Getting Around Cancun
The best way to get around Cancún is the bus, which stops frequently along Boulevard Kukulcán and within the downtown area. One-way fares are a steal at 6 MXN (less than $.50 USD) making an $8 ride in a Cancún taxi seem exorbitant. However, you should splurge for the cab to get to and from Cancún International Airport (CUN), located about six miles from the hotel zone and nine miles from downtown. There are car rental kiosks in the airport, but we wouldn't recommend driving yourself—the area's narrow roads and speedy traffic patterns can be intimidating.
| Bus |
Cancún has an excellent bus system that motors through the hotel zone on Boulevard Kukulcán as well as Avenida Tulum in the downtown area. You can flag down drivers along the strip; once inside the bus, you'll find the stop-request button located above the hand rails. Buses charge a flat rate of 6 MXN (roughly .50 USD) per ride. There are also regional buses that take tourists to and from Chichén Itzá and nearby tourist towns like Tulum and Playa del Carmen. These buses leave from the downtown area at the intersection of avenidas Tulum and Uxmal. |
| Taxi | Taxis aren't all that expensive, unless you compare it to the cost of taking the bus. The reception desk at your hotel can give you a zone card to determine taxi fare, but you should also negotiate the price with the driver before entering the cab. Our recommendation would be to rely on a taxi for transportation to and from the airport, but otherwise, rely on the buses to move around town. |
| Car | You can drive in Cancún, but we wouldn't advise it. Speeding and tailgating are common, and the police are quick to pull over tourists (and in some cases, they're even quick to ask for a bribe to return your driver's license). If having a car is your preference, you can rent one for a fairly reasonable rate at CUN Airport. |
| On Foot | You'll have no trouble walking to the beach from your hotel (nearly all lodging in Cancún is on the water). Walking is also an option along some parts of Boulevard Kukulcán, particularly if you're situated around the northern part of the strip (or the curve in Cancún's "7" shape). But most of the area is too spread out to explore on foot. |
| Ferry |
You should visit Isla Mujeres at least one day of your trip. To do so, take a ferry from the Punta Sam, Puerto Juarez, or Gran Puerto. Fares from Puerto Juarez and Gran Puerto are 35 MXN (about $2.60 USD) each way. Fares from Punta Sam are more expensive—between 82 and 342 MXN ($6 to $26 USD)—because the boats can accommodate personal transportation like bikes and cars. |
Entry & Exit Requirements
You'll need a passport to visit Mexico, plus a tourism card (or FMM) that can be issued at any Mexican consulate, border-crossing point, Mexican tourism office, or directly from your airline. FMMs are usually issued free of charge upon arrival (and if not, the price is absorbed into the cost of your plane ticket). Be sure to hold onto this card for the duration of your trip, as you will need to present it upon departing the country. It's also a good idea to leave your passport and FMM in a secure location and carry a photocopy of both documents with you at all times. For additional information, visit the U.S. State Department's website.
