Cancun, located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, may not be a sprawling urban destination, but its airport sees excessive traffic. Because of the region’s famed turquoise waters and warm weather, visitors flock to the area year-round for sun-soaked getaways on the beach. Cancun International Airport (CUN) has long been among the world’s top 10 busiest airports for international arrivals, and continues to operate more than 500 daily flights. Next time you’re headed to this Mexican vacation hotspot, these expert tips will help you fly through CUN with ease.
Getting to and from CUN by public transportation
There are buses that connect CUN to Cancun city centre, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and they’re conveniently located just outside of terminals 2, 3, and 4. They’re inexpensive and run fairly frequently, making them a popular option for those looking to save on transfers. However, they’re so popular that I’ve seen many people turned away because they sell out in advance, so book ahead online if you’re interested.
These buses are large and comfortable, but keep in mind that they don’t stop at hotels, so you’ll need to make your own way onward from the city centre (“El Centro”) by taxi or rideshare. If your hotel isn’t close to here, your total fare will begin to add up and the bus may not offer significant savings after all, especially if there are a few of you travelling in your group.
Getting to and from CUN by car
On exiting the airport, you’ll be surrounded by a multitude of people holding signs and waiting to connect passengers with their hotel shuttles or other transfers. Only accept rides from a representative for a company you prearranged transfer with. They’ll hold branded signs and most will inform you of their uniform colours in advance.
Almost all the hotels and resorts in Cancun offer transportation and I always choose this option. It may seem tempting to book cheaper transfers in advance from the airport website, but nearly all seemingly official airport websites are fake sites, and none of these transfers are real. Likewise, trying to get a taxi at the airport occasionally results in some level of scam, so it should be avoided.
There are some reputable transfer services, like Amstar, who do offer airport service, and you should feel free to shop around if you know you’re looking at legitimate companies. But even so, your hotel shuttle service is likely cheaper or similar in price, and you’ll always know you’re making a legitimate, secure transaction when booking this way. I usually advocate for bargain hunting, but not in this case.
I recommend using Uber over taxis in Cancun, thanks to their prearranged fares, automated payment, and GPS tracking for safety, but Uber is not allowed to offer pickups from the airport. If you’re determined to avoid hotel shuttles wherever possible, you can take an Uber to CUN on departure – you just can’t get one at the airport on arrival.
Arriving at CUN
Once you have your luggage, you may or may not undergo a customs search. In perhaps the quirkiest of Cancun International Airport’s procedures, those arriving play a quick game to determine whether or not they’ll be searched. Each person presses a button to see if they randomly receive a red or green light, and only red lights are searched. I’ve never yet gotten a red light here, but be prepared just in case.
Security lines
Security lines are short and move quickly at Cancun International Airport. I’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to pass security here, and there are a couple things you can do to help ensure similar wait times on your own visit.
Security is one level up from airline check-in, and many people make the mistake of joining the line immediately after the escalator. There isn’t just one security line here though, so there’s no reason to wait in this first (and always longest) line.
I always go directly toward the back of the room, as far from the escalator as possible, to join a significantly shorter line. All agents are available to all passengers, so choose the shortest line and hop in.
Airline check-in lines are another story. Because of the large number of visitors here, your airline may have a lengthy line for baggage drop, and this is why you might still want to arrive two hours ahead of departure. If you have priority lane access from airline status or premium cabin tickets, you can ignore this, but others may need to wait for a while to check in and drop bags.
Free Wi-Fi at Cancun Airport
Cancun International Airport advertises free Wi-Fi and the network does exist, but it’s not the most reliable. Of the more than dozen times I’ve flown through this airport so far, I’ve only ever achieved a successful connection once, and it didn’t last long. While some Canadian phone carriers offer free service in Mexico, the signal within the terminals is similarly spotty.
I rely on digital boarding passes whenever possible, but I take extra precaution at CUN. Since I’m never sure if my airline app will receive cell signal or Wi-Fi in the terminal, I always screenshot my boarding pass ahead of time so I can access it from my photo gallery without service. Be sure the full pass is in view when screenshotting, not just the QR code.
Souvenir shopping
If you want to buy meaningful gifts for loved ones back home, it’s best to do your shopping while exploring Cancun during your time here. You’ll find some legitimate jewellery and art in the terminals, but you can score better deals in town. But if you’re looking for trinkets and other fun souvenirs for kids or friends, the airport is a great place to shop.
The terminals at CUN are filled with shops brimming with colourful souvenirs, much like the ones you’ll find throughout Cancun. While the prices may be marked up for convenience, it’s a good way to pass the time here and you won’t have to count them against your luggage allowance since you’re getting them after check-in and security.
Lounges at CUN
Cancun International Airport has several lounges throughout its terminals and they’re all private. In other words, airline status or airline lounge membership will not get you in, though flying in premium cabins on select airlines will. These are posted outside each lounge, although Canadian airlines are generally not among these. Each lounge can be accessed through membership programs like Priority Pass though, and all sell day passes for walk-ins, barring capacity restrictions.
I’ve found the day pass rates here significantly cheaper than in most locations, making it a more desirable option than usual. There’s enough food and comfortable seating to make this worthwhile, especially if you have a long wait. Some premium cards from American Express and Mastercard will gain you entry to certain lounges too.
Service Animal Relief Areas at CUN
The only opportunity for service animal or pet relief at CUN is outside. I always encourage my dog to find relief before we enter the airport to avoid having to come back outside for a second trip. If this is the case, it’s necessary to pass through security again before heading back to the gate or lounge, so factor this time before heading out.
This also means there’s no opportunity for pet relief on landing until after you’ve cleared immigration and customs and have left the airport. If your flight to Cancun is long and you’re worried about your dog’s need for a potty break, this is the time to pack portable relief items like training pads, so your dog can safely go on the plane or on landing.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
