Cancun

Departing from Birmingham Airport

Whether you’re flying to Cancun from Birmingham Airport for a family holiday or to let your hair down with friends, we’ve got all the shops, restaurants and facilities to kick start your trip the way you want to.

Head to Wetherspoon to begin your holiday in style with a bottle of bubbly or a refreshing pint. They serve food all day too, so you’ll be catered for whatever time you fly. We’ve got great family restaurants including Giraffe. If you’d prefer to take something on board with you, head to Pret a Manger. There are plenty more cafés, bars and restaurants to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that takes your fancy.

Whether you want to do some window shopping or you’ve left some travel essentials to the last minute, Birmingham Airport has a huge range of shops for you to browse. Check out World Duty Free for great savings, grab a magazine and bag of sweets for the plane from WHSmith, and even get some jewellery at Accessorize. Heading to Cancun to party? Head to Aerospa to receive a beauty treatment in under 15 minutes.

We’ve also got five airport lounges, where you can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, unlimited WiFi and great runway views before you fly.

Need currency for your trip abroad? Then look no further and head to our Travelex stores conveniently located in the Arrivals area of the terminal building and Departures Lounge.  Specialising in 50+ currencies, knowledgeable staff can advise you on the most suitable currency. If you prefer, you can pre-order your currency and get next day collection if you order before 3pm at Birmingham Airport.

The airport is accessible whichever way you plan on arriving. If you’re driving to the airport you’ll find a choice of 7 car parks, which are all easily accessible from the terminal by foot or via a free shuttle bus. Book a parking space online in advance and save up to 70%.

If you prefer to take public transport, you will find bus services running directly to the airport or to Birmingham International Airport train station. There is a free and frequent transport from the train station which takes you to the terminal in minutes. Alternatively, taxis can drop you off right outside the terminal building.

To find out about our other services, head to our terminal facilities page. If you’re taking the little ones with you to Cancun, check out our tips for travelling with children.

Arriving at Cancun Airport

Located 12km from downtown Cancun, transportation from the airport is plentiful.

The Cancun Airport Bus offers direct services to Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Merida in a very comfortable, modern bus with air-con. Rates and bus times depend on the destination and you can buy your tickets online to avoid the queue when you arrive.

If you’d prefer a more direct route, you can take a taxi from the airport. Pre-book online before you travel to save stress when you arrive. You can choose between a shuttle bus (dropping other passengers off at different hotels along the way) or a private ride which will take you directly to your destination.

Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.

What to expect in Cancun

Whether you’re looking for beaches or culture, Cancun’s got you covered. Once the go-to resort for hedonistic spring breakers, modern Cancun has an altogether more sophisticated vibe. A tale of two cities, the Zona Hotelera offers majestic Caribbean beaches, while Maya Culture and Cancun Centro provide the local flavour.

The official language in Cancun is Spanish but most of the Mexicans working in the tourism industry speak English. You may also hear Mayan being spoken by local indigenous people who use it as their first language. Picking up a few Spanish phrases like hello (hola), goodbye (adios), please (por favour) and thank you (gracias) will help you and the locals will appreciate your efforts.

Cancun’s climate is tropical with a generally muggy, rainy season from May until October and a cooler, relatively dry season from November to April. This high season enjoys warm, pleasant temperatures and a lovely, bath-like temperature for swimming in the sea.  

Culture in Cancun

The Museo Maya de Cancun, a world-class museum with some 400 Maya artefacts on display, is a must-see, and its adjoining San Miguelito archaeological site is well worth checking out as well. For a day of ruins-hopping, head about 2km south to El Rey, known for its small temple and several ceremonial platforms. 

One of the region’s most popular tourist attractions is Xcaret, a nature play park near Playa del Carmen. Visitors can swim in underground rivers, watch dance performances in an open-air theatre and learn about the local marine life in a coral reef aquarium.

The region has a growing reputation for gastronomy, but you’re just as likely to have the best food of your holiday down some unassuming side street as you are in a high-end restaurant. For a true taste of Cancun, try cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork with achiote and orange juice) and panuchos (bean-filled fried tortilla snacks), both rank among Mexico's most iconic dishes.