5 Ways to Get from Cancun Airport to Cancun in Mexico

In this short guide we’ll share 5 ways of getting from Cancun Airport to Cancun in Mexico. If you’re currently planning your trip around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, you’ll most likely be flying to Cancun International Airport (CUN), as there are many direct flights from the United States, Canada, Europe and Central and South America.

This was our second time at Cancun Airport, as we also flew from this airport to Costa Rica back in 2022 after spending our first 3 months in Mexico. This time we flew to Cancun from the United States so we could spend a month travelling through the Yucatan Peninsula.

If you’re interested in more Mexico content, then check out the Mexico Playlist on our YouTube Channel.

Arriving at Cancun International Airport (CUN)

Cancun International Airport (CUN) is located about 17km to the south of Cancun. You can fly direct to Cancun from numerous cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Central and South America. We always check this website to see if there’s a direct connection to our destination.

The airport has 4 terminals, although Terminal 1 is for private flights only, so you could end up at either Terminal 2, 3, or 4. If you’re flying domestically, you’ll arrive at Terminal 2. Once you’ve gone through immigration and collected your baggage, walk through customs and make your way towards the exit.

Before leaving the terminal we recommend getting some money out of the ATM. Santander and HSBC have the lowest transaction fees in our experience. Some ATMs might give the option to withdraw in USD, so double check what currency you’re getting before you confirm the transaction. We always use our Wise card when travelling, which allows us to withdraw money from ATMs or pay by card at most shops and restaurants, without getting hit by crazy bank fees. It also allows us to convert money to Mexican Pesos (MXN) in our accounts.

Tourist Card and VisiTax

Cancun Airport now has electronic gates, where you scan your passport and get a ticket with a QR code on it. It looks like an ordinary receipt but make sure to keep it, as this acts like a passport stamp and you could be asked to show this at police check points across the country. By scanning the QR code, you’ll be able to download your Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Multiple, or FMM). Save it on your phone because you’ll be asked to show it when you leave the country.

You’ll also have to pay a tax called VisiTax before you leave Cancun. This is imposed by the Government of Quintana Roo on every foreign visitor entering the state, as a way to mitigate the impact of tourism. You can do that on the official website.

5 Ways to Get to Cancun from Cancun Airport

Tip. It’s always best to check if your hotel offers an airport pick-up service.

1. ADO Bus (The most affordable way to get to Cancun)

Our favourite method of getting around Mexico is by bus. Buses are affordable, comfortable, and you can get to most places using them. The ADO bus company operates in the southern states of Mexico, so if you’re here to travel around the Yucatan Peninsula, ADO will be your go-to company.

Luckily, they also operate a service between Cancun Airport and the city centre. Once you’ve exited the terminal you should be able to spot the red ADO sign above the ticket office. There may have been a kiosk right next to the bus bays where you could also purchase your ticket. With ADO, you can travel all over the Yucatan peninsula from the airport, to places such as Merida, Tulum and Playa Del Carmen.

Book your ADO bus ticket in advance here.

A one way ticket to Cancun is $130MXN. The bus departs about every half an hour and takes a good 40-45 minutes to get to the bus terminal in Cancun. Note that the bus will stop at the different terminals around the airport, so your journey will be longer or shorter depending on which terminal you landed at.

If you have a large suitcase the driver will store it under the bus. You’ll get a ticket for collecting your luggage that you should obviously keep hold of. Don’t forget to give a little tip to the worker when they put your luggage under the bus for you.

From the bus station in Cancun, you can take a taxi to your hotel, or to the ferry terminal if you’re travelling to Isla Mujeres.

2. Shared Shuttle (A convenient way to get to Cancun)

If it’s your first time in Mexico, or you’re arriving late at night, we suggest booking a shared shuttle from the airport to Cancun. It’s more convenient than the bus, since it’ll drop you off at your hotel rather than at the main bus station.

However, booking a shared shuttle will be slightly more expensive. Plus, you may need to wait for other passengers and could end up driving around Cancun for a while depending on where your hotel is located compared to the other passengers on board.

Book your shared shuttle here.

3. Private Transfer (An expensive but fast way to get to Cancun)

If you don’t mind paying extra and want to get to your final destination fast, consider booking a private transfer from the airport.

You’ll avoid having to wait for other passengers and driving around Cancun unnecessarily, since you’ll be taken straight to your hotel. Some private transfers can accommodate up to 16 passengers. So, if you’re travelling with a family or a group of friends then it’s probably worth booking a private ride rather than the bus or shared shuttle.

Arrange your private transfer here.

4. Local Taxi (Only take it if absolutely necessary)

Another way to get to Cancun from the airport is with a taxi. Now, we wouldn’t recommend using the taxi service unless you have no other choice.

It’s worth noting that you need to pre-arrange your taxi and if you just flag one down, you’ll most likely pay an inflated ‘tourist’ fare. Taxis in Cancun have a ‘set fare’ system instead of a meter reader, so what you’ll pay will depend on your final destination. Therefore taxi scams are very common, with drivers quoting higher prices to unsuspecting tourists. So, be careful if it’s your first time in Mexico and/ or you don’t speak much Spanish. Always ask to see the current fare list, which they’re required to have on them, and don’t just jump into one without knowing how much you’re going to have to pay at the end. We also recommend having local currency and paying in cash. Overcharging of cards is a common scam here too. Check current fares on this website.

Back in 2022, we took a taxi to the airport and the cost was up there with one of the most expensive airport taxi fares we’ve had to pay during our travels. Even with the driver showing us the current rate card and not trying to scam us!

5. Rental Car (A great option if you’re planning a road-trip)

Lastly, if you’re wanting to do a road-trip around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, you may want to hire a car from Cancun Airport. At the airport, you can find both local agencies and bigger car rental companies.

Hire a car using DiscoverCars.

Having a car will give you the freedom to see more of this beautiful part of Mexico. Although we didn’t rent a car from Cancun, as we went straight to Isla Mujeres from the airport, we did rent one later in Tulum. We’ve summarised our top tips for renting and driving a car in Mexico, so check that out before your trip.

However, if you’re not planning on leaving the hotel during your stay, renting a car won’t be worth the money in our opinion.

Final Thoughts on Getting to Cancun from Cancun Airport

As you can see you have a variety of options for reaching Cancun from the airport depending on your needs and budget. We still think that taking the ADO bus is affordable and straightforward, although we also appreciate that from the bus terminal you would still need to take a taxi to get to your hotel so, depending on where that is, it might not work out any cheaper. In that case, taking a shared shuttle or checking if your hotel offers an airport pick-up will be a more efficient way to reach your accommodation in Cancun.

Have you ever been to Cancun before? If so, how did you get to your hotel from the airport? If not, which method would you choose on your trip? Let us know in the comments below.