The Cancun Travel Tips page has been designed to help you with important Cancun information which can help you planned your trip or may be useful to you in an emergency or at any time during your Cancun vacation.
Everything you need to know before going to Cancun.
Located 16 km (9 miles) southwest of the heart of Cancun and 10 km (6 miles) from the Hotel Zone southernmost point, Cancun International Airport receives direct scheduled flights from many cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Charlotte, and Atlanta. An increasing number of direct charter flights from other cities are also available. Hourly buses link the airport to downtown Cancun; taxis, colective transport, hotel shuttles, and rental cars are other options.
If you are planning to visit only Cancún, you don't need to (and probably shouldn't) rent a car. But if you want to explore the region, a car can be convenient if expensive.
In Cancun there are several companies where you can rent a car, you can even make your hiring at the Airport.
For travel within the Hotel Zone, buses R1 & R2 stop every five minutes along Boulevard Kukulcan and cost a flat MX$10.5 no matter where you get on or off. The R2 continue to downtow, Wal-Mart and Market 28; the R1 goes as far as Puerto Juarez and the main bus terminal in downtown (ADO terminal).
Buses for farther-flung destinations leave from terminal in downtown. One of the oldest bus lines in Mexico, ADO has first-class buses that stop incrementally at Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Holbox and Chetumal.
It’s easy and cheap to get around Cancún by bus; if you prefer traveling by taxi, however, you can always find one. Make sure you check the fare before accepting a ride; a list of rates can be found in the lobby of most hotels or you can ask the concierge.
Cancun is one of the safest cities in Mexico. Reported violence generally takes place 2,090 km (1,300 miles) from Cancun on the northern border of Mexico, the same distance from New York to Texas. Don’t be surprised to see Tourist Police patrolling the Hotel Zone, especially during the holidays and high season when security is increased. The C4 Surveillance and Rescue Center monitors the tourist area through video cameras installed in strategic points throughout the city, and an emergency 911 call center is available. Visitors are still advised to exercise caution and use common sense while traveling.
There’s a lot to see and do in Cancun, if you can force yourself away from the beach, that is. Understandably, many visitors stay here a week, or longer, without ever leaving the silky sands and seductive comforts of their resorts. If you’re game to do some exploring, though, it’s a good idea to allow an extra two or three days for day trips to nearby eco-parks and archaeological sites.
The official language spoken in Cancun is Spanish. Most of the Mexicans working in the tourism industry speak English and you will find that French, Italian and German are also spoken by some. Many of the local indigenous people still speak Mayan as their first language and Spanish as their second, you will often hear them speaking Mayan amongst themselves.
The standard Cancun electricity supply is 110 volts. Hotels usually offer voltage converters for 220 volt devices. Many sockets do not accept polarized or three-prong plugs so it is recommended that you bring your own adapter but you can usually buy these in the hotel shop.
Cancun telecommunications are modern and up to date. All the main tourist areas have facilities such as fax and internet services and you will find wireless internet access in most hotels and also in many restaurants. To make international calls from Mexico you dial access code 001 for the US and Canada; and 00 + country code for the rest of the world. The cheapest way to make telephone calls is with prepaid cards. Making calls from your hotel room can be very costly. Contact your service provider before your vacation for more information if you wish to use your cell phone in Mexico. Otherwise you can rent cell phones per day for local use.
The sun shines an average of 253 days a year in Cancún. During High Season (late November to early April), the weather is nearly perfect, with temperatures hovering around 29°C (84°F) during the day and 18°C (64°F) at night. Hotel prices hit their peak between December 15 and January 5. If you plan to visit during Christmas, Spring Break, or Easter, you should book at least three months in advance.
Vacationers with travel-date flexibility can avoid the crowds and save 20% to 50% on accommodations during the remaining months. Be advised, though, that May through September are hot and humid, with temperatures that can top 36°C (97°F). The rainy season starts in mid-September and lasts until mid-November, bringing afternoon downpours that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. Downtown’s streets often get flooded during these storms, and traffic can grind to a halt.
The official currency in Cancun is the Mexican peso but American dollars are also widely accepted. Banks are open Monday-Friday from 9am to 4pm but there are exchange houses found all over Cancun that are open much later.
Cancun time zone is five hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).