Cancún International Airport (CUN) is one of Mexico's busiest airports and one of the most aggressively commercialized. The moment you land, you'll be offered timeshare presentations disguised as tourist information, expensive currency exchange, and taxi packages at 3x the going rate. Here's how to navigate through all of it.
Immigration and customs
Cancún has four terminals. Terminals 2 and 3 handle most international flights. Immigration lines can be 30–60 minutes during peak arrivals (midday and early evening). Fill out your FMM (tourist card) on the plane if printed copies are distributed, or at the kiosks before the immigration desk. Have your hotel address ready — it's a required field.
Customs: Mexico uses a random selection system (traffic light). Green light = walk through. Red light = bag search. Most travelers get green.
The timeshare gauntlet
As you exit customs, you'll enter a corridor of booths staffed by promoters offering "free tours," "tourist information," and "welcome services." These are timeshare sales operations. They will offer free transportation and meals in exchange for attending a "90-minute" presentation that lasts 4–6 hours. The standard advice: look forward, say nothing, keep walking.
Currency exchange
Do not exchange currency at the airport. Rates are 8–15% below the interbank rate. Use your bank's debit card at an ATM in the Hotel Zone instead. If you absolutely need pesos before leaving, use a bank-affiliated ATM (HSBC and Santander have machines in the terminal).
Transport from the airport to the Hotel Zone
ADO bus ($9 USD, 20–30 minutes): Runs from the airport directly to the Hotel Zone bus terminal near km 9. Most reliable and cheapest option for solo travelers and couples. Runs roughly every 30 minutes throughout the day.
Authorized airport taxis: Fixed zone rates printed at the taxi desk. Hotel Zone: $25–35 USD depending on zone. Buy the ticket at the booth, not from drivers outside.
Uber: Available from a designated pickup area outside the terminals. Typically $15–22 USD to the Hotel Zone. Some drivers cancel near the airport — be prepared to wait or try again.
First things to do in the Hotel Zone
Get a local SIM card (Telcel and AT&T both sell them at airport shops — $15–25 USD for a week of data). Confirm your hotel check-in time — early check-in isn't guaranteed before 3pm. If you arrive in the morning, drop your bags and head to the nearest beach rather than waiting in your room.