You've probably noticed that taxis in Cancun don't have meters. There may be taximeters in taxi cars in other cities and states of Mexico, but in the state of Quintana Roo you pay the taxi driver the amount he told you. This gives rise to the idea that the fare is set by the taxi driver himself, and arbitrarily. However, this is not true. Now we will tell you how to avoid overpayments when traveling in Cancun taxis.
All taxi companies are part of unions, or syndicates. The largest of them — syndicate «Andrés Quintana Roo», named after the state of the same name. Taxi companies receive concessions to operate in the state. In return, they sign an undertaking with the state government to comply with certain operating conditions. One of these conditions — follow the maximum tariffs for the carriage of passengers established by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (SINTRA).
In Quintana Roo, these tariffs have not been revised for many years. Although taxi drivers regularly insist on revising tariffs, the revision process itself is formalized, and local authorities do everything to ensure that tariffs do not change.
In Cancun, more than 9 thousand cars operate as taxis. Every taxi driver should have fares (Tarifario), and even if they are not secured in a visible place in the car, you have the right to ask for them — the driver is required to show them. We will return to this later.
Tip 1
Have at least a general idea of how much your travel may cost.
The maximum established fare for short-distance travel in Cancun — 30 pesos ($1.6). For example, drive through downtown. Fares for travel to remote areas of Cancun from the center — 75 pesos. If you are Mexican, you can be driven for a short distance for 25 pesos, but if you look like a non-resident, they will charge you 50 pesos. The difference is not so big that you should panic about it.
But there are two special zones that have their own tariffs. Moreover, only certain taxi services are authorized to pick up passengers from these areas. This is the Hotel Zone and the International Airport.
Let's say you called a taxi through the appEasy Taxi— a mobile taxi service that is officially licensed to operate in Cancun. A trip from downtown to the Hotel Zone will cost you from 90 pesos, and to the airport — from 125 pesos. The minimum established tariff for travel in the hotel zone, even for the shortest distance — 135 pesos ($7), from the Hotel Zone to the city — even higher, and to the airport — from 300 pesos. And you cannot call Easy Taxi and many other services to pick you up from the Hotel zone or the airport — they have no right to do so.
At the airport, taxi drivers charge $70 for travel to the Cancun Hotel Zone. Considering the distance, it's not cheap at all. You are not able to call a taxi from the city, you have no right to order a taxi through a mobile application, and you are forced to agree. And we should bargain! Sometimes you can negotiate for $50 / 1000 pesos.
Tip 2
Always check the fare with the driver before getting into a taxi. Bargain if necessary.
Even with established tariffs, taxi drivers tend to overcharge the fare. And if you look like a non-resident and get into a taxi without specifying the price, at the end of the trip they may quote you a price that is several times higher than the real one.
If the price quoted by the taxi driver before the start of the trip seems too high to you, feel free to negotiate, sometimes it helps. And only after making sure that the fare suits both you and the driver, get into the car. Or look for another taxi.
Tip 3
If a conflict arises with the driver, appeal to Tarifario.
If the price quoted by the driver surprises you, ask the driver to show you the rates. If he refuses to do this, threaten to complain to his driver's union orPROFECO— Federal Prosecutor's Office for Consumer Protection. This often helps, but it is better to use the previous tips and not lead to a conflict situation.
Tip 4
Look for alternative transport.
You are unlikely to find an alternative to a taxi for travel from the Hotel Zone to downtown, except perhaps a city bus on routes R-1 and R-2 for 12 pesos ($0.6) — By the way, quite decent.
But you have the right to arrange in advance via the Internet with a private transfer to meet you at the airport. In particular, the discount site Groupon regularly publishes offers for inexpensive shared transfers from Cancun airport to the city or Hotel Zone (699 pesos / $36 for 1-4 people, 999 pesos / $52 for 5-8 people) or to the resort town of Playa del Carmen (1,199 pesos and 1,699 pesos, respectively). You can also find offers for such services in Facebook groups.
If you are traveling from the airport to Cancun's downtown or vice versa during the day, the company's first class buses are a good alternative to taxis.ADO— the ticket costs 86 pesos ($4.5). Tickets can be purchased at the airport or train station in the center of Cancun; queues, if there are any, are not so long.
We wish you pleasant taxi rides in Cancun, and without overpayments!