Official taxi drivers at Cancun International Airport (CUN) have again made headlines for allegedly trying to overcharge tourists. Until when!?
This time, a Venezuelan family was spotted walking along the highway, catching the attention of passing drivers. It later was reported that taxi drivers were demanding such exorbitant prices that they decided to put themselves at risk and make their way to the city on foot.
According to local media, all taxi drivers available when they arrive tried to charge them US $80 when the official rate is approximately US $32.
Back in April, a Cancun taxi driver was arrested for extortion after charging an international tourist $1,050 to transport him from terminal 4 to 3, as confirmed by the State Attorney General’s Office.
Though the case went viral on TikTok, with over 6 million viewers and hundreds of airport users reporting the same crime, the driver was quickly released with no charges because authorities forced him to return the money, making it technically “no crime.” Are you, Cancun authorities, serious?
In this particular incident, two airport workers misled the tourist into believing he couldn’t stay at Terminal 3 (false) and insisted he had to take a taxi to the other facility and pay by credit card, revealing a shady scheme between officials and drivers to scam visitors.
Just last week, we reported on a series of protests involving Cancun taxi drivers who blocked both entrances at Terminal 2 in a bid to chase out rideshare platforms like Uber, Cabify and DiDi, known for charging fair prices 99% of the time.
“Uber causes conflict in all countries, so I’ll be straightforward: Uber is not entering the airport anymore. We want authorities to block the app; otherwise, this [demonstrations] is gonna continue. People [taxi drivers] are really pissed off,” a taxi driver threatened back then.
Now we can see why they were so eager to get rid of the competence.
According to PorEsto, it is true that taxi fares have steadily increased over the past few years, but taxi drivers have taken it upon themselves to implement illegal hikes. While the official minimum price goes from 34 to 37 pesos ($1.72 to 1.87), many drivers would rather charge $2.53.
Multiply that by a long drive to Playa del Carmen or Tulum and you could end up paying as much as you pay for a night’s stay at a nice accommodation in Cancun.
Keep this Information Handy To Avoid Being Overcharged
So many times we arrive at international airports not knowing the exact taxi fares. Here you have the official rates, according to CancunTaxi.com.
Taxis
Of course, taxi fares vary depending on the destination. Here are some official fares:
- Cancun Hotel Zone:
- One-way: $550 MXN (~$32 USD)
- Round trip: $1050 MXN (~$61 USD)
- Playa del Carmen:
- One-way: $1050 MXN (~$61 USD)
- Round trip: $2000 MXN (~$116 USD)
- Tulum:
- One-way: $2100 MXN (~$122 USD)
- Round trip: $4000 MXN (~$233 USD)
Buses
ADO buses offer services from the airport to multiple destinations in the region:
- Cancun Downtown: $130 MXN (~$7.50 USD) per person
- Playa del Carmen: $250 MXN (~$14.50 USD) per person
Last but not least, if you ever need to move between terminals, remember there is a free shuttle service you can use 24/7.