Plan Your Trip to Cancún

Be aware that Cancún’s traffic can be maddening and addresses hard to decipher.

If you plan to spend the bulk of your vacation in Cancun’s busy Hotel Zone, you can easily get around on foot, by bus and with the occasional taxi. A car can also be a liability in Playa del Carmen, with its traffic and scant parking spaces. Taxi fares, while not cheap, are well worth it for short trips. If you’re staying in Tulum, you may want a rental car to be able to reach the beaches and nearby ruins on a whim, but taxis are always an option here, too.

Bikes. Unlike in most of the Riviera Maya, bicycles are popular in Tulum, where a lovely (but long) bike trail runs from the pueblo to the beaches. Hola Bike and iBike Tulum are reliable shops in town; some beach hotels provide bikes to guests for free. However, the heat and humidity can be draining; be sure you are very fit and well acclimated, and bring plenty of water along with you.

Car rentals. Renting a car can get expensive once mandatory and optional insurance are figured into the price. But it shouldn’t cost you much more per day in Cancún to rent a car than in any major U.S. city. Don’t skip the optional insurance: Under Mexican law, if you are involved in an accident, you may be jailed until authorities determine who is at fault and compensation is arranged. Even if your credit card provides some level of insurance, the best it can do is reimburse you after the fact. But if you’re fully insured, you’ll soon be back on the road.

If you don’t pick up a rental car at the airport, you can rent one in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum.

Ways to save: When you know you want a few days just to bask poolside at your hotel or on the beach, there’s really no need to rent a car. Plan your excursions away from the resorts for a series of days when you can limit a car rental to cover just that period. You’ll also save money on a car rental by booking through a site like Orbitz or Expedia at least a week (or preferably longer) before your trip.

Taxis. Most fares are preset by zone in Cancún, and they change constantly. Always agree on the price before you get into a taxi (at hotels, the concierge will do this for you). Keep in mind that taxis at hotels, restaurants and bars charge more than those on the street. Wheelchair-accessible taxis are available from Cancún Accessible.

Buses. Clean, modern buses run constantly up and down Cancún’s Hotel Zone and into downtown, where the ADO bus station is the departure point to the Riviera Maya and beyond. Use ADO’s schedule for planning, but you can’t buy tickets online without a Mexican credit card. Get them at the station, but buy them a day ahead of time during the busy winter or Easter holidays. ADO buses make three Riviera Maya stops: Puerto Morelos (along the highway in the Colonia, requiring a taxi ride to the beach town), Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

Accessibility

Cancún has made a push toward accessibility in recent years but still has a way to go. Many curb ramps have been installed in the Hotel Zone, but don’t expect them to be everywhere. Sidewalks and walkways downtown are uneven, broken up in places and poorly maintained. You’ll find ramps at many restaurants as well as accessible bathrooms, but there’s no guarantee all will have grab bars or be wide enough for a wheelchair. If it’s a concern, ask your hotel concierge to recommend the best establishments for your needs.

Many attractions around Cancún offer discounts and sometimes free entry for those with limited mobility. This often won’t be advertised, and it never hurts to ask on arrival.

Most tour operators go out of their way to help people with mobility problems, and some specialize in serving people with disabilities, such as Cancún Accessible and For Handicap Travelers. Both offer transportation, special services and equipment rentals as well as tours. 

Safety

Cancún has seen its share of gang violence in recent years, including rare events at or near a few popular tourist resorts. But the city and Riviera Maya have hardly been reduced to gang battlefields. For the most part, tourists are not involved in violence here. That said, keep an eye on the State Department travel advisory, which remains at Level 1 for Yucatan state (“exercise normal precautions”), and take the usual precautions: Stay away from crime-ridden areas, especially after dark; be careful with alcohol consumption; and don’t go out alone at night. Keep valuables out of sight and your purse or wallet secure.