Mexico Resort Airport Guide: Cancún & Los Cabos Arrivals Made Simple

Complete airport guide for Cancún International (CUN) and Los Cabos International (SJD) — what's included in your SandosPromo package, immigration tips, return transfers, and what to expect.

March 28, 2026

Your SandosPromo promotional package includes a one-way airport transfer to the resort. You land, clear immigration and customs, walk out of the terminal, and someone is standing there with a sign with your name on it. They take your bags, put you in a vehicle, and drive you to your resort. That part is handled.

The return transfer is not included. This guide covers everything you need to know for both airports — what to expect at immigration, how to avoid the sales pitches, drive times to each resort, and your options for getting back to the airport when your trip is over.

Cancún International Airport (CUN)

Cancún International Airport serves all three Riviera Maya Sandos properties: Sandos Cancún in the Hotel Zone, and Sandos Playacar and Sandos Caracol in Playa del Carmen.

CUN is the second-busiest airport in Mexico and the main international gateway to the Yucatan Peninsula. It handles over 30 million passengers a year, so the process is well-established — but it is busy, especially during peak season (December–April) and spring break.

Terminal Layout

CUN has four terminals. Most US flights arrive at Terminal 3. Canadian flights and some US carriers use Terminal 2. Budget carriers sometimes use Terminal 4. Check your airline’s terminal assignment before you fly — the terminals are not connected on the arrivals side, and your transfer driver will be at a specific terminal.

Immigration

After your plane lands and you deplane, follow the signs to immigration (migración). Have your passport ready. You may need to fill out an immigration form — some airlines distribute paper forms on the plane, but Mexico has been transitioning to a digital system. If given a paper form, fill it out completely before you reach the immigration officer.

The immigration line can take 20-60 minutes depending on how many flights landed at the same time. Peak arrival hours (noon to 4 PM) are the busiest. The officers ask standard questions: how long are you staying, where are you staying, purpose of your visit. “Vacation” and your resort name are the correct answers.

Critical: The immigration officer will stamp your passport and may give you a tourist card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple or FMM). Keep this document. You need it to leave Mexico. If you lose it, you will need to get a replacement at the immigration office before your departure, which involves paperwork and a fee. Put it in your passport and do not touch it again until your departure day.

Customs

After immigration, collect your checked luggage at the baggage carousel. Then proceed to customs. Mexico uses a red/green light system — you press a button. Green light means go, red light means your bags get searched. The search is quick and routine if you get red. Do not stress about it.

After Customs — Finding Your Transfer

You exit customs into the arrivals hall. This is where it gets noisy. Look for your name on a sign — your Seek & Go or Sandos transfer driver will be holding it. Walk directly to them.

Important warning: Between customs and the exit doors, you will pass a gauntlet of “tourism information” desks and kiosks. These are NOT actual information desks — they are vacation club sales operations. Friendly people will try to stop you, offer you “free tours,” ask about your hotel, and generally slow you down. Walk past them. Do not stop. Do not give them your information. Do not accept any offers. Your transfer is waiting, and these kiosks have nothing to do with your booking.

Drive Times from CUN

To Sandos Cancún (Hotel Zone): ~20 minutes. The Hotel Zone is close to the airport. Short, easy ride.

To Sandos Playacar (Playa del Carmen): ~55 minutes. Highway 307 runs south along the coast. The drive is flat and straightforward.

To Sandos Caracol (Playa del Carmen): ~55 minutes. Same route as Playacar — both resorts are in the Playa del Carmen area.

Return Transfer Options (CUN)

Your return transfer is not included in the promotional package. Here are your options, from most to least convenient:

Seek & Go private transfer ($75-$100 USD). Door-to-door, your own vehicle, driver meets you at the resort lobby. Book through Seek & Go Airport Transfers. This is the easiest option.

ADO bus (~$12 USD). Mexico’s premium bus line runs direct routes from the Playa del Carmen bus station to Cancún Airport. The buses are comfortable — air-conditioned, assigned seats, luggage storage, onboard restrooms. Departures run frequently throughout the day. The bus station is about a 10-minute taxi ride from the Playacar resorts. If you are at Sandos Cancún in the Hotel Zone, ADO runs airport routes from the Cancún bus terminal as well. This is the best budget option.

Shared shuttle services ($20-$40 USD). Several companies offer shared van transfers that pick up at hotels along the route. Cheaper than private but you will make multiple stops. Book in advance.

Taxi. Available but negotiate the price before getting in. Official airport taxis from the arrival terminal are fixed-rate (posted on a board). From Playa del Carmen back to the airport, use the taxi stand at the Playacar entrance or have the resort front desk call one. Agree on price before departing.

Uber / InDriver. Available in the Riviera Maya. Works for the return trip from resort to airport. Less reliable for airport pickup due to local regulations. Download the app before your trip.

For the full breakdown of transfer options, read our detailed guide: Airport Transfers from Cancún.

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)

Los Cabos International Airport serves Sandos Finisterra in Cabo San Lucas. SJD is a smaller, simpler airport than CUN. The same process applies — immigration, customs, transfer — but everything moves faster.

Immigration and Customs

Same procedure as CUN: passport, possible immigration form, red/green light customs check. The lines at SJD are generally shorter. Peak season (November–April, coinciding with whale watching and snowbird season) is the busiest.

The same tourist card rules apply — keep your FMM document until departure.

After Customs

The arrivals area is smaller than CUN, which makes finding your transfer driver easier. The same tourism desk sales pitches exist here — same advice applies: walk past them.

Drive Time from SJD

To Sandos Finisterra (Cabo San Lucas): ~30 minutes. The highway from SJD runs through the Cabo San Lucas corridor. Straightforward drive.

Return Transfer Options (SJD)

Seek & Go private transfer. Book through Seek & Go Cabo Airport Transfers. Same door-to-door service as Cancún.

Official airport taxi. Fixed-rate taxis are available from the Cabo San Lucas area to SJD. Rates are posted. More expensive than Cancún taxis due to longer distance.

Ride-share apps. Less established in Los Cabos than in the Riviera Maya. A private transfer is the more reliable option for the return trip.

There is no ADO bus equivalent for the Cabo corridor. Private transfer or taxi are your main options.

General Tips for Both Airports

Have your hotel name and address saved on your phone and printed. Immigration may ask where you are staying. Your transfer driver needs to confirm your destination. Having it written down avoids confusion. For SandosPromo bookings, your confirmation email has all the details.

Bring a pen. If immigration forms are still paper-based on your flight, having a pen saves you from hunting for one on the plane. A small thing that eliminates a small annoyance.

Skip the airport currency exchange. The exchange booths in the arrivals hall offer terrible rates — sometimes 15-20% worse than market. Instead, use an ATM once you are past customs. ATMs at Mexican airports give a much better exchange rate. Notify your bank before your trip that you will be using your card in Mexico. Better yet, bring a travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees and use pesos from ATMs for tips and small purchases.

Cell phone coverage. Make sure your cell plan includes Mexico coverage before you leave. Most US carriers offer Mexico roaming — T-Mobile includes it, AT&T and Verizon offer affordable add-ons. If your plan does not cover Mexico, buy a Telcel SIM card at the airport (available at convenience stores past customs). Data and calling will work immediately.

Carry-on if possible. If you can fit everything in a carry-on, do it. You skip the baggage carousel entirely, which can save 20-40 minutes — especially on busy arrival days when multiple flights land at once. Your transfer driver is waiting regardless, but less time in the airport means more time at the resort.

Arrive 3 hours early for departure. International departures from CUN and SJD require more time than domestic flights. Security, immigration exit processing, and the walk to your gate take longer than you expect. Three hours is the standard recommendation. Do not cut it close.

Flying after scuba diving. If you went diving during your trip, you must wait 18-24 hours after your last dive before flying. This is a hard safety rule to prevent decompression sickness. Plan your last dive day accordingly — not the day before an early morning flight. Read more in our Scuba Diving the Mesoamerican Reef guide.

What NOT to Do

Do not stop at the “tourism information” desks. This deserves repeating. The desks and kiosks between customs and the terminal exit are vacation club sales operations. The people are friendly and persistent. They will offer you free tours, transportation, welcome drinks, and discounts. It is all a pitch to get you to attend a timeshare presentation that is not part of your SandosPromo booking. Walk past them. Your real transfer is waiting outside.

Do not exchange money at the airport exchange booths. The rates are predatory. Use an ATM instead.

Do not get in an unmarked vehicle. Wait for your arranged transfer driver (they will have a sign with your name). If you need a taxi, use the official taxi stand — not someone who approaches you in the parking lot.

Do not forget your tourist card. The FMM is your exit document. Losing it creates a hassle at departure. Put it inside your passport and leave it there.

Do not check bags you do not need to check. Carry-on travel saves time at arrival and eliminates the risk of lost luggage. If you are packing light for a 3-5 night resort stay, everything fits in a carry-on and a personal item.