If you're an experienced Cancun traveler who always books private airport transfers in advance, you can probably skip this post.

If you're arriving at Cancun Airport and need to get to the Maya Train or simply leave the airport, this may save you a lot of stress.

Safest Way Out

Option 1 (Recommended): Take the red ADO bus.

The red ADO buses are parked directly outside the Arrivals terminal and are impossible to miss. Ride to downtown Cancun, then take Uber or another form of transportation.

Option 2: Uber from the airport.

This is what finally worked for me:

- Stay inside the terminal while requesting Uber.

- If the first driver cancels, keep trying.

- Confirm your clothing with the driver.

- Don't walk out until the driver tells you to.

- When you meet, pretend you're already friends, coworkers or family. Greet each other naturally and get into the car immediately. Don't stand beside the vehicle discussing the Uber ride.

- Verify the trip after you're inside the car.

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Maya Train Shuttle

Ten days earlier, I took the official Maya Train shuttle from the train station to Cancun Airport for 35 pesos.

When I returned by air from Canada, I wanted to use the same shuttle.

I couldn't find it.

- Almost no useful signs.

- I walked from Arrivals to Departures looking for the shuttle stop I remembered.

- Because of the poor signage, I spent a long time outside the terminal before finding a small passage connecting the two areas.

- I never found the shuttle again.

- Even airport staff couldn't tell me where it was.

If you're on a schedule, don't rely on finding the shuttle after you arrive.

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What Happened

Outside the terminal I was immediately surrounded by people selling transportation.

Many were well dressed and wore ID badges. Some even claimed to be airport employees and encouraged me to inspect their badges. They looked convincing, but none of them were allowed inside the terminal.

Everyone offered "help," but every conversation ended with them trying to sell me a taxi or telling me I'd miss my train.

When I asked about the Maya Train shuttle, I was told it didn't exist or was given obviously incorrect directions.

Taxi prices were outrageous: US$20 minimum, US$50 for a ride of only about three miles to the Maya Train station. I've also seen worse cases reported by local Facebook news pages.

When I tried to walk away from the airport, I was told I was entering a federal restricted area.

I went back inside the terminal and ordered Uber.

The first driver cancelled.

The second driver knew exactly what to do. We confirmed our clothing, she told me to stay inside until she arrived, and when we met she had me greet her like an old friend. We drove away without any problems.

I happily tipped her for her professionalism.

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My Opinion

Don't visit Cancun. Beautiful beaches and sunshine cannot make up for the damage to your physical and mental well-being after being deceived, overcharged and constantly harassed.

On the other hand, I hope that the Mexican government can establish a separate passage between the airport and the Mayan train, physically separating tourists from the sight of scammers. I believe this would greatly improve the occupancy rate of the Mayan train and enhance tourists' positive feelings towards Mexico and Quintana Roo.

This is my personal experience at Cancun International Airport. I hope it helps anyone planning to take the Maya Train or simply trying to leave the airport.

If Your Only Goal Is to Leave the Airport Safely

Option 1 (Recommended): Take the ADO Bus to Downtown Cancun

If you don't want to deal with the chaos around the airport or risk taking an Uber there, simply take the red ADO bus to downtown Cancun and then transfer to Uber or any other transportation.

The red ADO buses are parked right outside the Arrivals terminal and are impossible to miss. It takes a little longer, but it avoids most of the aggressive solicitation around the airport.

Option 2: Taking Uber from the Airport (How I Succeeded)

1. Do not wait for your Uber outside. Stay inside the terminal while requesting your ride.
2. If your driver cancels, don't give up. My first driver cancelled just before arriving. The second one succeeded.
3. Follow your driver's instructions carefully. Confirm each other's clothing and only leave the terminal after the driver has arrived.
4. Don't act like a passenger. Greet the driver warmly and pretend you already know each other—as friends, coworkers, or family members. Don't stand beside the car discussing the Uber ride.
5. Verify the trip only after you're inside the car and safely leaving the airport.

This is how I finally managed to leave Cancun Airport successfully.

About the Maya Train Shuttle

Ten days earlier, I arrived at Cancun Airport from the Maya Train station using the official shuttle, which cost 35 pesos. At the airport drop-off point I noticed a small English sign saying "Free Shuttle," so I assumed I could take the same shuttle back to the train station.

Ten days later I flew back from Canada and wanted to return to the Maya Train station.

However:

• There were almost no clear signs outside the Arrivals terminal.
• I tried to walk from Arrivals to Departures to find the shuttle stop I remembered. Because there were almost no directions, I spent quite a while outside the building before finally finding a small, inconspicuous passage connecting the two areas.
• I never found the shuttle stop again.
• I asked several people, including an airport employee, but nobody could provide useful information.

If you're on a tight schedule, I would not recommend trying to find the Maya Train shuttle after arriving at the airport.

My Experience

After landing in Cancun from Canada and collecting my luggage, I walked outside the terminal and was immediately surrounded by people trying to sell transportation.

Many of them were well dressed and wore ID badges. Some even claimed to be airport employees and encouraged me to inspect their badges. This made them appear very convincing. However, they were not allowed inside the terminal building.

Because I looked like someone searching for transportation, many people approached me offering "help." Without exception, every conversation turned into a sales pitch for their taxis, or warnings that I would miss my Maya Train if I didn't leave immediately.

When I asked about the Maya Train shuttle, some people told me it didn't exist, while others deliberately gave me incorrect directions.

I later tried to return to the Departures area to look for the shuttle again, but found nothing. There were no useful signs and nobody could provide reliable information, while people outside continued trying to sell expensive taxi rides.

The prices were outrageous. The opening price was US$20, and I was quoted US$50 to travel only about three miles to the Maya Train station. I have also seen even worse cases reported by local Facebook media.

Eventually I gave up looking for the shuttle and tried to walk away from the airport. Some people attempted to stop me, claiming I was entering a restricted federal area.

Feeling increasingly stressed, I returned inside the terminal and ordered an Uber. The first driver cancelled just before arriving. A few minutes later, another driver accepted my request. She clearly knew the situation well. We confirmed what each of us was wearing, and she told me not to leave the terminal until she arrived. When we met, she instructed me to greet her like an old friend so that we wouldn't appear to be an Uber pickup.

It worked perfectly. I reached the Maya Train station safely. The fare was fair, and I gave her an extra tip for her courage and experience.

My Personal Opinion

This is my personal opinion based on my own experience.

Don't visit Cancun if you don't have to. In my opinion, beautiful beaches, sunshine and turquoise water cannot make up for the damage to your physical and mental well-being after being deceived, overcharged and constantly harassed.