If you are landing in Cancun Airport and need to transfer terminals, get prepared to be surrounded by taxi drivers that want you to help you get there.
They are generally friendly, but they have no problem lying through their teeth to get you in their vehicle. There is no physical danger, but their methods can be aggressive.
If all you want to do is transfer terminals, you’ll still have to deal with it. It’s confusing and if you don’t know how it works, and you may end up paying $45 for a two minute ride.
Luckily for you, I’ve navigated this mess a number of times and can tell you exactly what you need to know to get from one terminal to another and on your way to your final destination.
How many terminals are at the Cancun International Airport?
There are four terminals at the Cancun airport, but only three of them are used for commercial flights. Terminal 1 is used exclusively for private and charter jets, so you are going to be arriving and departing from terminals two, three, or four.
You can use this guide to find out which terminal your airline uses, but always confirm this by looking at your ticket or boarding pass.
Is there a free terminal shuttle at the Cancun Airport?
Yes, there is a shuttle that runs between terminals two, three, and four at the Cancun airport and it is completely free. It’s not as convenient nor efficient as shuttles at other major airports, but it is there and I’ll tell you how to use it.
How to use the terminal shuttle bus at Cancun Airport
Unlike at other airports where you can catch a sky train or shuttle bus from directly inside the terminal, at Cancun you have to exit the terminal first. You will walk outside into the glorious, hot sun of southern Mexico and from there you will be bombarded by all types of taxi drivers looking to take you where you want to go.
If you are in a rush to catch your next flight, you may be forced to hire a ride with one of these hyenas. Unfortunately, the free shuttle bus only comes every 25 minutes or so. If you’ve got that time to spare, save your money and wait for the shuttle. If not, put on your negotiating hat and see if you can get yourself a good fare for the ride. If you can get it for $25, you should be very happy. I have friends who have been forced to pay around $50 for a 5-minute terminal hop.
Where to catch the terminal shuttle bus at Cancun airport
When you walk out of terminal two, three, or four at Cancun airport you will have to find the shuttle bus waiting spot. It’ll be marked with a sign and perhaps a digital clock that estimates the arrival time of the next shuttle. You’ll likely see a few Mexican-looking people standing quietly near that sign. They are too wise to fall for the tricks of the Cancun taxi mafia.
At terminal two, the waiting spot is directly to your left upon exiting the terminal. At terminal three, you have to walk to the end of the pickup/drop off lane to your right as you exit the terminal. I have never arrived at terminal four, but the waiting zone must be somewhere nearby once you walk out of the terminal.
Here is what the shuttle waiting sign may look like.
There is also a new shuttle bus that goes to all of the terminals and then to the Maya train station, the new rail network that connects the entire Yucatan peninsula and even has a line that goes to Chiapas. Check out my blog post on the Maya train if you are interested in this next time you come to Mexico. If this bright green bus comes before the airport shuttle, you can ask the driver if he is going to your desired terminal next. I think he’ll say no as they only want train passengers, but you never know.
IMPORTANT: Don’t believe what the taxi drivers tell you about the shuttle
As I said earlier, the drivers will appear friendly, but they will outright lie to you. They will tell you that the shuttle bus is not running today. They will tell you that the shuttle bus isn’t coming for another hour and fifteen minutes. They will tell you that the shuttle bus is full. They will say anything to you that will make you second guess the shuttle bus and pay them for a ride to your terminal.
Just remain calm, say gracias, and continue standing and waiting. If they keep talking, you can just say gracias again and go back to minding your own business. If there are other people (likely Mexicans) standing there saying nothing and waiting as well, you’ll know that the shuttle bus will be arriving momentarily.
Just relax, the free shuttle is coming.
Can you walk between terminals at the Cancun airport?
Yes and no. It depends which terminal you arrive at and which you need to go to. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are very close to each other, it takes about 5-10 minutes walking. I did this myself once so I can assure you it’s possible.
Terminal 4 is quite a bit further away and you would not save any time trying to walk there over waiting 25 minutes for the shuttle bus.
If you arrive in Terminal 3 and need to go to Terminal 2, when you step outside turn to your left and keep heading that direction. Walk past the terminal and you will have to turn left down the road at the end of the terminal. This road will do a “U” shape and take you in between the two terminals. You’ll likely see airport staff walking this route (unlikely other travelers).
You pass through a sort of industrial area. It isn’t super pretty, but it’s safe so don’t worry. You’ll likely see other workers walking this route (unlikely other travelers). Carry on and after a few minutes you’ll arrive at the gates of Terminal 2. You have to follow the “U” direction and turn up to your right to follow the gate until you get to the vehicle entrance/exit on your left hand side. You are now in the parking lot of Terminal 2 and can make your way towards the terminal building.
Likewise, if you arrive in Terminal 2 and need to get to Terminal 3, you’ll do the opposite. Walk out of the terminal and walk aaaaalllllllllll the way to your right. This will be a longish walk to get out of the Terminal 2 grounds. Once you finally exit the parking lot and have to look behind you to see Terminal 2, turn right and follow the “U” shape towards Terminal 3. Don’t continue straight along the building wall of Terminal 2, but turn left and walk that street that goes through the sort of industrial area towards Terminal 3.
Follow along here, complete the U shape as you approach Terminal 3 and you’ll be standing outside the entrance of Terminal 3 in about 5-10 minutes after leaving Terminal 2.
If you arrive in Terminal 4, or need to get to Terminal 4, you’ll have to wait for the shuttle bus.
Final Thoughts
Cancun Airport is a mess and even with the free shuttle bus it can be exhausting to navigate. I hope this guide helps you avoid grossly overpaying for a 5-minute ride that you can do with the free shuttle bus or even on foot. I hope you get where you’re going safely and your layover in Cancun doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Happy travels.
Leave a reply