Cancun airport is located about 20 kilometers from the city. Although it is the second busiest airport in all of Mexico because it also receives passengers who travel to Playa del Carmen and Tulum, two large tourist centers in the Riviera Maya. Going from the Cancun airport to the city center or the hotel zone is very simple. You can opt for a taxi, bus or rent a car and drive yourself. We tell you in detail how to get from the Cancun airport to the center or the hotel zone.
HOW TO GO FROM THE CANCÚN AIRPORT TO THE CENTER AND HOTEL AREA
- Private transfer
Booking a taxi is the most comfortable option to go from the Cancun airport to the city center or the hotel zone. The driver will wait for you in the arrivals area of your terminal with a sign with your name on it. He will accompany you to the car helping you with your luggage and will take you to the door of your hotel. It couldn’t be easier! The trip lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on the traffic and the exact point where you are staying.
It is priced at € 21 per vehicle for up to 10 people. So the larger the group, the more on account it will be for you. But even if you go as a couple, we think it is reasonably priced. It is essential to book online. If you wait to book a taxi once you land, the price is higher, around € 35. In addition, you will have to wait for the vehicle to arrive from the parking lot outside the terminal, since they only allow those waiting for specific passengers to park at the door.
- Shared shuttle to go from the Cancun airport to the hotel
If you want the comfort of being dropped off at the hotel door but the taxi seems too expensive, you can book a shared transfer. It works the same way as the private transfer: they will wait for you with a sign with your name and they will take you to the minivan.
Of course, you will have to wait for the rest of the passengers and surely make an extra stop to drop off people before arriving at your hotel. It makes stops both in the hotel zone and in downtown Cancun. Therefore, the trip can take up to an hour. In return, it is also cheaper. It has a price of € 4.40 per passenger, ideal if you travel alone!
- ADO bus, the cheapest transportation to go from Cancun airport to downtown
Are you staying in downtown Cancun? The ADO bus will take you to the city center bus terminal without making intermediate stops. There is a stop at terminals 2, 3 and 4, with departures from 7 am to midnight approximately every half hour. The trip takes about 25 minutes in total. The ticket costs 94 Mexican pesos (about € 4). We think it is an excellent option if you are staying near the bus terminal. If you are going to stay in the hotel zone, it is more convenient to opt for the shared shuttle for practically the same price. The vehicles have a spacious trunk where you can leave your luggage.
We recommend reserving your ticket online to ensure your place. Buses continue to Playa del Carmen and Tulum, so many people book them in advance to get to those places and leave full from the airport. If you don’t have a reservation for a specific bus you will have to queue and sometimes you have to wait more than an hour.
- Rent a car in Cancun
As a last option, you can rent a car at the Cancun airport. There are many car rental companies in the various terminals of the airport. You can get a car for just € 15 a day.
We find it useful to rent a car if you plan to do various excursions from Cancun or move around other places in the Yucatan Peninsula during your trip. For example, you can make excursions to several incredible cenotes, the Xcaret complex or the Las Coloradas pink lagoon. We leave you a lot of ideas with the best excursions.
Going from the Cancun airport to downtown or the hotel zone is very simple. From the moment you pick up the vehicle, it is very well signposted and you can always use Google Maps to help you reach your destination. The journey takes between 20 minutes and half an hour, depending on traffic and the exact location of your accommodation. Of course, make sure you book a hotel with parking for your stay in Cancun. The vast majority of accommodations have free parking.
