*Last updated September 2024*
For me, one of the most frustrating things about traveling is arriving at the airport. Wherever you are in the world, it seems transportation from the airport to the hotel or city center where you are going is outrageously expensive. I get particularly hot under the collar in Mexico, when I know there is a cheaper, local option to getting where I need to go but the fact that I’m a stranger to the city means I usually don’t know what that is.
So. I’ve become inspired to write this post about the Mexican airports which I am familiar with and how to get to and from cheaper (not always easier). If you don’t care how much it costs and you just want convenient transportation, stop reading now and take one of the expensive airport taxis that you will be offered upon arrival. I’m writing this from the perspective of someone like me, who lives in Mexico and lives in pesos. I realize that the prices of the taxis that I am about to mention will seem a pittance to some foreign travelers, but for anyone trying to travel on a budget, I think this info will be helpful.
I also know I am going to get some blowback for my suggestion that people use Uber, but in Mexico the taxi rates are so unregulated that they can really try to stick it to you when they think you have no choice (like at an airport). In addition, Ubers always gps (a heaven-sent when most cabbies don’t know where they are going) and you can pay with a credit card which hasn’t yet come to regular cabs. I know I may be putting money in Trump’s pocket with this suggestion, but I am trying to make your life easier, so it’s up to you if you want to use the service.
Here is what I know about the airports that I have visited in Mexico:
MEX – Benito Juarez International – (Mexico City)
This is probably the airport I know best, having been in and out of it so often. Here are a few tips:
Getting to the City: The metro is a great cheap option (5p) if you have few bags or light bags. If you arrive into Terminal 1 you walk towards Puerta 1 all the way at the end of the terminal, exit, and follow the curve of the sidewalk past the cab stands, you will come upon the metro entrance on your left. From there it’s just a matter of knowing which metro stop is your final destination and making the transfers, you will almost always make at least one transfer. It will take between 40 minutes to an hour to get into the center of the city if it’s not rush hour.
From Terminal 2 you take the inter-terminal bus to the Hangares metro stop. The bus leaves from outside the far-right door of the airport. That means if you are arriving domestically, the door right in front of you as you exit security and if you are arriving internationally, to your right at the end of the hall. You will see taxi stands outside the door, the bus stop is behind them on the ground level. There is also direct bus from the Mexico City airport to Queretaro which is around 380p (and a good way to get to San Miguel de Allende, buses leave from Queretaro to San Miguel about every 15 minutes).
Of all the airports I have been in this country I think the authorized airport cabs in Mexico City are the most fairly priced, but they are still almost double what you will pay for an Uber from the airport to the center of town. Regular cabs can’t pick up passengers at the airport so the airport cabs or calling an Uber are your two choices, unless you want to cross over the highway to the cab station on the other side. If you walk out door #7, you can see it from there, but I don’t think a first-timer to the city is going to feel totally comfortable doing that and negotiating a price so I recommend the other options. When you order an Uber to pick you up at either terminal you will see options for which door you want your pick-up to come to.
Inter-terminal travel: The Mexico City airport has two terminals and an inter-terminal bus that leaves from outside door 7 on in Terminal 1 and the stop I just described above in Terminal 2 (the shuttle was 12p the last time I road it). You can take the inter-terminal indoor train only if you have a ticket in hand, so if you’ve printed your ticket you could use that option. It’s on the second level of Terminal 1. It’s ALWAYS important to know which Terminal you are flying out of (or your guests are arriving into). Most flights come through Terminal 1, but all AeroMexico (and Delta) flights go in and out of Terminal 2.
Getting to the Airport: The airport has its own stop on the metro called Terminal Aérea (don’t get off at Hangares, the stop I previously mentioned, it won’t take you right to the airport), on the yellow line (#5). The city metro is super easy to navigate and from the city’s central neighborhoods it will take you between 45 minutes to an hour to get there. If you are headed to the airport during peak rush hours of the metro (7am to 9am, 6pm to 9pm) give yourself at least 40 additional minutes. Again, I don’t suggest this route if you have lots of heavy bags. The metro is notorious for being un-rollerbag friendly with LOTS of stairs (God forbid you were in a wheelchair and wanted to use the metro). If you do take the metro, depending on which side of the yellow line you are coming from, you want to follow the signs to exit for the TERMINAL, the other exit will take you out to the road and you will have to cross the pedestrian bridge and cross the highway to get to the airport.
Alternatively, you can call ahead for a sitio cab (hotels have a list of companies they use) which will cost probably an additional 30 pesos on top of what a regular street cab would cost you, or get an Uber. From the Roma where I live, an Uber to the airport generally costs me 90-120 pesos (never any less), but at an hour with little traffic I can get there in a street cab for 60p. A sitio, call-ahead cab, is usually around 100pesos. NEVER take a street cab that doesn’t have a working meter… they will charge you an arm and a leg.
Notes: There is a public internet place on the upper level in Terminal 1. Don’t take money out of the bank of Citibanamex ATMs in the center of Terminal 1, the fee is outrageously high at 197pesos a withdrawl. Instead go all the way to the end of the terminal near door 9 and use the tiny banamex machine or the HSBC machines right before that on the right, the fee is only 75pesos. There is now a stand in the middle of terminal three near the Viva Aerobus check in that sells tickets to AIFA (Mexico City’s other airport, see below), the price is 125p and they run at the top of the hour from 7am to 8pm.
AFIA – Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Angeles – Mexico City
This is Mexico City’s new airport that no doubt you have heard a bunch of controversy about. The truth is that despite being very far outside the center of the city, this airport is new and sparkling, and getting more and more shopping and eating options as time goes on (it opened at the end of 2023 so it’s still in its baby phase). Also going through security here right now will take you all of about 5 minutes — a dream if you ask me. I don’t really recommend this airport for tourists unless the price difference is so outrageous that it makes the extra time you have to spend in transit worth it. It will take you at minimum an hour to get to and from this airport from the center of the city (and that’s on a good day).
Getting into town: That said, we are all holding our breath waiting for the new suburban train to open that has been promised in July/August of 2024 (I am writing this on August 1st and so far no train). With this train it will take about 40 minutes to get to the Buenavista train station near the center of the city and from there you can take all kinds of public transportation to the place you are going. This train is going to cost 120p.
Until then, you can take a cab (Ubers are technically not allowed to pick up passengers here, we’ll see if that sticks) from the airport which will probably run you about 400 pesos if not more, or you can take a bus, to various locations across the country or to the Terminal del Norte or Tapo, the city’s two main bus stations (one in the north and one in the south so figure out which is better for your final destination), that leave the buses to these two stations cost 80p.
Getting to the Airport: The easiest and fastest option is an Uber, but probably around 400 pesos if not more with traffic. There are buses that leave from various points in the city that take you to the AIFA but here I will be honest and say that the information is so confusing and contradictory that I have yet to use them. I am waiting for the train to take out the guesswork of where to catch one. I have been told several times that you can catch a bus at the World Trade Center which is only a few metrobus stops south of Roma, if you want to try your hand at getting there that way. Here’s also a list of buses to AIFA from various other cities throughout the country.
GDL — Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport – Guadalajara
The Guadalajara airport is pretty far outside of the city and so any transportation to and from is going to take awhile, here’s what I know.
Getting into the city: Guadalajara has Uber and that’s what I used last time I was there. I took an Uber from the airport to Tlaquepaque and then to Colonia Las Americas, which is in the center of town more or less and it cost me a little over 300pesos. If want to take a taxi, from the airport to the Centro will cost you 370pesos to get into the heart of the city, so not much difference. There are authorized taxi stands to purchase a ticket on either end of Terminal 1 but the prices are based on zones so you will need to know the specific address of where you are going and be able to explain it or give some basic instructions to your driver on how to get there. If you get an Uber you will be asked to go to the traffic circle to the left of exit or across the street to wait outside the OXXO, as Ubers aren’t allowed to pick up passengers right at the terminal.
Local buses that take you into the center of Guadalajara or to other Mexican cities are all located in the Terminal Terrestre (Ground transportation Terminal) of the airport which is accessible via the inter-terminal shuttle or a short walk from either Terminal 1 or 2. There are two local bus options, one that drops you off at Central Vieja (12p), the old bus station in the middle of town, and one that simply takes you to “Centro.” (6p). Look for either “CENTRAL VIEJA” or “EL CENTRO” on the front windshield of the buses at the terminal. From either of those destinations, you will have to take a cab, bus, or walk to your final destination.
You can also take a shuttle either provided by your hotel (check with them in advance and arrange it) or Shuttle GDL which has service both to and from the airport for 100p. Their website was “under construction” as I was writing this, but this email was provided on their Facebook page as a contact.
Getting to the airport: Same options apply in getting to the airport, a regular cab will cost you about the same, if not a little bit cheaper (300p), an Uber the same price, and a shuttle from Shuttle GDL 100p (check with them about their scheduled departures). It’s a long ride from the center of town so plan for at least 45 minutes to get there during regular weekly traffic.
For the bus, you can catch an Airport bus from Central Vieja about every 20 minutes and the cost is 12p or you take the local 176 leaving from the Dos Templos stop. Look for “aeropuerto” on the window. There is also a direct bus that leaves every hour from the Autotransportaciones Aeropuerto office.
Inter-terminal transportation: Transport between the terminals at GDL is free and the buses leave from a stop outside the international arrivals gate.
I stole the majority of this information from www.discovergdl.com’s post about airport transportation while updating and checking on a few things independently.
PVR – Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport – Puerto Vallarta
This is the most recent airport where I got furious because they wanted to charge me an outrageous amount and told me there was no other way for me to get into the city. Walking out of the departures area in this airport is stressful (although not as stressful as Cancun) because everyone is trying to hawk their transportation services and large groups of people are often trying to organize transport for their groups.
Puerto Vallarta also has no Uber and seems to have a taxi mafia running the place. The town is TINY and yet any cab in any direction for any length of time costs you minimum 60 pesos (I didn’t get in a single cab with a meter). ALWAYS negotiate a price in advance and if you end up having to go further than you originally thought, check in with your driver. Last time I was there I had to go an additional 6 or 7 blocks and my cabbie wanted me to pay double.
Getting into town: The center of Puerto Vallarta is only about 15 minutes from the airport which is what is so infuriating about them wanting to charge you 350p to get there in an airport taxi, but if you want the most convenient option go ahead and hire one.
The bus into town leaves from a stop to the left of the OXXO outside the airport (along the highway) and costs 8p. This will take you to Hidalgo Plaza and then you will have to take a cab or additional bus to get to where you are going, but I guarantee it will be cheaper overall than the airport taxi. The most convenient option if you are staying in a hotel is to arrange a hotel pick-up in advance. They can be as cheap as 75p if you are in a van with other guests. Check with your hotel and see if they offer a transfer service.
You can also arrange shuttle service through one of the transportation providers like Superior Tours Vallarta (35 to 50usd per vehicle), Puerto Vallarta Tours (10-20usd per person) or others — there’s a wide range of prices to choose from.
Getting to the Airport: You can very easily take the bus from the center of Puerto Vallarta to the airport. You will want to ask a local or your hotel where the closest bus stop is and look for one that says “Aeropuerto” on the windshield. There is also a bus from Sayulita that despite taking an hour and 20 minutes is just as convenient. The bus will cost you 8p either way (the bus to and from Sayulita is about 80p each way). But it’s hot in Puerto Vallarta and the bus might be crowded, so your other options are to arrange for a shuttle from your hotel or haggle with a taxi driver to take you there. Expect to spend upwards of 300p for a regular cab, and a hotel shuttle will be markedly less expensive if they have a regular schedule of trips and might even be free depending on how fancy your hotel is. For anyone staying in the hotel zone that wants to take the regular bus you will need to take an additional local bus from the hotel zone to the city’s main plaza to catch it (it’s a straight shot and easy).
You can also arrange a shared shuttle to the airport, see above for information on companies and prices.
Side notes: The airport is so small — only the one building — so no inter-terminal travel needed. This also means very few food and drink options — a Subway sandwich shop, a small, generic coffeeshop, a bar outside with overpriced cold beers and Mexican snacks — so take that into consideration if you think you’re going to be hungry.
MTY – General Mariano Escobedo International Airport – Monterrey
Maybe one of the most expensive airport rides I was offered was in Monterrey, with a trip from the airport in Monterrey to the upscale neighborhood of San Pedro over 600p. I found a way to avoid it, but public transportation was a tad complicated. Uber is in Monterrey, along with a similar service called Cabify and both work great. Here are my notes:
Getting into the city: So the last time I was in Monterrey I took the bus into the city. It’s nicer than just a regular city bus, air-conditioned, and will cost around 80p to take you to either of the city’s main bus terminals (Terminal Fierro, locally called Y Griega, or the Central de Autobuses). These buses leave from the various terminals of the airport about every 20-30 minutes. There is a stand in each terminal that sells bus tickets (also direct tickets to Saltillo and other locations nearby by bus) and they can tell you when the next bus into the city leaves and from which terminal. The inter-terminal bus is free and fast.
From either of the city’s main bus stations you will have to get a bus, street taxi, or Uber to your final destination. I suggest, if you want a cheaper regular cab, skipping the taxis seguros stand in the bus stations and walk outside to catch a cab on the street. I found the taxi drivers in Monterrey to be admirably honest about their meters and prices, even if they didn’t ever know where I was going (bring your phone and gps if you can). Check to see which bus station is a better endpoint for your final destination.
Uber is another easy option from the airport and is less than half the price of an authorized airport taxi. There are no regular cabs allowed to pick up passengers at the airport.
Getting to airport: Since Uber has made it here you can easily use that service to get you to the airport but there is another taxi service, Cabify, that offered a better price last time I was there (Cabify was about 100p cheaper than my price quote on Uber). The only issue is that you have to set up the Cabify app in advance on your phone (it works the same way Uber does) with an automated charge to your credit card. A regular street taxi will cost you around 250p to the airport from the center of town.
You can also get to the airport via public transportation on the bus. You can take a cab, the metro, or another local bus to the Monterrey bus terminal whose official name is Terminal Fierro but is known locally as Y Griega (because it sits at a Y-shaped intersection.) If you take the metro, you get off at the Y Griega stop. From there you can either take the Vivaaerobus bus line or the Chihuahuense bus line that will take you to the airport (about 80p).
Hotels also often offer services but since it’s not an overly touristy destination, the service is more like a cab than a shuttle with other people and will most likely be just as pricey as taking a regular cab, if not more.
Side note: The airport is a way outside of the city and my Monterrey friends say that the highway that leads you to it is often jammed due to accidents. Plan accordingly.
CUN – Cancún International Airport – Cancun
Cancun is a lot like Puerto Vallarta in the fact that it’s a very touristy airport where you will be bombarded with people hawking you transportation options. There are two distinctive areas where you will be going in Cancun, either downtown or to the Hotel Zone, which is the strip of land between the lagoon and the ocean where most big-name hotels are. I talked to Kristin Busse and Kelly McLaughlin, two Cancun bloggers to round out my knowledge about this airport, and here is their knowledge and mine combined:
Getting to the city/hotel zone: Like most airports in Mexico, there are “authorized” cabs at the Cancun airport that are the only cabs allowed to take riders from there. These will run you about 50 bucks to get to the hotel zone, and might be more than that if you don’t book in advance (There are about a million transportation companies that you can book with, including Supershuttle, or getting info through the Cancun airport website about courtesy shuttles). You can also pre-book a hotel pick-up (arrange with your individual hotel) or take a shared shuttle (pre-booked or day of) which runs around 15$ per person and will take you directly to your hotel. There is Uber in Cancun but both of my blogger sources said it wasn’t a great idea to take them because there has been a lot of backlash from the taxi driver unions and some violence against Uber drivers there. It is technically “illegal” for them to pick-up from the airport.
Your cheapest option (unless you can get a free hotel shuttle) is to take the ADO bus from the airport which leaves from Terminal 2. Most international flights arrive at Terminal 3 but there is free inter-terminal transportation. The bus will cost you around 72p and will take you either to downtown Cancun or Playa del Carmen. The buses leave about every 30 minutes and the last one leaves at 12:30am so late arrivals should make other arrangements. There is a ticket counter in each terminal with the distinctive red and silver logo.
Once at the main downtown bus terminal, you can take a local bus (10.5p) that says “HOTEL ZONE” on it out to the hotel zone (know where your hotel is so you know where to get off) or you can take a street cab to your hotel.
Note: some cabs don’t have permission to drive out to the hotel zone, but most do, they are white with “taxi” written on them in green. These will run you from 150 to 200p to get out to the hotel zone, depending how far you are going.
Getting to the airport: Everything above applies going in the opposite direction. For a bus you can take the local bus from either the hotel zone or other areas of downtown to the downtown central terminal and take the ADO bus from there to the airport. For hotel shuttles, shared shuttles, or cabs, it’s best to arrange in advance on one of the many transportation sites.
Getting around: Cabs run in and out of the hotel zone and downtown constantly and will run you 150p and up depending on where you are going. The local bus goes up and down the hotel zone all day and costs 10.5p each ride, a total bargain for getting in and out of downtown. Before you say, “Why would I go there…?” there is a great local market in Cancun and a whole other local world waiting to be discovered. Plus the bus going up and down the hotel zone will also take you to: other hotels, shops, restaurants, the massive Chedraui grocery store, and the Isla de Mujeres ferry which are all along this strip. The buses are almost never air-conditioned but what do you care? You’re wearing flip-flops and a bikini top while the locals are dressed in pants and long-sleeved shirts. No biggie.
OAX – Oaxaca International Airport – Oaxaca City
The Oaxaca City airport is the only in-land airport in the state and so most people traveling to Oaxaca will go through it at least once. The airport is tiny, with just 10 tiny gates in one large room once you pass security and a single exit area and baggage claim if you are coming off a plane. You will literally just exit the plane and walk on the tarmac into the airport Casablanca-style.
Getting into the city: The taxis going into the city are not as outrageous as other places. A shuttle service will take you to the Centro Historico (downtown) for 85pesos a person, or to the northern end of town for 135pesos a person, totally reasonable. The private cabs are a little over-the-top and will cost you 460pesos to the Centro and 1,330pesos to the north of town (per car prices). If you want to go REALLY cheap, exit the airport and walk along its only exit to hit the main road (it’s not dodgy or trafficky and there is a sidewalk for a chunk of it). Once on the main road you can catch a cab into town for 50p. There are also three rental car companies: Hertz, Alamo, and Eurocar.
Getting to the airport: Taking a regular old street cab to the airport will cost you around 250pesos from the Centro Historico, there are also several buses that will drop you off at the top of the exit road I was telling you about, they cost about 6pesos and you will have to ask a local or your hotel where to pick one up.
Notes: There is a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner outside of security and several shops (Sunglasses Hut, a mezcal shop, a coffeeshop) once you are inside, nothing with real food, just snacks. There is a single money exchange (that when I was there on a Tuesday at 10am was not open?) and a Banamex ATM.
CLQ – Licenciado Miguel de la Madrid National Airport – Colima
Traveling throughout Colima I found myself constantly pissed off about the airport transportation, here’s why.
Getting into the city: There are two taxi companies that will take you from the airport to Colima City and each is 450 pesos or higher, which is completely ridiculous in that the ride is 15 minutes. On top of that, only one company takes cards and there are no ATMs in the airport.
Getting to the airport: Getting to the airport was not as bad as getting into town. I was staying at the Wyndham Garden outside of town (on the way to the airport) and caught a street cab on the main avenue for 225pesos. From the Centro where most of the hotels are and where most people stay, it’s likely to be double.
Notes: This airport is probably the smallest I have ever been in in Mexico. There are a few shops past security including a terrible coffee shop, a little gift shop, a bar (which is awesome for such a tiny airport), and a place to get snacks. There are two gates. There is nothing on the outside of security except disgruntled employees. Careful, one of Colima’s favorite gifts to load down tourists with is their famous coconut oil (which is fantastic), but the airport won’t let you travel with it, even in a checked bag, because it is considered flammable.
ZLO – Playa de Oro International Airport – Manzanillo
This airport takes the cake. It is supposedly the largest international airport in Colima and is literally in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. There is no walking to a main road or taking a bus here, taxis are your only option and they know it. This is only half an update since I didn’t fly in or out of this airport, I just ended up hanging out there for a while (that’s a whole other story).
Getting to the airport: I was staying at the northern end of town, at Las Hadas to be exact and the price to the airport was 350 pesos (the hotel quoted me 400 and when I asked the guy as he dropped me off he said 350). You might have been able to get a cheaper taxi in town, from the main highway that runs through Manzanillo, but again, forget taking the bus, wherever they might drop you off you would have to walk for miles in the heat to reach the airport.
Notes: Outside of security there is a minuscule snack bar, ATMs, a waiting area and car rental stands.
HUX – Huatulco International Airport – Huatulco
The Huatulco airport has this supremely beachy vibe to it. There are a bunch of eateries outside in the front of the airport and to get to security you walk outside as well. Passed security are two big waiting areas, the more central one with 8 gates, more than the other in the back. The central waiting area has several tourist shops and a small food court.
Getting to the City: When exiting the airport there is generally a crush of people trying to taxis and shuttles. It’s actually easier to just get a shuttle ticket while you are still in baggage claim from the taxi stand there. The girl running it when I arrived was about to slit her wrists with boredom, so go ahead, give her something to do. The shuttle is totally reasonable, at 150 pesos a person, but you often have to wait till a van fills up (maybe 15 minutes?). They then drop off you at your individual hotel, not bad for door-to-door service. The private cabs and vans are more.
Getting to the Airport: Taxis from the cluster of towns that make up Huatulco to the airport will cost about 200 pesos (price per car).
Notes: There are several car rental and tour agency stands as you come out of baggage claim before you exit the airport. The employees at the airport will tell you there are no ATMs, but there are, in fact, three: Bancomer, Banamex, and Santander. My flight out of Huatulco to Mexico was about 5 hours delayed and I have heard other stories that make that seem like a regular occurrence so take along a book to read. Of all the airports I have been in in Mexico, this might be my fav (even with the massive delay).
SJD – San Jose de los Cabos International Airport – Baja California
The Los Cabos airport is another small one, but there is a domestic and international terminal so when you are leaving make sure you get dropped off at the right one or it’s a bit of a hike (usually a hot one).
Getting into town: The airport is a good distance from Los Cabos downtown and the best way to get exactly to the hotel you going to is probably to get a shuttle arranged in advance. That said, this last time I went I took the bus that runs along the coastal highway and it cost about 100 pesos, but you need to know where to get off. If you ask the driver they know all the local hotels and drop you near them. The problem is it’s a massive, busy highway so if you are getting dropped off on one side of it you have to traverse to the other. An Uber will run you probably 400 pesos if not more and a taxi about the same. Also, know that most of the car rental places are not right at the airport but most have a free shuttle service to the office nearby.
Getting to Airport: I haven’t had the pleasure of getting to the airport by bus yet, so I’m not informed about prices, but the same goes as above for private transportation.
MID – Merida International Airport – Yucatan
The Merida Airport is one of the tiny ones, but it feels modern and well-kept. There are five baggage carousels and right when you exit baggage there are several car rental places (Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Mexc, National, and Eurocar) with another round just out of the exit doors (Alamo, Avis, Fox, Dollar, Localiza). Near check-in, there are only a few places to have a snack including a Maison Kayser cafe and a convenience store. There is also a Santander ATM.
Getting into town: There are three shuttle and taxi services to choose from but the best option is the ADO counter. They have a shuttle into the center of town that’s 230 pesos, but they offer you the bus if that is coming quicker (in my case it was a 25-minute wait versus a 4-minute one so a no-brainer) and it was only 48 pesos and dropped me just blocks from my hotel. (The bus also stops at the bus station first in case you are transferring right away to a different city).
Getting to the Airport: I left from a different airport in the Yucatan so I can’t help you there but I will say that during my stay in Merida, I took Uber all the time and then was told that Didi (another rideshare app) is even cheaper there, so try that as an option for getting back to the airport.
VSA – Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport – Villahermosa
I have not had the pleasure of staying in town in Villahermosa, but I did want to include it here with just afew notes. I arrived from Palenque by bus (from the main Palenque bus station) and was dropped off right outside the main door. I know I have said this about previous airports but this was BY FAR the smallest airport I have every been in in Mexico – I only saw two gates. But there in the gate area there are places to eat, buy snacks, etc. My flight back to Mexico CIty from here was SUPER delayed and I was led to believe from the people I talked to that that is very normal. Also the electricity went out at one point.
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