How to get from Mexico City to Cancun

Why visit Cancun?

Cancun is a vibrant beach city overlooking the Caribbean Sea. With its crystal blue waters and snow-white sand, the city can be too touristy for some visitors. But its location on Mexico’s east coast makes it the perfect gateway to other destinations like Chichen Itza, Isla Mujeres and Holbox.

You’ll find most tourists in the Hotel Zone, which is full to the brim with all-inclusive resorts, restaurants and lively bars. Depending on what you’re looking for, Cancun can just be a short stopover or a holiday destination by itself. Whichever you decide, make sure to explore other nearby destinations for a more authentic Mexican experience!

There are 2 ways to travel the 620 kilometre (385 miles) distance from Mexico City to Cancun. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 3 hours 40 minutes to 1 day 5 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at 860 MXN ($48.50).

Flights from Mexico City to Cancun are fast, affordable, and convenient. While we prefer eco-friendly travel, flying remains the best option for this route.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Your flight departs from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), 10 km east of the city centre. The best ways to get there from the city centre are a 45-minute Metrobus and a 30-minute taxi/Uber.

For a combination of budget and convenience, we recommend taking the Metrobus, which only costs 30 MXN ($1.70). Take Line #4. You can ask the assistance of your hotel for the nearest bus stop or you can board one at Republica de Argentina, the closest bus stop to the main square.

If you prefer a private and fast ride, we recommend hailing an Uber with rates from 110 MXN ($6.20). But if you want to book in advance, a 3-seater private transfer costs 640 MXN ($36) on BookAway.

Why we don’t recommend taking the Metro to Mexico City Airport

Although the Metro is the cheapest option at 5 MXN ($0.30), it is not ideal if you have luggage. Large bags are not allowed, and the trains can get extremely crowded, especially during peak hours. Plus, no direct line goes from the city centre to the airport, so you may need to make multiple transfers.

You can check our Mexico City Airport page for a more detailed guide.

You shouldn’t have a hard time getting nonstop flights from Mexico City to Cancun. There are plenty of schedules to choose from, with flights departing from 04:00 to 23:00 daily.

The cheapest flight costs 720 MXN ($40.50) and travel time is around 2h 10m.

There are 3 airlines flying from Mexico City to Cancun: AeroMexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris. AeroMexico is a bigger airline and their service is superior, but this tends to come at a higher price. You can often get the cheapest flight prices with Viva Aerobus and Volaris.

For the best rates, it’s better to plan ahead and book your plane tickets weeks in advance.

Your arrival airport is Cancun International Airport. If you want to head straight to Cancun city centre or the beach/resort area once you arrive, you can do it by bus, shared minivan or with a private shuttle. Travel time is around 45m - 1h 5m.

The bus is the cheapest option with ticket prices from 130 MXN ($7.30). These buses, operated by ADO, depart from the airport roughly every hour from 00:30 to 13:45. They park at ADO Cancun Bus Station, just within walking distance from many hotels in the city centre.

Shared minivans are a good option if you want to be dropped off at your hotel’s doorstep but don’t have the budget for a taxi. They depart every hour, 24 hours a day from Cancun Airport. You can book this service on BookAway, with rates starting at 125 MXN ($7).

The most comfortable option is to hire a private transfer, but as with most things, this comes at a higher cost. Rates start from 660 MXN ($37) for a 5-seater car. Pre-book your ride online via BookAway for more spacious cars and trusted drivers.

For more info, visit our page for Cancun Airport.

If flying’s not really your thing, there are also buses operating direct trips from Mexico City to Cancun. But there’s a catch, they take around 1 day 2 hours to 1 day 5 hours to complete the journey.

We don’t really recommend the bus because apart from the travel time taking more than 1 day, fares are at least 2x more expensive compared to taking a flight. Even round-trip flights are cheaper than a one-way bus ticket! But if you’re up for it, make sure to stock up on water, snacks and maybe a podcast or five to pass the time.

Buses from Mexico City to Cancun depart from ADO’s northern bus terminal called Central Mexico Norte.

The easiest and most direct way to get to Central Mexico Norte is via Uber that takes around 30 minutes. Rates from the city centre start from 145 MXN ($8.20).

A more budget-friendly option would be to take the Metro, which only costs 5 MXN ($0.30). However, you’re going to have to make several transfers because there are no direct trains from the city centre to Central Norte. And since you already have a 27-hour bus ordeal ahead of you, we don’t recommend taking the Metro for this route.

ADO, is the sole operator of buses from Mexico City to Cancun. ADO is Mexico’s most popular bus company, offering comfortable, air-conditioned buses with reclining seats and onboard restrooms. For this route, you can book ADO Primera Clase. See our Mexico Bus Guide for the differences between ADO’s bus types.

Throughout your journey, the bus will make a few stops in different towns including Villahermosa, Campeche and Merida. Here, you should be able to stretch your legs, go to the toilet, and grab a few snacks to keep you going for the rest of the trip.

One good thing about taking the bus is that if you had chosen to fly, you probably wouldn’t have the chance to see these smaller cities within Mexico. We’re not sure whether this is worth the 28-hour bus ride though!

Buses park at ADO Bus Station in downtown Cancun, with many hotels and hostels located close by or just a few blocks away — an opportunity to exercise your legs after the long bus journey.

But if you’re staying further away or in the Hotel Zone, you may want to take a taxi to get to your final destination. Taxis are available from outside of the bus terminal and are metered, so rates will depend on the distance and time. An average taxi ride to the beach area is around 200 MXN ($11.20).

Another option is to use public transport. Buses pass in front of the bus terminal on Avenida Tulum and Line R-1 can take you to the Hotel Zone. The rate for the buses is 13 MXN ($0.70), to be paid directly to the bus driver.