Cancun to Tijuana by Flight
Travelling from Cancun to Tijuana is quite a journey because you’re going from the eastern tip of Mexico to the most western part of the country.
Direct flights take around 6 hours, including airport transfers.
Your departure airport is Cancun International Airport, 30 km from Cancun city centre.
Tijuana’s airport is conveniently located next to the border with the United States and you can actually cross the border without leaving the airport. If you do want to visit Tijuana, the city centre is just 15 minutes away by car.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: Getting to Cancun Airport
To get to Cancun Airport, you can catch an ADO bus from ADO Centro Cancun. Buses begin operating as early as 01:00, with departures every 30 minutes from 04:00 to 22:30. Travel time is around 30 - 45 minutes. You can book your tickets directly at the bus station or online via BookAway, starting at $7.30 (135 MXN).
Uber is also available with rates starting at $18 (335 MXN). But if you want to pre-book your private transfer, you can do so via BookAway, where you can get a 5-seater car for $36 (660 MXN).
See our Cancun Airport page for a more extensive guide.
Step 2: Cancun to Tijuana by Direct Flight
Two airlines fly direct flights from Cancun International Airport to Tijuana: Viva Aerobus and Volaris. Flight time is around 5 hours.
Prices for airline tickets start from $65 (1,220 MXN). Make sure to check Skyscanner for the cheapest flights!
Step 3: Tijuana Airport to the City Centre
The arrival airport is Tijuana International Airport on the northern side of Tijuana, next to the border with the United States. It takes around 15 minutes to get to the city centre by car/taxi.
Authorised taxi counters are located in the airport arrival hall and a taxi to the city centre will cost around $19 (350 MXN).
For cheaper rates, you can always book an Uber. They are available in Tijuana, and a ride from the airport to the city centre starts from $10 (190 MXN).
But just a heads-up: there have been reports that Uber drivers aren’t officially allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. You might need to walk a bit away from the terminal to meet your driver, and prices can sometimes be higher because of this.
Both taxis and Uber are available 24/7.
Border crossing into the United States
If you want to travel into the United States, you can cross the border through CBX (Cross Border Express), which connects directly to Tijuana Airport and is located after the baggage claim.
To use CBX, you need to buy a special ticket through your airline for $29 (540 MXN), and you have two hours from the time of arrival to cross. Note that you must not exit the airport, or you will lose the right to use the CBX.
The paperwork takes around 15 minutes, significantly less than if you go through the San Ysidro crossing, where the waiting time is between 1-2 hours. As San Ysidro is the main crossing point where the rest of the travellers go, there are usually long lines and the vehicle inspection usually delays traffic.
After you pass through customs, you will arrive at the CBX bus terminal. There are different buses and shuttles departing constantly for cities in California like San Diego or Los Angeles.
Travelling this route round trip? You can also check out our guide for Tijuana to Cancun.
