How to avoid the excesses of Cancún airport’s outrageous taxi situation

After viral videos of verbal assaults and even attacks on tourists, Cancún airport authorities are cracking down on taxi drivers. 

Confrontations at the airport have become so bad they have made domestic and international headlines. 

The root problem relates to exclusivity rights granted to Cancún’s taxi union, which have allowed for price gouging and a ban on ride-sharing services—though some Uber and Didi drivers have been known to ignore this rule. 

Hostilities arise from seemingly nowhere. While waiting to be picked up by a friend at the airport a few weeks ago, I was approached by a taxi driver offering his service. When I said, “I am waiting for a friend,” the obviously suspicious driver replied, “An Uber friend? F*** you.”

Even though official prices for taxi fares to several destinations are on display, drivers tell tourists these are just suggestions and then request fares as high as US$200 for rides to downtown Cancún or Puerto Morelos. 

The problem recently caught the attention of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has vowed to reconsider exclusivity contracts for taxi unions.

One solution at the airport is to increase the number of buses shuttling passengers to popular tourist destinations, including Tulum, Playa del Carmen, downtown Cancún, and Puerto Morelos.

The airport is also installing more signs directing visitors to buses because, even though they have been there for decades, finding them has historically been tricky for those who don’t know where to look. 

The cost of tickets is subject to change depending on the time of day, but a one-way trip from the airport to downtown Cancún averages approximately US$7. Trips to further away resort towns like Tulum (roughly two hours away) cost somewhere in the ballpark of US$12. 

There is also talk of building a light rail train or tram connecting the airport with the still unfinished Tren Maya Station a few miles away. 

Time table showing transfer times to Cancún’s Tren Maya station. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Currently, transfers to the train terminal are offered via free shuttles. However, frequent delays and the fact that the train only runs twice daily make this option unrealistic for most travelers. 

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