How To Get From Cancun Airport To Chiquila (+ Isla Holbox) 2023
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Looking for the best ways to get from Cancun Airport to Chiquila? I’ve been there! When we arrived at Cancun Airport wanting to get to Chiquila for Isla Holbox, I assumed it would be easy. ddddd
Fast forward to me scrambling on the sketchy airport wifi to try and find out what buses go to direct to Chiquila after an already 7-hour journey.
This post explains exactly how to get from Cancun Airport to Chiquila, without the fuss, stress or need for sketchy airport wifi. Just make sure to pin or save this post when you’ve read it, to keep it close at hand for when you arrive in Mexico!
TOP TIP: If you need the short, simple answers, head to the section labelled ‘Cancun Airport to Chiquila: A Summary’.
So, let’s get started, and make sure your trip to Isla Holbox can run as smoothly as possible!
Other Mexico posts:
- How To Get From Cozumel To Tulum: Backpacker Guide 2023
- How To Get From Mexico City to Tulum: COMPLETE Guide (2023)
- How To Get From Cancun To Oaxaca: COMPLETE Guide (2023)
- BEST Hostels in Oaxaca for Backpackers! (2023 Guide)
- Is Oaxaca Worth Visiting? An Honest Opinion! (2023)
Cancun Airport to Chiquila: A Summary
Here is a list of the ways to get from Cancun Airport to Chiquila:
- Two buses, one to Downtown Cancun and then one to Chiquila
- Private shuttle
- Taxi
- Hire car
It’s important to know that there is no direct bus from Cancun Airport to Chiquila.
If you are getting the bus, you will need to transfer to another bus from Downtown Cancun. The bus to Downtown Cancun takes approximately 20 minutes, then the bus onwards to Chiquila 2 hours and 20 minutes.
ADO buses run to Downtown Cancun frequently, and you can catch them all throughout the day. However, there are only 5 buses from Downtown Cancun to Chiquila per day, so you’re likely to have a long wait in Downtown Cancun (unless you’re lucky).
If you need to know more about the bus times, prices and what to expect, skip to the section: Cancun Airport to Chiquila by Bus.
As a backpacker, your best option is to get the ADO bus. Yes, it’s annoying with difficult bus timings, but it’s by far the cheapest option, and the buses are full of backpackers doing the same thing.
If you are travelling to Isla Holbox, which most backpackers in Chiquila are, you will need to board a short 15-minute ferry from the Chiquila dock. This is easy and straightforward. If you need more information on boarding the ferry, timings and prices, skip to the section: Chiquila Port to Isla Holbox.
1. Cancun Airport to Chiquila by Bus
As I previously mentioned, if you’re backpacking to Isla Holbox, your best bet for travelling between Cancun Airport and Chiquila is by ADO bus.
ADO (pronounced ah-dee-oh) buses are clean, safe, reliable and modern, and even have a toilet onboard. We used them to travel all over Mexico and didn’t experience any problems with them whatsoever.
I recommend pre-booking your bus ticket if you know the exact time you will be at the airport. If not, you can book when you land. There’s no need to worry about seats selling out, as there are a number of buses running throughout the day.
Use Busbud to pre-book all of your Mexico buses. They send your tickets via a PDF, so you won’t need to stand in any bus stations in long lines or speak Spanish if you’re useless! You can check out the Busbud website here.
GETTING THE FIRST ADO BUS FROM CANCUN AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN CANCUN
When arriving at Cancun Airport, you will need to leave the terminal to the car park. There you will be offered taxis by multiple locals, just be polite and decline. They are likely to overcharge.
In the car park, there will be an ADO ticket stand. If you haven’t already pre-booked your bus tickets online, line up and buy both your bus and ferry ticket here. Note – you need cash. Cash is still king in Mexico – you won’t be able to pay on card in most places.
Both the ferry and bus ticket (which include two buses, one to Downtown Cancun and one to Chiquila) should cost around £28 ($30). Again, this must be paid for in cash.
Buses between Cancun Airport and Downtown Cancun run frequently throughout the day. You shouldn’t need to wait longer than 30 minutes for an ADO bus to Downtown Cancun.
When you’re on the first bus from Cancun Airport to Downtown Cancun, the journey takes around 20-30 minutes. It also stops at all airport terminals, so expect your bus to get busier at each stop.
GETTING THE SECOND ADO BUS FROM DOWNTOWN CANCUN TO CHIQUILA
When you arrive at Downtown Cancun, you are dropped at the same terminal as where the Chiquila bus will depart. That means no matter how long your wait is, you’ll want to stay close by.
Buses and their departure times at the ADO bus stations will be shown on electronic boards. Closer to your bus departure time, the boards will show which terminal you need to wait at. No Spanish is needed here, it’s all in numbers and is easy to understand.
If you need the toilet, all ADO bus stations have public restrooms which you can use for 5-7 pesos. Make sure you have coins, as they do not accept cards or notes.
The ADO bus terminal isn’t near the beach or Cancun’s main hotel zone, so if you have a long wait, you can sit in one of the nearby cafes or restaurants. There’s also a Mcdonald’s, a few shops and a few bars.
Buses from Downtown Cancun (Centro) to Chiquila leave at the following times (2023):
- 8.15am
- 10am
- 12pm
- 1pm
- 3.15pm
NOTE: At this moment in time, 3.15pm is the latest bus you can get from Cancun to Chiquila. If you are going to be arriving after this time, you will need to either rent a car, grab a taxi or private shuttle or stay overnight in Cancun to board the bus the following morning.
When you’re on the second bus from Downtown Cancun to Chiquila, it should take around 2 hours and 20 minutes. There are toilets onboard the ADO bus if you need to use them.
After getting off the ADO bus, there will be someone there to check your ferry ticket. If you bought it from the ADO stand at the airport, you will need to swap your receipt for a physical ferry ticket here. But don’t worry – the workers from the ferry companies will find you to do this.
From the bus station, it’s around a 5-minute walk to Chiquila dock. The ADO bus ticket allows you to board any ferry company. Of course, our ferry was leaving as soon as we arrived, so we had a quick sprint to make sure we made it!
Are ADO buses in Mexico safe?
Yes, they are one of the safest ways for backpackers to travel around the country. We used ADO buses all over Mexico, and they were safe, clean, modern and reliable. There is also a toilet onboard, and for longer journeys, you are provided with a bottle of water.
If you’re travelling solo, the ADO buses are a great place to meet other backpackers!
2. Cancun Airport to Chiquila by Private Shuttle
This is a great option if you really don’t want to board two buses, or you’re on a time limit. There will be a lot of locals at the airport terminal trying to get you to buy shuttle tickets, but this is a lot more expensive than if you buy online.
If you are planning on getting a private/shared shuttle from Cancun Airport to Chiquila, I highly recommend pre-booking online.
I don’t know if you’ve been to Cancun Airport or not, but it is chaotic. Booking a shuttle from there you are only going to be over-charged.
You can check out prices and availability for the shuttle here, but it works out to around £40 ($45) per person for a private shuttle. Note that this does not include the ferry ticket to Isla Holbox, so you will need to buy that separately when you arrive.
You may have to share your shuttle with a few other people, depending on the day and time. If there’s a small group of you, this option is great to have your own private mode of transport.
When you’re in the shuttle, you can expect the journey to take around 2 hours.
3. Cancun Airport to Chiquila by Taxi
This will be your most expensive option, but if you’re short on time and haven’t pre-booked a private shuttle, it might be your best option.
If you’re getting a taxi direct from Cancun Airport to Chiquila, you can expect to pay upwards of £150 ($155) per vehicle. This works out well if there are four of you, but any less and it’s quite an expensive trip.
Just check with the taxi driver before boarding and ensure he drops you at the Chiquila ferry port. When in the taxi, the journey from Cancun Airport to Chiquila should take around 2 hours.
Note you will need to buy your ferry tickets when you arrive at Chiquila port.
4. Cancun Airport to Chiquila by Rental Car
This is a great option if you’re only visiting Isla Holbox for a day or two. However, you will pay for the car rental for the entire time of hire, so if you’re staying longer than a day, this could be an extremely expensive option!
There are no car hire companies in Chiquila (it’s a tiny coastal town), so you will need to drop the car back at Cancun Airport (or wherever you have picked it up from).
If you have the budget to park the car at Chiquila, visit Holbox for a few hours, then return to your rental car, it’s a great easy option. However, as backpackers, paying for a car we’re not using just isn’t on the cards!
If you’d like to check out prices and car availability, visit this website. We used this company all over Mexico, as they’re budget-friendly, reliable and easy to contact.
Chiquila Port to Isla Holbox
This is the easy part of your journey! The ferry from Chiquila Port to Holbox is only around 25 minutes. The waters are calm, so you can sit on the top deck and enjoy the views. If you don’t want to get wet, I recommend sitting in the middle aisle (I learnt this the hard way!)
Buses run from 6.30am from Chiquila to Holbox, and the last ferry in the evening leaves at 9.30pm.
Don’t worry about which ferry company you book with – both take the same amount of time and cost the exact same price.
Ferries from Chiquila to Holbox run frequently throughout the day, so you’ll never need to wait longer than 30 minutes or less to board.
Is there a direct bus from Cancun Airport to Chiquila?
No. There is NO direct bus from Cancun Airport (CUN) to Chiquila. You will need to board the bus to downtown Cancun, and then transfer to Chiquila.
How do you get from Cancun Airport to Holbox?
You will need to get to Chiquila Port, and then board the ferry to Holbox. The drive between Cancun Airport and Chiquila is around 2 hours. If you are getting the bus, you will need to board the ADO bus at the airport to downtown Cancun, then transfer to get a bus to Chiquila. Ferries leave Chiquila Port frequently throughout the day.
How much is a taxi from Cancun airport to Holbox?
If you’re getting a taxi direct from Cancun Airport to Chiquila, you can expect to pay upwards of £150 ($155) per vehicle. This works out well if there are four of you, but any less and it’s quite an expensive trip. When in the taxi, the journey from Cancun Airport to Chiquila should take around 2 hours.
Is there a bus from Cancun airport to Holbox?
No. There is no direct bus between Cancun Airport and Holbox, as you need to board a ferry to get to the island. If you are getting the bus, you will need to board the ADO bus at the airport to downtown Cancun, then transfer to get a bus to Chiquila Port for the ferry.
Do you need to book Holbox ferry in advance?
No, you can buy ferry tickets at Chiquila Port when you arrive. Ferries leave Chiquila Port frequently throughout the day.
How long is the ferry ride from Chiquila to Holbox?
The ferry ride from Chiquila to Holbox is around 25 minutes.
Is Holbox cash only?
Most restaurants, bars and shops in Holbox are cash only, but the island is changing. More and more places are accepting cards, but it is still a predominantly cash island. Ensure you have enough cash on you for the duration of your trip, as the ATMs on Isla Holbox are unreliable and often run out of money.
ATMs in Isla Holbox also give out US Dollars, which you will then need to exchange (or pay a really bad conversion rate for in shops or restaurants). Bring enough cash with you to cover your trip to Isla Holbox. The only ATM on the island that gives Mexican pesos is the CI Banco, on the road towards the ferry dock.
Where to stay on Isla Holbox as a backpacker
If you’re visiting Isla Holbox for the first time, it’s important to know that the island is walkable, and all of the main attractions are close together. That means wherever you stay, you’ll be able to get to the bars, restaurants and beach within walking distance.
There are no cars on Isla Holbox, but you can rent bikes and golf caddies by the hour if you’d like to visit the beaches a little further out of the main town. But even these are walkable if you don’t mind walking for 45-60 minutes at a time.
If you’re a backpacker visiting Isla Holbox, I recommend staying in one of the following.
- Che Hostel: is the most well-known backpacker hostel on the island. Che is perfect if you’re travelling solo and want to socialise and party. It’s around a 5-10 minute walk from the beach, bars and restaurants.
- Tribu Hostel: One of the closest hostels to the beach (under a 25-second walk!) and only 2 minutes from the main bars and restaurants.
- Hostal Holbox: If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend Hostal Holbox. It’s cheaper than Che and Tribu, but is still close to the beach, has a fun atmosphere and is social for solo backpackers.
Best backpacker travel insurance for Mexico
If you’re visiting Mexico as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Mexico, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Mexico. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
How to get from Cancun Aiport to Chiquila: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about how to get from Cancun Airport to Chiquila. Hopefully, this helps you to plan your epic backpacking trip around Mexico!
When you’re planning a trip to Mexico, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Mexico content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Mexico posts:
- How To Get From Cozumel To Tulum: Backpacker Guide 2023
- How To Get From Mexico City to Tulum: COMPLETE Guide (2023)
- BEST Hostels in Tulum for Backpackers! (2023 Guide)
- How to get to Punta Allen from Tulum, Mexico (2023)
- Kaan Luum Lagoon, Tulum: Complete Guide (2023)
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
