Cheap Flights to Cancun

Board a flight to Cancun and dream of this paradise's white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and endless sunshine. Although the luxury resorts have only been around since the 1970's, Cancun has developed into a vacation destination par excellence. So whether your budget borders on cheap or extends to extravagant, Cancun has something for everyone, no matter what you're in the mood for.

Choose from indulgent spa treatments, endless golf courses, a swim with dolphins, horseback riding on the beach, and day-trips to the interactive aquarium. For those looking to delve into Mexico's history, there are archaeological sites filled with Mayan architecture and artifacts scattered around the Yucatan Peninsula. And if the hotel zone starts to feel a bit too touristy, make your way to the city's downtown area for a taste of everyday Mexican life, eating cheap but tasty local fare at the neighbourhood restaurants and shopping at the open-air markets.

Aeropuerto International de Cancun, better known as Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the main gateway to this Mexican beach haven. Several international carriers have scheduled services to this airport while charter flights are more frequent during the peak winter travel season. Airlines offering great deals on cheap flights to Cancun include AirTransat, Allegiant, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, and CanJet. Air Canada, Sunwing, and WestJet have direct flights between Cancun and Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary.

The peak season for flights to Cancun is from December to March when visitors from colder countries escape to Mexico's sunny shores. If you're planning a trip during this time, book flights well in advance as cheap fares are hard to find and hotels fill up very quickly. Summers can get very hot with temperatures well into the 30s (Celsius) so the most pleasant time to visit would ideally be in April or early December, when you can avoid the harsh summer sun, the hurricane season, most of the tourist crowds, and exorbitant prices for hotel rooms and Cancun flights.

Once your flight arrives at Cancun International Airport (CUN), choose from one of the following ground transportation options to get to downtown Cancun or the main hotel zone. There are no taxi services or hotel shuttles at the airport so you are restricted to either public transport, shuttle and car hire services operated by CancunAirport.com Transportation Services, or rental cars.

Public Transit: There is a non-stop bus service operating between the airport and downtown Cancun. Buses run every hour from 8:10 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and leave from Terminals 2 and 3. The trip takes a little over 30 minutes and one-way tickets are approximately $4-$5 USD. To ensure you get a seat on the next available bus, online bookings are recommended, and there will be a transport representative waiting for you at the arrivals gate when your Cancun flight arrives. For passengers heading to the hotel zone, this may not be the ideal travel option as you would need to transfer to a taxi from the bus station.

Airport Shuttle: Shuttle services are operated by the CancunAirport.com Transportation Services. Tickets for shared-ride shuttles are between $10-$15 USD for a one-way trip and $20-$25 USD for a return ticket. Book in advance or walk up to the transport desk and wait for the next available vehicle. In addition to the shuttle vans, there is also a scheduled shuttle-bus service which runs 10 times a day and goes directly to the bus station in Cancun. Fares average $5 USD.

Chauffeured Car Services: Have a chauffeur meet you at the arrivals gate when your flight arrives in Cancun with a meet-and-greet facility offered by the airport's Transportation Services. Fares range from Economical and Private services (approximately $40 USD per vehicle) to VIP (approximately $60 USD) and Limousine services (approximately $110 USD). Booking in advance is recommended, and discounts are available for round-trip reservations.

Car Rental: Dollar, Hertz, Thrifty, and Budget are the car rental companies located at the airport. Due to the large number or tourists who visit Cancun throughout the year, an advance booking is essential to prevent being stranded at the airport without a car.