Viajar por la Península de Yucatán con un presupuesto ajustado

To travel the Yucatan on a budget, prioritize ADO buses over rental cars, sleep in highly-rated hostels, and eat at local 'mercados' instead of tourist-trap restaurants. You can comfortably explore the region for $50 per day if you stick to street food and public collectivos.

1. Ditch the rental car. Rental cars are expensive and require high-cost insurance. Use the ADO bus line for long distances and 'collectivos' (shared vans) for short trips between towns and cenotes. They cost between $1 and $5.
2. Eat at the municipal market. Every town has a 'Mercado Municipal'. Look for the food stalls where locals are eating breakfast and lunch. A full plate of cochinita pibil or tacos will cost $3–$5, compared to $15+ in tourist-heavy restaurants.
3. Pick free or low-cost cenotes. Famous cenotes like Ik Kil charge high entry fees. Ask locals or check recent forums for 'cenotes comunitarios' which are maintained by families and cost $3–$6 to enter.
4. Book hostels with kitchens. Accommodation will be your biggest expense. Booking a dorm bed in a hostel with a communal kitchen allows you to prepare your own coffee and breakfast, saving you at least $10 per day.

Is it safe to drink the tap water?

No. Always buy large jugs of 'agua purificada' or use a filtered bottle.

How do I find the collectivo routes?

They don't have websites. Ask the front desk at your hostel or locals at the bus station where the 'colectivos' leave for your destination.