How to get from Merida to Palenque

Why visit Palenque?

Palenque is a top destination in Mexico for archaeology and Mayan history lovers. There’s really not much to see in Palenque town, but its jungles are another story. Palenque’s real attraction lies in the archaeological ruins hidden within the rainforest, just 20 minutes outside of town.

The whole complex has an Indiana Jones feel to it. Its structures are impressive, but they are unfortunately not as well-preserved as Chichen Itza. Still, some people actually prefer the ruins in Palenque because you’re able to climb on them, literally taking the experience to whole new heights.

There are 2 ways to travel the 530 kilometers (329 miles) from Merida to Palenque. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 9 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 1,230 MXN ($63).

Despite the long travel time of 8 hours 40 minutes to 9 hours, we still think the bus is the better way to get from Merida to Palenque. If you take an overnight bus, you can save a night on accommodation, sleep for the most part of the trip, and wake up in Palenque.

Buses from Merida to Palenque depart from the main bus station called Merida Unica Bus Station in the city centre, within walking distance of many hostels and hotels.

You can also take a taxi with fares from 70 MXN ($3.60).

Buses from Merida to Palenque depart several times a day. Because the journey takes 8h 25m - 8h 45m, we recommend taking a night bus. Note that the buses only come with reclining seats, not sleeper beds. Still comfortable, but may not be suitable for some travellers.

ADO is Mexico’s most popular bus company, offering comfortable, air-conditioned buses with reclining seats and onboard restrooms. For this route, you can book ADO Primera Clase. See our Mexico Bus Guide for the differences between ADO’s bus types.

A bus ticket costs 1,090 MXN ($56).

Once you arrive in Palenque, the bus will drop you off at Palenque Central Bus Station. From here, it’s a 10-minute walk to the main square.

If you’re staying outside of town, or just don’t want to walk around with all your luggage, you can take a taxi with rates starting from 70 MXN ($3.60).

When flying from Merida to Palenque, the furthest you can go by air is Villahermosa. From there, you’ll need to continue your journey to Palenque by land — it’s around 145 km southeast and takes about 2 hours by bus.

A heads-up: flights on this route only operate three times a week.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Flights depart from Merida Airport, which is 10 km southwest of the city. To get there from the city centre, you can take a taxi, Uber, or a private transfer.

Taxi rates from the tourist area start at 320 MXN ($16.40), depending on the location of your hotel. Uber is a cheaper alternative at 110 MXN ($5.70).

You can also pre-book your private transfer via BookAway for 460 MXN ($23.50).

Direct flights from Merida to Villahermosa Airport are available only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 16:10 — with Viva Aerobus as the sole airline operating this route.

Airfares start from 1,070 MXN ($55) and the flight journey takes 1h 10m.

IMPORTANT: Fewer flights are available from May onwards. You could book an indirect one, but it’s not ideal. The journey takes over 7 hours, including a 2-hour airport wait. That’s even longer than a direct bus!

To get to Palenque from Villahermosa Airport, the cheapest option is to take a direct bus. The bus departs from the terminal right outside of the airport and takes you straight to Palenque city centre.

This bus service is provided by ADO Aeropuerto, a sub-branch of ADO that specialises in airport transfers at affordable rates. They have several departures throughout the day, but there are only three trips that you can take after an early evening flight to Villahermosa. All buses have AC, reclining seats and a toilet.

A bus ticket costs 350 MXN ($18) and you will arrive in Palenque after 2h 10m. Tickets are available for online booking via ClickBus.