Flying from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro: what you need to know
Start your travel planning by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro. Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) and Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport (NLU) are the main airports in Mexico City.
Come in for landing at Rio De Janeiro's chief entry point, Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).
Rio De Janeiro's timezone is UTC-3, which makes Rio De Janeiro three hours ahead of Mexico City.
To ensure you don't miss your Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Flying during a popular month like July? Public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro
To pick up cheap Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro flights, book as early as possible. Airlines usually offer their most competitively priced fares when tickets are first released.
If you can be flexible with your travel plans, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll give you the cheapest price in every month when looking for your plane ticket from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro.
Snapping up a cheap flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a better deal is available.
Lock in a cheap Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Mexico City
Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX)
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Benito Juarez International Airport. Take a pause at one of these airports:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
MEX is about 6 kilometres from central Mexico City. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the travel time to be around 55 minutes.
After a hassle-free start to your break? Stay near Benito Juarez International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are the answer:
Benito Juarez International Airport scores top marks for its on-time performance. 80.91% of flights that take off from MEX arrive at their destination without delay.
Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport (NLU)
Break up your Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro flight with a stop at Tocumen International Airport (PTY). A major stopover between Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport and Rio De Janeiro, it's a good opportunity to relax before the next leg of your journey.
On public transport, you can travel from central Mexico City to NLU in around 1 hour 45 minutes. The terminal is roughly 32 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 55 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not book another night away at a hotel near Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport? Before your flight from {"defaultCase":"Mexico City","accusativeCase":"Mexico City","nominativeCase":"Mexico City","dativeCase":"Mexico City"} to Rio De Janeiro, consider checking in to Verticca Hotel.
67.58% of flights departing Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport arrive within the expected time frame.
Arriving in Rio De Janeiro
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is approximately 13 kilometres from the centre of Rio De Janeiro. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 20 minutes.
It usually takes 1 hour 5 minutes to get there on public transport.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro. Reserve one of these accommodation options near GIG instead:
Travel at your own speed with a Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and discover more of Rio De Janeiro and beyond.
To secure the lowest price, book your ride from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport about four weeks ahead of your Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro flight.
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is about 2 kilometres from central Rio De Janeiro. Once you've disembarked your flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro, it'll take you approximately 5 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the centre takes 15 minutes or so.
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or slow-moving cab lines. Pick up a Santos Dumont Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Compare availability and rates from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Get the pick of the lot. Reserving your ride from SDU three weeks in advance often means better prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ)
Step off your flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro and go directly to your hotel or start taking in the sights right away. The centre of Rio De Janeiro is around 23 kilometres from Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ) and takes roughly 40 minutes to reach by car.
If you go by public transport, the journey will take you about 1 hour 25 minutes.
Ready to set off? Pick up a Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport rental car from Localiza and start your trip without stressing about how to get to your next destination.
Rental companies sometimes offer discounts for early bookings, so secure your ride from RRJ in advance of your flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro. A little prep today saves cash tomorrow.
Best time to go to Rio De Janeiro
July is the most popular month for flights from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro. To avoid the crowds, head to Rio De Janeiro in May.
Book a Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro ticket departing in February if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Rio De Janeiro to range from 22ºC (72ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
July sees average temperatures of between 17ºC (63ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Look for cheap flights from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Rio De Janeiro
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Rio De Janeiro right here. Check out these hotels as soon as you've booked your flight from Mexico City to Rio De Janeiro:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach are highlights which should feature on every Rio De Janeiro itinerary.
Explore more of Brazil
Sao Paulo is just one of the many places in Brazil waiting to be discovered after you've seen Rio De Janeiro. Around 354 kilometres to the west, its top attractions include Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Ibirapuera Park and Paulista Avenue.
Belo Horizonte is another favourite destination in Brazil and is around 338 kilometres north of Rio De Janeiro. No trip is complete without seeing Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
