Cancun Airport Guide

To do on the Plane

You will receive the two required Mexican forms at the airport check-in or on the flight. A Mexican immigration form is required for each person and one Mexican customs declaration is required per family. If you make a mistake ask the flight attendant for another, more forms are available in the Cancun airport’s immigration area as well. Remember to bring a couple pens on the plane with you!

 

You hear it all the time but please do remain seated until the cabin door opens and you are officially welcomed to Mexico.

Arriving at Cancun Airport

When you exit the plane there will be signs and airport personal showing you which way to go and immigration agents checking your paperwork to make sure you’ve filled it out properly. If all is well they will point you towards the escalator and stairs (elevators are nearby) that lead to the immigration area. There are usually more agents at the entrance showing you which line to get into. During peek season and travel days, the lines seem endless, just take a deep breath and pass the time chatting with people around you.

 

Be sure to have passports and immigration forms ready. The agent will scan your passport, stamp it and tear off the bottom section of the immigration form(s). The part the agents hands back to you is you “Tourist Card” which you will have to give back when you leave Mexico - keep it safe! Most people fold it and put it inside their passport. If you lose it, there is an Immigration counter/office in both Terminal 2 and 3 to help you when you depart. The process of replacing a lost tourist card can take awhile so arrive at the airport in plenty of time.

 

Baggage claim is to your right after you pass immigration. This can be tricky at any airport as the screens are not always updated quickly and often more then one fight is using a carousel. Once you have found the correct carousel and claimed your bags, (remember to always tag your luggage with your contact and hotel info, just in case), its forward to customs.

 

Get in line for customs inspection. All your luggage including carry-ons will go through a scanner. Once you give your customs form (one per family) to the agent you’ll be asked to press a button. A green light means go on ahead and if you get the red light the agents give your bags a more thorough inspection which usually take a couple minutes.

 

There are bathrooms in all three areas; at the entrance to immigration, to the far right in baggage claim and and just in front of the customs agents after you are cleared.

 

After going through customs you enter what is nicknamed the “shark tank”, the area between customs and the exit where there are tour, transportation, rental car booths and dozens of time-share and tour sales people. They are experts at spotting first time visitors and will descend like a duck on a june bug. The best strategy is to not look around as you walk from customs to the terminal exit, rather talk to each other or if traveling alone, check your cell. If approached anyway, simply smile and a “no thank you” should work. Be polite, remember they are trying to make a living, and say you are being met and keep walking unless of course you are interested in a tour or timeshare.

 

You made it! Exit through the doors, breath in the tropical air and begin your adventure!

Dos and Don'ts from Cancun Airport

www.cancun-airport.com 

 

This list will help you expedite your arrival transition through the airport. We put together this list from the most common mistakes people make when arriving to Cancun. Please use this list as a guide to your arrival only.

 

  • Make sure you and your family have the appropriate documents to enter Mexico. Everyone must have a passports and some countries may need an entry Visa
  • Check that you have all of your travel vouchers such as plane tickets, hotel vouchers, etc. Have one person in charge of these documents.
  • Pack according to your airline's luggage allowances. They are very strict now and excess luggage can get very expensive. Most airlines are charging almost $100.00 USD for excess luggage. Please check with your airline for more information.
  • Mark your luggage for easy identification. Also, make sure all luggage has a name tag.
  • Wear comfortable clothes. Remember, it's over 80 degrees in Cancun.
  • Do not bring food unless it's sealed and packaged. As a rule of thumb, you cannot bring any meats, vegetables or grains. THIS IS NOT AN AIRPORT POLICY, it is a Mexican Customs Policy.
  • DO NOT BRING any firearms, knives, sharp objects or anything that can be considered a weapon. Lighters are banned from carry on baggage.
  • When checking in at your departure airport make sure you get all of your luggage claim tags. You will need them in Cancun.
  • Fill out the immigration and customs forms while you are on the plane. DO NOT WAIT until you get to Cancun.
  • Families please stay together while going through immigration. Give your complete documentation to the immigration agent and wait for questions, if any.
  • Continue on to pick up your luggage. Gather all your luggage and proceed to customs.
  • If you get stopped for inspection you will be asked to open your luggage and the inspector will search through it. Remember they are only looking for illegal items. This is a routine inspection and it should take no more than 10 minutes.
  • Make sure you have prearranged your transportation to your hotel or Ferry dock to Isla. If your transportation is included with your package you will be greeted by a tour representative. If you do not have transportation included, then you should book your transportation in advance.
    This is the biggest complain the airport gets from the arrival procedures, other than the long lines at the immigration booths during peek times.

Cancun Airport Transportation

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Luxury Van Transportation offers one-way, round-trip and all-inclusive door to door transportation services from the Cancun Airport to Isla Mujeres in a private, air-conditioned luxury van. They have been providing ground transportation and private tour services for over 18 years, serving Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the rest of the Riviera Maya.Luxury Van Transportation