Transfers to/from Cancun

Cancun is a planned city that was built during the second half of the 20th century for the almost exclusive exploitation of tourism. For this reason, the airport is only 25 kilometres away from the Hotel Zone of the city, where most of the accommodations that receive tourists are concentrated.

At present, the airport is connected to the Hotel Zone by private services, as there is no direct public transport and there is no railway network in the city. So that you can make the most of your visit and start discovering the activities you can see and do in Cancun as soon as possible , here are the best alternatives for getting from the airport to your hotel.

After a long trip, thinking about the transport to take you to your hotel can be exhausting. That's why having hired a private transport option before your arrival is something you'll be grateful for while you're loading your bags at Cancun airport customs.

This option, in which you travel in a minivan along with other people, is economical and is very effective and fast, mainly because the airport is located just 25 kilometres from the Hotel Zone of the city.

The process at the airport is very well organised and once you pick up your luggage and go through customs, if you are arriving on an international flight, you will find yourself in the arrival hall, where the driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it to take you to your hotel.

This service is mainly designed for the route between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone, but you can also hire your transfer for hotels in Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Puerto Morelos.

The trip between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone takes no more than an hour and you will be looking for tours and excursions in the city before you know it.

This service is available every day, 24 hours a day, and you don't have to worry about flight delays or schedule changes, as when you make your reservation you will need to provide your flight number so that the company can monitor the status of your flight.

The prices quoted at the time of booking are final, but please note that they do not include excess baggage charges or any kind of gratuity.

Useful information

• Price... The transfer between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone starts at 9 euros per passenger per leg.
• Travel time... Approximately one hour.
• Advantages of using this method... You will be able to relax immediately after your arrival in the city and, although it is shared, you will not suffer delays because the hotels in Cancun are concentrated in the same area.
• Recommended if... You are travelling alone or in a small group of people and you are looking for the best service at the best price.

The difference between the shared transfer and the private transfer is that in the latter you and your group will have a minivan and the driver at your disposal without depending on other passengers.

It is an ideal service if you are travelling in a group and are looking for a more personalised alternative, or if you are travelling to Cancun with children or a lot of luggage.

Cancun is a destination for families and friends, so it is very common for visitors to arrive in groups of four or more. For this reason, this kind of service is one of the most used and one of the most comfortable.

In less than an hour after leaving the airport you will be at the hotel choosing the best activities to do in Cancun.

Keep in mind that once hired, this alternative includes transfers from the airport to the hotel within the Cancun Hotel Zone and also the return transfer from the hotel to the airport at the time of your departure, so if your group has four people or more, a private minivan could be an even more economical option than the shared transfers hired in sections.

With this option, you won't have to worry if your flight is delayed, as you will need to provide your flight number when you book your transfer and the service provider will be aware of the flight variables on the day of your arrival at Cancun airport.

Interesting facts

• Price... The round trip transfer between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone starts at 23 euros per person for a group of four passengers.
• Duration of the trip... Approximately one hour.
• Advantages of using this method... You will have the minivan for you and your group without depending on other passengers and you will have more space for your luggage without paying extra costs.
• Recommended if... You are travelling in a group of four or more people or are travelling with children and are looking for the most comfortable option at the best price.

If you decide not to hire a minivan transfer and wait until you arrive to decide on the means of transport, the most comfortable option for you will be the taxi, since in Cancun there is no railway network that connects the airport with the Hotel Zone and there is no bus line that takes you directly to the airport.

Taxis can be a good alternative if you are travelling with other people or children and need comfort, or if you are carrying a lot of luggage, but if you are travelling alone it can be an expensive option.

The price of a taxi from the airport to the Hotel Zone is around 40 euros, but it will depend on traffic in the city, so the fare may be more expensive.

Taxis are widely used in the Quintana Roo area by tourists to visit the attractions of Cancun and especially those in the surrounding area.

Distances in some cases are a bit long to cover by public transport or shared buses, so visitors, especially if travelling in groups, often hire taxis at a pre-arranged rate to visit Playa del Carmen, take an excursion to Xcaret from Cancun or visit the Tulum Ruins.

In any case, while it can be an expensive option, a taxi will get you out of trouble if you arrive at Cancun airport without a pre-arranged transfer and are eager to get to your hotel after a strenuous journey.

Interesting facts

• Price... The fare between Cancun airport and the Hotel Zone is around 40 euros, but the fare may change due to traffic.
• Journey time... Between forty minutes and an hour.
• Advantages of using this method... It is a comfortable option if you are travelling with children and convenient if you are travelling in a group.
• Disadvantages of using this method... It can be an expensive option.
• Recommended if... You have arrived at the airport after a long journey and have not booked a transfer service to the hotel.

The option of taking an Uber instead of a taxi from the airport to your hotel in Cancun is very seductive from an economic point of view, because it could be much cheaper.

However, the problem is that you won't be able to wait for the car inside the airport but will have to go outside to pick it up.

This inconvenience is something that often discourages passengers from choosing this option, especially if they are travelling in a group or are carrying a lot of luggage. It is perhaps the most beneficial option if you are travelling alone and have not hired a private transfer.

An advantage of Uber over taxis is that you know the price of the trip in advance and once you get in the car you can relax until you get to your hotel without being aware of external factors that could alter the fare.

You also have the option to choose the size of the car you want to be picked up, a very beneficial option if you are travelling with a lot of luggage or with people with reduced mobility.

Outside of the airport area, where you can't enter due to lack of parking, travelling by Uber during your stay could be very convenient, especially for visiting Cancun's best beaches or some of the more out-of-the-way attractions such as the Underwater Museum.

Interesting facts

• Price... The fare between Cancun airport and the Hotel Zone is around 15 euros, but it will depend on the demand at the time of the trip.
• Duration of the trip... Between forty minutes and an hour.
• Advantages of using this method... It is an economical option compared to a taxi.
• Disadvantages of using this method... You will have to wait for the car outside the airport.
• Recommended if... You are travelling alone or with little luggage and you don't mind leaving the airport to wait for the car, because you will travel comfortably at an affordable price.

One of Cancun's weaknesses as a planned city is its limited public transport. The reason for this is that, due to the distances involved, this tourist destination was designed to be travelled by car or private transport, but not by public bus or train, as there is not even a direct rail network in the area.

There is currently no way to get directly by bus from Cancun airport to the Hotel Zone, but you can try a combination route.

However, it can be a bit cumbersome and uncomfortable, especially if you've arrived with several suitcases and, if you're travelling to Cancun in April or other high season months, be prepared for traffic jams.

The bus option is to take the ADO service from airport terminals 2, 3 and 4 to the downtown bus terminal. These buses start at 7.00 a.m. and end at midnight. The journey takes approximately half an hour and the cost of the ticket is around four euros.

Once you arrive at the bus terminal you will have to combine with the R-1 or R-2 urban services that make the trip to the Hotel Zone, although the journey can take more than an hour and costs approximately two euros.

Interesting facts

• Price... The trip between the airport and the bus terminal costs approximately four euros on the ADO and from the terminal to the Hotel Zone it costs two euros on the R-1 and R-2 urban services.
• Duration of the trip... Approximately two hours in total.
• Advantages of using this method... It is a very economical option.
• Disadvantages of using this method... It is the most uncomfortable alternative and also the slowest, as it can take up to two hours for a total journey of 25 kilometres.
• Recommended if... You are travelling on a low budget and with few suitcases.

Cancun has many attractions to visit and as many offers as visitors have interests.

Outside the city centre and the main beaches you can book boat trips, take an excursion to Isla Mujeres and enjoy Cancun's nightlife.

In the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea you can opt for the best snorkelling experiences and the Extreme Adventure Eco Park for water sports enthusiasts.

Cancun will also surprise you with its surroundings. You can take a trip to the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza, one of the most visited archaeological structures in the world, or a tour to the Cenotes of the Riviera Maya. Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula have great landscapes to discover and excursions that will leave you in awe.

If you're organising the logistics of your trip, it might help to find out when is the best time to visit Cancun and an indicative list of activities you can do if you only have three days in the city. In any case, be prepared to enjoy yourself, because the wonders of Cancun will leave you speechless.