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Five Alternatives To Taking A Taxi Or Uber To Get Around Cancun

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With the battle between taxi and Uber drivers growing more and more volatile, you might be thinking about other options for transportation during your Cancun vacation.  Multiple incidents have taken place in which Uber vehicles were chased down by taxi drivers, and tourists were left scared and wondering how they were going to get to where they needed to be.  To give you some options to avoid a situation, we’ll share five alternatives to taking a taxi or Uber to get around Cancun. 

Cars, Taxis, and Shuttles Outside of Cancun International Airport

Bus 

Buses are a great option not only because they are cheap but because they travel everywhere, and there are bus stops throughout the Cancun Hotel Zone.  One-way trips within Cancun cost around 50 cents in American dollars and even to places further away are very inexpensive.  A trip to Playa del Carmen, for example, costs just over $2 USD for a one-way trip, and to get to Tulum, it is only $3.50. 

Bus Driving Down a Street in Cancun, Mexico

Walking 

The Cancun Hotel Zone, or Zona Hotelera, is actually quite walkable, and there is a lot to do within walking distance of most resorts along the roughly six-mile strip.  The area is made up of smaller sub-districts that each have restaurants, shopping venues, and hotels.  The Hotel Zone is also very safe to walk because it is Cancun’s main tourist area, and there is always security keeping an eye on everything. 

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Tourists Walking Around Among Shops the Cancun Hotel Zone in Cancun, Mexico

Rental Car 

Renting a car during your Cancun vacation is another option, but there are a couple of things to consider, like the fact that traffic can be pretty crazy in the resort town.  Also, road signs are in Spanish, and speed limits are in kilometers per hour, so you’ll have to know at least a basic level of the language and know how to convert to miles per hour.  A car rental will cost you around $60 a day, including full coverage, taxes, and the daily rate. 

People Picking Up Rental Cars in Cancun, Mexico

Private Transportation 

There are all kinds of private transportation services in Cancun, and you have the option of going directly through a company or you can book through a site like Viator, or even Expedia.  Through Expedia, a private car is around $30 for two people for transportation from the airport to the Hotel Zone.  On Viator, private vehicles start at about $60 for a group, but prices will vary depending on the vehicle. 

Private vehicle for transportation in and around Cancun.

Shuttle Service 

Taking a shuttle to get around Cancun is another cheap option, and there are plenty available through both private companies and booking sites.  Prices start as low as $14 per person for a one-way trip on a shared shuttle through Expedia from the airport to the Hotel Zone.  Through a private shuttle company, you would pay around $80 for two people to get from the Hotel Zone to the Isla Mujeres ferry, for example. 

Cancun Shuttle for Tourists to get from the airport and around the city.

Plenty Of Options 

There are so many options for transportation during your Cancun vacation, for getting to and from the airport and for getting around.  Most of these forms of transportation will also take you from Cancun to other nearby areas in the Riviera Maya, like Playa del Carmen or Tulum.  It’s important to do your research, though, because with so many options available, the prices vary considerably. 

All types of vehicles at the Cancun Airport drop-off.

Until the battle between taxi drivers and Uber drivers winds down, there is a chance you could get stuck in an uncomfortable situation.  Just this past Friday, an Uber passenger was even assaulted by a taxi driver.  To avoid being a victim of this battle, it may be a good idea to use an alternative form of transportation. 

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