7 min read
How to rent a private boat in Cancun Sailing? A quick guide
In this article, we will guide you through the simple and hassle-free process of renting one of our boats.
Traveling to the Mexican Caribbean is a whole experience. However, to get here, you may have to go through the big Cancun International Airport, so don't stress! In this insider's guide, we will explain everything.
Since in Cancun Sailing we are experts in Cancun, this time we made a complete guide about Cancun Airport, prepared by tourism experts with experience in airports, hotels, travel agencies and, of course, in catamaran trips to Isla Mujeres 👀.
👇Check out our index to learn about the topic of your interest:
Cancun International Airport (IATA: CUN) is one of the 16 airports that are part of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste or ASUR. It is the second busiest airport in Mexico, after Mexico City International Airport. It is located 16 kilometers from Cancun and is one of the best-connected airports in Latin America.
Cancun airport is located 16 kilometers from the city of Cancun, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The transfer time from downtown to the airport is approximately 30 minutes, which may vary due to traffic or road repairs.
At Cancun Airport, there are 4 commercial terminals and one FBO terminal that offers private services. If you are looking for the terminal where each airline is located, here is the list below. Attention: Ask your airline which terminal they operate out of.
This terminal is only for charter or private flights. It has 7 gates, 3 helicopter stands, 2 airstrips, VIP lounge, among many other services.
What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 1?
Cancun Airport Terminal 2 is used for domestic flights, but also receives flights from the United States, South America, and Europe. It has two arrival gates, domestic on the right and international on the left. It has 31 gates distributed in two buildings. In the main building, you will find lounges B1 to B22 on the first floor, from which domestic flights depart, while on the upper floor, you will find lounges A1 to A9 for international flights. In the satellite building, you will find lounges A14 to A21, which house large aircraft for domestic and international flights.
What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 2?
Cancun Airport Terminal 3 only operates international flights, mostly to North America and Europe. Its facilities, inaugurated in 2016, are the most modern among all terminals and have a wide range of services.
What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 3?
Air Canada | Delta Airlines | Orbest |
ANA | LOT Polish | United |
British Airways | Swift Air | World2fly |
Spirit | American Airlines | Wamos Air |
Allegiant Air | Iberojet |
Terminal 4 of Cancun Airport was inaugurated in 2017 due to the high demand for flights. Flights from the United States, Canada, Europe and South America are received here. It has LEED Silver certification, which means it is a sustainable building.
What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 4?
Aeromexico | Nordwind | Southwest |
Air Transat | Air Europa | Westjet |
Edelweiss Air | Condor | Sun Country |
Lufthansa | Jetblue | Turkish Airlines |
Azur Air | Royal Flight | Tap Air portugal |
Frontier | Air France |
At Cancun Airport, you will find a shuttle bus that offers free transportation between terminals. Outside each terminal, you will see a bus stop where you can board this bus. The frequency of departures is between 10 and 15 minutes approximately. You can check the schedules on the clocks located at the bus stops.
Attention:
These are the easiest ways to get to Cancun airport:
Autobuses de Oriente (ADO) offers departures to the airport every 30 to 45 minutes from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. From Tulum to Cancun Airport, departures are almost every hour from 11:00 am to 4:15 pm. When you buy your ticket online, you can choose the terminal you wish to arrive at.
These buses only stop at their terminals, which means they do not stop at hotels or on the way. We recommend you plan your departure and transfer times to avoid missing your flight. You can take your luggage on board these buses.
How to get to the ADO terminal in Cancun?
Here is a map:
For the convenience of its visitors, the Cancun Airport has car rental and reception services from the following companies:
*To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend you make a reservation in advance from the agency's website.
Several companies offer transportation services at the Cancun airport. Before booking one of these services, verify that the company is legal and trustworthy. You can check their networks or ask for references at the airport. Some examples are USA Transfers, Cancun Shuttle and Luxe.
The price may vary depending on the type of service (private or shared) and the distance you travel to your destination.
As well as the transportation service, you can find private cab modules at the airport as they are smaller vehicles. This service is usually faster and cheaper. However, the number of passengers is limited. Keep in mind that regular cabs cannot pick up passengers from the airport, and the price varies according to the distance to your destination.
The Cancun airport has paid parking at each of its terminals. If someone gives you a ride to the airport, they can use the fast lane without entering the parking lot. Parking is paid at the machines located inside the terminals.
Aside car rentals, private transportation, or your own vehicle, we believe the best way to go to Cancun Airport from Playa del Carmen is with ADO (bless them). In Playa del Carmen you will find 2 ADO terminals:
In addition to all of the above, the airport offers other services such as:
VIP Lounges | Inmigration | Restaurants |
Lockers | Lost and Found | Luggage storage |
Duty Free Shops | Currency exchange | Airline ticket booths |
Customs | Private airplanes | Transportation services |
120 V, A and B type sockets | Timeshare and rentals | Cargo service |
During high season the airport will be operating at maximum capacity, which means longer lines and less parking slots.
These are the peak season dates for Cancun Airport:
The following dates are national vacations or special celebrations (which are longer weekends) in Mexico and it is common for Mexicans to make national trips, so take your precautions.
Checked baggage
Carry-on baggage
Yes, Cancun Airport has free public Wi-Fi. Though, it is important to know that sometimes the speed is (kinda) slow due to the number of people connected to the network. As an alternative, we recommend using the restaurant's private networks while consuming there or previously downloading all the documents you will need, such as your boarding pass and itinerary, on your device.
We've put together this guide to help you have a spectacular trip to Cancun and, as you'll see, the tips are not much different from any other airport in the world.
Being prepared and on time is a big part of a successful adventure, so we wish you a safe trip! If you have more questions, we invite you to leave us a comment 👇 and we'll answer them.
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