Cancun Transport

Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the city’s main gateway for international visitors. As one of Mexico’s busiest air hubs, the airport offers good facilities and a comprehensive range of flights serving worldwide destinations.

Airlines operating from here include several US airlines, with direct flights to Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York. British Airways services direct flights to London, while Iberia Airlines offers connections to Madrid.

Situated 22kms southwest of Cancun, the airport is easily accessible by taxi, bus and shuttle, while many of the city’s upmarket hotels offer courtesy pick ups for guests. While taxis are convenient, they can be pricey, making the public shuttle service a popular means of reaching the city. Tickets for the shuttle should be purchased in the Baggage Reclaim area.

The airport has two terminals, which are open 24 hours. The terminals are connected by an airport shuttle service that picks up and drops off passengers at the main entrances of each terminal. Terminal 2 has a bank, while both terminals offer post boxes, toilets and ATMs. Facilities for disabled passengers are comprehensive and wheelchairs are available on request.

The airport’s shopping and dining facilities are open from 09:00 to 21:00, with only limited facilities open 24 hours. Eateries include fast-food options and restaurants, while duty-free shopping is also on offer.

Car hire is available at the airport for those drivers wishing to drive to their hotel. The Carretera highway provides access to the city. Airport parking is available in a single secure facility that is open 24 hours.

Those who choose to hire a car during their stay will find Cancun an easy city to navigate, mainly because it was designed and built within the last century. International rental agencies that are represented in the city include Avis, Budget, National and Hertz. While self-drive is a popular choice, visitors should beware that the police are known for stopping tourists for minor offences.

Public buses are available for those without their own transport, with services regularly running up and down the main thoroughfare, Boulevard Kukulkan. Buses are cheap and regular, but they can get crowded and hot, and journeys can be a bit on the bumpy side.

A convenient but more expensive alternative is to take a taxi. Taxis are plentiful, but you will have to haggle over the rate. Cabs can be found outside most major hotels and shopping malls or they can be hailed in the street.

Ferries operate between Cancun and the smaller island of Isla Mujeres, a 20-minute ferry ride away, with boats departing from Puerto Juarez in the hotel zone eight times a day. Services are run by various companies, so visitors are advised to look around for the best deal before deciding on which company to travel with, as facilities onboard vary, with some having air-conditioning and a bar.