Cancun Airport Arrival Tips Travelers Should Know

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Arriving at one of the largest tourist airports in North America is sure to be a busy experience. So far, by 2022, Cancun International Airport has welcomed a new record of more than 20 million international tourists.

The airport is the most popular gateway to Mexico for US and Canadian travelers. We recently reported that 60% of all international arrivals at Cancun Airport this year were travelers from the US.

But with your day-to-day activities, you may encounter some roadblocks. If you’re planning to visit the Mexican Caribbean soon, here are some expert tips for travelers arriving at Cancun International Airport.

Passengers getting off the plane in Cancun

All about Cancun International Airport

Let’s start with the basics. Once you arrive at Cancun International Airport, you’ll be at the tip of the Mayan Riviera and easily connected to the top destinations in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Playa del Carmen is less than an hour’s drive away, Tulum is 1.5 hours, not to mention Merida, Valladolid and smaller coastal destinations like Bacalar and Akumal, all by public or private ground transportation from Cancun Airport.

Airport painting in Cancun, Mexico (Cancún).  International Airport Direction Board and City Arrivals with Blue Sky Background.

According to Airports Council International, Cancun Airport ranked as the 10th busiest airport for international passengers in 2021, up from 28th in 2020 and 61st in 2019.

So when you arrive, you need to be prepared, and that means knowing the basics about the airport and how to get to your destination.

Transportation workers at Cancun International Airport hold signs to pick up passengers outside the arrivals terminal

Cancun airport terminals

Most major airlines from the US and Canada arrive at Terminal 3 or Terminal 4.

Cancun Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 mainly handle domestic airlines. Here is a brief description:

  • Terminal 1Viva Aerobus
  • Terminal 2: Aeromexico, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, Sunwing, Volaris.
  • Terminal 3: American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, United, Frontier, WestJet.
  • Terminal 4: Southwest, Frontier, Airline, WestJet

You can see the full list on the Cancun Airport website.

Travelers arriving at Cancun International Airport

Checklist for arriving at Cancun International Airport

You filled out the immigration form on the plane, right? Once you land, there are of course a few hurdles to cross before you can get outside and into paradise.

First, you have to go through immigration. With new digital kiosks set up at airports this year, travelers’ waiting times have been reduced. But if it’s the busy holiday season, travelers’ immigration wait times will increase throughout the day, so it’s best to be patient and plan for a long wait.

Unidentified people with tourist names arriving at Cancun Airport at the entrance to Cancun International Airport in Mexico

Once cleared, it’s time to proceed to baggage claim to claim any checked baggage. If your luggage arrives intact, you can proceed to customs.

Customs at Cancun Airport has a red light/green light system, you have to press a button that turns red or green – green means you can go through, and red means the customs agent is going to inspect yours. Luggage. If this happens to you, it’s a good idea to be prepared in advance and pack your belongings lightly if you have to go through your luggage.

Once you’re through customs, you’ll go through a lot of distractions like kiosks and things selling to you until you can exit the airport. Here are some things travelers should keep in mind:

A young woman is about to leave her hotel in Cancun.
  • Currency exchange kiosksAirports are known to be one of the worst places to change your money. If you want to exchange some money into Mexican pesos, know that you can find cheaper rates in the city.
  • Time share sellers: On your way out, you may notice some people selling you a timeshare or wearing official-looking uniforms to attend a timeshare presentation. Many fellow travelers recommend avoiding these people and not interacting with them. Some might say they are your transportation. Be aware that all pre-booked transportation will wait for you outside the airport only. If you want more information on this, there are videos and articles about how not to sign up for a timeshare approach at the Cancun airport.
  • Pre-arranged and on-destination transportation: If you have pre-booked your transportation from Cancun Airport to your hotel, your driver should be waiting for you outside the front terminal. In this area, you will find drivers waiting for pickups, metered taxis, ADO buses and more.
Aerial view of the Cancun Hotel Zone at night

Getting to your hotel from Cancun airport

A pre-booked car or minivan can take you to Cancun for $50 round trip. If you’re looking for public transportation options, ADO coach buses are available throughout the day and can take you to downtown Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. ADO tickets can be purchased at the official kiosk on the right when exiting the terminal.

If you are staying in the Cancun Hotel Zone, the bus to downtown Cancun is quite far from the Hotel Zone, so it is best to take a direct taxi or use pre-booked transportation.

Exterior of Cancun International Airport

Read more:

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This article originally appeared on Off-Road Travel. For the latest breaking news affecting your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel laws and restrictions Subject to change without notice. Travel decisions are ultimately your responsibility. Before traveling, contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm changes to your nationality entry and/or travel requirements. Off Road Travel does not support traveling against government advice.

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