If you are planning to travel by bus in Mexico over the holidays, book quickly.
Long-haul bus companies, including Grupo ADO, are reporting a dramatic increase in demand for bus tickets to and from the Yucatán Peninsula.
The uptick comes after nearly two years of significantly lower-than-average ticket sales on long-haul bus lines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the high demand, ADO says it will be increasing its frequency on select routes departing from Mérida, including destinations like Cancún, Villahermosa, and Mexico City.
“We are doing our best to accommodate travelers, but we do not recommend that you wait until you arrive at the bus station to buy your ticket — it’s best to do so online,” said Angélca Marroqí, of ADO.
Despite the fact that new COVID-19 infections have decreased dramatically over the past few months, measures such as the compulsory use of facemask while aboard buses are still in effect.
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Visitors to Mexico often note how comfortable long-haul bus travel is in comparison to their home countries.
Historically bus travel has been extremely popular in Mexico, though dropping domestic-flight prices have led many passengers to fly when traveling longer distances.
Earlier this year, the number of bus passengers in Yucatán became so low that several routes had their frequency drastically cut back or canceled altogether.
Also canceled were luxury bus lines including ADO’s Platino, which ran between Mérida and destinations like Cancun and Tulum.
Other transportation services on the Peninsula also made temporary cutbacks, including ferries connecting Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
