Transportation

One of the most stressful aspects of travel planning for me has always been figuring out the best (and most affordable) means of transportation in my travel destination! Thankfully, Mexico offers many options for safe, convenient, and affordable transport options!

• Taxi: Like anywhere, taxi's in Mexico are one of the most expensive form of transportation. If needed, they are super easy to find (they usually find you). Just be sure to agree to a price beforehand to avoid getting scammed!
• Private Shuttle: Private shuttles are the most convenient way of getting around in Mexico, but if you are traveling on a budget like we do, we recommend using them if you are with a group and can split the cost. One way from Cancun to Playa del Carmen (pick up and drop off at our hotels), was $60, which ended up being $10/person. This is an awesome deal, when you consider the bus being around $10-12/person then having to taxi or walk from the bus plaza to your hotel. We used happyshuttlecancun.com and had an incredible experience, they even accommodated changing pick up times.
• ADO: With that being said, taking the ADO bus can be an economical option for solo travelers or couples. They are large buses with decently comfortable seats and storage for suitcases and bags. You can purchase your tickets at the bus plaza, and visit their website for information at ado.com.mx. The website is currently only offered in Spanish. The ADO bus is rarely full so purchasing at the bus plaza is an easy option. The price as of September 2018 for the one-hour bus ride from Cancun to Playa del Carmen runs around $10 USD.  To book online, visit https://www.ado.com.mx . In the left drop down, select the location you are leaving from (Aeropureto Cancun is the airport). In the next box (Donde Vas) is where you are going, and cuando is when. Then click busca tu viaje (book your trip). On the next page, select the time of your trip. Next, you will select the seat, and click adulto for adult. Finally, you will see a pop up asking for your name, email, then to confirm your email.

• Collectivo: Travel like the locals! Collectivos are shuttle type vans that many locals use to head into town. The rates are around $2 US to get from areas like Playa del Carmen to Tulum or Akumal. They aren't the best option for traveling with luggage, as they are meant for daily commutes, and people cram in. They usually leave when full, so if you arrive with bags you will be required to hold them on your lap. You can catch a collectivo from Playa del Carmen on Calle 2 and 20th ave. If you have cell service, you can type in Estacion de Collectivo into Maps and it will take you right there! Drivers will call out whether they are heading south to Tulum (Akumal) or North to Cancun, so you can just hop on, and they leave every 5-10 minutes. In more recent trips, the rates to location are posted inside on the windows, so have your money ready to hand the driver when exiting the van upon arrival at your destination. As a warning, they are not always air conditioned.
• Rental Car: When we flew into Guadalajara, we rented a car and drove through the countryside to Puerto Vallarta; the grand total of our car rental for three days was $6 US! Rental cars are super affordable, but watch out for scams! By law, liability insurance is required in Mexico, so many rental companies will try to make you purchase insurance. However, because it is required, it is actually included in every car rental. In addition, many credit cards will also provide rental car coverage. If you are hesitant to drive in a different country, or are unfamiliar with driving in busy cities, you may be better off opting for other forms of transportation, as  the road system is less controlled than in the US, so driving can be hectic and stressful in town. On a positive note, you drive on the right side of the road there, and there are attendants at gas stations that will fill up your car (just watch the price on the pump closely, ad ensure you receive the correct amount of change).
  

• Moped (Scooter): Scooter rentals are extremely common all around Mexico! A fair price is typically around $20 USD/day, and you can work out a better rate if rent for multiple days. When renting, check over your scooter before driving off, and if there are any issues, take pictures and document the damage. Like with the car rental, gas station attendants will help you at the pump (it should only be a few dollars to top off your scooter), but watch out for scams and keep an eye on the pump and change. 
  

• Bikes:  One of our favorite days in Mexico was spent riding bikes around Isla Mujeres! Bikes, golf carts, scooters, etc. can be found by walking around near hotels and restaurants, they will be lined up outside the shop, so just stop in and inquire with the owner. We rented bikes for around $10 each. (Remember, negotiation is expected!).

• Uber: Some destinations in Mexico offer the popular transportation service, Uber! Just download the app on your phone, and you are good to go! (Prices are given in Pesos). 
• Public Bus System: The cheapest way to get around Mexico is to utilize public transportation! The city busses are easy to catch, and are around $1 US depending on the location. The bus stops are found along the road, marked with blue or black busses. The front window of the bus will have the route number and the name of the destination/route (R1 and R2 are popular routes for the hotel zone). Have pesos in hand when boarding! For more information on the bus schedule and map, check out https://cancun.rutadirecta.com/ and for more general transportation information, visit https://www.cancunholidaysinfo.com/cancun-transportation/    **To ensure we are getting off at the right stop, we will sometimes put the destination into our Maps app just to be sure.

• Driving your own vehicle in Mexico: If driving your own vehicle into Mexico (we drove to Juarez and Puerto Penasco without any issues!), there are just a couple of things to know! First, the road systems are somewhat chaotic, and if you cannot read Spanish well, it can be somewhat more challenging, but definitely doable. Also, Mexico requires specific Mexican drivers insurance, so be sure to purchase a policy before you go. We used bajabound.com and had no issues, and paid around $25/day. Note that speeds are listed in km/hr. There will be gas station attendants to assist you of you need to fill up (prices are in pesos/L), just be sure to check that accurate change is given, or give as close to the actual amount of pesos as possible.