Cancun International Airport – CUN – is located south of Cancun and is the gateway for most people traveling to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the rest of the Riviera Maya. From the airport to hotels in Cancun the trip usually takes about 20–30 minutes, but the time depends on where in Cancun the hotel is and the traffic. (Cancun Airport) There are several transport options, and which is best depends primarily on how many of you there are, your budget and how simple you want your arrival to be.
Short version
- The easiest for families
- pre-booked private transfer
- Cheapest for one person
- ADO bus
- Direct to the hotel
- private transfer or authorized airport transport
- To Downtown Cancun
- ADO can be very convenient
- To Playa del Carmen/Tulum
- ADO or private transfer
Private transfer – our recommendation for families
For a family coming from Norway after a long day of travel we would normally choose a private transfer. You book before travel, meet the driver on arrival and are driven directly to the hotel. The advantages are:
- no intermediate stops
- transport arranged in advance
- space for luggage
- no hunting for transport after landing
- direct to the hotel
- easy with children
Cancun Airport lists several types of authorized private and shared transport services. (Cancun Airport) Can you just take a regular taxi outside the airport? This is important to know: Local regular taxis cannot pick up passengers directly at Cancun Airport. The airport states that only authorized transport providers are allowed to collect passengers at the terminals. (Cancun Airport) That means the system does not work exactly like at many European airports. Therefore, book transport in advance or use an authorized provider at the airport.
Avoid random transport offers
After you pass through the terminal you may meet many people offering transport or other services. The airport warns travelers against using unauthorized transport operators and recommends authorized transport. (Cancun Airport) Our advice: Know who you are going to meet before you leave the terminal. If you have pre-booked a transfer, the confirmation should explain:
- meeting point
- company name
- how the representative is marked
- phone number in case of problems
What does transport cost? Prices change, so Cancun.no should maintain an updated price table. Cancun Airport's published prices currently show transport to the Hotel Zone from around 25 USD when booked online, while the ordinary listed prices may start higher. Prices vary by vehicle and service. (Cancun Airport) When we visit Cancun ourselves, we should record actual prices from several providers and show:
Transport
1 person
2 people
Family of 4
Direct to hotel
ADO
Partial
Shared shuttle
Yes
Private transfer
Yes
Authorized taxi
Yes
That will make the page much more useful than just saying “prices vary.”
ADO bus
ADO is a good option if you want to travel cheaply. From the airport ADO buses go, among other places, to:
- Cancun
- Playa del Carmen
- Tulum
- Mérida
The traditional ADO routes go directly to the bus terminals in the cities and not to each individual hotel. (Cancun Airport) That makes ADO especially practical if you are going to Downtown Cancun.
ADO versus Hotel Zone
In 2025 an ADO route was launched between Cancun Airport and the Hotel Zone via Plaza Fiesta. It was announced with stops at the airport terminals and departures throughout the day. (Cancun Airport) This is, however, information we should check right before publication and continuously, as routes and timetables can change. On cancun.no this page should therefore have: Last checked: [date] How long does it take? The airport states approximately:
- Hotel Zone
- 20–30 minutes
- Playa del Carmen
- 50–60 minutes
- Akumal/Puerto Aventuras
- around one hour
- Tulum
- around 1.5 hours (Cancun Airport)
Traffic can of course make the trip longer.
The airport has several terminals
Cancun Airport consists of several terminal areas, and there is a free shuttle between the terminals. The airport states that the waiting time for the shuttle can be up to around 20 minutes. (Cancun Airport) If the transfer provider asks for the terminal, give the flight number if you do not know which terminal the flight uses.
With children
With small children we would personally prioritize simplicity. After a long flight it is nice to:
collect the luggage
find the pre-arranged driver
get into the car
drive directly to the hotel
Remember to clarify the need for a child seat in advance.
Our recommendation
Family of 3–5 people
Private transfer.
One person on a budget
ADO.
Two adults
Compare ADO, shared shuttle and private transfer – the price difference may be smaller than you think.
All Inclusive resort outside the Hotel Zone
Book a direct transfer. The most important thing is to arrange this before you land, so that the Cancun holiday starts with holiday – and not with transport stress.
Plan this better
