Cancun to Tapachula Chiapas By Bus

A visitor to our blog inquired about traveling to Guatemala from Cancun but not going through Belize as a solo traveler.
I can appreciate the desire to avoid Belize after going through Belize City on a trip to Tikal.
There are optional routes that will take you through some interesting parts of Mexico

• Yucatan

The trip through Southern Mexico from Cancun to Tapachula could be a great route to go into Guatemala and one heavily traveled by solo travelers including solo women backpackers from Europe and North America.
The route will take you through some notable Mexican colonial towns including Valladolid, a very safe town with a well-lighted zocalo and many international visitors. 

Valladolid will offer good hotel options, transportation, night life, and a cenote for swimming. You are 25 miles from ChichenItza and an inexpensive collective cab ride to the ruin site.
Further northwest you will pass through Merida, a splendid colonial town with museums and nightlife. If traveling by bus you will be using ADO first class buses. ADO and OCC bus (ADO) cover all of southern Mexico and reach Tapachula.

Merida is well-lit in the central area and a great party place on weekends. Several main streets around the Zocalo are closed off to vehicles and given over to food kiosks and musical groups. From Merida you can reach Uxmal and other Mayan ruin sites.
Next stop heading northwest would be Campeche and then Villahermosa. In Villahermosa a visit to the La Venta Sculpture Park will offer artifacts from the Olmec culture including the large sculptured heads of the Olmec.

ADO bus runs service from Villahermosa to Palenque, which is in Chiapas. Palenque offers the great Palenque Ruin Site and several day trips to other sites including Bonampak and Xachilan. You can book a tour or make these trips on your own. See details.
Investigate a cross river trip to Tikal and then Guatemala City

In Palenque the area of the Canada (Canyada) is well-lit at night and offers a varied choice of hotel options. Also find camping at Maya Bell on the ruins road.

If you do party in any of these cities and towns, the key to safety would be to not make yourself an easy target. Stay in lighted areas and head home early and sober. Thieves like an easy target. Don't flash cash, cameras, jewelry, or logo backpacks/luggage. You are bound to meet travelers going in the same direction as you and it is often helpful to go as a group.

Stick to the first class buses on this trip. For the most part this will be ADO Bus or OCC, both run by ADO. Night buses by ADO, (OCC) are a good option and at time the only option. You can sleep on the bus and arrive in the morning.
There are bus routes where you will take second class buses, to Uxmal for instance, but they are Sur buses run by ADO. (A very good ride but perhaps no lavatory)


From Palenque book an ADO Bus (OCC) to San Cristobal de las Casas. San Cristobal offers an illuminated zocalo which is quite a sight at night.
From San Cristobal book OCC to Tapachula. In Tapachula's OCC station you will find Tica Bus, a cross border bus that goes through Guatemala City and Central America to Panama City.
Guatemala will require some additional precautions. Group with others, don't stray far from lighted streets, and try to get local info about unsafe areas.