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 located only 25 kilometers 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, since there is no direct public transportation and there is no railroad network in the city. So that you can make the most of your visit and start as soon as possible to discover the activities you can see and do in Cancun, here are the best alternatives you have to move between the airport and your hotel.

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

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

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

This service is mainly thought for the trip 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 during 24 hours and you will not have to worry if the flight is delayed or there are changes in the schedules, since at the time of booking you must inform the flight number so that the company can monitor the status of the flight.

The prices informed at the time of booking are the final prices, but you must take into account that they do not include excess baggage charges or any kind of gratuity.

Interesting facts

• Price... The transfer between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone starts at 9 euros per passenger per leg.
• Duration of the trip... Approximately one hour.
• Advantages of using this method... You will be able to relax immediately after your arrival in the city and, even if it is shared, you will not suffer delays because Cancun hotels are concentrated in the same area.
• Recommended if... You are traveling 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 traveling in a group and are looking for a more personalized alternative, or if you are traveling to Cancun with children or with a lot of luggage.

Cancun is a family and friends destination, so it is very common for visitors to arrive in groups of four people 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 provides 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 or more people at the end a private minivan could be an even more economical option than the shared transfers hired in sections.

In this option you will not have to worry if your flight is delayed or suffers schedule delays since at the time of booking the transfer you must provide your flight number and the service provider will be attentive to the variables of the same on the day of your arrival at the airport in Cancun.

Interesting facts

• Price... The round trip transfer between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone starts at 23 euros per person calculating the rate on 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 traveling in a group of four or more people or you are traveling with children and you are looking for the most comfortable option at the best price.

If you decide not to hire a minivan transfer and wait until the moment of your arrival to decide the means of transportation, the most comfortable option for you will be the cab, since in Cancun there is no railway network that connects the airport with the Hotel Zone and there is no bus line that will take you directly.

Cabs can be a good alternative if you are traveling with other people or children and you need comfort, or if you are carrying a lot of luggage, but if you are traveling alone it can be a bit expensive.

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

Cabs are widely used in the Quintana Roo area by tourists to visit the attractions of Cancun and, above all, the surrounding areas.

Distances in some cases are a bit long to travel by public transportation or shared buses, so visitors, especially if traveling in groups, often hire cabs with a pre-arranged fare 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, the cab will get you out of a hurry if you arrive at the Cancun airport without a contracted transfer and are eager to get to your hotel after a strenuous trip.

Interesting facts

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

The option of taking an Uber instead of a cab 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 traveling in a group or are carrying a lot of luggage. It is perhaps the most beneficial option in case you are traveling alone and have not hired any private transfer.

An advantage of Uber over the cab is that you will 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 in case you are traveling with a lot of luggage or with people with reduced mobility.

Outside the airport area, where they can not enter due to lack of parking, traveling by Uber during your stay could be very comfortable, especially to visit the best beaches of Cancun or some of the attractions farther from the center 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 one hour.
• Advantages of using this method... It is an economical option compared to a cab.
• Disadvantages of using this method... You will have to wait for the car outside the airport.
• Recommended if... You are traveling 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 transportation. The reason is that, due to the distances, this tourist destination was conceived to travel by car or private transport, but not to travel by public bus or train, since in the area directly there is not even a railway network.

Currently there is 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 have arrived with several suitcases and, if you are traveling to Cancun in April or other high season months, be prepared for traffic jams.

The bus option is to take the ADO service that departs from airport terminals 2, 3 and 4 to the downtown bus terminal. These buses start their route at 7:00 a.m. and end at 0:00 a.m. The trip takes approximately one hour. The approximate duration of the trip is 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 urban services R-1 or R-2 that make the trip to the Hotel Zone, although the trip 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 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 distance of 25 kilometers.
• Recommended if... You are traveling on a low budget and with few suitcases.

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

Outside of the city center 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 snorkeling experiences and the Extreme Adventure Eco Park for water sports lovers.

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 are organizing the logistics of your trip, it may be useful to find out what 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, get ready to enjoy, because the wonders of Cancun will leave you speechless.