After booking an Airbnb in Cancun, one of the situations that travelers face and do not always remember to anticipate is booking transportation from the Cancun Airport to the Airbnb or vacation rental house/apartment in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya.
Due to their size, airports are almost always outside the cities, so the transfer can be a bit complicated if is not prevented in advance, especially if you do not know the city well and the area where you will be staying in your Airbnb in Cancun.
The Cancun Airport is located about 10 minutes from the Cancun Hotel Zone, the easiest way to get out of it is with private transportation such as taxis, vans or by bus, walking is not a great option.
The public bus (or the ADO) is mainly for the airport staff, the people who live in Cancun, or those who stay in the center and know how to move in the city since it arrives directly at the Cancun bus station without going through the area of touristic beaches.
And the same happens if you need a transfer to Playa del Carmen, Tulum or the Riviera Maya.
It depends a lot on where the Airbnb is located, but if it is in the city of Cancun or the Hotel Zone it typically costs around 700 pesos (35usd) for a one-way private transfer. If you are located in Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya, depending on your location it starts at about 1,400 pesos (70usd).
If you want to take a taxi or normal cab at the Cancun airport, you really won’t have any problem with security, as in most airports in Mexico and the world there are special taxis at the Cancun airport and they are operated by trusted companies, the issue is that they are usually more expensive than a conventional taxi in the city and also more expensive than some private carriers since they must pay high costs to register as an official airport taxi.
Taxi or private transportation to Airbnb?
There are a lot of transportation options at the Cancun airport, there are many companies that sell you a taxi or shuttle directly at the airport but buying it there upon arrival is usually more expensive than if you book it in advance online, all suppliers that provide transportation directly at the airport must pay very high rents to be there and normally these costs are reflected in the transfer rates.
Another thing to take into account is that if you stay in an Airbnb, is better to book private transportation since the collective/shared transfers are designed to make stops at hotels and normally they do not do so in airbnbs, unless you know the city very well and the point where the shuttle will leave you to walk to your Airbnb, but doing it with suitcases is not very comfortable and more if you arrive at night.
As for taking a taxi from where your Airbnb is located to the Cancun hotel zone, the Airport or other parts of the city, it is better to ask your host for help and recommendations.
Many hosts know certain reliable transport suppliers, the areas where it is convenient for you or not to wait and the average rates that they should charge you, it is better to ask and avoid surprises, traveling safely and with convenient rates. =)
TIP: If you want to travel short distances within the Hotel Zone or if the airbnb you rented is in the hotel zone and you want to go to the center of the city, it may be convenient for you to take a public Bus in that zone, public transport in the Cancun Hotel Zone works 24 hours a day and will only cost you around 10 pesos each way.
You save a lot if you use this transport instead of paying for taxis for short distances, and it is very easy to locate everything since the Cancun Hotel Zone only has 2 lanes going and 2 lanes back, without intersections or streets that could make you get confused. When you get off in Cancun Downtown, from there you should take another type of transportation to move around the city.
Rent a car in Cancun
Renting a car can be a great option as transportation from the airport to your Airbnb and to move around the city, especially if you already know what to visit in Cancun during your stay. However, as in any other place, driving implies certain risks if you do not know the roads and even the traffic regulations.
In general, the speed limit in the Hotel Zone is between 40 and 70km per hour, while in the city it is 40km. Particularly in Cancun, be careful with the pedestrian crossings, they are similar to the speed bumps but with a longer floor. In these pedestrian crossings, people have right of way. When you see a “bump” pedestrian crossing, come to a complete stop to make sure that no one wants to cross at that moment.
If you rent a car to go to your Airbnb in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, something important that you should check beforehand and that many people forget is to make sure that the vacation home or apartment you are renting has parking available, either free or paid.
Or you can confirm with the host that there is a safe area to park nearby because if you have to park your car far from the accommodation, it is no longer so comfortable.
Book Private Transportation to your Airbnb in Cancun
Without a doubt, this is the best option for transfers from the Cancun Airport to the Airbnb you rented, especially if you travel with several people since it will be cheaper compared to the taxi fares at the Cancun airport.
Among the advantages that you’ll find when reserving a private transportation service is that when you arrive at the airport you can immediately take the shuttle to your airbnb without delays and without waiting for the van or bus to fill up with other passengers because in this type of service only you and your family travel.
There are also shared transportation services, but as we discussed earlier, they do not apply to Airbnb lodging since in these you normally have to wait for the van to fill up and distribute tourists to their respective hotels during the journey, which can take from 45 to 90 minutes in route hotels.
Another advantage is that a private transfer if your flight arrives late, they monitor it and wait for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These private transportation services in Cancun are often offered in recent model vans with air conditioning, comfortable and operated by qualified personnel, here it is possible to book a private transfer in Cancun.
If you plan to take an Uber to your Airbnb in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, the bad news is that even though there is officially Uber in Cancun, there are almost no drivers in the city due to problems with taxi drivers, and it is practically impossible to get a ride with Uber at Cancun Airport.
In summary, if you have already thought about taking a well-deserved vacation with your family or friends in Cancun and you are going to stay in an Airbnb but you haven’t booked a transfer, do not risk having to wait and see what transportation rate you can get once you arrive to the Cancun airport, play it safe and arrange everything before your trip, remember… It is better to be safe!