Insider's Guide to Cancun Airport: Everything You Need to Know

Traveling to the Mexican Caribbean is a whole experience. However, you may have to go through the big Cancun International Airport to get here, 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 Airport General Data
• How to get to Cancun Airport?
• High season at Cancun airport
• Baggage at Cancun Airport
• Tips to survive the Cancun Airport hustle

Cancun Airport overview

Cancun International Airport (IATA: CUN) is one of the 16 airports in 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.

📍Location of Cancun Airport

Cancun airport is located 16 kilometers from Cancun, in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The transfer time from downtown to the airport is approximately 30 minutes, which may vary due to traffic or road repairs.

How many terminals does Cancun Airport have?

At Cancun Airport, four commercial terminals and one FBO terminal offer 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. 

Cancun Airport Terminal 1 FBO

This terminal is only for charter or private flights. It has seven gates, three helicopter stands, two airstrips, and a VIP lounge, among many other services.

What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 1?

• Private Flights
• Maya Air
• Tropic Air

Cancun Airport Terminal 2

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

Cancun Airport Terminal 3 only operates international flights, mainly to North America and Europe. Its facilities, inaugurated in 2016, are the most modern and offer a wide range of services.

What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 3?

Cancun Airport Terminal 4

Terminal 4 of Cancun Airport was inaugurated in 2017 due to the high demand for flights. It receives flights from the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. It has LEED Silver certification, which means it is a sustainable building. 

What airlines depart from Cancun Terminal 4? 

How do you move from one terminal to another?

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:

• Beware of people who charge you to transfer you between terminals. The shuttle is free.
• Walking between terminals is not recommended as the distances are long, especially if you have luggage.

Getting to Cancun Airport

These are the easiest ways to get to Cancun airport:

🚌 Autobuses ADO

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. Buying your ticket online lets you choose the terminal at which you wish to arrive.

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 do I get to the ADO terminal in Cancun?

Here is a map:

🚗 Cancun Airport car rental

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.

🚐 Transportation companies at Cancun Airport

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, Sacbe Transfers, and Luxe.

The price may vary depending on the type of service (private or shared) and the distance you travel to your destination.

🚕 Cancun Airport Taxi

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. Remember that regular cabs cannot pick up passengers from the airport, and the price varies according to the distance to your destination.

🚘 By Car

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.

Transportation options from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport

Aside from car rentals, private transportation, or your 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:

Other Airport services

In addition to all of the above, the airport offers other services such as:

High season at Cancun Airport

During high season, the airport will operate at maximum capacity, meaning longer lines and fewer parking slots.

These are the peak season dates for Cancun Airport:

• Winter Vacation (December 20th to January 15th)
• Spring Break and Easter (March 11th to April 22nd)
• Summer Vacation (end of July to end of August)

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 precautions.

• Mexican Constitution Day (February 5th)
• Birthday of Benito Juárez (March 21st)
• Labor Day (May 1st)
• Mexican Independence Day (September 16th)
• Day of the Dead (November 1st and 2nd)
• Mexican Revolution (November 20th)

Baggage regulations at Cancun Airport

Things I can't carry on:

Checked baggage

• Weapons, ammunition, or replica weapons, including sporting arrows, glue or heat guns, etc.
• Explosives
• Cases of heavy and blunt objects
• Battery-powered devices. You have to remove the batteries before check-in. 

Carry-on baggage

• You may not carry the above and the items listed below in your carry-on baggage.
• You may carry liquids or gels of more than 100 ml. or 3.4oz. in your carry-on baggage (except for baby formula and prescription drugs).
• Sharp objects
• Handcuffs

Tips about luggage

• Weigh and measure your luggage at home. Make sure it does not exceed the dimensions indicated by your airline, or you may have to rearrange it.
• Oversized baggage: Check with your airline how to check oversized baggage, such as sports equipment, large musical instruments, and stuffed animals. Your airline will usually charge you for an extra piece of luggage, extra kilos, or both.
• Checked pets: If your airline offers this service, you can transport your pet to the plane's hold. For this modality, you must go to the check-in counter and fill out some documents with your and your pet's information. It only applies to dogs, cats, and some birds. The animals must always go in a rigid kennel-type cage appropriate for your pet. Not all aircraft models can offer this service. This type of transportation could be dangerous or even deadly for some breeds of animals. Check with your airline for more information.
  
• Pets in Cabin: Ideal for transporting small pets. For this modality, you must go to the check-in counter and fill out some documents with your and your pet's information. The animal must remain in its cage during the entire flight. The cage with the pet goes on the floor in front of the passenger. Check with your airline for more information.
• Emotional support pets: This service is free of charge. For this modality, you must go to the check-in counter and fill out some documents with your and your pet's information. These animals can enter the aircraft without the need for a cage. Verify with your airline the types of pets allowed (since most only accept dogs). Check with your airline for more information.
• Cargo service at Cancun Airport: You will find different cargo companies to help you transport the luggage you can't take on your flight. Usually, the airlines have cargo centers, and you can check prices directly with them.

Tips for navigating Cancun´s Airport

Does Cancun Airport offer Wi-Fi services?

Yes, Cancun Airport has free public Wi-Fi. However, it is essential to know that sometimes the speed is (kinda) slow due to the number of people connected to the network. Alternatively, we recommend using the restaurant's private networks while consuming or previously downloading all the documents you need, such as your boarding pass and itinerary, on your device.

Arriving at Cancun Airport

• Check-in before arriving at the airport. In high season, the lines at the Cancun Airport are very long.         
• Check your arrival terminal so you don't have any problems with your transportation.  
• Bring clothes according to the weather. Cancun's weather changes between hot and rainy. It can be a little cool for some in January and February, so it is advisable to bring a sweater.
• If you stop by Cancun, ensure your connection isn't too short, and your luggage will be checked until your final destination so you can transfer to the boarding gate with peace of mind.

During your time at the Cancun Airport

• Fill out your customs and immigration forms on the plane to save time (we recommend you bring a pen).
• Keep your passport and all your documents handy.
• Carry cash with you. Mexico has a tipping culture, and it is polite to tip people who offer you quality service. Usually, the people who receive tips at airports are drivers, waiters, and those who help you carry your luggage.
• Do not waste your time talking to timeshare agents on your way out, or you may miss your transportation.
• Avoid changing money at the airport because the exchange rate is always high. You'd better wait until you get to the city, where the rates are usually lower.

Leaving Cancun Airport

• ⚠️Boulevard Colosio is the avenue that takes you from the city to the airport, and Boulevard Kukulkán is the avenue that takes you from the hotel zone to the airport. Both roads tend to get congested due to the number of people who travel them and the constant repair work. Take precautions.
• Arrive early for your flight and research your departure terminal. Take into account transfer times, traffic, lines at the ticket counters, and lines at the security checkpoint.
• Don't buy anything outside the security checkpoint. Inside you will find the same things, more variety and you will not have problems with their entrance.
• Once through the security filter, measure your time in the restroom and stores so you don't miss boarding.
• You can find the gate on the screens half an hour before the departure of your flight.

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.