Travelers heading to Cancun are being strongly suggested to watch out when selecting their transportation from the airport. Recent studies and incidents spotlight ongoing stress between conventional taxi companies and rideshare app drivers, like Uber. These clashes have sadly typically caught vacationers within the center, resulting in worrying arrivals. Official authorities our bodies, together with the Canadian authorities, have additionally famous that disputes can happen and should have an effect on vacationers.
Recent Clashes Cause Concern
During the final week of May 2025, at the least two worrying incidents on the Cancun International Airport have put a highlight on these transportation points. In one case, a video shared broadly on social media confirmed an Uber driver being harassed and blocked by people believed to be different transport operators. The Uber driver, filming from his automobile, defined that males have been standing in entrance of his car, stopping him from shifting whereas they made calls on their telephones. While it is unclear if passengers have been pressured out on this particular occasion, related issues have occurred earlier than.
Another current incident, reported by The Cancun Sun, concerned an American household. They reportedly confronted an assault and have been visibly upset after their deliberate Uber experience from the airport was blocked and intimidated by a gaggle of taxi drivers. This occasion, additionally captured on video, reveals how vacationers can straight expertise the fallout from these disputes. Such confrontations can result in delays and a variety of fear for guests simply attempting to get to their motels.
Walking a Kilometer to Catch an Uber
The excessive value of some airport taxis is main extra vacationers to take a protracted stroll, typically over a kilometer, with their baggage to satisfy Uber drivers off airport property. Many do that to economize. For instance, an official airport taxi to the Hotel Zone may quote $60 to $80 USD. By strolling off-site, vacationers hope to get an Uber for round $25 to $35 USD.
However, even this tough stroll does not all the time imply a easy experience. Travelers have reported nonetheless dealing with harassment and intimidation from these attempting to guard taxi pursuits, even when they’re away from the principle airport terminals. These encounters can embrace verbal arguments and makes an attempt to dam their Uber automobiles.
Online boards, like Reddit, characteristic accounts from vacationers sharing these irritating experiences. One vacationer described a “genuinely terrible” first impression after their pals have been allegedly charged $150 USD for a taxi to the Hotel Zone. When this group later opted for a $25 USD Uber, they reportedly confronted harassment from safety personnel and have been pressured to stroll off airport grounds to satisfy their driver.
Understanding the Taxi and Uber Friction
These issues are usually not new, with a documented historical past of stress stretching again for years in Cancun and different vacationer spots throughout the state of Quintana Roo. Traditional taxi unions typically argue that rideshare firms like Uber do not adhere to the identical regulatory frameworks or contribute the identical charges as they do. While Uber has secured authorized permission to function within the space, its presence, notably on the busy airport and resort zones, stays a big sore level.
This underlying disagreement continuously boils over into confrontations that may straight have an effect on guests. In reality, the severity of those disputes prompted the U.S. authorities to difficulty advisories, akin to one on January 23, 2023. This particular alert reminded U.S. residents that whereas app-based automobile companies are typically out there and supply a protected different, previous disputes between these companies and native taxi unions have often turned violent, leading to accidents to U.S. residents in some cases. This underscores how vacationer experiences might be sadly marred by these ongoing native conflicts.
What Travelers Should Do
Given these ongoing points, vacationers arriving in Cancun needs to be ready.
Book Ahead: The strongest recommendation from journey specialists and seasoned guests is to guide your airport transportation earlier than you allow house. Many respected personal switch firms and shared shuttle companies, like USA Transfers and Happy Shuttle, might be booked on-line. This provides mounted pricing, so you recognize the price upfront, and drivers often meet you within the arrivals corridor, making for a smoother, safer begin to your trip. Pre-booking helps you keep away from potential conflicts and overcharging.
Know Your Options: Besides rideshares, pay attention to licensed airport taxis and pre-booked shuttles. These can supply a extra predictable expertise.
For a extra budget-friendly selection, examine the comparatively new ADO bus service from the airport on to Plaza Fiesta within the Hotel Zone for round $7-8 USD, retaining in thoughts chances are you’ll want a brief secondary switch to your particular resort.
Stay Calm: If you end up in an sudden argument, attempt to keep calm and prioritize your security.
Report Problems: If you see or expertise harassment, report it to airport safety or the police.
While most guests to Cancun don’t have any issues with their arrival, these current incidents present a particular problem for these selecting rideshare apps proper on the airport. Staying knowledgeable and planning forward will help ensure that your trip begins off proper. Local authorities say they’re engaged on options, however for now, vacationers needs to be cautious.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.