Getting back to the beach is going to be very important for a lot of people; however, airplane travel might not be your thing for whatever reason. Many people are looking for ways to get to Cancun without flying domestically because of the testing requirements to get back into the U.S. Currently, the only testing requirements are for air travel.
Can you get to Cancun without flying? Yes, here’s how: by vehicle, whether it’s by car or public transportation by bus or train. Another method of transportation to get to Cancun without flying can be by boat or ferry, depending on the starting point. In some cases, a combination of these may be required.
Taking a cruise is another method of transportation; however, there is not a harbor deep enough for cruise ships to dock in Cancun. Which means you’d have to dock in Cozumel and take a ferry across to Cancun. Easy peasy.
Traveling by Car
Driving to Cancun may fit your budget better and reduce your stress level from the fear of flying, but there are certain measures you need to consider if you decide to travel by car.
There is a road that connects to Cancun from Mexico City. So if you can get to Mexico City by car, you can make it the rest of the way to Cancun, which is about an additional 1,000 miles. That comes down to about 30 hours additionally in the car.
Keep in mind this is traveling from the United States. You cannot drive to Cancun from other countries like Europe or Australia. If you are looking for a long road trip, this would be a good one for you.
Even from major cities like El Paso, Texas, it takes about 21 hours to get to Mexico City. That does not include the additional 1,000 miles to Cancun. From San Diego, it’s about 30 hours to Mexico City. You are looking at about 2-3 days just to reach your destination by car.
If you are coming from the east coast, it could take up to almost 60 hours or more depending on your starting point. That would be a long road trip, but imagine how much of the world you could see until you reach the most famous oceanside paradise.
Required Documents You’ll Need if Driving
You will need a few documents to prove identification, whether you are driving your personal car or renting a vehicle in Mexico. Some of those documents include:
- Passport or Passport Card: Americans will need to prove identification and have either of these to operate a vehicle in Mexico.
- Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit: In order to obtain one of these, you will need your passport, proof that you own your vehicle, proof of American registration, a temporary importation document, an American Driver’s license.
- Immigration Card: Any foreign citizen traveling to Mexico for less than 180 days must complete an Official Entry Immigration Form. They will make you complete this at the border if you don’t have it prepared in advance.
Renting a Car in Mexico to Reach Cancun
To rent a car in Mexico, you will need a specific means of identification as well like a passport and proof of car insurance and a valid credit card to cover accidentals. In Mexico, the age limit to rent a car is 21.
In some cases, your credit card is enough to cover insurance, but you may want to buy Mexican car insurance just to be safe. If you opt-out of getting Mexican insurance coverage and end up getting in an accident, you may not be able to leave the country until the damage is paid for.
It would be wise to look over your American car insurance policy to see what is covered in Mexico, so you don’t end up in jail if you get in an accident while you’re down there.
Here is another source on renting a car in Cancun. Read it here.
Public Transportation
Bus
Taking a bus is another way to get to Cancun. Although the price is almost comparable to flying, you get to see more sites along the way. This method of transportation may not be good for those who do not like sitting for long periods of time and are not in control of when stops can be made.
There is not a direct route from most major cities to Cancun. For example, the route from El Paso, Texas, to Cancun has a total of four stops prior to reaching your destination. If you take strictly bus transportation, you are looking at around two and a half days travel time.
Depending on your starting location, more stops may be required, but think of the ultimate road trip you could make!
Train
Another method of land transportation includes by train. However, you can only get so far into Mexico and cannot get straight to Cancun via train services. The rest of the way, you will have to take a bus or rent a car to get to your final destination.
There is talk in Mexico that the President would like to build a train that goes through the Mayan villages and bring more tourists directly to Cancun. This is still in a debate because of the cultural and environmental impact this could place on the land, but some others think this would be economically beneficial.
A fantastic resource to plan your trip to Cancun, whether it be by car, bus, or train, is listed in the link below. You can type in any destination, and this application will bring up all three travel options, and you can explore which one is best for you here!
Traveling By Water
Boat
If you have a private boat, the same rules apply for entry into Mexico when you need to verify your identity with a passport and importation documentation. You could be stopped by the Coast Guard when you near the coast, and you want to make sure you have the proper identification.
Another thing to consider is your starting point and the sailing navigation experience you have, as this could be a long trip. Renting a boat could be more expensive and require more crew to help with the navigation, but it is also an option if it’s something on your bucket list!
Ferry
There are some ferry services within Mexico that travel to and from Cancun including:
- Punta Sam
- Cancun Hotel Zone
- Puerto Juarez
- Gran Puerto Cancun
In order to get to some of the ferry services, you will have to be in Mexico already by some other form of transportation. Unfortunately, there are no ferry services that run from the United States to the Yucatán Peninsula.
There used to be a ferry service that went from Florida to Cancun but was discontinued due to operational and navigation factors. Here is a site that will help with Ferrys in and around Cancun.
Cruise Ships
In order to get to Cancun by cruise ship, you will need an alternative transportation route since there is not a harbor deep enough for cruise ships to dock. There is a cruise dock in Cozumel, which is located at the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Some popular cruise liners that travel to Cozumel include:
- Carnival
- Disney
- Royal Caribbean
- Holland America
You can get a ride on a ferry to get from Cozumel to Cancun. Depending on the pier on your cruise docks in Cancun, you may need to take a taxi or a brisk walk to get to the ferry port. Some passenger ferries in Cozumel include the Mexico Water Jets or Ultramar Ferry Service.
The cruise options are a wonderful hack if you just want to visit Cancun for the day. You can take the ferry from Cozumel over to Cancun and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
