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With travel to Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean set to pick up over the coming months, visitors are increasingly seeking out cheaper means of transport from the city’s international airport as taxis continue to drive prices up.
Despite Uber growing widely in popularity, taxis remain a ubiquitous sight across Cancun, often charging travelers up to $80 for a one-way trip from the airport to the city’s hotel zone.
But with cheaper options available, more and more travelers are finding out how to save up on their Cancun transportation expenses.
Be it a bus or private transport, taxis are no longer the only way to travel from Cancun airport to the resort zone.
With that in mind, here’s why travelers are avoiding taxis in Cancun and opting for these cheaper alternatives.
Traveler Frustration Over Taxis Grows In Cancun, But Cheaper Options Await
The slow summer season has just ended in Cancun, as the resort hotspot gears up for the upcoming fall and winter travel season, which are expected to be among the busiest on record.
Most travelers headed to the sunny region will begin their Mexican Caribbean adventure at Cancun International Airport, one of the largest in the country.
While most visitors enjoy a smooth arrival process, law-breaking taxi drivers remain a huge source of frustration for many travelers, with reports of dangerous driving and overcharging regularly appearing on social media and local news sites.
According to new reports as well as booking numbers from local bus operators, more travelers are opting to use public transportation to reach Cancun’s hotel zone in an attempt to avoid costly taxi fares.
Bus companies like ADO offer dozens of daily departures from Cancun airport to key hotspots across the Mexican Caribbean at a fraction of the cost of taxis and private transfers.
Travelers can find ADO bus stops next to the arrivals hall of Cancun airport’s terminals.
But with demand for the service skyrocketing, travellers are urged to pre-book their tickets in advance in order to secure availability.
Prices range from just $6 one way to $12 for tickets to Playa del Carmen – significantly cheaper than both taxis and Ubers. Despite the journey compared to private transportation, travelers can expect a comfortable ride on ADO’s modern and safe fleet, which features padded seats and on-board amenities.
Ride-Hailing Apps Seeing More Use In Cancun
Another popular option for travelers looking to save on their next Cancun trip is using ride-hailing apps like Uber.
However, whether or not you’ll be able to utilize the service at the airport seems to change every other day. Recently a judge ruled that Uber could operate at the airport, but soon after the National Guard began blocking access to the airport for Ubers.
A one-way trip to the city’s resort area with Uber typically costs between $25 to $35 if you can secure one, although prices fluctuate based on demand.
Unlike Uber, which allows travelers to book and pay in advance, Cancun taxi drivers require visitors to negotiate a price prior to the ride or even afterward.
The pricing ambiguity allows drivers to charge travelers exorbitant fares.
Travelers currently lack comprehensive legal guarantees when it comes to taxi pricing due to Cancun’s strong taxi union, which influences local decision-making.
Fortunately, officials have shown great willingness to improve taxi safety by cracking-down on speeding, overcharging, and occasionally violent drivers.
Nevertheless, taximeters remain a rare sight in Cancun taxis.
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