GETTING TO AND AROUND CANCÚN AND THE YUCATÁN

Arriving by Air

There are frequent direct daily flights from cities across Canada and the U.S. to Cancún and the Yucatán. From the U.K. or mainland Europe, you generally have to travel via the U.S. or Mexico City, although there are a few scheduled flights, plus several charter services during the high seasons. There are frequent flights between Mexico City and regional airports. Airlines that fly to the area include major carriers such as Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, plus Aeroméxico, Interjet, Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Air Europa, and Volaris.

Cancún Airport, 9 miles (15 km) south of the city, near the southernmost point of Cancún Island, is the main international airport in the Yucatán. Colectivo minibuses are the easiest means of public transport from the airport to the city. They take an hour, traveling along the Hotel Zone and into Ciudad (Downtown) Cancún, dropping each passenger at their hotel. Airport taxis can be hard to find. However, when you are departing for the airport, any Cancún city cab can take you there.

There are also public transport services from Cancún airport to various other destinations. The Riviera Maya bus leaves for Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen almost hourly between 10:30am and 7pm. There are also hourly colectivos from outside the domestic arrivals hall, 6am–6pm. If you’re going anywhere else on the coast, take the bus to Playa del Carmen and continue from there.

Both Cozumel and Mérida airports also have international connections. Cozumel Airport is just north of San Miguel town; Mérida Airport is about 3 miles (4 km) southwest of the city center; taxis and colectivos are available from both airports.

Arriving by Road

When driving from the U.S. you will need a Tourist Card to travel beyond the 12-mile (20-km) border zone and stay for more than 72 hours. You should also obtain Mexican insurance and a Temporary Import Permit for your vehicle, which is valid for six months. Allow five days or so to drive from the Texas border to the Yucatán. It’s worth noting that most U.S. car-rental companies will not allow their cars to be driven into Mexico. Bear in mind that the US-Mexico border, especially around Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana, is a hotspot in Mexico’s drugs war, so it is essential to exercise extra caution.

Getting Around by Bus

Buses are the main form of transport for longer trips in the Yucatán, unless you rent a car or fly. First-class buses are air-conditioned and run between main cities and towns with only a few stops en route. Second-class buses are cheaper, a bit less comfortable, and stop more often. Every city and most towns have a local bus service. Destinations are usually displayed on the windscreen, but Cancún buses will show route numbers (routes R-1 and R-2 run up and down the Hotel Zone and to Ciudad Cancún). Colectivos, (or combis), are minibuses that serve the smaller and outlying districts and generally depart when full.

Getting Around by Ferry

Passenger ferries run to Isla Mujeres from Puerto Juárez, which is just north of Cancún, at intervals of every half hour or so daily. Fast boats will get you there in around 20 minutes. There are also several daily car ferries from Punta Sam, north of Puerto Juárez. Shuttle boats run from points along Cancún beach, too.

Passenger ferries operated by Ultramar and Winjets run roughly every two hours between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel on a frequent basis. The journey takes about 45 minutes. A Cozumel shuttle boat runs from Playa Tortugas or Muelle Fiscal in Cancún.

The car ferry, which runs from Puerto Morelos to Cozumel, is infrequent and expensive.

Getting Around by Taxi

Taxis in Cancún and the Yucatán don’t tend to have meters, but instead charge official set rates for each locality. Note that cab drivers in some places, particularly Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, have a bad reputation for charging foreigners exaggerated rates.

The complicated official pricing system in Cancún, where there are different prices for the Hotel Zone and Ciudad Cancún, also makes scams easier. In Cancún, the official rates are significantly higher for trips to and from anywhere in the Hotel Zone than in Ciudad Cancún.

Wherever you are going, always agree upon a price before getting into the cab, and firmly refuse any outrageous demands.

Getting Around by Car

A car makes getting to the Mayan sites and the more isolated beaches in the region much easier. There are plenty of rental offices along the Riviera Maya, including global agencies Avis and Alamo, but if you are traveling around the Yucatán, it is best to rent in Mérida, whose smaller agencies tend to charge lower rates. To rent a car you must be over 21 and have your driving license, passport, and a credit card. Jeeps are popular, as some of the more remote roads are unpaved.

Prices are usually higher than in the U.S. but lower than in Europe for both unleaded (magna or high-grade premium) and diesel. Occasionally, gas station attendants start the pump with pesos already on the gauge. To avoid this, get out of the car and check the pump first. The attendant should then demonstrate that it is set at zero. In rural areas, gas stations are few and far between, so make sure you fill up whenever you can.

There are two fast toll highways in the Yucatán – the 180-Cuota part of the route between Cancún and Mérida, and another stretch from Campeche to Champotón. Tolls are relatively high, so many drivers prefer the parallel old road (180–Libre).

The main peculiarity of driving in Mexico is the tope, or speed bump, designed to make the streets safer for pedestrians. Although they are usually signposted, they are very steep and can catch drivers unawares, causing damage to vehicles going at any speed above a crawl.

Night also falls very quickly in the tropics, and there is no lighting at all in country areas. Topes, potholes, and people on bicycles can rapidly become hazardous.

Getting Around on Foot

Old Yucatán towns like Mérida, Campeche, and Valladolid are fairly compact, and strolling around is the best way to get to know them. Mechanized transport is only really essential in Cancún.

Getting Around by Other Means

Many resorts have golf carts and scooters for hire. Cancún has a dedicated cycle track all along the Hotel Zone, and hotels often have guest bikes.

DIRECTORY

ARRIVING BY AIR

Aeroméxico

prac_info aeromexico.com

Air Europa

prac_info aireuropa.com

American Airlines

prac_info aa.com

Cancún Airport

prac_info cancun-airport.com

Cozumel Airport

prac_info cozumelairport.org

Delta Airlines

prac_info delta.com

Interjet

prac_info interjet.com.mx

Magnicharters

prac_info magnicharters.com.mx

Mérida Airport

prac_info asur.com.mx/en

United Airlines

prac_info united.com

Viva Aerobus

prac_info vivaaerobus.com

Volaris

prac_info volaris.com/en

GETTING AROUND BY BUS

Cancún buses

prac_info cancun.travel/en

GETTING AROUND BY FERRY

Ultramar

prac_info ultramarferry.com

Winjets

prac_info winjets.mx/eng

GETTING AROUND BY CAR

Alamo

prac_info alamo.com.mx

Avis

prac_info avis.mx

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