Private transportation is the safest way to travel from the Cancun Airport to the Hotel Zone. Choose a private driver for you and your family or travel with other passengers on shuttle buses. Some shuttle buses are resort-specific, while others will drop you off at a centrally located bus station.
What is the easiest way to get from Cancun Airport to Cancun?
Book your private transfer before your flight arrives at the Cancun Airport. Daytrip makes it easy to book and pay for your transportation all from the comfort of your own home. No haggling with taxi drivers at the arrivals hall and no shuttle buses with multiple stops!
Is Cancun safe for solo travelers?
Yes, Cancun is safe for solo travelers and families. CancunтАЩs resorts and hotels are monitored to ensure visitor safety. Follow general safety guidelines during your visit by not carrying large amounts of cash, participating in illegal activities, or wearing expensive jewelry.
In which time zone is the Cancun Airport (CUN) located?
The Cancun Airport is in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone. This is the same time zone as American East Coast cities like New York and Miami. When booking your flights over multiple time zones, double-check layover times to ensure you have enough time to make transfers.
How far is the Cancun Airport from CancunтАЩs Hotel Zone?
10 miles (17 km). This transfer takes about 20 minutes along the 307 Highway when you travel directly from the airport to your hotel. The Cancun Airport is located to the south of the city and is the closest and biggest international airport in the region.
What is the fastest way to get from Cancun Airport to Cancun?
Hire a private driver ahead of time for the fastest possible transfer to CancunтАЩs city center. This trip takes 20 minutes in a private vehicle. Shuttle buses require multiple stops and may leave you at predetermined bus stations instead of right at the door of your hotel.
Overview: transportation from Cancun Airport to Cancun
The last thing to do before you can truly relax on your vacation to Mexico is to book your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Cancun. This quick, 20-minute-long journey is best booked ahead of time, as the airportтАЩs arrivals hall is often overwhelmed with taxi drivers trying to get the best price out of newcomers to Cancun. With Daytrip, your private driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign. Easy peasy!
If you want to explore right away, or your flight lands too early for you to immediately check in to your hotel or resort, Daytrip has you covered with easy-to-book sightseeing stops to local cenotes, or natural swimming holes carved out over thousands of years. Welcome to Cancun!
About Cancun
The Mayan Empire had cities in the Cancun area from 2000 BCE until the 16th century when Spanish conquistadors arrived on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. The Yucatan Peninsula is full of evidence of Mayan cities and temples which give us an idea of the lifestyle and beliefs of people in this area. YouтАЩve likely heard of famous sites like Chichen Itza, but smaller sites like the El Rey ruins are also notable and easy to reach during your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Cancun.
The Mayans were skilled architects, astronomers, stone masons, and fishermen. However, Spanish colonialism brought violence and disease, so the Mayan population in the Cancun area sharply declined. For hundreds of years, the Yucatan Peninsula was relatively uninhabited save for small fishing villages along the coast and on the islands.
In the 1960s, the Mexican government broke ground on ambitious plans to transform the Cancun area into a series of world-class private resorts, luxury hotels, and family-friendly vacation spots to increase tourism. With the Caribbean SeaтАЩs pristine waters and stretches of white-sand beaches, all they needed to do was garner investments to build the hotels, resorts, and transportation infrastructure.
After a decade of work, CancunтАЩs first hotel, Playa Blanca, opened in 1970. The Hotel Zone, or the strip of coastline with the most hotels in downtown Cancun, developed into the vacation hub we know today. In the decades that have followed, Cancun has risen in popularity and is now among the most popular vacation destinations worldwide.
From Cancun Airport to Cancun: travel tips
Follow these simple tips for the best transfer experience from the Cancun Airport to Cancun.
Book your transportation to the city center ahead of time
Arriving at a foreign countryтАЩs airport is already stressful, so donтАЩt leave your transfer to downtown CancunтАЩs Hotel Zone to chance. Book your transportation with Daytrip before you take your flight to ensure that a private driver will meet you in the arrivals hall. ItтАЩs all about those small details that add a touch of luxury to your vacation.
Inform your accommodation of your estimated arrival time
Sometimes hotel rooms are prepared early, so donтАЩt be afraid to give your hotel or resort a call and let them know your estimated arrival time. If you have a few hours to kill before your check-in time, let Daytrip handle the logistics of taking you around to local _cenotes _or the El Rey ruins.
Leave the sunscreen at home
Cancun is home to many endangered species of animals found only in the Great Mayan Reef. Due to the ecological impact of traditional sunscreens and insect repellent when they enter the waterways, you can only buy and use reef-safe products in Cancun. These reef-safe creams are the only ones available in CancunтАЩs stores, but may not be on your local supermarket shelves back home. It's easier to buy the approved sunscreen when you get there.
How to get from Cancun Airport to Cancun
The best way to reach your hotel from the Cancun Airport is with private transportation. This can either be a private driver or a shuttle bus.
No matter which mode of transportation you choose for your transfer from the Cancun Airport to CancunтАЩs city center, make sure you arrange it ahead of time to avoid any mishaps. Cancun taxis are notorious for high fees and bait and switch pricing, so itтАЩs better to go with a reliable, prepaid service with a service guarantee.
Daytrip private car service from the Cancun Airport to Cancun
Private drivers provide the flexibility and direct transportation that is missing from shuttle bus services. Your Daytrip driver will meet you in the arrivals hall, help with your bags, and take you to your hotel.
DaytripтАЩs fleet of vehicles is insured and has professional drivers behind the wheel who have been background checked and drive for a living. And since you can pay in advance online, thereтАЩs no surprises!
With this level of attention to detail and care, it is no surprise Daytrip has won TripadvisorтАЩs Travelers' Choice Award for the last 8 consecutive years. This route starts at $9 per seat, so book your airport transfer today!
Shuttle buses from the Cancun Airport to Cancun
There are a variety of shuttle bus options based on your price point, schedule, and hotel package. Each shuttle bus company operates differently, so carefully review their procedures to avoid any surprises. Shuttle buses range in price from $8 to $20 per passenger.
Some hotels and resorts arrange their own shuttle bus transportation straight to their premises, but you may have to wait for other arriving passengers at the airport.
The cheapest shuttle buses will take you to a single drop-off point in the Hotel Zone for all passengers. Calculate the cost of a taxi or the walking distance to your resort from the drop-off point before agreeing to this option. The cheapest transfer can suddenly double in price when factoring in a taxi ride as well.
Things to do when you get to Cancun
Cancun has nearly endless possibilities for relaxation, exploration, and sport! Once your plane touches down at Cancun Airport, head to Cancun for these fun activities.
Visit the colorful underwater world of the Caribbean Sea
The Great Mayan Reef is the worldтАЩs second-largest coral reef system, right behind AustraliaтАЩs Great Barrier Reef. It stretches for 620 miles (1,000 km) down the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, along the coast of Belize and Guatemala to HondurasтАЩ northern shores. It is home to a diverse variety of marine life, including manatees, 500 species of fish, and 65 species of coral.
Your Cancun vacation is the perfect opportunity to snorkel, dive, and scuba dive in this unique and important ecosystem. Snorkel along the shores at one of CancunтАЩs many beaches, or hire an instructor to guide you step-by-step through the more complex steps of scuba diving. You can even get your SCUBA license!
Cool off in the cenotes
Cenotes are naturally formed sinkholes filled with fresh water from underground aquifers that have been carved out over thousands of years. They are a unique landform to this region of Mexico and held sacred religious roles for the Mayans.
If you are using Daytrip for your transfer from the Cancun Airport to Cancun, you can go directly to Cenote Chaak Tun and Cenote Las Mojarras after your flight. DonтАЩt miss out on this unique experience!
Work on your tan on CancunтАЩs white sand beaches
The white sand beaches in Cancun are the perfect place to forget all of your stress while youтАЩre far from home and work. Grab a pina colada, set up your umbrella, and spend the day listening to the ocean or catching up on your reading goals.
What is the best time to visit Cancun
Cancun is located in the tropics and has two seasons: the dry season (November to April) and the wet season (May to October). The best time to visit Cancun is the dry season, as it has long, warm days with sunny skies and little rain.
Cancun is by no means off-limits during the wet season, however, activities and flights from the Cancun Airport may be canceled due to tropical storms. If you choose to travel to Cancun between May and October, monitor the hurricane maps and be prepared for a quick exit or alternative vacation plans.
One of the largest nature reserves in Mexico, this lush patch of jungle is home to the last troop of spider monkeys on the coast.┬аThe Jungle Troop┬а
Cenote Chaak Tun
Sunlight and trees pour into a small hole in the heart of this stunning underground cenote ornamented by beautiful cave formations.┬аLight in the Dark┬а
Cenotes Kin-Ha
A small hole in the ground opens up into a beautifully illuminated cave where you can swim and dive.┬аSun and Water┬а
Playa Delfines
Playa Delfines is popular with local surfers and is located right in the heart of CancunтАЩs Hotel Zone. ┬аSurf like the dolphins┬а
