADO bus from Chetumal to Playa takes about 4.5 hours.
They depart about every 2 hours so are seldom full -- I wouldn't reserve in advance.

Option 2 -- ADO bus from OW
I don't know the current situation with ticket sales at OW. It used to be that an agent showed up at the bus terminal an hour or 2 before the departure time and sold tickets. This is the case in Belize City and was the case in Corozal, but now in Corozal, you just get on the bus and pay later after crossing the border. If you're in OW for more than a day, maybe you will have time to check this out, and reserve seats.
I have heard that this bus has been full on some occasions. Since there is only one bus per day, it would be best to reserve in advance if possible. If you miss this this bus, you might be stuck in OW for another night. You still have an option of getting to Corozal by bus or taxi and getting across the border by taxi, and then getting to the ADO terminal for an express bus.
Unless you're travelling at a time when you'd expect a lot of travellers (Christmas, weekends, etc.) I probably wouldn't reserve in advance.

8

Thanks so much, misterbee - you make it sound so easy; let's hope you're right!

9

One more question...

We would prefer to travel overnight, so we don't have to pay for that first night of accommodation in Mexico.

Your option 1 says the last bus leaves at 6pm... Does option 2 go overnight or is it also during the day?

Thanks

10

No, the last bus doesn't leave at 6pm.
The last bus to leave OW and go north is at 9:15 pm, but that bus will terminate at Corozal and not continue to Chetumal.
The last bus to leave OW and continue to Chetumal will probably be about 4:15 pm (you might have to change in Corozal?).
If you're too late to get a bus to Chetumal, there are always mini-buses that go as far as the border (to the Free Zone and casinos). Then you can walk across the border and get a Chetumal bus or taxi to Chetumal.

From Post #1 regarding the ADO bus...

Belize City to Cancun
Departs from BC bus terminal daily at 7:30 pm with stops at Orange Walk (9:00 pm), Corozal (10:00 pm), Tulum (4:00 am), Playa del Carmen (5:00 am) and Cancun Airport (6:30 am). Arrives at Cancun bus terminal at 7:00 am.
Fares from BC: BZ$55.00 to Tulum; BZ$63.00 to Playa del Carmen; BZ$79.00 to Cancun (one way).

Note that this is an overnight bus; one run per day.

Does that answer your questions?

11

isnt 'allocate' a cool word?

12

That certainly does answer my question! :)

We'll take the ADO bus at 9pm from Orange Walk to Playa Del Carmen. As you said, I won't be able to book this bus until about 30 days beforehand. The website is in Spanish, which makes it really hard. I'll just have to find a translator :)

13

Eeeek! I know you said daily, but does it also operate on Sundays? That is the day we must leave Orange Walk to Mexico.

14

Yes, always on a Sunday.
However, last year, the run was cancelled on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.