Transportation Cancun Airport to Hotel Zone and information on Airport shuttles (2023)

FAQs

What is the cheapest transportation from Cancun airport to Hotel Zone? ›

The cheaper option is to take the ADO bus which costs 4€ (86 MXN) to the city centre of Cancun, where you will then need to take a taxi to the Hotel Zone or a second bus. The total journey time will be around 60 minutes depending on traffic.

The safest transportation from Cancun Airport to the Hotel Zone is to pre-book with a registered and reputable airport shuttle service like Cancun Airport Transportation, which is locally owned and has a 20 year history of serving the Cancun Airport.

In general you should tip your Cancun shuttle driver 50 pesos per person on board. That's about $2.50 USD but please remember that it is best to use the local currency of pesos for tipping!

Shared Shuttle to hotels, Available 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Stops at all terminals. From $14.00 USD per vehicle. Private Service NO sharing, 24 hours, most economical private service. From $15.50 per vehicle.

Taxis tend to be more expensive than Uber. Within the hotel zone, however, it can be as little as around $1–2 for a short ride. Twenty Mexican Pesos (MXN) are around $1, so expect to pay 20–40 pesos for a short ride within the hotel zone.

The Hotels located in Cancun Hotel Zone and Cancun Downtown are about 20 to 30 minutes from the Cancun Airport. The Hotels located in Playa Mujeres are 30-40 minutes from the Cancun Airport.

Currently there is still no Uber service from the Cancun airport (as of February 2023) which means you need to book private Cancun transportation with Happy Shuttle (you are in the right place!) .

Passengers must arrive at least 2 hours prior for any international flight. All carry-on bags are being subjected to security screenings. All passengers regardless of age (including minors and unaccompanied minors) may be subject to additional screening if selected at random or if circumstances warrant.

They depend upon those tips to live. If you're on a tour with a lot of people (20-100 people), each person should leave a tip of at least $5 U.S. (90 pesos). If you're on a tour with very few people (e.g., four people in your family), the group should leave a tip that is equivalent to 15-20% of the cost of the tour.

Is 20 pesos a good tip? ›

Restaurants: For good service, a 10% tip is standard. For really good service, anything between 15% and 20% is acceptable. Street food: Again, tipping is not required or expected, but it is appreciated (saying “keep the change” is sufficient). Taxis: If the driver helps with bags, 10–20 pesos is a good tip.

The Bellhop: 25 – 50 pesos is a standard tip for helping you to your room and with your luggage. The Concierge: Tipping 50 to 150 pesos for helpful recommendations is always appreciated. Housekeeping: A tip of 25 to 50 pesos a day for keeping your room tidy is appropriate.

The Cancun Airport Private Shuttle service is provided with vans that have a capacity of up to 9 people, the prices vary depending on the number of people, from 1 to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 people.

Taxi drivers will accept dollars, though at a less favorable rate than pesos. Within the downtown area, the cost is about 25 pesos per cab ride (not per person); within any other zone, it's 70 to 110 pesos. It'll cost about 180 pesos to travel between the Hotel Zone and downtown.

We recommend you to pre-book the Cancun Airport Transportation services on our website to avoid waiting for an available driver. We can take reservation for people that just arrived at the Cancun Airport however you might have to wait for a vehicle to be available. 28.

Cash is a necessity in Cancun, given that many restaurants and gift shops don't accept credit cards. Like many other airports around the world, the Cancun airport is jam-packed with money exchange kiosks looking to convert your money into Mexican pesos.

Most businesses will take U.S. dollars, but it's better to convert your currency to pesos. You'll get better deals and it is the currency of Mexico. Many people get pesos from their bank at home before travel. We normally use ATMs when we arrive at the Cancun airport.

There are two accepted currencies in Cancun, US Dollars and Mexican Pesos. If you have to choose one my advice is to choose Pesos.

Take a Shared Shuttle from Cancun Airport to Hotel Zone

Cheaper transportation from the airport to your hotel in Cancun is the shared shuttle. It's also an ideal option for those traveling solo, and while you'll be sharing the vehicle with other travelers, you'll still be taken to your hotel's front door.

Cancun is relatively easy to navigate and get around, as many of the best attractions and sightseeing spots are located in the Hotel Zone. The Hotel Zone is the main tourist area of Cancun and is very walkable. Aside from that, there are tons of taxis available and great public transportation options like the bus.

Is it better to stay in the Hotel Zone in Cancun? ›

The Hotel Zone comes with the greatest concentration of accommodation and amenities for tourists. Punta Cancun has some of the best nightlife in town and El Centro (downtown) is a popular choice for budget travelers and presents a more authentic local experience.

Tips for Cancun shuttle bus drivers and taxi drivers

While shuttle bus drivers and taxi drivers do not always expect tips, it is advisable to tip them. If you plan to take a taxi, set a price first so that there will be no confusion when you get to your location. At this point, you can tip up to the agreed amount.

In Taxis. Here's one place where tipping customs in the U.S. and Mexico diverge. Cab drivers in Mexico don't expect a tip in most cases. If a driver helps with your luggage, though, it's polite to give 10 pesos per bag.

Are Cancun taxis safe? The answer is a definitive NO, especially Cancun airport taxis which are not regulated, have no record of your trip, can charge whatever they want and leave you in danger. There are “sharks” at the Cancun airport waiting to rip you off, don't take the risk!

We reported last week that Uber is currently not able to operate in the busy Cancun Hotel Zone safely, which means that trying to book an Uber from your accommodation could be very risky. Earlier this month, a taxi driver was caught attacking an Uber driver who was transporting tourists from the Hotel Zone.

To get from Cancun Down Town area without UBER you will either have the option of getting an ADO bus or a “colectivo” (shared shuttle).

- Yes, you can pay with cash or credit card, when arrive to Cancun you can give your credit card to the driver and he will call the main office to process the charge.

GREAT NEWS: Since Thursday, August 18th, 2022, Cancun Airport travelers will no longer be required to fill out customs (FMM) forms upon arrival. This initiative is part of a project that will include all the major international airports in Mexico with the purpose to speed up the process of arriving in the country.

Customs Procedures at Cancun Airport

During the inbound flight, you will receive and need to fill out a customs form (Hacienda). After passing through immigration, you collect your bags and proceed to the exit. You will hand the form to the customs agent and press the button on what looks like a traffic light.

Make a Smart Footwear Choice

As most airport security checkpoints require that you take off your shoes and place them in a bin to be scanned, help yourself out by wearing shoes that you can take off and put back on easily.

Is 10 pesos a good tip? ›

Waiters working at restaurants and bars should always be tipped for good service; a sum equivalent to 10-15% of the total bill is appropriate.

Leaving two or three dollars every time a housekeeper cleans your room is an appreciated gesture that adds up. If you think daily tipping is too much to remember, you could always leave one big tip at the end of your stay – $10-15 for a week-long stay should suffice!

Do I Need to Tip at an All-Inclusive Resort? While tipping is a discretionary and optional gesture, at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and others, it is certainly encouraged.

But what can a handful of pesos get you in Mexico? Considering the fact that $100 USD equals over 2,000 MXN, you can get a whole heck of a lot!

The best currency to bring to Mexico is a mix of pesos and US dollars. Use the dollars to pay for tours, entrance fees, accommodation, and travel. For everything else use pesos.

If you're staying at an all inclusive resort, you will only need about 100 pesos per day per person for tips (I'd say this is minimum). If you're staying at a hotel in Puerto Vallarta, for example, and eating out for each meal and throwing in a couple happy hours, you might want to budget 500 pesos per person.

In Mexico, a good rule of thumb for tips is to leave 10-15% of the bill. 50 pesos would be a standard tip for a bill that was around 500 pesos. For example, if you go out for dinner and get drinks, you should expect to spend around 400 MXN.

"Three to five dollars is a sufficient tip," Swann says. "It doesn't necessarily need to be a percentage of the food you ordered."

The standard tip for hotel housekeeping in the U.S. is $2 to $5 per day, says Cohorst. Now, with all the additional work housekeeping must accomplish, it's only fair to tip a consistent $5 per day—even more, if you're feeling exceptionally benevolent.

Cancun Airport Money Exchange

In terminals three and four, in addition to ATMS, there is a currency exchange service operated by a bank named CIBanco, where you can convert your Mexican pesos to the currency of your choice and vice-versa.

Can you Uber from Cancun airport to hotel zone? ›

Can I Uber from Cancun Airport to Hotel Zone? No, Uber is not available at the Cancun Airport and has been blocked from operating in the region by the local taxi unions. Your best option for airport transportation is to arrange a private transfer or take a shared shuttle service.

MONEY EXCHANGE

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY YES, you need Mexican Pesos. You will need pesos for tips, souvenirs shopping, transportation like taxi/buses, tours, bar/restaurants, etc.

Cancun airport: The truth is that it is very easy to obtain local currency, the first option will always be the international airport of Cancun, look for the best rate and change a generous amount that will last you at least the first three days of your stay.

Any tip is gratefully received, so what is the tipping etiquette for drivers in Cancun and the Riviera Maya? In general you should tip your Cancun shuttle driver 50 pesos per person on board. That's about $2.50 USD but please remember that it is best to use the local currency of pesos for tipping!

Airport transfers and shuttle bus drivers often work for the resorts but also rely on tips. These individuals are generally very helpful while getting you to your final destination. The suggested tip is about 50 pesos, or $2.50.

Rates to nearby destinations are as follows: Cancun Hotel Zone: $15 USD one way. Playa del Carmen: $29 USD one way. Tulum: $37 USD one way.

It's best to use pesos in Cancun. You can use USD almost anywhere, but you'll typically get a better exchange rate in Cancun if you pay in pesos.

In most cases if you tip more they make your drink stronger. It's not customary to tip a Taxi driver unless they help you with your luggage. We recommend from 10 Pesos per suitcase. In Mexican Grocery stores its common to see workers (Grocery Baggers) who will bag your purchases.

There IS Uber in Cancun – and the rest of Mexico – and it's entirely possible to hail an Uber using the app. However, it's not always straightforward, as Uber drivers still face a lot of issues from the local taxi companies.

Does Uber service Cancun airport? ›

Officially Uber has been available in Cancun since 2019, but it's better to avoid using it for safety reasons. So instead, most travelers prefer to use taxi services or book Cancun Transfers to reach their destination.

Cancun is relatively easy to navigate and get around, as many of the best attractions and sightseeing spots are located in the Hotel Zone. The Hotel Zone is the main tourist area of Cancun and is very walkable. Aside from that, there are tons of taxis available and great public transportation options like the bus.

Paying in Cash with Uber in Mexico City

Once you go to “Payments” you can see that “Cash” is available as an option. If the option is not available, select “Add Payment Method.” What is this? You can then add cash to your preferred payment method.