Driving Tips



There's no better way to see the Yucatán than to rent a car, grab a map and go exploring. Here are some things to consider when planning a road trip.

Conditions:

Driving in the Yucatán is safe and easy. The peninsula is flat and most roads are well maintained. Occasional thunderstorms may impair visibility, so it's important to inspect your windshield wipers before your trip. On particularly hot days, driving at high speed on smoldering asphalt can cause blow-outs, so check your tire pressure and tread wear as well.

The most common road hazards are topes, or speed bumps, encountered mostly in villages and on rural roads. They are generally marked by a sign, but not always. The topes in the Yucatán were probably designed by ancient pyramid builders.

Caution! In rural areas at night, many of the Mayan locals must cross the roads to return home from their milpas. Many also work near the roads in the evening to avoid the mid-day heat. For this reason, it is best to avoid driving at night. When driving off the main roads in villages and rural areas, always be alert for pedestrians, livestock and the native fauna.

Car Rentals:

A valid driver's license and major credit card qualify you for a rental car. Many models are available, including the Yucatán's favorite: the Volkswagen Beetle. After selecting your car, you will be required to purchase Mexican auto insurance. Prices vary, but expect to pay a bit more than usual. To locate a rental agency, see our list of car rental agencies.

Gasoline:

All gas stations in Mexico are operated by PEMEX, the government-owned Petroleos Mexicanos. Service is pretty reliable, and gas stations are relatively frequent; but be sure to always fill up before leaving on a trip and keep your tank topped up. Check that the attendant sets the pump back to ZERO before pumping your gas. There are no self-serve gas stations in Mexico, so tipping is customary. The current price is 7.80 pesos per liter for Magna (regular) and 9.57 pesos per liter for Premium. This converts to $2.29 USD per gallon and  $2.81 USD per gallon respectively. No credit cards...cash (pesos) only.

PEMEX stations are full service. At your request, the attendant will fill the tank with regular ("lleno con Magna") or a specific amount ("doscientos de Magna"). He or she will wash the windshields ("lave el parabrisas") and check the oil ("cheque el aceite"). After receiving service, it is customary to tip the attendant with five or six pesos. You can also buy snacks and visit the sanitario, or restroom.

Distances:

The Yucatán, and all of Mexico, uses the metric system. All distances are given in kilometers. To convert kilometers to miles, multiply by 0.62.

 Distances from Mérida in miles:


Dzibilchaltún: 14 miles

Progreso: 22 miles

Telchac Puerto: 38 miles

Izamal: 44 miles

Uxmal: 50 miles

Celestún: 52 miles

Kabah: 63 miles

Loltún: 70 miles

Chichén Itzá: 75 miles

Valladolid: 100 miles

Campeche: 157 miles

Río Lagartos: 165 miles
Cancún: 199 miles
Playa del Carmen: 240 miles

Tulum: 296 miles

Palenque: 346 miles

Agua Azul: 384 miles

San Cristobal: 493 miles

Mexico City: 946 miles

Toll Roads:

Highway 18 from Mérida becomes the 180 toll road, also called a cuota or carretera de cobro, going east to Cancún. This four-lane speedway is by far the fastest route to Cancún. Using it, you can avoid 146 topes and 43 villages. Along the way, you will encounter toll booths or casetas de cobro. Expect to pay $338 pesos between Mérida and Cancún. Have pesos in hand because the exchange rates at the toll booths are less than generous.

Exact tolls are:

Mérida to Chichén Itzá - $75 Pesos.

Mérida to Valladolid - $130 Pesos.

Chichén Itzá to Valladolid - $55 Pesos.

Valladolid to Cancún - $225 Pesos.

Mérida to Cancún - $355 Pesos.

Parking:

There are no parking meters in the Yucatán, but you'll discover a couple of unexpected traditions. You can generally park anywhere, with the exception of yellow or red curbs in the cities. Always remove valuables and lock the car whenever you park.A pilot plan is underway in Centro, where parking zones will be indicated with blue paint on the pavement.

Some downtown streets, or calles, in Mérida have parking attendants as well. If you see a red, three-wheeled tricicleta somewhere on the calle, there is probably an attendant on the job. They wave a red rag and use a whistle. They are there to prevent minor fender-benders, maintain the flow of traffic and provide security. They will also wash your windshield, or your entire car if you ask ("Tienes tiempo para lavar mi coche, ahora?").

If you can't find parking on the street, look for an estacionamiento sign. There is a public parking lot in just about every block of the centro of Mérida, so you should have no problem. Just look for Estacionamiento Público signs, usually painted on the wall of the entrance to the lots. The charges are hourly, usually 10 or 12 pesos per hour, some as low as 8. Always check what time they lock up, as after that hour (usually fairly late at night, somewhere between 9 pm and 2 am) you wouldn't be able to get your car till the next morning. Every public parking lot has an attendant who will give you a ticket with the time of entry on it, and the cost is calculated when you return for your car. Some of the lots will require you to leave your keys in case they need to move cars around. Don't worry about this. Generally, it is safer to leave your car in a parking lot than on the street. Obviously don't leave valuables in the car no matter where you park.

You'll also find parking attendants in most business parking lots, such as for a bank or shopping center. They may usher you into a space, help with loading any merchandise you purchased, and help you navigate out of the lot. They may also be unavailable to help you on a busy day. Tip parking attendants five or six pesos depending on the assistance they are able to provide.

Green Angels:

Mexico has a wonderful roadside assistance service called Angeles Verdes or the Green Angels. These are auto mechanics in green utility trucks who patrol the major roads. They can provide gas, oil, tire repair and other minor maintenance, as well as arrange towing. They only charge for parts. Their labor is free and they don't accept tips. They have been operating on Mexican roads since 1960. Thank you, Green Angels! Their phone number is (999) 983 1184.

Arriving to Cancún and want to get to Mérida?
How to get to Mérida from Cancún: If you are renting a car you do not have to worry since all the car rentals are at Cancún International Airport (CUN). Check our Yucatán map to get a general idea of your drive to Mérida that should take about 4 hours. We do recommend taking the highway one way to save time if you wish, and the freeway back to be able to go through all the villages and get a glimpse of what Mayan people and their villages are like.
 If you are taking the bus to Mérida it all starts when you leave the airport in Cancún and walk all the way to the right end where you take a bus for $40 pesos into the downtown bus station. This bus runs every hour and takes about 35 minutes. For up-to-date information click here. Once you are at the bus station in downtown Cancún we do recommend if your budget allows it, to take UNO, that is the luxury bus for $418 pesos, very comfortable although they have a strong tendency to set the AC too cold. The next in budget would be ADO GL (runs almost every hour to and from Mérida) for $318 pesos. After those there are plenty of buses coming and going all the time, so if it's not high season you do not need reservations. Visit www.ticketbus.com.mx for schedules. (Note: you can also fly between Cancun and Merida; Mexicana Airlines has one nonstop flight per day.)