All About Cancún
Guide Sections
Getting There
By Air
Cancun International Airport sits a mere nine miles southwest from downtown and just 15.5 kilometers (six miles) from the Hotel Zone. More than 80 flights arrive daily making it the busiest airport in Quintana Roo. It is divided into two terminals (1 and 2).
Cancun International Airport (CUN) +52 998 886 0028 http://www.asur.com.mx/wwwIn/b_aeropuertos/fsCancun.html/
Terminal 2 handles all domestic and international flights from such main airlines such as:
Aeromexico (+1 800 257 6639 / http://www.aeromexico.com/) British Airways (+1 800 247 9297 / http://www.ba.com/) Continental (+1 800 525 0280 / http://www.continental.com/) Northwest (+1 800 225 2525 / http://www.nwa.com/)
Terminal 1 is considerably smaller and houses charter companies like:
Allegro (+1 877 443 7585 / http://www.allegroair.net/) Sun Country (+1 800 359 5786 / http://www.suncountry.com/)
Shuttle buses connect the two terminals and depart from the main entrances every 10 minutes. An info booth is situated in terminal 2 near the main entrance. Restaurants including a load of fast food joints and shopping outlets are also scattered about both terminals. Business facilities are available in the FBO Building, which resides next to terminal 1. Short-term lots are located adjacent to both terminals.
Upon arrival, it is highly recommended to refrain from changing your money at the airport. The exchange rates border on criminal. Wait to get into downtown or in the Hotel Zone for a much better exchange rate at one of the local banks.
From the Airport
Rental car companies are located in terminal one and include:
Alamo (+52 998 886 0448/ +1 800 462 5266 http://www.alamo.com/) Avis (+52 998 886 0221/ +1 800 230 4898 / http://www.avis.com/) Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://rent.drivebudget.com/) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com/) National (+52 998 886 0153/ http://www.nationalcar.com/) Payless (+1 800 729 5377/ http://www.paylesscarrental.com/) Thrifty (+1 800 847 4389/ http://www.thrifty.com/)
Shuttles and Taxis
Cancun Taxi is the official transportation of the Cancun Airport. The colectivos (vans) are your best bet for getting to and from the airport. Most are air-conditioned, sell soft drinks and beer, and generally cost under USD9. Tickets for the colectivos can be purchased at a counter inside the main terminal. Taxi vouchers can be purchased inside the main terminal as well and these run high ranging from USD35-USD40. Returning to the airport is cheaper with taxi rates costing a much more reasonable USD10-USD12.
Bus
The main bus terminal (+52 998 884 8073) is located downtown at the corners of Avenida Uxmal and Avenida Tulum and is open 24 hours a day. Though small it is divided into two halves. The east section handles first class passengers on the Autotransportes del Oriente (+52 998 884 8073), while the west section caters to second-class passengers on the Autotransportes del Caribe (+52 998 884 4804).
Bus
Public buses run non-stop from 6a-Mid between downtown and the hotel zone. Stops are frequent and service most major hotels. Rides only cost on average six pesos (USD60 cents). It rates as Cancun's most efficient transportation service and is highly recommended over all other forms of transportation when moving about the busy hotel zone.
Car
Route 180 begins at the Texas border and winds all the way through Mexico before approaching Cancún from the west. Route 307 pokes up from the south and provides easy access to the ruins of Tulum and to the ferries to Cozumel in Playa de Carmen. Kukulcán Boulevard bisects the Hotel Zone's 22.5-kilometer (14-mile) stretch of island and can be reached by two bridges from downtown.
Getting Around
Ferry
Boats to Isla Mujeres leave every half hour (7:30a-7:30p) just north of Cancún from Puerto Juarez. Rides last 30 minutes and cost USD4. Caribbean Express (+52 998 877 0254) and Caribbean Miss (+52 998 877 0253) both offer air conditioning and bar service. Ferries to Cozumel (+52 998 872 1722) depart from Playa de Carmen, 67.5 kilometers (42 miles) south, every hour from 5a-11p and last approximately 45 minutes.
Tour Bus
For visits to the Mayan ruins in Tulum (130 kilometers/81 miles) or Chichen Itzá (203 kilometers/126 miles) consider a tour bus. Mayaland Tours (+52 998 887 2450) enjoys an outstanding reputation and features air-conditioned buses.
Taxi
Taxis can pick you up in front of all hotels. However, before entering, agree on a price, for the cab drivers are notorious for jacking up their rates without warning or precedence. To aid in your negotiating skills, all the hotels post taxi fare rates so as to provide a basis on what to expect to pay. Rates within the hotel zone average USD7.
Rental Cars & Mopeds
Rental cars are unnecessary if you plan on staying within the Hotel Zone and downtown. If you do drive, be forewarned that driving along the Hotel Zone can be a nightmare of speed bumps, pedestrians, and inordinately strict policemen who have a reputation for targeting tourists. Downtown, with its collection of traffic circles, poorly marked one-way streets, and potholes, is even worse. If you do rent be sure to purchase Mexican car rental insurance. Rentals average USD 25 a day. Due to the high accident rate, however, they are not recommended, especially since no insurance is offered.
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