Arriving at Cancun Airport: How to Avoid Taxi Scams

I live in Cancun, and the question I get asked most by visitors is simple: how do I get out of the airport without getting ripped off? The busiest threads on the Cancun travel forums say the same thing. Here is what I tell friends before they land.

Before you fly

• Book your ride before you land. Taxis at Cancun airport work on a fixed, zone-based fare that is not negotiable, and it is usually more than a transfer you book ahead of time. Booking ahead means you know the price, the company name and the driver's meeting point before you arrive.
• Save the confirmation on your phone, with the company's phone or WhatsApp number. Do not rely on airport Wi-Fi to find it.
• Know which terminal you land at. Cancun has four terminals. ADO buses leave from Terminals 2, 3 and 4.
• Bring some pesos or a card that works abroad, and check the price in pesos and dollars before you pay anything.

Walking through arrivals: the hall of offers

After customs you walk through a hall full of friendly people in uniform-style shirts offering "free" transport, tours, discounts or "help finding your driver". Many of them are selling timeshare presentations or overpriced rides. They are not the airport and they are not your transfer company.

• Keep walking and say "no gracias". You do not need to stop, explain or show your booking to anyone inside the hall.
• Never tell a stranger the name of your transfer company or hotel. A common trick is to ask "which company?" and then tell you the driver has gone, or walk you to a different van.
• Your driver waits outside, past the exit doors, usually holding a sign with your name or the company logo. Check the name on the sign against your booking.

The taxi scam people warn about most

The stories people share most are about a fare that suddenly becomes much higher at the hotel, or a price agreed in "pesos" that turns out to mean dollars.

• Agree the full price and the currency before the door closes. Ask: "Is that total, in pesos or dollars?"
• Use only taxis from the official booth if you have not pre-booked, and keep the ticket or receipt.
• Pay at the end, not the start, and count your change.
• Take a photo of the vehicle number before you get in.

The cheapest way: the ADO bus

ADO runs buses from Terminals 2, 3 and 4 to downtown Cancun and to Playa del Carmen, with a counter inside the terminal and tickets online. Your ticket includes checked luggage. The bus goes to the bus station, not your hotel, so you may still need a local taxi for the last part.

Check the current fare on the ADO counter or website, because prices change.

If something goes wrong

• In danger or hurt: call 911 first. That is the emergency number across Mexico.
• Overcharged or threatened by a driver: stay calm, do not argue on the street, write down the vehicle number, and keep any receipt or message.
• Stuck and you do not speak Spanish: that is exactly why I set up Tourist Help. For $50 USD an hour I can translate, make calls for you and explain your options over WhatsApp or by phone. If you want someone on call for your whole trip, the retainer is $20 USD a day.

Quick checklist

1. Transfer booked, confirmation saved offline.
2. Price and currency known before you get in any car.
3. Walk straight through the hall of offers.
4. Match the driver's sign to your booking.
5. 911 for emergencies, Tourist Help when you need someone who speaks Spanish.

Written by Craig Crawford, founder of Cancun Compass.