World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
There are two bus companies that are responsible for public transport in Cancun: Autocar (tel: (998) 888 6858; website: www.autocarcancun.com) and Turican (tel: (998) 888 2271). The most useful routes in the city are Ruta 1 and Ruta 2, which run frequent services between the mainland and the beaches along Avenida Tulum to Punta Nizuc at the end of the zona hotelera; and Ruta 13 that goes from Avenida Tulum (eastside) to Puerto Juarez where ferries for Isla Mujeres depart.

Taxis
Taxis in Cancun fall into two main types - those that cruise looking for fares and those working from stands, outside hotels and restaurants. There is a flat rate for journeys in the zona hotelera and by law the driver should have a card with rates, although this will be printed in Spanish. You should fix a price before you start your journey. If you are looking for something a bit more special, Cancun Limo and Transfer (tel: (998) 880 8200; website: www.cancunlimo.com) rents out limousines.

Car Hire
Car hire is relatively expensive in Mexico and driving conditions are more chaotic than in many Western countries. Speed limits are generally ignored and mirrors are seldom used. Speed limits in the downtown area are 40kph (25mph) and 60kph (37mph) in the zona hotelera. Highway speed limits vary between 90kph (55mph) and 110kph (68mph). Drive on the right, and be careful of vicious speed bumps – especially on the outskirts of villages and towns. You should avoid driving at night and be careful when overtaking. You will need to be at least 21 when hiring a car in Mexico and although an international driving licence will help, a national licence should be sufficient. You should ensure that you have adequate Mexican insurance, as any accident will be considered your fault, and that might be all that keeps you out of a Mexican jail. Drink driving is taken as a serious matter in Mexico and can land you in jail. Even if you are not over the limit, if a traffic accident is judged to have been caused by alcohol, your insurance will be deemed to be invalid. You should also be careful of other drivers and pedestrians who may have been drinking. Major providers with desks at the airport include: Alamo (tel: (998) 886 0448; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (998) 886 0221; website: www.avis.com), Hertz (tel: (998) 886 0045; website: www.hertz.com) and Thrifty (tel: (998) 886 0333; website: www.thrifty.com).

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
EagleRider (tel: (998) 885 0988; website: www.eagleridercancun.com) rent out a range of Harley Davidson motorbikes. A number of hotels and shops offer bicycle hire in Cancun.