How to get to Progreso from Mérida: the traveller's guide

Visiting Yucatán and not sure how to get to Progreso from Mérida? Don’t worry — in Mérida every road leads to your destination.

Puerto Progreso, or simply Progreso as locals call it, is the closest port to the city of Mérida.

Progreso sits just 35 kilometres from the centre of Mérida, which means you will reach the beach in less time than you think.

If you want to get to Progreso from Mérida and don’t have your own car — or you simply think public transport is the best fit for your plans — there is a bus service that runs directly from Mérida’s historic centre to the centre of Progreso.

One of the advantages of taking public transport for a day at the beach is that you don’t have to worry about where to park, or about driving home after a tiring day.

When you take a bus to Progreso you can forget about everything else, though there are a few things to keep in mind.

Tips for travellers heading to Progreso from Mérida

If you travel in high season, especially in summer, you may run into long queues to board the bus.

Sometimes the queues can get very long and the wait can stretch to a couple of hours, but don’t let that put you off: it is worth it, and buses leave every ten minutes.

Bear in mind, too, that a large share of the people who live in Progreso work in Mérida, so commuting times during the week tend to be busier.

Where to catch the bus to Progreso from Mérida

The Autoprogreso terminal — the line that runs between Progreso and Mérida — is on Calle 62, building number 524, between Calle 65 and Calle 67, just a few metres from Mérida’s Plaza Grande.

A round-trip ticket costs roughly 40 pesos and the journey between the two points takes about an hour on a direct trip.

It is best to buy the round-trip ticket, since buying each leg separately can add a few pesos to your budget for the day.

Autoprogreso also lets you board at specific points around the city, such as Paseo de Montejo and Prolongación Montejo.

Most Autoprogreso buses have air conditioning, so you won’t have to worry too much about the heat on your way to the port.

Remember it is a short trip, so before you know it you will be enjoying the Progreso breeze and a pleasant stroll along the seafront promenade.

Some of the newer buses have WiFi and entertainment screens, and the company runs a fleet of 50 buses built to the highest quality standards to keep you safe on your journey.

The Autoprogreso stop in Progreso is just a few blocks from the promenade, so it is an easy walk to wherever you want to go.

As for timetables, the service starts at 5 a.m. and the last bus leaves at 10:00 p.m., which gives you plenty of time to spend the day in Progreso and head back whenever you like.

Of course, you should get to the bus terminal with enough time to spare so you have no trouble boarding the right bus. This is the most common option among locals looking for how to get to Progreso from Mérida.

In short, this service is a safe bet for a day in Progreso, and your only worry will be getting there in time to board the bus.

We recommend: Paseo de Montejo, an avenue for walking over the soul of Yucatán.