By Car in Cancún and Isla Mujeres

By Car

Driving in Cancún isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're used to driving in other Mexican cities, you'll find the traffic tame in comparison. Vehicles move at breakneck speed; adding to the danger are the many one-way streets, glorietas (traffic circles), sporadically working traffic lights, ill-placed topes (speed bumps), numerous pedestrians, and large potholes. Be sure to observe speed limits as traffic police are vigilant and eager to give out tickets. As well as being risky, car travel is expensive, since it often necessitates tips for valet parking, gasoline, and costly rental rates.

Although driving in Cancún isn't recommended, exploring the surrounding areas on the peninsula by car is. The roads are excellent within a 100-km (62-mi) radius. Carretera 180 runs from Matamoros at the Texas border through Campeche, Mérida, Valladolid, and into Cancún. The trip from Texas can take up to three days. Carretera 307 runs south from Cancún through Puerto Morelos, Tulum, and Chetumal, then into Belize. Carretera 307 has several Pemex gas stations between Cancún and Playa del Carmen. For the most part, though, the only gas stations are near major cities and towns, so keep your tank full. When approaching any community, watch out for the speed bumps -- hitting them at top speed can ruin your transmission and tires.

Car Rental

Most rental cars in Cancún are standard-shift subcompacts and jeeps; air-conditioned cars with automatic transmissions should be reserved in advance (though bear in mind that some smaller car-rental places have only standards). The larger chain agencies tend to have the newer and more expensive cars; local companies can have much lower prices. Rates start at $45 per day for manuals and between $55 to $75 for automatics. Better prices can sometime be found on the Internet -- but if you book online, be sure to bring a copy of your rental agreement with you to Cancún. If you'd rather not book a rental yourself, the Car Rental Association can help you arrange one.

Local Agencies & Contacts

Adocar Rental (Plaza Nautilus, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 3.5, Zona Hotelera. 998/849-4233. adocarrental.com). Buster Renta Car (Hotel Holiday Inn Arenas, Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 2.5, Zona Hotelera. 998/882-2800. Plaza Santa Fe, Blvd. Luis Donaldo Colosio, Km 11. 998/882-2793. www.busterrentacar.com). Caribetur Rent a Car (Plaza Tropical, Av. Tulum 192, Local 16, Sm 4. 998/880-9167. www.caribetur.com). Econorent (Avs. Bonampak and Cobá, Sm 4. 998/887-6487 or 998/887-0142. www.econorent.com.mx). Mónaco Rent a Car (Av. Yaxchilán 65, Lote 5, Sm 25. 998/884-7843. www.monacorentacar.com). America Car Rental (Plaza Santa Fe, Av. Luis Donaldo Colosio, Km 12.5, Lote 1, Local Sb5. Av. Yaxchilán 31, Local 27-28, Sm 22. 998/898-0537, 998/892-7017, or 800/633-7799. www.america-carrental.com).

On Isla Mujeres

There aren't any car-rental agencies on Isla, and there's little reason to bring a car here. Taxis are inexpensive, and bikes, mopeds, and golf carts are much better ways to get around.