Campeche to Palenque: Best Overland Route

The journey from Campeche to Palenque cuts across the base of the Yucatán Peninsula, crossing from the Gulf of Mexico side into the jungles of Chiapas. It is a well-travelled corridor — roughly 300 km as the crow flies, longer by road — and you have three realistic options: a direct ADO bus, a rental car via Highway 186, or the Tren Maya with a transfer at Escárcega. Each has trade-offs in time, cost, and comfort.

This guide covers the practical details: schedules, costs, road conditions, and what to expect at each stage. Palenque sits in Chiapas, not Campeche State, but it is a common extension for travellers already in the peninsula — and the route from Campeche is straightforward enough to plan without guesswork.

Bus: Direct ADO Service

ADO bus terminal in Campeche

The simplest option. ADO operates direct buses from Campeche to Palenque every day, departing from the ADO terminal on Avenida Patricio Trueba de Regil in Tepeyac.

Key schedule details:

The morning departure leaves around 11:00 and arrives by mid-afternoon. An overnight option departs in the evening and arrives early the next morning — useful if you want to save on a night's accommodation, though the bus is not a substitute for sleep.

ADO's Primera Clase service on this route offers reclining seats, air conditioning, a restroom on board, and a screen for entertainment. Platino upgrades to wider seats and more legroom. The buses are clean and generally punctual, though delays of 15–30 minutes are not uncommon on longer hauls.

Booking: Buy tickets at the ADO terminal or through ado.com.mx. International credit cards sometimes fail on the website — if that happens, try the terminal in person or use a platform like Busbud as a fallback. Book at least a day ahead during holiday periods (Christmas, Easter, summer).

On-board experience: ADO Primera Clase buses on this route are standard long-distance coaches — 49 seats in a 2-2 layout, overhead luggage storage, and a bag checked into the underfloor hold. Air conditioning runs cold; bring a light jacket or scarf. The restroom at the rear is functional but basic. The ride itself is smooth on Highway 186, with only mild vibration on the older stretches near Champotón. A screen at the front shows a film (usually with headphones provided), though many passengers sleep or read. The bus makes one or two brief stops at roadside rest areas — enough to stretch your legs and buy a drink, not enough for a full meal.

Driving: Highway 186 via Escárcega

Renting a car gives you control over the pace and the chance to stop at points along the way — notably Edzná ruins and the Escárcega junction.

Route overview:

From Campeche, take Highway 186 east through Champotón and past the Edzná turn-off. The road is a two-lane federal highway, generally in good condition with regular signage. It passes through open farmland and patches of tropical forest. Fuel stations are available at Champotón, Escárcega, and smaller towns along the way — fill up in Escárcega before the final stretch, as services thin out past the junction.

At Escárcega, Highway 186 continues southeast toward Chetumal and Palenque. The road surface remains decent, though you will encounter occasional topes (speed bumps) entering towns and villages. Watch for them — they are sometimes poorly marked.

Road conditions and safety:

• Daytime driving is straightforward. The highway is well-maintained and carries regular truck and bus traffic.
• Night driving is riskier: limited lighting, occasional unmarked topes, and wildlife (especially in the jungle stretches near the Chiapas border). Plan to arrive in Palenque before dark.
• Rainy season (June–October) can bring reduced visibility and standing water on the road. Slow down and use headlights.
• No tolls on this route — Highway 186 is free.

Car rental costs: Expect 600–1,200 MXN per day for a compact car from agencies in Campeche. Factor in fuel (roughly 1,500–2,000 MXN for the full one-way trip). Drop-off in Palenque may incur a one-way fee — confirm this with the rental agency before booking.

Rest stops and food on the road: Champotón (roughly halfway to Escárcega) has roadside restaurants serving seafood and tortas — a good place to break the journey. Escárcega itself has a cluster of eateries near the highway junction, including a cafeteria-style restaurant popular with truck drivers. Past Escárcega, options thin out. If you want a proper meal, stop in Champotón or Escárcega before continuing.

Tren Maya: Campeche to Palenque by Rail

The Tren Maya now connects Campeche and Palenque directly, offering a scenic alternative to the bus. The train runs along the full length of the peninsula, passing through Escárcega, Candelaria, and Boca del Cerro before reaching Palenque.

Schedule (as of 2025–2026):

Total journey time: approximately 4 hours. The train operates daily, though schedules can shift — check trenmaya.gob.mx before travel.

Fares: Tourist class runs approximately 500–900 MXN depending on availability and booking window. There is also a premium class with wider seats. Tickets can be purchased at the station or online.

Getting from Palenque station to town: The Tren Maya station sits a few kilometres outside Palenque's centre. An ADO shuttle bus (35 MXN) meets arriving trains and drops passengers at the ADO station in town. Taxis are also available outside the station — expect to pay around 200 MXN into town.

The train itself is modern, air-conditioned, and comfortable. The stretch between Escárcega and Palenque passes through dense jungle and small villages — it is the most scenic section of the route. Large windows make it easy to watch the landscape shift from open farmland to closed canopy forest as you cross into Chiapas.

Time zone note: Campeche observes Central Time (UTC-6). Palenque, in Chiapas, also uses Central Time — there is no time zone change on this route, unlike travel to Quintana Roo (which uses Eastern Time).

GuideTren Maya Campeche: Stations, Routes, Timetables, and Travel TipsA practical guide to riding the Tren Maya through Campeche State — stations, routes, timetables, ticket classes, prices, and how to connect to Calakmul, Edzná, and the Yucatán coast.Explore →

Alternative Route: Bus via Escárcega

If the direct ADO schedule does not work for your timing, you can break the journey at Escárcega. ADO runs frequent buses from Campeche to Escárcega (around 2h 30m), and separate buses connect Escárcega to Palenque (roughly 2h). The total journey time extends to 7–8 hours with the transfer wait, but the combined fare can be cheaper — as low as 450–550 MXN if you book two separate tickets.

This is the cheapest option but the slowest. It only makes sense if you find a deal or if the direct service is sold out. Escárcega is not a town worth lingering in — it exists as a transport hub and oil-town waypoint, with little to see beyond the highway junction.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose the bus if you want the cheapest direct option without driving. It is reliable, comfortable, and drops you at the ADO station in Palenque, from where you can walk or taxi to your accommodation.

Choose the car if you want to stop at Edzná on the way, prefer your own schedule, or are continuing deeper into Chiapas (San Cristóbal de las Casas, for example). The drive is not difficult, and the road is in good shape.

Choose the Tren Maya if you want the most comfortable journey with the best scenery. It is slightly faster than the bus and offers a more relaxed experience — no traffic, no topes, no driving fatigue. The main drawback is the fixed schedule and the need to transfer from the station to town on arrival.

Arriving in Palenque

Palenque's ADO bus station is on the Pakalná boulevard on the east side of town. Most hotels and hostels are within a 10–15 minute walk or a short taxi ride (30–50 MXN). The archaeological zone is 8 km from town — colectivos (shared vans) run from the market area and cost around 20–30 MXN per person.

If you are visiting the ruins on the same day you arrive, go early the next morning instead. Palenque opens at 8:00 and the site is best before the midday heat and the tour-bus crowds from Villahermosa. Entrance fee is 105 MXN (plus the CONANP biosphere fee of 215 MXN for foreigners).

Where to stay: Budget travellers cluster near the ADO station and along the road toward the ruins (the "Ejidal" area). Mid-range hotels line the main boulevard. For a quieter stay, look for cabañas on the outskirts toward the national park — some are surrounded by jungle and offer a more atmospheric experience. Expect 300–600 MXN for a basic room, 800–1,500 MXN for a comfortable hotel with a pool.

What else to do in Palenque: Beyond the ruins, the area offers two notable waterfalls — Misol-Ha (a single 35-metre cascade, 20 km from town) and Agua Azul (a series of turquoise cascades, 69 km from town). Both can be reached by colectivo or organised tour. They are worth a half-day if you have time before or after the ruins.

Practical Tips

• Book ahead in high season. December, Easter week, and July–August see heavy demand on both bus and train.
• Carry cash. Smaller stops along Highway 186 and Palenque's market vendors may not accept cards.
• Bring snacks. The ADO bus does not serve meals, and food options at intermediate stops are limited. The Tren Maya has a snack car but selection varies.
• Check the weather. The stretch between Escárcega and Palenque is one of the wettest parts of the peninsula. Rain is possible year-round but heaviest from June to October.
• Palenque is hot and humid. Temperatures average 26°C but feel hotter in direct sun. Bring water, a hat, and insect repellent — the mosquitoes are persistent near the ruins.