Cancún Airport Transfer Guide — Your Options, Compared

You just landed at Cancún International Airport (CUN). You’ve cleared customs, grabbed your bags, and walked into the arrivals hall. Now what?

This is the most common question from first-time visitors to the Riviera Maya, and it’s a legitimate one. CUN can be overwhelming — the moment you exit, you’re approached by shuttle operators, taxi drivers, and yes, people trying to sell you things that have nothing to do with transportation.

How to Get from Cancún to Playa del Carmen

Whether you’re heading from the Cancún Hotel Zone to Playa del Carmen for dinner, transferring between Sandos Cancún and Sandos Playacar, or just exploring the coast — you have several options, each with different tradeoffs on price, speed, and convenience.

The distance is about 42 miles (68 km) along Highway 307. Drive time is 50–70 minutes depending on traffic and your starting point within Cancún.

New Tulum Airport (TQO) — Everything You Need to Know

The Riviera Maya has a second international airport.

Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport — airport code TQO — is located near Tulum, about 90 miles south of Cancún International Airport (CUN). It’s designed to serve the booming southern Riviera Maya, including Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and the coast between them.

For Sandos Playacar and Sandos Caracol guests, TQO could mean a shorter drive to your resort — depending on your airline and route.