Cancun, Q.R. — Governor Mara Lezama says she is working with the federal government to regulate transportation fees at the Cancun airport. She made the announcement after another case of excessive charges surfaced late last week.
A young woman traveling from the U.S. with a friend who identified herself as Nara “B” said she was charged 10,000 pesos or around $500 USD to travel from Cancun International to her accommodations in the seaside town of Tulum, a distance of around 120 kms or 74 miles.

During the January 7 trip, they made a request for the private taxi to stop at two convenience stores which according to her, was a service that the cab driver claimed increased her fee by 2,500 pesos. He asked for payment upfront. When she wanted to pay by card, she said the driver made an excuse that there would not be Internet and she had to pay cash.
“He asked us to pay before arriving arguing that there would be no Internet at the destination to make the transfer. He insisted on charging 10,000 pesos justifying that the time at the stop and an alleged extra trip increased the cost. I felt very intimidated,” she said in a video.
On Saturday, Governor Lezama expressed her dismay at “a few” who do not abide by state laws and affect the destination. She says she is already in talks with the federal government to regulate the service in order to prevent the continuation of bad images for Cancun.
“We are not going to let our guard down. We are going to continue working because we cannot allow a few to affect the work of everyone. It is very clear, I have said it and I maintain it, no one is above the law and all excessive charges hurt the destinations and when you hurt the destinations, you hurt the citizens, and the most important thing in this state is tourism.

“We will be vigorous. This is an issue with the Cancun International Airport,” she said.
The problem at the airport is a completely federal issue since they are the ones who issued the transportation concession for the drivers who are overcharging, she said. Lezama stressed that since the beginning of her government, these practices of abuse and violence by state taxi drivers has not been permitted. She says the offending drivers have been punished within the jurisdiction of the state government.
However, in recent cases, these service providers accused of the overcharges are related directly to the federal government.
“The destinations are hurt and when you hurt the destinations, you hurt many people who are in the tourism industry. This is why we put this on the table because of the issue of rates, concessions,” she said.
She says the tourism sector is distinguished by the good service it provides to national and international tourists, and now with the Maya Train, it is a greater opportunity for growth.
Last month, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, the Secretary of Quintana Roo Tourism, announced a comprehensive operation was being prepared to solve known mobility problems experienced by tourists at the Cancun International Airport.

Earlier this month, Mexico City traveler Luisito “C” says he was charged 2,000 pesos from the Cancun International Airport to the Cancun Hotel Zone, a ride of approximately 20 minutes. From his experience, he referred to the Cancun airport taxi service as a “mafia”.