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Cancun was the #2 most visited city in the world all through the pandemic. Despite the remainder of the world shutting down, not solely has Cancun airport stayed broad open all the time, however they’ve really surpassed passenger numbers from 2019, breaking arrival records for incoming tourists. To put it plainly, Cancun airport is a busy gong-show.
While the Cancun airport has among the greatest direct flight connectivity on the planet, there’s a worth to pay for such quick access to paradise. Throughout 2022 all vacationers flying to Cancun airport ought to concentrate on delays, crowds, and an inventory of ‘covid-era’ journey necessities. This article breaks down merely what you’ll have to learn about arriving on the Cancun International Airport in 2022, regardless of in the event you’re a first-time customer or a seasoned professional.
No detrimental take a look at or proof of vaccination required
Tourists arriving at Cancun airport by no means have to indicate any proof of detrimental checks or vaccination, just because Mexico does not have any entry requirements. Throughout all the pandemic, Mexico has at all times remained broad open with no testing, no quarantines, and no proof of vaccination necessities.
The solely factor ‘covid related’ is a digital kind, referred to as the Vuela Seguro form, which must be stuffed out by any arriving or departing passenger. Many folks have mentioned “Well they don’t even check this!” however as a frequent flier in Mexico I can guarantee you they examine it, and also you don’t wish to be put in the back of a line in the event you don’t have it stuffed out.
The on-line kind takes 2 minutes to fill out and produces a QR code that you could be be requested to indicate all through your journey, together with: At the departing airport earlier than your flight to Cancun, upon arrival within the customs lineup in Cancun, and once more in your departure house (a brand new one will should be stuffed out in your departure).
The movement of arrivals
When you land, you’ll disembark the airplane, undergo the customs lineup, then the bags carousel, then out to the transportation pickup space.
Have your paperwork and passport in hand as you disembark the airplane so you will get into the customs lineup ready. If you don’t have every part prepared, you’ll must step apart to fill out papers and the road will refill very quick forward of you.
Prepare for customs to be swamped
Since Cancun has smashed their arrivals information in 2021, customs is experiencing some severe backups. Depending on what number of flights are touchdown directly, you may be via customs in as little as 10 minutes, however we’ve seen lineups of over 3 hours. Be ready for the worst and hope for one of the best.
To expedite your time via customs and to make sure you don’t have to go away the road and re-enter, there are two belongings you’re going to wish to have ALREADY stuffed out by the point you attain the road.
The first is your FMM paper/card, both the paper copy handed out to you on the airplane, or a digital copy you probably did beforehand on the pc and printed out your self.
The second is the Vuela Seguro QR code I discussed above. They might not examine this at customs, but when they determine to and also you don’t have it, you can get pulled out of line to fill it out and have to begin once more.
Cancun airport has 4 terminals
The Cancun Airport has 4 completely different terminals, however you’ll seemingly be flying into both 2, 3, or 4. This is useful to know when reserving your airport switch, however lots of the firms will simply ask you in your flight quantity, as they’re professionals at understanding what terminal to choose you up from.
Terminal 2 companies many home low-cost Mexican airways like VivaAerobus and Volaris, however in addition they have worldwide flights coming in from Latin America on airways like Avianca and Copa and LATAM, together with USA’s Alaska Airlines and Canada’s Swoop and Sunwing.
Terminal 3 is the busiest terminal for welcoming flights from the U.S., as American, Delta, JetBlue, and United all arrive right here. Canada’s Air Canada and Europe’s British Airways and Iberia additionally land at Terminal 3.
Terminal 4 is a mixture of home and worldwide, being the hub for Mexico’s Aeromexico flights together with many from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. From the States, Sun Country, Southwest, and Frontier come into Terminal 4. Canada’s WestJet and Air Transat flights additionally arrive right here, with European carriers like Air France, Eurowings, and Lufthansa.
The terminals that the flights come into usually are not set in stone and may change, so be sure you examine your boarding move or your airline’s app to make sure essentially the most up-to-date data.
Please, pre-book your transportation
Regardless if that is your first go to to the Cancun Airport otherwise you’ve come many instances earlier than, you’re going to wish to pre-book your transportation from the airport to the lodge earlier than your arrival.
When you clear customs, you’re going to wish to have your driver ready within the pick-up space along with your identify on a signboard, belief me on this. After an extended flight and lengthy lineups within the airport, the very last thing you’re going to really feel like doing is negotiating with a cab driver who’s going to attempt to both quote you an inflated worth or goes to attempt to promote you a timeshare presentation in trade for a journey. It’s nerve-racking and can find yourself costing you extra time or cash. Just pre-book a journey.
I personally fly into Cancun airport 2x’s a month and I nonetheless pre-book each single time. The firm I take advantage of is Van Travel and I’m so extremely pleased with their service. They have finances and luxurious choices, from personal shuttle vans to Escalades. 3 passengers in a van prices $55 USD roundtrip, which is a superb worth for the extent of service and professionalism they supply.
So what in the event you completely forgot to pre-arrange a journey? Well, you CAN get one on the airport however don’t say I didn’t warn you. One million folks will pounce on you as soon as they notice you haven’t pre-arranged and it may be fairly overwhelming. Get able to barter and don’t decide to any conferences or stops alongside the best way.
The ‘Shark Tank’ or ‘Running the Gauntlet’
Since we’re on the subject of transportation, that is actually key data to know, particularly for first-timers. After you clear customs, and earlier than you’re outdoors to satisfy your driver on the pickup location, you’re first going to must stroll via the ‘Shark Tank’ or ‘Gauntlet’ because it’s generally referred to as.
This is an space with taxi stands and counters, particularly time-share counters underneath the guise of transportation suppliers, crammed with folks in uniforms who will shout, stand in your manner, and attempt to get your consideration. They will say issues like “Sir! I am your shuttle driver! Please come with me!”, however he isn’t your shuttle driver. He doesn’t even know who you might be. He’s simply making an attempt to get you to return over and join a timeshare presentation through which he’ll give you a free or discounted journey.
The smartest thing to do when strolling via the Shark Tank is simply to maintain your head ahead and NOT have interaction with anybody who’s yelling, snapping their fingers, or making an attempt to get your consideration. Keep strolling till you see a giant purple signal on the ceiling that factors to the ‘exit to all ground transportation services and taxis’, which is the place the journey that you simply pre-arranged can be ready for you.
Tourists might not routinely obtain 180 Days on their visa
Nomads and long-stay vacationers have to pay attention up: You won’t get the usual 180-day vacationer visa you had been anticipating.
For a few years coming into Mexico and routinely receiving 180 days on a vacationer visa was extraordinarily customary observe. Before I grew to become a resident of Mexico, I most likely got here in additional than 50+ instances over 20 years and at all times obtained 180 days with out blinking a watch. However, a document variety of stories have been popping out of Mexico all through 2021 that Mexican Immigration Authorities are no longer handing out 180 days like sweet and they’re cracking down on vacationers abusing longer stays. We’ve seen this first-hand all through our circle of buddies, readers, and friends who’ve despatched of their FMM playing cards to us displaying as little as 7 days acquired.
The purpose behind this crackdown is Mexico needs long-stay vacationers to correctly apply for non permanent residency as an alternative of continually renewing their vacationer visa, and it is smart for individuals who have been doing border runs for years, however the challenge is it’s additionally affecting first-time vacationers. We’ve had first-time European readers fly into Cancun, anticipating to remain 2 months, however solely receiving 21 days on their FMM card.
If you might be coming for a 1 or 2-week trip at an all-inclusive in Cancun, you seemingly received’t have a problem in any respect – even when they issued you a couple of weeks vacationer visa you’ll be again house by the point it expires anyway. However, in the event you’re planning to remain for 2-6 months, you’re going to wish to gradual the agent down on the immigration counter and clarify your journey. Any longer-stay vacationer ought to have proof of trip rental bookings, proof of onward journey as soon as their journey is over, and anything to indicate you really want the 180 days with the receipts to again it up.
What you must learn about departing from the Cancun airport
Once your trip is completed and it’s time to return house, here’s what it is advisable learn about departing the Cancun Airport
Check your terminal
Ensure you understand the place your flight is departing from so your transportation or taxi takes you to the proper terminal.
Fill out and pay Visitax
A really new, and fairly frankly odd, means of paying a tourism tax is now in impact for all departing vacationers. All worldwide vacationers are supposed to go to the Visitax web site previous to arriving on the airport and pay the 224 pesos tax per individual on-line. Once paid, it should generate a QR code and proof of fee which you’ll present brokers simply earlier than you undergo safety.
Once once more, MANY folks have mentioned issues like “They never checked, so I never do it” however we will guarantee you they’re stopping folks and forcing them to do it on the spot earlier than coming into the safety lineup, which might be tremendous nerve-racking in the event you’re already late in your flight. If you wish to gamble, be my visitor, however if you need a clean departure, simply fill it out and pay it on-line earlier than you get to the airport.
Another phrase of warning, there are lots of rip-off websites on the market pretending to be the government’s official Visitax web site, so please watch out and make sure you’re solely utilizing the proper hyperlink. In 2022 airport authorities are working to permit funds to be made in individual with money, however for now, the positioning is the one methodology.
Fill out Vuela Seguro
You stuffed out this well being kind earlier than arriving into Cancun, and also you’ll have to do it once more earlier than you allow. Many instances, there are brokers checking this earlier than you enter the safety lineup.
Give your self further time
Since your airline on the Cancun airport is liable for checking your detrimental covid take a look at to return house, the lineups are taking for much longer than regular. If you aren’t flying enterprise class, give your self a minimum of 3 whole hours out of your flight’s departure time, as even in the event you’re not checking a bag you’ll nonetheless must lineup within the common check-in line to confirm your take a look at outcomes and/or vaccination standing.
If you’re flying enterprise class you may give your self much less time as a result of you have got a shorter line on the check-in gate to confirm paperwork.
Read More:
Top 6 Fun Things To Do In Cancun For 2022
Expect Crowds In Cancun This Winter As Occupancy Reaches 100 Percent
Cancun Area Home To Majority Of The ‘Top 25’ All-Inclusive Resorts In Mexico
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Disclaimer: Current journey guidelines and restrictions can change with out discover. The choice to journey is in the end your duty. Contact your consulate and/or native authorities to substantiate your nationality’s entry and/or any adjustments to journey necessities earlier than touring. Travel Off Path doesn’t endorse touring in opposition to authorities advisories