Visitax & Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know for a Smooth Arrival at Cancun International Airport
02-25-2025
Welcome to paradise! To ensure a smooth arrival at Cancun International Airport, it’s important to be prepared. From clearing customs and immigration to understanding Visitax requirements, transportation options, and avoiding common travel pitfalls, we’ve got you covered. Follow these tips for a hassle-free start to your Mexican getaway!
Cancun International Terminals: Explained
While a new international airport just past Tulum (TQO) is now fully operational, most visitors to Playa del Carmen choose to fly into Cancun International Airport. CUN has four terminals, each serving different types of flights. Terminal 1 is primarily for charter flights from Magnicharters and VivaAerobus . For the most part, Terminal 2 handles national flights, often for Mexican carriers. However, T2 also serves international flights from the USA and Europe. Terminal 3 is mainly for international airlines from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Finally, Terminal 4, the newest and most modern, typically serves international flights from the USA, Canada, Europe and South America with upgraded facilities.
All four terminals at Cancun International Airport are well-equipped for a smooth travel experience. They offer 24-hour security and medical services, ATMs, public phones, and pharmacies for convenience. Travelers can enjoy unlimited internet access and find accessible facilities like ramps, elevators, and restrooms. Plus, a baggage wrapping service adds extra security for luggage. In order to transfer from one terminal to another, a free shuttle runs every 30 minutes.
Immigration
Paradise Almost Found
Although you’ve been welcomed by a burst of warm tropical air as you leave the plane, there is still the matter of immigration. There are no immigration forms to fill out on the plane or upon arrival to CUN. When you disembark, you simply head to immigration. As a rule, expect long lines that can take an hour during peak arrival periods. (Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised with reasonable wait times!)
Tip: Be sure to use the bathroom before entering immigration, especially when traveling with kids. Have snacks, water, and devices charged in case of long wait times.
The Fork In The Road
At the immigration area, you have 2 choices— to the right are staffed lines with immigration officers who will stamp your passport. On the left are E-gates that are accessible to tourists from the USA, Canada, or from countries who participate in the E-gate program. As well, the E-gates are available to foreign nationals who are visiting for the purpose of tourism or business. Mexican residents or those who carry a permanent residency card should not use them.
Note: If you re-enter Mexico as a tourist (visitor) when you have residency in Mexico, you are at risk of losing your legal residency status.
In order to be eligible to use the E-gates, the traveler must be of 18 years of age and have a valid passport with a biometric symbol. If you use the E-gate, the kiosk will print a ticket with a QR code, which you must scan to receive the digit version of your tourist card or FMM document. It is imperative that you keep this ticket with your passport, should you be asked to provide it at the time of your departure. Not everyone is required to show it, but it does stipulate on the ticket to keep it, scan the QR code, and retain it or you will not be able to leave Mexico.
If asked to provide your ticket to exit and you do not have it with you, you will have to go to a separate immigration area and pay a replacement fee of around $40USD. Not only will this step cost you money, but also valuable time. Whether you get a tourist visa card from an officer or a QR ticket through the e-immigration system, it’s important to keep it safe and have them with you at the time of departure.
Tourist Visa
If you’re traveling to Mexico, you’ll need a Tourist Card, an Entry Immigration Form that records details about your visit. This card is required for every traveler, regardless of age or length of stay. The information provided is kept by the Mexican Immigration Authority as an official record of your visit. Forms are no longer provided on commercial flights.
In order to avoid delays during the entry process, you can fill out your Tourist Visa application via the Cancun airport website under the tourist card page. It’s important to note again, that you must retain the tourist card provided by the immigration offer or the Egate ticket until you board the flight. So as to avoid delays and fines, keeping this document safe, whether it be a card or a ticket, is very important.
Baggage Claims and Customs
Once you pass through immigration, you can collect your bag at the baggage claim area. After you have collected your checked bag, you may proceed to the exit where you will come to customs.
Here, travelers form a line at a type of traffic light system. Each visitor must push the button where either a green light will appear, or a red light. If the light is green, you are free to go on your way towards the exit. On the other hand, if a red light appears, your luggage is subject to a quick inspection.
Note: Smoking and vaping are banned in public areas in Mexico. It is considered illegal to bring vapes into Mexico. While some have managed to enter under the radar with their vapes, travelers risk confiscation and potential fines.
Transportation
Taxi Scams To Avoid at Cancun Airport
Once you’ve completed the customs process, you will make your way towards the exit. This requires wandering the corridor of car rentals and taxi service kiosks. While we recommend kindness goes a long way, respectfully decline to interact with these transportation salespeople. Often, these official-looking transportation personnel use shady tactics to get you to book with them. For example, if you plan to take the ADO bus to Playa del Carmen, they will tell you that you just missed the last bus. But they have the perfect solution— an almost free taxi!
Furthermore, there are many “taxi” operators that are not authorized to provide ground transportation at CUN. However, they manage to hover in this corridor area or just outside the exit, preying upon unknowing tourists. These drivers will charge exorbitant amounts for short rides, or demand a higher rate than agreed upon as you arrive at your destination. Another common scheme is to tell visitors that the shuttle service is too far to walk to (at another terminal) and will offer a taxi ride. When in fact, there is a free shuttle service between terminals that is an easy walk away from arrivals.
Pre-book a Private Transfer
It is best to pre-book airport transfers online before your arrival. Bric has worked with Johnny from America Transfers Cancun for decades. Not only are his drivers reliable, but they are also fluent in English. Plus, the well-maintained vans and SUVs can accommodate 1 to 8 passengers. Typically, you will have a WhatsApp contact number to communicate with the driver once you’ve landed at CUN.
ADO Bus
There is no direct shuttle service from Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen. However the ADO bus company provides service to 2 Playa del Carmen stations with frequent routes. The first is Alterna, which is located on 20th Avenue and Calle 12. The second station is Turistica, which is located on 5th Avenue and Benito Juarez on the south end of town. Buses depart approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day along with a couple of late night options. As per the latest information, the earliest bus departs around 8AM. Please note that schedules may vary, so it’s advisable to check the latest timetable on the official ADO website or at the airport upon arrival.
You can purchase tickets online or at the kiosks outside of Terminals 3 and 4 for around $255MXN (about $12USD) one-way. The departures are from T2, T3, and T4, just ask the ADO staff at the kiosks for directions to your bus. Generally the trip to Playa del Carmen takes 1 hour on the comfortable, air-conditioned buses.
Rental Cars
In all honesty, renting a car in Mexico can go either way. Some visitors do it several times a year without problems, while others have issues (usually arguments over insurance.) Most rental agencies require separate liability insurance beyond what your credit card may provide. In order that you have full, hassle-free coverage that is accepted in Mexico, it is highly recommended to acquire this insurance. For one, an experienced Mexican agent will be a great asset in case of an accident or emergency and you can rest assured
If you can book online ahead of time, it should save you time and money. Most rental companies have representatives in the infamous corridor before the exit. You can report to them that you have already rented a car and they will provide instructions if you have not yet received any with the online booking. Some companies will have a shuttle car pick you up and drive you the short distance to the rental agency, while others may be walking distance.
Understanding Visitax: A Required Tourist Tax for Quintana Roo
Visitax is a mandatory tax for all foreign tourists visiting Quintana Roo. Popular cities in this state include Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Isla Holbox, Bacalar, and other Riviera Maya destinations. While some visitors knowingly or unknowingly skip the payment, it is linked to your passport record. Thus, failure to pay may result in being denied entry to Mexico on a future visit at the discretion of a customs agent.
The tax is $271 MXN (approximately $14 USD) and applies to all travelers 15 years and older. It can be paid before arrival, during your stay, or before departure from Cancun or Tulum airports. After payment, you’ll receive a QR code as proof of payment, which may be requested by airport officials before your flight.
To avoid scams, pay only through the Mexican government’s official website or TravelKore. Any other site claiming to process Visitax is fraudulent and often overcharges. Alternatively, you can pay at official kiosks inside the airport before departure.
Arriving at Cancun International Airport can be a breeze with a little preparation. By knowing your terminal, having your documents ready, understanding Visitax, and arranging transportation in advance, you’ll start your trip stress-free. Whether you’re heading straight to the beach or exploring the restaurants in a vibrant Playa del Carmen neighborhood, a smooth arrival sets the tone for an unforgettable vacation in paradise!