Getting Around Cancun

Getting around Cancun is simple. The city is easily accessible by taxi and bus. There is no need to rent a car just to move around the city, but you might consider a rental if you want to make extended trips to explore ruins like Chichen Itza or other sites beyond the city on your own. In that case you would be advised to rent a car with a reputable agency like Hertz, Avis, or Alamo.

The fastest way to get from one place to another in town is to flag down a taxi on the street. Taxis pass frequently on major streets. Just raise your hand as one goes by. The difficult part, particularly if you are nervous about your Spanish, is to negotiate the price to your location. The simplest to approach this is to just say where you are going and then ask “¿Cúanto cuesta?” The driver might also pick someone else up along the way to share the ride. Generally taxis that wait outside of hotels and clubs charge a bit more. If you want to avoid the extra charge, just walk a few feet from the hotel or club and flag down a passing taxi.

Another simple and fast way to get around is by bus. In the Hotel Zone, you can find buses running all day and night. The bus driver may not wait for you to sit down before taking off. Sometimes buses do not come to a complete stop either, expecting that you will be able to jump quickly from a bus that has only slowed down. If you need for the bus to stop, simply shout “¡bajan!”