Merida to Izamal: 6 Ways to Visit the Yellow City of Mexico

As one of seven Pueblo Magicos in the Yucatan State of Mexico, Izamal is a very popular day trip from Merida. Thanks to pretty much every building in the center being painted yellow, Izamal is usually just referred to as ‘the Yellow City’. Since my favourite colour is yellow, a trip to this small city had been on my bucket list for a very long time. There are a few ways you can reach Izamal from Merida, which we’ve summarised in this guide, including pros and cons for each option.

We wrote a separate guide on how to spend a day in Izamal, so don’t forget to check that article out afterwards.

If you’d like to see how we got to Izamal then make sure to watch our dedicated Merida video. If you’re interested in more Mexico content, check out the Mexico Playlist on our YouTube Channel.

Where is the Yellow City of Izamal in Mexico

The colonial city of Izamal is located 72 km (45 mi) east of the state capital of Merida, in the Yucatan region of southern Mexico.

How to Get from Merida to Izamal in Mexico

1. By Public Bus

We decided to visit Izamal with the Oriente public bus which was an easy, relatively comfortable, and affordable option for us.

The bus departs from Terminal de Autobuses Noreste (here on the map) and NOT from Terminal Oriente (here on the map). However, it dropped us off at Terminal Oriente on the way back.

Once you’re at the Noreste Terminal just go to the Oriente window and buy a ticket to Izamal. First, purchase a travel card called ‘Ahorro bus’ if you haven’t got one already. Luckily, we already had one from when we went hiking in Izta-Popo National Park. It only costs 10MXN pesos and you can share it. They’ll load that with enough credit to get you to Izamal. A one way trip was around 40MXN pesos per person.

The bus should have ‘Izamal’ written on the top, so you can’t miss it. It is a simple local bus, so it wasn’t as comfortable as the long-haul ADO buses or other, more luxurious, buses we’d travelled across Mexico with before. They didn’t have toilets either, so we recommend using the facilities before boarding because it’s a long journey. The toilets were free of charge at the station.

The first bus departs at 6AM, then every hour until 9PM. The journey time is anywhere between 1.5 – 2 hours including a few small stops and traffic along the way.

The bus stop in Izamal is called Autobuses Izamal Oriente, located here on the map. The station had free toilets too.

2. By Colectivo (Shared Minivan)

As always, Izamal can also be reached via colectivo. It’s another easy, authentic, and affordable way to travel.

Colectivos in Merida depart from this spot on Google Maps called Sitio de Taxis Colectivos a Izamal. They’ll also stop along the road too, so you can just hop onto one that says Izamal on the front. Just ask the driver’s assistant if you’re unsure about the destination before jumping on.

Whilst they leave quite regularly, and usually take less time to get to Izamal than the public bus, colectivos usually wait until the minivan gets full enough before they depart. Therefore, we don’t think you would get to Izamal that much faster than with the bus. Colectivos get pretty packed, and with the limited space available, they will feel more crowded compared to the public bus. There’s usually no air conditioning either.

However, they are similarly priced to the bus and you don’t need to buy a travel card to use them.

3. Rental Car

The fastest and most convenient way to get to Izamal from Merida is by hire car. Having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to set off as early as you wish and leave whenever you’re ready to return. The downside of a rental car is probably the cost of hire, fuel and parking fees.

There are many car rental places in Merida, including both well-known international agencies and smaller local ones. If you wish to secure a vehicle before your trip, check out DiscoverCars where you can find the best rates because they compare local, national, and international companies.

4. Private Taxi

If you want to visit Izamal independently but don’t want to rent a car, then you can opt to hire a taxi driver for the day. Now, this option will probably be just as pricey as hiring a car, so we would only recommend it if you have the chance to split the cost with other travelers.

Of course, please always use official taxis and agree on the price before the journey. Scamming is not unheard of, so perhaps arrange a driver through your hotel / hostel reception.

5. Maya Train (Tren Maya)

Tren Maya is a passenger train in Mexico that became fully operational at the end of 2024. The route was designed to connect all the popular destinations within 5 regions of the Yucatan Peninsula as a way to boost tourism.

Whilst it’s quite pricey compared to the local bus and colectivo, it’s without doubt the fastest way to reach Izamal from Merida.

For further information about the route, timetable and ticket prices, check out the official website.