Mobile internet in Cancún and the Riviera Maya
Most trips to Cancún are a hotel on the beach plus day trips: the islands, Tulum, the cenotes, Chichén Itzá. The phone books the bus, finds the ferry and keeps the group chat going. The Mexico eSIM connects to Telcel and AT&T and is data only, so WhatsApp stays on your usual number.
At a glance
- Does an eSIM work in Mexico?
- Yes. It connects to Telcel, AT&T (5G).
- Price
- From 12,79 € (3 GB, 15 days).
- For a one-week trip
- 5 GB for 30 days: 20,29 €.
- Does an EU phone plan work there?
- No: Mexico is outside EU roaming, so even a plan from an EU country charges it as abroad.
- When does the plan start?
- When your phone first connects to a network in Mexico. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
Out of Cancún airport: bus, taxi or transfer
Cancún International Airport has several terminals, and ADO buses leave from outside arrivals for the ADO station in downtown Cancún, for Playa del Carmen and for Tulum. ADO sells its tickets online, so with data at the terminal you can buy one before you reach the counter. The other options are the airport's authorised taxis and pre-booked transfers, which most Hotel Zone resorts can arrange.
Ride-hailing pickups at the airport have been a point of conflict with local taxi drivers, with checks on vehicles near the terminals, so do not plan your arrival around an app ride. Keep the hotel's address and your transfer voucher saved offline: airport wifi can be slow, and many transfer companies send their pickup details by WhatsApp.
eSIM for Mexico
Data on your phone the moment you land in Mexico. No account, no app, no shop.
Black Friday −25 % Ends in 32d 00:58:57Choose your data
For one to two weeks of maps, messaging and the odd video.
Buy up to 180 days before you fly: the plan only starts when the eSIM connects at your destination.
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Will it work on my phone?
On iPhone: Settings → General → About, and scroll to EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Every iPhone from the XS (2018) onwards does.
On Android: Settings → About phone → Status, and look for EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Most Galaxy S20, Pixel 3 and later do.
It also has to be carrier-unlocked. If you bought it outright or your contract is over, it almost certainly is.
Not sure about your model? Ask us before you pay and we will tell you — a person answers within 24 hours.
How it works
- 1Choose and payCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay. No account.
- 2Install it at homeThe QR arrives by email. Scan it on wifi in a minute.
- 3Connect when you landTurn on data roaming for the eSIM and you are online.
The Hotel Zone, downtown and the Tren Maya
The Hotel Zone is a long strip along Boulevard Kukulcán, and the R-1 bus runs the length of it to downtown, passing the ADO station on Avenida Tulum. Addresses on the boulevard go by kilometre, so with a map open you can see which stop is yours. Downtown is where you find the ADO terminal, the local markets and the cheaper places to eat.
The Tren Maya has a station in Cancún and runs south to Playa del Carmen, with a shuttle that links the station and the airport. Service on this stretch has changed several times, so check the current timetable on the official site before you count on it, and keep the e-ticket on your phone.
Isla Mujeres, Holbox, Tulum and the border
Ultramar ferries cross to Isla Mujeres from Puerto Juárez, north of downtown, and in some seasons from the Hotel Zone piers at Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol. Holbox is a longer day: ADO buses go to Chiquilá, about two and a half to three hours away, and from there two ferry companies cross to the island. Save the ferry times and your hotel's location before you leave the mainland.
Tulum and Playa del Carmen are south on Highway 307, and Chichén Itzá is inland, in Yucatán state. All of this is Mexico, so the pack keeps working. The exception is the far south: Chetumal sits on the border with Belize, and once you cross, the Mexico pack stops giving data.
Which Mexico pack for Cancún
A long weekend at an all-inclusive, with wifi in the room and a boat to Isla Mujeres, fits in the 3 GB pack, valid for 15 days. A week with day trips to Tulum, Holbox or the cenotes means maps, bus tickets and photos from places without wifi; the 5 GB pack, valid for 30 days, gives you room. If you rent a car for the whole Riviera Maya, or share data with your partner, take 10 GB.
The packs are the ones on the Mexico page: 3 GB for 15 days, and 5, 10 or 20 GB for 30 days. Install the eSIM at home; it starts counting on its first connection in Mexico, and you can top it up without reinstalling. For a figure for your own trip, use the data calculator.
Does it work on Holbox and Isla Mujeres?
Both islands are part of Mexico, so the pack works wherever Telcel or AT&T have signal. On a small island the signal depends on the nearest mast, so download the island map before the ferry.
Can I buy the ADO bus to Tulum on my phone at the airport?
Yes. ADO sells tickets online, and with the eSIM connected after landing you can buy one from the terminal. Keep the ticket saved offline for boarding.
Can I use it if I continue from Cancún to Belize?
No. The pack only works in Mexico, so it stops giving data once you cross the border at Chetumal.
Is it the same pack for Cancún and Mexico City?
Yes. One Mexico pack covers the whole country, so a flight from Cancún to Mexico City or Oaxaca does not need a new eSIM.
Get your eSIM before you fly: the QR arrives by email in minutes and the plan only starts when you connect at your destination.
See eSIMs for Mexico