Taxi transfer or other option from the Cancun Airport?
Are you looking to get a taxi transfer from the Cancun Airport to your hotel? Here is our best recommendation for a transfer and why a basic taxi might not be the best option. See our best recommendation for 2020 transportation to and from the Cancun Airport here.
People confuse the term taxi and transfer as one type of transportation from the airport. There are big differences between an airport taxi and a private transfer service. For one a private transfer will be a larger and more comfortable van. Second you can pre book the private transfer with a bilingual driver and have someone waiting for you at the exit of the airport terminal. Lastly your driver will take you directly to where you want to go and you can save on booking a round trip transfer.
Now that you know what services are offered at the Cancun Airport and what is better for you, below is our recommendation for the best transfer company to book with.
Our best recommendation for a transfer
Here is the most recommended transfer company to reserve with. They have been serving our readers for years now. These prices are per van and not per person. These are private transfers for you and those traveling with you. Not stopping at other hotels, you will go direct to your destination. You can book these transfers to a hotel or private residence. Click the reserve now button to go to the private transfer website.
Transfer to Cancun
The prices for a transfer from the Cancun Airport to both the Hotel Zone and the Downtown of Cancun are the same. Click below for prices and booking a transfer.
Transfers from the Cancun Airport to Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is just south of the Cancun Airport. Transfers will take between 20 to 25 minutes. Click below for prices and booking.
Cancun Airport Transfers to Playa Del Carmen
Playa Del Carmen is south of the Cancun Airport and it will take about 50 minutes to arrive at the city. Click here for transfer prices and booking.
Cancun Airport transfers to Tulum
From Cancun Airport to Tulum a transfer takes about one hour and a half. That is why we like the private transfers so they take your directly and comfortably. See also our guide on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum. Click below for pricing and booking.
Why is a private transfer better than a taxi transfer?
You might think that it is just as easy to land and exit the airport and hail a taxi in Cancun. Here are our reasons why we say booking a private transfer in advance is better.
- There is no taxi stand with a set list of prices at the Cancun Airport. This means that taxis can tell you any price they want or even negotiate with you.
- Since there are so many passengers arriving each day in Cancun, there is no reason for taxi drivers to accept a low price.
- A taxi driver is only going to drive you one way. A private transfer can be scheduled so you can buy a round trip at a discount.
- Having a driver waiting at the exit of the terminal is convenient and will take you directly to the van.
- The private transfers we recommend are newer vans that give you a lot more room then a taxi. This makes your transfer more comfortable.
- Drivers for the private transfer company are bilingual and speak enough English to answer your questions and get you on your way. Taxi drivers on the other hand don’t always speak English.
Other services that you can add on to your taxi transfer
You can pre book the following with this service when making a booking:
- Have sodas or juices waiting for you upon arrival.
- Snacks
- Beer or wine for your ride.
- Book a one hour stop at a store for $35 USD. This is handy if you need some supplies for your vacation. Many resorts are not near any real stores and you might want a few of your favorite things.
Transfer times from the Cancun Airport to the Riviera Maya
The Cancun Airport is located south of Cancun just off the 307 Highway going to Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. This does make it easier to service the resorts and towns along the coast. Here are some sample times between the Cancun Airport and popular destinations.
Cancun Airport to:
- Cancun Hotel Zone between 15-30 minutes. The Hotel Zone is large and is spread out over many kilometers.
- Puerto Morelos is about 25 minutes away from the airport.
- Playa Del Carmen is about 50 minutes in drive time.
- Puerto Aventuras is one hour from the Cancun Airport.
- Akumal is about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Tulum downtown is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Tulum Hotel Zone is about 1 hour and 45 minutes depending on which part you are going to.
Shuttles to hotels from the Cancun Airport
If you are looking for a more budget friendly option and do not mind waiting a little bit longer, a shared shuttle can be an option for you. These are small vans that go between the Cancun Airport and hotels. The price is per person and comparable to the ADO bus. The biggest advantage is the fact they will take you door to door, thus eliminating a taxi from the bus stop to your hotel.
It is best to book in advance and have a shuttle waiting for you. If you want to book a shared shuttle for your airport transportation, click the reserve now button below and you will be taken to the official website for booking.
Are you ready for your vacation?
Now that you have your transfer all figured out, here are some other guides on our website that can be helpful for your trip.
- The Best Things to do in the Riviera Maya.
- Riviera Maya cenotes to visit.
- Mayan ruins you can visit in the Riviera Maya and beyond.
- Best things to do in Playa Del Carmen.
- If you will be taking the bus around, ADO is the main bus company.
Thank you for reading our article and we hope you have a great trip to Mexico. Let us know if you need anything in the comments below.
About The Author
I have always used private transfers. They offer direct service and not sure why people wait the last minute to grab a taxi from the airport, they always try to rip you off in Cancun.
why cant you book on line they will not acept my credit card
They do accept credit cards for booking the transfers. If you have a problem with your card you can use the chat feature and ask them details. You can pay in cash, paypal and credit cards.
This is a good idea to pre book. The taxi drivers are aggressive at the airport in Cancun. I see them all the time and love to see their face when I show them my reservation. The taxis should have a stand with set prices but I don’t think they will ever do it since they like to see what they can get from people. It is not a good start to peoples vacations in the Riviera Maya.
I am flying tomorrow to Cancun, can I book or buy this when I arrive? Sorry thianis my first time doing to Mexico so I am not sure what is possible. Thanks.
Hello Erick
The transfers don’t have a stand or have people randomly waiting for people to book. It is all scheduled out so when you arrive you have someone waiting for you to make your connection to your hotel easier. You can book online today so it will be set up for you. You will he asked for your flight details and they will watch to make sure you arrive on time and then be waiting outside for you. We hope you have a pleasant trip to Mexico.
A plus service! Very nice and professional driver. We will book this again next time we come to Mexico.
Thank you for your comments Alejandra. We hope to see you soon in Mexico for another vacation.
This was a very good recommendations. Very good service and professional driver.
Hi Mr Yucatan,
I enjoy reading all the advice and comments put up on your website which is useful and informative. I have a question –
My wife and I will be taking the ADO Bus from Merida and arrive at the ADO Terminus in Playa Del Carmen on the 5th Ave. We have two suitcases. Thereafter, we will make a trip to the Rosewood Mayakoba (I suppose it is somewhere in Zone 4 of the Taxi map) to catch up with a couple friend, and then head to the City Express Plus Cancún Aeropuerto Riviera (which is about a 15-minute ride by car from the Cancun International Airport) for the night to catch a plane the next day.
What would be your advice in regard to the choice of transportation?
(a) should we take a taxi (or private transfer) to Rosewood Mayakoba?
(b) should we take a taxi (or private transfer) from Rosewood Mayakoba to City Express Plus Cancún Aeropuerto Riviera?
This is our first visit to Playa Del Carmen and we have no idea of the place.
I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks
Hello Ben
Thanks for reading our website. A taxi from Playa to Rosewood is best. It is not on the zone map but the other photo we have is for Mayakoba resorts. It will be about 250/300 pesos for the trip. Ask before you get in as drivers will ask for different amounts. There should be a sign outside the bus station with a list of prices. You should note that security at resorts is strict. Most resorts will not let guest pass the lobby and even then at the outside security they will need to confirm your friends names. One option is to have your friends meet you in Playa. Then you can book a transfer from there to your hotel and then as a round trip to get the discount, the transfer in the morning to the airport. You can also take a taxi from Rosewood to your hotel or a transfer. The distances between where you are going are large and not public routes, so you will have to pay for it.
Is the transfer per person? If there is 3 of us do we each pay for the ride. That is expensive . We are going to Tulum. What do u suggest, we dont want to have to pay 300 dollars.
The price is for the entire van no per person. It will be a comfortable van for the hour and 20 minute trip.