In Quintana Roo, taxi fares are approved by the state and must be displayed in the vehicle. Uber runs in Cancun, but Uber says its drivers do not provide car seats. State law calls for a child seat whenever a child under five is on board, so plan seats before you land: bring your own or book a private transfer that confirms them in writing. Driving means Mexican liability insurance, and the easiest family photo session needs no ride at all.
Once the airport transfer leaves you at the lobby, the questions change: how do we get to dinner, the ferry or the ruins, and where does the car seat go? Here is how each option works with children, what the law says about car seats, and the official pages we read on November 14, 2026. For the airport ride itself, see our Cancun airport transfers guide and, if you have not picked an airport yet, our comparison of the Cancun and Tulum airports.
Hotel Zone Taxis and How Fares Work
A Cancun taxi fare is not left to the driver. Under Quintana Roo's mobility law, taxis charge a fare approved by the state mobility institute, IMOVEQROO. Approved fares are published in the state's official gazette, and the law requires transport operators to display them in their vehicles and terminals. We found no current taxi fare table on IMOVEQROO's website, so look for the posted fares and agree on the price before anyone loads the stroller.
Canada's travel advice for Mexico, updated October 19, 2026, adds sensible habits: use only officially marked taxis, avoid hailing one on the street, never share a taxi with strangers, keep small bills for the fare and avoid paying by card inside the car. To pay by card for a taxi from the airport, it suggests booking and prepaying inside the terminal or at the designated boarding area outside. Since street hails are out, let the hotel or restaurant call a taxi for you, especially after dark.
Uber in Cancun, and Its Limits
Yes, there is Uber in Cancun. Uber's own Cancun page quotes sample UberX prices and offers UberXL for groups of up to six people, or UberXXL when you need guaranteed trunk space, and its Cancun airport page says riders can arrange a pickup at the airport. Quintana Roo's mobility law requires a permit for each driver and an authorization for the app company, both from IMOVEQROO, whose published requirements for app drivers include a state B3 license, a car no more than five years old (ten if electric) and comprehensive insurance covering passengers and third parties.
Two limits matter to parents. Uber's Cancun airport page says drivers do not provide car seats, though riders may bring their own, and the Cancun page lists no car seat option, so the seat is yours to bring. And Canada's advice notes that disputes between taxi and ride-share drivers may occur and that tourists can get caught up in them; it asks riders to confirm the driver's identity and license plate before getting in and to use the app's safety features.
Car Seats: What the Rules Say
Mexico's General Law on Mobility and Road Safety, in force since May 2022, sets minimum rules every traffic code in the country must include: all passengers in a motor vehicle wear a seat belt, and any child under 12, or anyone whose build requires it, rides in the back in a child restraint or safety seat that meets the applicable Mexican standard. Quintana Roo's mobility law, last amended March 5, 2026, puts the duty on the driver: everyone wears a seat belt, a child seat is used whenever a child under five is on board, and minors ride in the back.
In practice, a seat that fits your child is something you plan, not something you find at the curb.
- Private transfer. The ride you can settle before you land. Ask for one seat per child, by type (rear-facing, forward-facing or booster) with each child's age and weight, get the answer in writing, and check every seat and belt when the van arrives.
- Taxi or Uber. Plan on bringing your own seat.
- Rental car. As the driver, the state rule applies to you. Ask the rental company in writing for the seats you need, or bring yours.
- What to bring. If your child rides in a car seat at home, bringing it is the surest way to have one that fits. Our packing list for Cancun with kids covers the airline rules for flying with one.
Coaches and Ferries: The Coast and the Islands
ASUR, the company that runs Cancun's airport, lists ADO buses among the airport's ground transport, next to taxis and a car rental company. If you are weighing an ADO coach to Playa del Carmen or Tulum with kids, Canada's advice for intercity travel is to choose companies that offer VIP or executive class on toll roads, take direct routes, travel only in daylight and take care at bus stations. Check ADO's own site for times and its rules on children's tickets before you buy. With a baby, a private transfer with a confirmed car seat is the simpler choice.
For Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, the ride is a ferry. The ferry line Ultramar lists Puerto Juarez and two Hotel Zone departure points, Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol, on its booking page, along with Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. It sells tickets by height, not age: the child ticket is for passengers under 1.20 m, about 3 ft 11 in. Check the last boat back before you plan dinner on the island, and ask about strollers when you book. Our Isla Mujeres day plan shows how a day there can end with photos on Playa Norte.
Renting a Car: Insurance First
A rental car earns its keep on day trips. If you do rent, start with insurance. Mexico's federal roads law requires every vehicle on federal roads, highways and bridges to carry insurance covering damage to other people and their property, and since its March 2026 amendment, Quintana Roo's mobility law lists third-party liability insurance among the things every driver must carry, next to a valid license. Canada's travel advice is direct: Mexican liability insurance is mandatory, Canadian auto insurance is not valid in Mexico, and full coverage with legal assistance is recommended; without Mexican liability insurance, a driver in an accident could be kept from leaving the country until all parties agree on compensation. Read what the rental contract includes before you sign, and if you are flying in from the US, ask your own insurer what, if anything, applies in Mexico.
Canada also suggests carrying an International Driving Permit, sticking to toll roads and renting a car without rental-company stickers or ads, and says any accident must be reported to the police. And remember the seat rule: a child seat whenever a child under five is on board, children in the back, everyone belted.
Family Photos Without a Ride
The simplest family session needs no ride at all. We come to your resort and photograph you on your own beach, so nobody buckles a car seat. Some hotels charge a fee for outside photographers; where yours does, you pay it to the hotel, and we confirm your hotel's rule with you before the session. You can book online for 6:30, 7:00 or 7:30 am or 5:00 or 5:30 pm; other times are arranged on WhatsApp.
If you would like a different location, plan the ride and the seats before the day and tell us in your first message. For big groups of up to 16 people, across several families or generations, we can arrange full-van transportation to take everyone to another location for the session; ask us for the details when you write. Our guide to family photos in Cancun shows how we photograph each age.
For families we recommend The Chapter: 60 minutes, 35 edited photos and one look, 475 USD. There is no deposit: you pay at the end of the session, by card or in cash. There is no limit on people and no per-person charge, cancellation is free up to one day before, and the sneak peek arrives within 24 hours, with the full gallery in 1 to 3 business days.
Our Cancun team, led by Vianey Díaz, has more than 20 years of photography experience and has photographed thousands of families and couples over those years; since 2023, IVAE Studios has delivered more than 500 sessions and holds 5.0 across 75 Google reviews. Read what parents wrote about their family sessions, or visit our Cancun family photographer page.
Sources Checked
Read on November 14, 2026: Mexico's General Law on Mobility and Road Safety (last amended December 29, 2023), article 49; Quintana Roo's mobility law (last amended March 5, 2026), articles 86 Bis, 87, 95 and 218; IMOVEQROO's requirements for app drivers; Mexico's federal roads and transport law (last amended November 14, 2025), article 63 Bis; Canada's travel advice for Mexico (updated October 19, 2026); Uber's Cancun page and Cancun airport page; ASUR's Cancun ground transport page; and Ultramar's booking page. Laws, fares and app services change, so check again before you travel.
From our Google reviews
Three families on getting to the photos, in their words:
“They graciously arranged for a car to pick us up and take us to the photo location”
Elizabeth K., Google review
“She made booking extremely easy getting my family of 8 a ride to photos and back.”
Haley W., Google review
“coordinating every detail from our resort pickup and transportation to the photo location”
Laura D., Google review
That was those families' experience. Read more in what parents wrote about their family sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Uber's Cancun page offers UberXL for groups of up to six people and UberXXL, and its airport page says riders can arrange a pickup at Cancun International Airport. The same airport page says drivers do not provide car seats, so bring your own. Canada's travel advice notes that disputes between taxi and ride-share drivers may occur, so confirm the driver and license plate before you get in.
The rules say yes for young children: Quintana Roo's mobility law requires drivers to use a child seat whenever a child under five is on board and to seat minors in the back. Do not count on a taxi having one; bring your own, or book a private transfer that confirms seats in writing.
Under Quintana Roo's mobility law, taxis charge fares approved by the state mobility institute, IMOVEQROO. Approved fares are published in the state's official gazette and must be displayed in vehicles and terminals. Agree on the price before you get in and keep small bills ready; Canada's travel advice suggests avoiding card payments inside a taxi.
Yes. Quintana Roo's mobility law requires drivers to carry third-party liability insurance, Mexico's federal roads law requires it for every vehicle on federal roads, and Canada's travel advice says Mexican liability insurance is mandatory and Canadian auto insurance is not valid in Mexico. Read what your rental contract includes before you sign.
Yes. The simplest session is on your own resort beach, with no ride and no car seat. Some hotels charge a fee for outside photographers, which you pay to the hotel, and we confirm your hotel's rule before the session.