Getting around · Cancún · Mexico
Getting around Cancún
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Cancún is easy to navigate: the Hotel Zone is one long boulevard, Kukulcán, with addresses given by kilometre marker, and frequent buses run its length to downtown. Ferries reach Isla Mujeres, ADO coaches serve the whole region, and taxis fill the gaps. Not for Cancún itself: buses and taxis cover the Hotel Zone and downtown.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- CUN
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Bus
R-1 buses run the length of Boulevard Kukulcán through the Hotel Zone and into downtown around the clock, stopping on request at beaches and hotels.
Carry small peso coins and notes; drivers often can't change large bills.
Taxi
Taxis are unmetered and use fixed zone fares; Hotel Zone fares are much higher than downtown ones.
Agree the fare before getting in, and ask your hotel what a fair price is.
Ferry
Passenger ferries to Isla Mujeres run frequently from Puerto Juárez, north of downtown, and less often from piers in the Hotel Zone; a car ferry leaves from Punta Sam.
Car
A hire car is the most flexible way to visit cenotes, Puerto Morelos, Valladolid and Chichén Itzá; the main highways are good.
Drive in daylight and slow down for topes, the large speed bumps found in every village.
Train
The Tren Maya, opened in stages from late 2023, has a station near Cancún airport with services towards Valladolid, Mérida and the Riviera Maya; timetables are limited, so check before planning.
Walking
Within each part of the Hotel Zone, and downtown around Avenida Tulum and Parque de las Palapas, walking works well, though the whole Hotel Zone is far too long to walk.
From the airport
Cancún International Airport (CUN) is about 20 km south of downtown and 15–25 minutes from most Hotel Zone hotels. Pre-booked shuttles and official airport taxis wait outside the terminals, and ADO buses run from the terminals to downtown and to Playa del Carmen. In the arrivals hall, walk past people offering 'free' transport or tours, who are often selling timeshares.
Do you need a car?
Not for Cancún itself: buses and taxis cover the Hotel Zone and downtown. A car is useful for cenotes, Puerto Morelos, Valladolid and Chichén Itzá at your own pace.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Chichén Itzá | About 2.5–3 hours by car or bus | Car, ADO bus or organised tour |
| Tulum | About 2 hours by car or bus | Car, ADO bus or organised tour |
| Playa del Carmen and Xcaret | About 1 hour by bus | ADO bus from downtown or the airport |
| Holbox | About 2.5 hours by car plus a 20-minute ferry | Car or bus to Chiquilá, then ferry |
| Ruta de los Cenotes | About 45 minutes by car | Car or tour from Puerto Morelos |
| Valladolid and Ek' Balam | About 2 hours by car or bus | Car or ADO bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Cancún?
Not for Cancún itself: buses and taxis cover the Hotel Zone and downtown. A car is useful for cenotes, Puerto Morelos, Valladolid and Chichén Itzá at your own pace.
+How do you get from the airport to Cancún?
Cancún International Airport (CUN) is about 20 km south of downtown and 15–25 minutes from most Hotel Zone hotels. Pre-booked shuttles and official airport taxis wait outside the terminals, and ADO buses run from the terminals to downtown and to Playa del Carmen. In the arrivals hall, walk past people offering 'free' transport or tours, who are often selling timeshares.
+What is the best way to get around Cancún?
Bus: R-1 buses run the length of Boulevard Kukulcán through the Hotel Zone and into downtown around the clock, stopping on request at beaches and hotels.