How to Get from the Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun
Getting to the downtown of Cancun is pretty easy from the Cancun Airport. Cancun is a major transit hub, and it is well connected to the airport. However, it should be noted that the Cancun Airport is actually south of downtown Cancun. The airport is about 15.5km (9.63 miles.) from the center of the downtown area. Transportations times to the downtown are between 20 minutes and 55 minutes, depending on what transportation option you choose.
If you are flying into Cancun International Airport, getting to downtown Cancun relatively quick and easy. Below is a complete guide on the best ways to get from the Cancun Airport to downtown Cancun.
Private Transfers from Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun
One popular option for visitors is booking a private airport transfer. These are vans that take you and those traveling with you direct to your hotel. Once you reserve, you will have a driver waiting for you at the airport. The driver helps with your luggage and takes you directly to your hotel. This is the easiest and most comfortable way to reach the downtown area of Cancun. These transfers are the most reliable also when compared to other transportation.
How much are transfer vans from Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun?
Prices for private car service or van service is as follows:
- $49 USD one way or $89 USD round trip from the Cancun Airport to downtown hotels for up to 8 people. You do save 10% if you book a round trip! So, we recommend doing this!
Private transfers are popular for several reasons:
• Direct service to your hotel
• No waiting for other passengers
• Air-conditioned vehicles
• Flat rate per vehicle rather than per person
• Option to book round trip transportation with discount
Many travelers like this option because after a long flight you can go straight to your resort without stopping at other hotels.
This is the same option we recommend for travelers going south to Playa del Carmen. If you want to see how that trip works, read our full guide on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen. How to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen
Luxury Transfers Available Also to Downtown Cancun
If you are traveling for a special occasion or just want to make your trip a little more special, there are luxury transfers available from the Cancun Airport going to the downtown area in Cancun. Cancun luxury transportation is regularly provided with Suburbans or Similar vehicles, like Expeditions. This is for transportation of up to six people.
Prices for the luxury transfer from the Cancun Airport to the downtown Cancun are:
- $90 USD one way or $153 USD round trip. To save money you just need to book a round trip at time of booking. Click the reserve now button below to go to the official booking website.
Shared Shuttle from Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun
Shared airport shuttles are another option if you are traveling on a budget. These are small vans that sell individual tickets for a seat and drop people off at their hotels. These vans transport several groups of passengers who are staying at different hotels in one area. They are cheaper than private transfers but can take longer. This is a good option if you want door to door service but also at a discounted price.
How Much Are Shuttles and How to Reserve a Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles from the Cancun Airport to downtown Cancun are about $22.70 USD per person one way or about $45.40 USD for a round trip.
If this transportation option looks good for you, you can click the reserve now button and go directly to the booking page. Once you put in your arrival information and hotel, they will reserve your spot and be waiting at the airport with a sign for you.
Things to consider with shared shuttles:
• You may need to wait for other passengers at the airport
• The shuttle may stop at several resorts before yours
• Travel time can increase depending on the route
Shared shuttles are often used by solo travelers or couples who want to save money.
If you want to see typical shuttle prices in the region, see our guide about shared shuttle transportation from Cancun Airport. How Much Are Shared Shuttles from the Cancun Airport?
Taking the ADO Bus to Downtown Cancun
One of the most popular ways to get from the Cancun Airport to the downtown is taking the ADO bus. The ADO Bus Company is the closest thing to a public bus service to and from the Cancun Airport. If you need to go to the downtown of Cancun, there are buses that leave about every 30 minutes from each of the terminals of the Cancun Airport. The cost is 145 pesos which is about $8.50 USD for a one-way ticket. To check schedules and prices, see the ADO website here.
Buses only go to the ADO Bus Station in downtown Cancun. From here you can transfer to many buses leaving Cancun. Just outside the bus station you can catch local taxis, or city buses.
How to Buy Tickets for the ADO Bus to the Downtown
Since these tickets are timed and you don’t know if you will arrive on time or how long it will take to get out of the airport, we do not suggest buying tickets in advance. It is fairly easy to buy them at the airport. There are ADO booths inside the terminal when you exit and also a mobile booth outside on the bus platform where you can buy the tickets.
You can pay with card, Pesos or USD in small bills (20’s or smaller).
If you want more details instructions on how to take the ADO bus from the Cancun Airport to downtown Cancun, see our guide here.
Renting a Car at Cancun Airport
Renting a car is another option for getting to downtown Cancun. This can be a good choice if you are just starting your trip in Cancun and plan to drive some in the area.
One good place to check for a rental car online is Discovery Cars. This website searches all the rentals and offers good prices on Cancun Airport rentals.
Here are our best tips for renting a car at the Cancun Airport:
- There are rental car companies inside the airport property and some just outside along the highway. If you rent from a company outside the airport you will need to take their shuttle both ways. This does add about 20 minutes to the process of pick up and drop off. For the convenience fee, we prefer the rental car companies in the airport.
- Liability insurance is required in Mexico. Your credit card company might not cover Mexico, or you might need proof of coverage. You can buy it locally when you rent. It is recommended you buy it locally because you have local agents to help you if something happens.
- In general, we prefer the larger car rental companies because they have more options, and in general a more streamlined check out and in.
The drive to the downtown is usually about 19–22 minutes depending on traffic. It is 15.5 km from the airport to downtown Cancun.
Taking a Taxi from Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun
Taxis are available outside all terminals at Cancun International Airport. However, most people do not like to have to deal with taxis at the Cancun Airport. Taxi drivers have a bad reputation for overcharging tourists arriving at the airport. There are no set prices nor meters in the taxis at the Cancun Airport. This means you need to ask and also be prepared to negotiate or walk away from a taxi driver that is trying to charge too much.
How Much are Taxis from the Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun?
However, taxis are usually more expensive than pre-booking a private transfer, and prices can vary depending on demand. Taxis at the airport also do not operate on meters, so the price is typically negotiated. Most of the time taxi drivers will try to charge between $50 USD to $70 USD for a one-way trip. Of course, taxis cannot offer a round-trip discount because the same taxi will not be taking you back to the airport. Taxis from downtown Cancun are cheaper going to the airport, sometimes as cheap as $20 USD.
Because of this, many travelers prefer to reserve transportation ahead of time, so they know the exact price.
Can You Take Uber from Cancun Airport?
Ride share services like Uber have had limited service in the Cancun area and currently cannot reliably pick up passengers directly at Cancun Airport.
Because of local transportation regulations and conflicts with taxi unions, most travelers still rely on private transfers, ADO bus, taxis, or shuttles to get from the airport to their hotel.
How Far is the Downtown Area in Cancun from the Airport?
The downtown of Cancun is located about 15.5 km (9.63 miles) north of the Cancun Airport, and the drive in a car normally takes 19–22 minutes depending on traffic. Private transfers make the connection in about 20 minutes while the ADO bus does take up to 55 minutes to make the route between terminals of the airport and the one stop downtown.
What are Hotels Like in the Downtown Area of Cancun?
The downtown of Cancun is not where tourist usually stay in Cancun. The area is not especially charming but rather just a city that mainly supports the large tourism economy with hotels on the coasts. Those that are staying in downtown Cancun are often visiting, people they know, doing business, or passing through. Since the beaches are far from the downtown and most attractions are outside of this area, the downtown is not as thriving as other parts of the area.
The downtown of Cancun is spread out. It is heavily based on car transport. Those that are stopping though Cancun often stay near the ADO bus station. This is close to many restaurants and services.
If you are only staying at a hotel in Cancun for a flight, see our guide to the best Cancun Airport hotels to stay at. These are not considered downtown hotels, just hotels close to the airport.
Transportation Tips for Cancun Airport
Here are a few helpful tips when arriving at Cancun Airport:
• Book transportation in advance is important! You need to reserve BEFORE you arrive at the Cancun Airport.
• Confirm whether the price is per person or per vehicle. This is a trick that many transportation companies do, they post a low price but have a minimum of two people for that price or make the private vans look cheap by advertising per person price. All the links we have are for per person in shared shuttles and per vehicle in the private transfers.
• Ignore aggressive transportation sellers inside the terminal
Many visitors are surprised at how easy it is to travel between Cancun Airport and nearby destinations. If you are staying elsewhere in the Riviera Maya, you might also want to read our guide on ground transportation options from Cancun Airport to the Riviera Maya. Ground transportation from Cancun Airport to the Riviera Maya
Final Thoughts
Getting from the Cancun Airport to downtown of Cancun is simple and usually takes less than an hour. Most travelers choose a private transfer or ADO bus. Private transfers are twice as fast as the ADO bus and takes you direct to your hotel while the ADO bus is the cheapest and takes you to a central area of the downtown. Downtown Cancun is just one of the Cancun areas with hotels. There is also Costa Mujeres, Isla Mujeres, and the Hotel Zone in Cancun.
About The Author
What should I know about getting BACK to the airport from Playa on ADO?
It is pretty easy to get the ADO bus from the Playa Del Carmen ADO bus station to the airport. It is good to buy your ticket in advance to make sure you ge the time you want to depart. The travel time can be between 55 minutes and 1 hour 10 minutes. A lot depends on what terminal you are going to. There are four terminals in the Cancun Airport. It takes between 5-8 minutes to drop off passengers at each terminal. Buses leave from BOTH stations going to the airport. Buses leave first from Juarez Avenue and 4th Avenue and then stop by the other bus station before heading to the airport. One trip, look at google maps in the morning and see travel times to the airport. If it looks slow or there is an accident, you might want to leave sooner. We have more in our article about taking the ADO to the Cancun Airport from Playa Del Carmen. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/bus-to-cancun-airport/