How To Get From Cancun To Cozumel
How To Get From Cancun To Cozumel Without Wasting Hours Or Losing Your Cool
So you booked that flight to Cancun, figuring Cozumel was just a short hop away. Makes sense, right? You look at the map, and it’s basically right across the water. But nobody really explains to you how many moving parts there are between Cancun Airport and that Cozumel beach towel you’re picturing yourself on. I’ve taken this route more times than I care to count, and I can assure you, it’s not hard, but it’s certainly not automatic either.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Cancun to Cozumel without missing ferries or the taxis ripping you off, continue reading. I’ll explain it all.
Why You Can’t Just Drive From Cancun To Cozumel Even If It Looks Close On The Map
Cancun’s tempting close neighbor: Cozumel. To Cozumel, it can seem as if it’s just a hop on the highway from Cancun, except it is an island. And no, there is no bridge. No road. No secret car ferry to take your rental across. First, you’ll need to make your way from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, and then take a passenger ferry over to the island.
This is a very swimmable trip; it’s gotta be done in two pieces. First, by land to Playa del Carmen. Then a ferry from there to Cozumel. Put simply, if you don’t find these things out ahead of time, you might waste time or show up at the wrong terminal with zero plan.
Easiest And Cheapest Way To Get From Cancun Airport To Cozumel Using Public Transport
Going on a budget or just like the simple life, opt for the ADO bus from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen. These buses play the route roughly every 30 to 40 minutes during daylight hours, and are surprisingly clean, air-conditioned, and efficient.
Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes, approximately
Price: around USD 12
Drop-off: Playa del Carmen ADO terminal, a few blocks away from the ferry pier
There’s no need to book ahead unless it’s the very height of the holiday season. Head to the airport ADO counter and buy a ticket. Once you are in Playa you can walk or taxi for a couple of dollars to the ferry dock.
Taking A Shuttle Or Taxi From Cancun To Playa Can Save Time, But Costs More
Not feeling the bus? You can hire a private shuttle or take a taxi directly to Playa del Carmen. This is a preferable alternative if you’re arriving late, bringing kids, or are the type that doesn’t want to stand by for a bus.
Time: about 1 hour
Price: $60-90, depending on company and group size
There are dozens of shuttle services available for pre-book online, or you can simply hop into a taxi right outside the airport. If it’s not prepaid, just be sure to agree on the price beforehand. Taxis in Cancun don’t use meters, so you’ll have to negotiate with a driver, or else rely on the official airport-approved fare chart.
How To Catch The Ferry From Playa del Carmen To Cozumel Without Missing A Departure
If you can get to Playa del Carmen, you are not far. Go directly to the ferry terminal by the beach. Ultramar and Winjet are two companies that operate ferries between Playa and Cozumel. Both provide roughly the same service, charge roughly the same fare and go every other hour.
Ride time: around 45 minutes
Cost: around $15 to $20 USD per way
Hours: Approximately every hour from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., specific times vary.
Online reservations not needed unless it’s a holiday or high season. Just show up, buy your ticket and get on. That said, verify who's sailing when by checking online. Ultramar and Winjet go back and forth, and you don’t want to get there after a ferry just departed and cook for an hour in the sun.
Why Flying From Cancun To Cozumel Isn’t Always The Better Option
There are small planes that will fly you directly from Cancun to Cozumel. Sounds fast, right? And 20 minutes is the actual flight. But throw in check-in, security, waiting, and luggage claim, then the total travel time is roughly equivalent.
Airlines: MAYAir and Aerus
Price: generally between $80 and $100 USD one way
Pros: Easier if you dislike ferries or you’re prone to seasickness
Cons: Minimal daily flights, risk of cancellations, and limited flexibility.
Flying may work if you’re literally connecting straight from your arrival at Cancun (no layover whatsoever) and everything’s going fine, but quite frankly, the ferry is easier and more reliable than flying.
Important Tips That Make The Cancun To Cozumel Journey Less Stressful
If you’ve never taken this trip before, a few things that seem to help:
Bring cash in pesos. You will want it for tips, taxis, and the bathroom at the ferry terminal.
Wear comfortable shoes. Or at least to the bus terminal: the walk to and from the ferry isn’t all that long, but the streets are uneven.
If you get motion sick, take a little something before going on board. The ferry can be bouncy depending on the weather.
Hold onto your ferry ticket. Sometimes they check it twice.
Do not plan any activity immediately after your return to Cozumel. Give yourself space to breathe.
It’s not difficult to get from Cancun to Cozumel, but you do need to plan in advance. Whether you cheap out with the bus-and-ferry combo or spend a little extra for a shuttle and quick flight, keep in mind, the isle will still be there, waiting. You only have to make it past the transfer part.
