Transportation
|
|
"Who
will someday sing the
ballad of the Mexican
bus driver? A great
lover of ranchera music,
which he ingenuously
inflicts on all his
passengers...A man who
stops at noon, sometimes
forgets to come back
and has to be hunted
down, who parks his
bus at a crossroads,
disappears, and then
returns ten minutes
later with three cases
of Coca-Cola or a basket
of tacos, who occasionally,
after ten minutes of
driving, makes all his
passengers get out,
refunds their money,
and charges off in a
different direction.
In Mexico, you never
know why the bus is
stopping."
-Abbas,
Return to Mexico:
Journeys Beyond the
Mask
|
|
|
|
Airport
Arrival & Transportation
|
| Cancun International Airport
is 16 kilometers (9 miles) southwest
of the heart of Cancun City,
10 kilometers (6 miles) from
the southernmost point of the
hotel zone. You will first pass
through Immigration, where your
passport or other entry documents
are examined. You then collect
your luggage and pass through
Customs. In Customs you will
be asked to press a button connected
to a little traffic light that
will determine whether your
bags are searched; green light,
and you just walk through, or
red light and your bags are
inspected.
A Word of Advice:
You will probably be approached
by people in the airport who
want to tell you where your
luggage can be claimed, or want
to look at your transportation
voucher to tell you where to
find your transportation. These
people are time-share sales
people who will then try to
get you to sign up for a time-share
presentation. Avoid them! (unless
you like that kind of thing...)
|
|
Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers
can be reserved
one-way or round-trip
from the airport
to your hotel. Transfers
are shared service
and are available
to/from the airport.
A host and a van
will be waiting
for you at the airport
when you arrive.
|
|
Airport to/from Cancun
or Isla Mujeres Ferry Dock
 |
Private or Shared Van Service:
Can be reserved
online by clicking
HERE
|
|
|
Taxis: You can
take a private cab for about
$35-$40 USD; the driver
will accept the taxi
vouchers sold at
stands inside or
just outside the
airport. Taxis are
much cheaper going
back to the airport
- about $15 - $20 USD.
|
|
|
Bus:
There is bus service from
the airport non-stop to
downtown Cancun bus terminal.
The cost is only 35 pesos
each way. First bus from
the airport is at
12:20 am,
last bus from airport is
11:30 p.m.. Large buses with
a/c, same as they use for
Riviera bus to Playa. (This
is not the airport workers
bus that discourages luggage).
Catch the bus at terminal
2, at the other end of the
terminal from where international
arrivals exit customs.
Click
here for updated
schedules or to
reserve online. |
Airport to/from Playa
del Carmen - Cozumel Ferry
Dock - Riviera Maya
|
|
Private or Shared Van Service to
Playa del Carmen and Riviera
Maya: Can be reserved
online by clicking
HERE.
|
|
|
Bus: The Mexican
bus company Riviera operates a direct bus service
between Cancun airport and
Playa del Carmen. Tickets
are 80 pesos each way.
First bus leaves at
9:30 a.m., last bus
leaves at 11:30 p.m.
(subject to change)
and the trip takes
one hour and 10
minutes. It leaves from
outside the main arrival
hall at the airport. Just
before you exit the terminal,
there is a Riviera counter
where you buy the ticket.
In Playa del Carmen the
bus works out of the main
bus terminal on 5th Avenue
and Juarez. Click
here for updated
schedules or to
reserve online.
|
|
|
Taxis: Grab an
authorized white, yellow
and black airport taxi.
It's a 45 minute ride to
Playa del Carmen. A union
controls who can carry tourists
from the airport and what
they charge. The ride to
Playa del Carmen will cost
you around $60 USD. To take
one of these authorized
taxis, go to any of the
kiosks located around the
terminal and buy a ticket.
|
|
|
|
Car Rental
|
| While it
isn't necessary to rent a car
while in the Cancun Downtown
/ Hotel Zone area, you may decide
to venture further south to
the Mayan Riviera, Playa Del
Carmen, Chichén Itzá, etc. Rental
cars, primarily standard-shift
sub compacts and four-wheel-drive
vehicles, are available at the
airport and throughout Cancun.
The standard rate is about $50
USD per day for the car, tax,
and insurance. You can also
rent an automatic car with air-conditioning
at a much higher price. You
can also hire a big, late-model
car with air-conditioning and
an English- speaking chauffeur
at many hotel travel desks.
NOTE:
If you see signs advertising
car rentals for a ridiculously
low price (something like $15
USD per day), these are inevitably
time share sales related, and
you have to sit through a long,
high-pressure sales presentation
to get that rate.
|
|
|
Driving
Tips & Advice
|
|
|
Look
over the rental car and
have the rental agent write
down anything that
is wrong with it, no matter
how small. When
you return the car you may
be charged for even the
most minor scratches (even
on the bumper) if they aren't
noted on the paperwork.
Also, make sure the lights
and wipers work. You can't
be too careful with this
process - they will get
you for anything not written
down.
|
|
|
Buy the Mexican insurance.
Yes, sometimes rental
car insurance comes with
your credit card, but this
doesn't work the same way
in Mexico. Although your
own insurance says it covers
you in Mexico, they generally
mean they will reimburse
you for damages. If there
are problems and you do
not have the Mexican insurance
you may be required to pay
the damages before you are
allowed to leave the country,
and can be held in jail
until the money arrives.
Even with Mexican insurance,
there is often a $1000 deductible
you have to pay if the car
is damaged.
|
|
|
Pass with caution.
Passing is a major cause
of car accidents around
here. Other drivers are
probably going much faster
than you realize - so don't
pass unless you have more
than enough room. Oncoming
traffic will sometimes pass
when they are heading straight
at you - and they are expecting
YOU to move onto the shoulder
to give them room to pass!
If you pass without enough
room, the driver in your
lane and the one coming
the other direction will
not make it easy for you
to pull back in.
|
|
|
Avoid driving at
night whenever possible.
Things appear
in the road without warning
(cattle, people, etc.);
some highways are poorly
lit; some drivers don't
even turn their lights on.
|
|
|
Remember... Distance
and speed limits are posted
in kilometers instead of
miles. To convert kilometers
to miles, multiply kilometers
by .62. (Something
100 kilometers away is 62
miles away; 100 kilometers
per hour is 62 miles per
hour, etc...)
|
|
|
Military Check Points.
There are military check
points at all state borders
and sometimes just South
of the Cancun airport and
in Tulum, often looking
for illegal drugs. The soldiers
working there are generally
very polite. They ask where
you are coming from and
going and what you did there.
Tell the truth. If you are
at a state border, they
will also ask about agricultural
products like fruit or chickens.
|
|
|
Speed Traps.
Around Cancun there are
several speed traps
where local police wait
for rental cars to come
speeding by so they can
stop them and try for a
bribe. Here is your best
defense - do not speed in
and around Cancun, particularly
in the hotel zone and between
Cancun and the airport.
|
|
|
If you run out of
gas or break down, don't
leave the vehicle; Mexico's
"Green Angels," part of
the Tourism Department,
patrol the main roads and
will lend you assistance. |
|
|
Gasoline is sold
in liters (3.78 liter=l
gallon). Nova (blue pump)
is leaded; Magna Sin (green
pump) is unleaded. Only
cash is accepted. Most stations
close by 10 PM. There is
no self-service, and
it is customary to tip your
attendant with a few coins.
|
|
|
A WORD OF ADVICE!:
A lot of tourists get ripped-off
at the gas station.
Keep your eye on the pump
to watch the total amount
being charged the entire
time your gas is being pumped.
Make it obvious to the attendant
that you are watching!
A common scam is to quickly
reset the pump to zero before
telling you the price, and
charging you more than was
on the pump. Better yet,
ask for a specific amount
of gas (in pesos), rather
than asking to "fill it
up." And make sure
they have reset the pump
to zero before starting
to pump your gas. |
|
|
Speed Limits:
In town, the limit is generally
40km/hr (25 mi./hr) and
in the Hotel Zone 60 km/hr
(37 mi./hr), with busy sections
at 40km/hr. Highways range
between 90km/hr (56 mi/hr)
and 100km/hr (62 mi/hr).
Speed bumps are a popular
way of keeping drivers within
the speed limits; look for
them when entering and leaving
villages or towns. |
|
|
|
|
"A
left turn signal isn't
always the same. On
a highway, it means
you're giving the guy
behind you permission
to pass. If you want
to turn left off a highway,
pull over to the right,
let traffic pass, then
cross the highway. There
are often retornos (turnarounds)
that will make it even
safer. The left turn
procedure is changing
due to urbanization,
so you can't always
depend on it. Just don't
YOU put on your left
blinker when somebody's
behind you on a two-lane
road and you'll do okay.
On freeways, a left
turn signal is a left
turn signal."
-"Mexico"
Mike Nelson
Mexico from the Driver's
Seat: Tales of the Road
from Baja to the Yucatán
|
|
|
|
Moped
& Bicycle Rentals
|
| You can rent
mopeds, motorcycles, and bicycles
at several locations in Cancun,
as well as on Isla Mujeres.
Unless you're an expert rider,
you should avoid the congested
downtown area; and when driving
in the Hotel Zone, stay on the
biking/jogging path. Always
wear a helmet. Many streets
are quite narrow and poorly
lit, so it's best to ride only
during the daylight hours.
|
|
|
Buses
|
 There
are bus lines that run 24 hours
a day throughout the hotel zone
and into the Cancun downtown
area. Fares are reasonable at
$6.00 pesos (approx. 60 cents
U.S.) per person. It is
highly recommended to have the
exact change in pesos, but the
driver will make change for
small bills. Drivers will
not accept foreign coins.
Because there are numerous
bus stops throughout the hotel
zone it should be easy enough
to find one close to your hotel.
Buses run about every 2-3 minutes
during peak times of the day,
usually never having to wait
more than about 10-15 minutes
any other time of the day.
Any of the buses that are
running along Kukulcan Blvd.
in the hotel zone will take
you up and down the length of
the hotel zone strip - EXCEPT
to the extreme southern end
of the hotel zone (Wet 'n Wild
/ Parque Nizuc). To get
to the extreme southern end,
look for buses with a "Wet 'N
Wild" sticker in the front window
of the bus. The buses that run
within the hotel zone and from
the hotel zone to downtown are
6 pesos per ride.
To get from the hotel
zone to downtown Cancun
(el centro) take the R-1 bus
to go from the hotel zone to
Avenue Tulum in el centro.
Where to get off the bus
to explore downtown.
You will have entered downtown
Cancun when you see a large
traffic circle with a statue
in the middle of it that has
several large rectangular shapes,
and at that point Kukulcan Boulevard
becomes Avenida Cobá, and the
crossroad is Bonampak (the bullfight
arena is to the left on Bonampak).
The bus will make a stop near
here - but you probably want
to wait until the bus reaches
Avenida Tulum before getting
off the bus.
At the next large intersection
there is another large statue
of seashells and starfish -
this is Avenida Tulum, the main
street through el centro.
The bus will turn right onto
Tulum. The best
place to get off the bus to
start exploring el centro is
the first stop after the bus
turns right onto Tulum - near
the Ki-Huic market. To head
back to the hotel zone, take
the R-1 bus on the other side
of Av. Tulum from the Ki Huic
market.
To get off the bus,
walk to the rear of the bus
as soon as you see your stop,
and press the red button on
the pole by the back door of
the bus. If the bus is
very crowded and you can't get
to the back of the bus, you
can also walk to the front and
tell the driver, "La proxima
parada, por favor" - "The next
stop, please."
|
|
|
Taxis
|
 Taxis
are the simplest way to get
around Cancun, and fares are
moderate. Cabs are plentiful
in the Hotel Zone and downtown;
you can either flag one down
or go to a taxi stand, although
rates are higher at taxi stands.
Rates are posted at many hotel
entrances, but you should establish
the fare with the driver before
getting in.
Generally, you are not expected
to tip taxi drivers in Cancun
unless they have helped you
with bags or packages, but they
are always appreciated.
But unless they have helped
you with bags or packages, do
not feel obligated to tip unless
your driver has given you exceptional
service.
Taxi fares are set, and most
drivers abide by the set rates.
It is best to check with the
desk at your hotel. They should
be able to tell you what the
fare should be. Then check again
with the taxi driver. Do this
before you get into the taxi!
Taxis between most points in
el centro cost 15 pesos (higher
at taxi stands). Taxis
between el centro and the hotel
zone vary depending on location
in the hotel zone, but are generally
60 - 100 pesos ($6 - $10 US).
Taxis within the hotel zone
also vary by starting point
and destination within the hotel
zone, but range from 40 - 60
pesos ($4 - $6 USD).
|
|
|
Boats
& Ferries
|
 Cozumel:
Passenger
ferries and water jets to Cozumel
leave from the downtown dock
in Playa del Carmen at regular
intervals throughout the day.
You can take the bus from the
Cancun bus station to Playa
del Carmen (see "Travel to Other
Parts of Mexico," below), and
the ferry dock to Cozumel is
just a short walk from the Playa
del Carmen bus station. |
|
Isla Mujeres:
- Cancun
Hotel Zone Ferries to Isla
Mujeres:
Playa Linda
pier ferries in the hotel
zone next to Fat Tuesday's
run a ferry service from
Cancun to Isla Mujeres.
-
Puerto
Juarez Ferries: There
are now two ferry services.
One is the new Gran Puerto
which is almost next door
to the older Magana ferries.
The Gran Puerto ferry is
much nicer, a little faster,
and it runs later in the
evening. The Ferry Service
will operate from 6AM to
Midnight daily and will
be utilizing 3 power catamarans
that will reach Isla Mujeres
in 12 minutes. They are
both 35 pesos one way. To
get to the ferry terminals,
an R-1 bus with "Puerto
Juarez" on the front window
will get you there, or take
a taxi from downtown Cancun
(around US$2.00).
-
Punta Sam (car ferry)
to Isla Mujeres: The
car ferry (US$13 for car,
plus US$2 for each passenger)
leaves from Punta Sam, a
few kilometers north of
Puerto Juárez. There are
five departures daily between
8am and 8.15pm, returning
from Isla Mujeres between
6.30am and 7.15pm. However,
it isn't really worth taking
a car over to the island,
which is small enough to
cycle around and has plenty
of bicycles and mopeds for
rent
|
|
|
Bus Travel
Beyond Cancun
|
|
Click
here for schedules or to
reserve online. |
| First and
second-class buses go from the
well-organized terminal on the
corner of avenues Tulum and
Uxmal in downtown Cancun (el
centro). Destinations include
Mérida, first-class (4
daily; 4hr) and second-class
(hourly round-the-clock; 5hr);
Campeche, on the deluxe
ADO GL service (daily 3pm; 9hr)
and second-class (daily at midnight;
10hr); Chetumal on first-class
(daily at 4.30pm; 5hr) and second-class
(hourly 5am-12.45pm; 6hr);
Mexico City on first-class
(2 daily at 10am and 1pm; 18hr)
and second-class (4 daily; 20hr);
Playa del Carmen (every
30min; 1hr); Tizimín
(6 daily; 4hr); Tulum
on first-class (5 daily; 2hr)
and second-class (5 daily; 2hr);
Valladolid (hourly; 3hr).
|
|
|
