Flights
Mérida (MID) is the airport of preference. Continental
is the major airline that services Mérida. Travel is primarily
through Houston (IAH). Northwest Airlines is partners with Continental
and can be used for these flights from your location to Mérida
via Houston. Given the merger of Delta and Northwest (April 2008), you may be able to get a flight "on Delta" to Merida via the Continental IAH-MID route.
All the Mexican airlines fly in and out of Mérida
via México City. The major Mexican airlines are: Mexicana, Aviacsa,
Aeroméxico. The USA airlines partner with the Mexican companies to get you into Mérida. Thus, your major travel points in the USA would be Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles.
Cancun (CUN) is an alternative airport, especially
for students who are planning independent trips either before or after their
participation in an OSEA program. Cancun is a major destination for many
USA airlines and discount prices can be found with sufficient investigation.
Air travel between Cancun airport and Mérida airport. Previously the Mexican airlines had flights between these cities, but as of 2008 it seems that these have been much reduced if not eliminated entirely. Aerocaribe, Aviacsa, and Aeromexicana would be the ones to check for this on their own web site. You will not be able to find a flight between these cities (except via Mexico City!) on Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and the like. You he least expensive mode of travel is
the bus transportation between Cancun and Merida. Students who use the
Cancun airport must secure their own travel to the OSEA headquarters
in Mérida. These travel costs are assumed by the student and
are not the responsibility of OSEA.
Buses
Cancun Airport to Cancun Bus Station. Private taxi (estimated
US $20-30), hotel shuttle (flat $9 US), and local bus ($1-2) is available to get from
airport to bus station in downtown Cancun. The taxi will take 20 minutes. The shuttle will
take 1-2 hours depending on the other passengers on your shuttle. The
shuttle traverses the entire hotel strip before getting the town of Cancun.
The local bus requires much more effort to locate although it would
cost you no more than US $2 and could range in time from forty minutes to hour or more depending upon the traffic according to the hour of the day and day of the week.
Regional Bus Service
ADO and Oriente are the main bus lines for the region. ADO is national company and Oriente is regional, second class bus service. Check here for the ADO bus routes and times between Cancun and Merida, as well as most other destinations for long distance travel in México.
Local Transportation
Ground Transportation from Mérida airport. If
you arrive at a day when the OSEA shuttle is not available, you may use a taxi
for approximately $80-1000 pesos or about $6-10 US. Bus service is also available
if you have small change in Mexican pesos. The taxi fare is more expensive from the airport to the city than from a given point in Mérida to the airport.
Ferry
Note that the car and passenger ferry that ran from Tampa-Progresso-Puerto Morelos has been indefinitely suspended.
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