With so many flights offered by low-cost airlines, it is common to find great deals for travel within Mexico. Unfortunately, because some airports, Guadalajara’s among them, restrict competition in ground transportation, many travelers struggle with how to get from Guadalajara Airport to downtown without paying a fortune.
Videos have gone viral more than once of travelers reporting that the taxi from the airport cost more than their flight. Guadalajara Airport does not offer enough efficient, fairly priced ground transportation, which makes its airport taxi fares some of the highest in the country.
In this article we cover the options for getting from Guadalajara Airport into the city. From public transportation to car rentals and ride-hailing apps, we look at each alternative so you can plan ahead and, when you land, use the option that best fits your needs and budget.
Public Transportation
Line 5 (Mi Macro Aeropuerto): the new, cheapest option
In June 2026, Guadalajara opened Line 5 Mi Macro Aeropuerto, and it changed the picture completely: for the first time there is a mass transit terminal inside the airport itself, so you walk out of arrivals and board without taxis or surprises. The fare is MXN $11, the same as any city bus.
🚌 Line 5 Mi Macro Aeropuerto
Where to board: terminal inside the airport, as you exit arrivals
Fare: MXN $11 per ride, with a Mi Movilidad or Única card (or exact change in cash)
Hours: 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., every day
To downtown: take trunk route T02 (Aeropuerto – Parque Agua Azul), next to the historic center; transfers to the Tren Ligero (light rail Lines 1, 3 and 4) and Mi Macro Calzada are 50% off
Other routes: T01 (Estadio Akron) and T03 (Expo Guadalajara)
Today it is the cheapest and most direct way to get from the airport to downtown without relying on a taxi. Once in the city, use our guide to public transportation in Guadalajara to get around.
Options are few, but some public bus routes do serve the airport. Besides Line 5, two regular bus routes leave from the airport bus stop. The airport bus stop is inside the airport grounds but about 350 meters (1,150 feet) from the terminal. The only way to get there is on foot, and keep in mind that if you have luggage you cannot use the luggage carts, since they are not allowed outside the baggage claim area.
Route C98 Aeropuerto-Periférico Norte
This line runs electric buses, which are easy to spot because they are green. Route C98 starts at the airport and follows the western Periférico ring road to Calzada Federalismo, ending at the Periférico Norte light rail station, near the Benito Juárez auditorium in the north of the city. Since the whole route runs along the Periférico, it is not a good option if you are going downtown or to the west side of the city. Its easy connection with the light rail, however, makes it an excellent choice if you are heading to the northern part of the Guadalajara metro area. The fare was MXN $9.50 as of March 2024.
Route T13 A/6
Route T13 A/6 does not start at the airport, but it does stop there. Heading from the airport into the city, the route starts in the Los Agaves neighborhood, before the airport on the highway to Chapala, and runs to downtown Guadalajara. The last stop is on Av. 16 de Septiembre, almost at the corner of Calle Leandro Valle. Once downtown, you can switch to other public transportation to reach your final destination, whether another bus route, the light rail (Tren Ligero) or Mi Macro Calzada (articulated bus).
Route T13 A/6 has no direct transfer to the mass transit systems, but there are light rail and Mi Macro Calzada stations nearby. If you ride Route T13 A/6 to the last stop, Independencia station on light rail Line 3 is just three blocks away. If you want to continue on Mi Macro Calzada, the easiest transfer is to get off at the Niños Héroes stop and walk one block to the Mi Macro station, also called Niños Héroes. The fare was MXN $9.50 as of March 2024.
Once you are downtown, you do not have to continue by public transportation. From there you can take a taxi at much lower fares or use ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Didi, which locals use widely.
“Chapala” Suburban Buses
This route, which connects downtown Guadalajara with the town of Chapala, used to stop at the airport bus stop. Several months ago that stop was canceled, and the buses no longer enter the airport. If you are heading to Chapala, Ajijic or another point south of Guadalajara instead of into the city, you can still use this bus, but you now have to catch it at the roadside. That means walking about 1.1 km (0.7 miles) and waiting at the Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara stop (not to be confused with the bus stop inside the airport). You can take the “Chapala” bus toward Guadalajara, but we do not recommend it: that stop is farther from the terminal, you have to cross a pedestrian bridge, and waiting at the roadside is riskier.
Airport Taxis
For decades, airport taxis were the only way to leave the airport other than private cars.
In theory there are two companies, ATASA and ATTA, but in practice they coordinate to set prices and split passengers between them, which is completely illegal. Still, if you have no other option, airport taxis serve the entire Guadalajara metro area as well as out-of-town destinations. They operate 24 hours a day, from the airport to your destination and from your home or hotel to the airport.
Keep in mind that the media have recently reported many cases of lines of up to 2 hours to get an airport taxi, so be prepared for a long wait. And although their fares are fixed, their prices are considerably higher than other forms of transportation.
Local Fares
| From the airport to: | Price |
| Cathedral | MXN $400 |
| Expo area | MXN $400 |
| Minerva area | MXN $410 |
| Providencia | MXN $420 |
| Downtown Zapopan | MXN $465 |
| Andares | MXN $465 |
| Santa Anita | MXN $470 |
Private Transfer Companies
Another way to get from Guadalajara Airport into the city is a private transfer. Unlike taxis, these services are booked and paid in advance, so you can schedule your ride and avoid long lines or waits.
Many companies offer private transfers to Guadalajara Airport, including Rapivan, known for its fleet of quality vehicles in several categories and its professional drivers. The cost is a bit higher than a taxi, but you get several benefits, such as new vehicles, baby seats (on request) and the option to travel with pets, since they are pet-friendly. Service is available one way or round trip, and a round trip is cheaper than buying two one-way trips separately.
Unofficial Taxis
We do not recommend this option for safety reasons, but you should know that unofficial taxis are there and many people use them every day. These drivers usually wait in the pick-up and drop-off areas or near the parking lots, offering rides to passersby by calling out “taxi, taxi.” If you decide to use one, agree on the fare to your destination before you get in, share your real-time location with a friend or family member, and send them photos of the vehicle and its license plates. The ride will most likely go without incident, but these extra precautions are always worth taking.
An unofficial taxi costs about the same as a ride-hailing app. For example, a ride from the airport to downtown runs around MXN $250, while a ride to Plaza Andares is around MXN $320.
Ride-Hailing Apps: Uber, DiDi and InDriver (new pick-up lot)
This is the biggest change: since 2026, Guadalajara Airport has an official ride-hailing pick-up lot, and you can now use Uber, DiDi and InDriver (only those three apps). Rides are no longer picked up at the terminal curb: to reach your car, you first ride a free electric shuttle bus to the lot.
🚐 How to get your Uber/DiDi/InDriver, step by step
1. As you exit arrivals, look for the “Shuttles” area, about 20 steps from the terminal doors
2. Board the free electric shuttle marked “C-01 Plataformas” (green buses); it runs every 5 minutes and has air conditioning and room for luggage
3. The ride to the lot takes about 10 minutes and is free
4. Request your ride in the app and board it at the lot; the driver must already have your trip assigned
Tip: request your ride once you reach the lot, because cars cannot wait there more than 15 minutes
The lot has shade canopies, restrooms, internet, drinking fountains and charging points, and it is a much safer and cheaper alternative to the unauthorized taxis around the airport. A ride usually costs around MXN $250 to downtown and MXN $320 to Andares, although fares vary with demand and time of day.
Car Rental
🚗 Our recommendation: book directly with Veico — Car rental at Guadalajara Airport and compare prices with no surprise fees.
Renting a car at Guadalajara Airport is by far the least used way to get downtown, since many people assume it is very expensive. However, once you factor in taxi fares to and from the airport plus any rides you need around the city, renting a car can be an attractive option.
The price of a rental varies with the type of vehicle, the season, the length of the rental and the rental company you choose. We always recommend reading reviews of each company you are considering and avoiding those with customer reports of last-minute extra charges. If you are new to renting cars, see the guide to renting a car for the first time, which has all the information you need to make the best decision.
Companies such as Veico Car Rental offer rates that include all the insurance required to drive, plus unlimited mileage, so there are no surprise charges when you rent with them, unlike many other agencies. Below are some screenshots with prices for a few of their cars for reference.
Keep in mind that you must meet certain requirements to rent a car. These include a valid driver’s license, official ID such as a Mexican INE voter card or a passport, proof of address and a credit card. Your credit card must also have enough available credit for a hold in the amount of the security deposit, which is released when you return the car. At Veico Car Rental, deposits start at MXN $12,000 for economy cars and go up to MXN $18,000 for family SUVs and vans.
How to Get from Guadalajara to the Airport
Getting to Guadalajara Airport is generally easier than leaving it, since both taxis and ride-hailing cars can drop off passengers at the airport without restrictions. As for public transportation, the two bus routes mentioned above also run in the opposite direction, which makes them a convenient, low-cost way to reach the airport. There are also executive transportation companies serving Guadalajara Airport, which cover large parts of the Guadalajara metro area.