Taxi drivers in Cancun do not have the best reputation among tourists who visit the destination.
They’re known for being aggressive, for overcharging, and even for scamming tourists.
Officials have taken some steps to improve the situation, but it only seems to be getting worse.
Taxi drivers are even being called out on social media by tourists who have dealt with situations involving drivers when visiting Cancun.
Now, tourists are taking it into their own hands to avoid harassment and scams from Cancun taxi drivers.
Find out what to watch out for and how to avoid a situation when you visit Cancun.
New Cancun Taxi Scam Tourists Are Facing
As if the harassment and aggression of taxi drivers weren’t enough for tourists visiting Cancun, there is now a new taxi scam that tourists are facing.
According to some tourists who recently paid a visit to the destination, taxi drivers are lying to travelers who have transportation booked through their hotel.
They act as a replacement for their original driver to try to get them to ride with them.
A Recent Incident
In one recent incident involving a tourist booked at Xcaret, they told the tourist that their transfer was unavailable and that they were there to replace them.
They then tried to charge them an excessive rate and told them that the hotel would reimburse them.
The driver even went as far as pretending to call the hotel to verify. Thankfully, this one tourist didn’t fall for the scam.
The Ongoing Cases Of Overcharging Tourists For Taxis
In addition to this new scam, Cancun taxi drivers are also known to flat-out overcharge tourists having to get from the airport to their hotel.
Several social media influencers have verified this with posts about being charged exorbitant amounts for the short ride.
In one recent incident, the taxi driver tried to charge a tourist more than $100 for a 20-minute trip.
Taxi Driver Harassment Of Tourists Using Rideshares
Cancun taxi drivers have also recently been called out for harassing tourists for trying to use rideshare apps like Uber at the airport.
In one case, a driver went so far as to follow female tourists around the airport property to prevent them from taking an Uber.
It’s not clear if they ended up doing so or opted for an alternative, but the experience was undoubtedly a scary one.
Uber’s Place In Cancun
Uber is allowed to operate in Cancun, but taxi drivers and the National Guard prevent them from operating at the airport.
This is even though the company recently announced that it was notified that they could legally begin doing so.
Now, even though many drivers stopped trying to offer service at the airport, the company recently extended its service offering by introducing Uber XXL in Cancun.
The Form Of Transportation That’s Growing In Popularity In Cancun
In the face of this new scam and all of the other issues with taxi drivers in Cancun, tourists are opting for a different form of transportation to get from the airport to their hotel.
The ADO bus service is cheap, convenient, and involves a lot less hassle with everything going on.
Tickets can be purchased right outside of the airport, and a one-way trip costs around $6, making it the least expensive option available.
You do have to get off at the Cancun station and catch a second bus to the hotel zone, but it’s a small price to pay for not having to deal with Cancun taxi drivers, at least until these situations are finally resolved.
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