How To Get To Cozumel From Cancun
Without Getting Scammed, Stuck, Or Sweating Through Your Shirt
You’re in Cancun and have the dreamy isle of Cozumel in your sights: You’re likely thinking of turquoise water, quiet beaches, and coral reef rather than traffic and tour buses. But the thing no one really tells you until you’re kind of knee-deep in the middle of a sweaty, crazy journey… Getting from Cancun to Cozumel can go very right and also just go completely south. So let’s get into it like a local, and without too much fluff and brochure-speak.
The Big Mistake First-Timers Make When Trying To Get From Cancun To Cozumel
This is the first one that you have to take home. Despite appearing nearby on the map, there is no direct road or bridge linking them together. Cozumel is an island. And Cancun, well, that’s your stepping stone. First, you’ll need to reach Playa del Carmen, which is roughly an hour south of Cancun, then take a ferry to Cozumel.
That’s the foundation, the ground of this entire journey. Everything else ultimately comes down to your budget, how early you’re willing to wake up, and whether or not you want to spend part of your vacation sitting in your car, in traffic, or dragging bags through the heat.
This Is The Backpacker Trick To Getting To Cozumel From Cancun For Under $35
If you aren’t in a rush and are looking to save money, this is the best approach.
Take an ADO bus going to Playa del Carmen from Cancun Airport. They leave roughly every 30-45 minutes or so, and it’s about $15 USD (a bit more, a bit less depending on when you’re riding). It’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes to the ride. Air-conditioned, no frills, but reliable.
Once you arrive at the Playa del Carmen ADO station, it’s only about a 5 or 10-minute walk to the ferry terminal. Yes, with luggage. No, there’s no shuttle.
At the terminal, you have two large ferry companies, Ultramar and Winjet. They run on the hour and hour half hour, and the fare runs $15 to $20 U.S. each way. The ferry ride is about 40 minutes.
So you’re talking 2.5 to 3 hours of travel time from Cancun Airport to Cozumel using this option, and you’ll pay around $30-35 USD. Not bad.
Want To Reach Cozumel From Cancun Fast? This VIP Shortcut Might Be Worth Every Penny
If you don’t want to be lugging bags through a bus terminal, sweating through your shirt and second-guessing which ferry ticket line is shorter, you go private. This is the VIP approach.
Private shuttles from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen cost roughly $60 to $100 USD, depending on the company and number of people. Most are air-conditioned vans, and drivers tend to be waiting at arrivals with a sign.
They drop you off at the ferry terminal. Zero walking.
Once there, the ferry situation is identical, Ultramar or Winjet, both with approximately the same departure times and prices.
This is an option that will also cut your door-to-door time down completely to about 2 hours, and that’s if everything goes smoothly. Great if you just stepped off a long flight and want to squeeze in a beach visit before the sun sets.
It Sounds Easy To Fly From Cancun To Cozumel. Until You See What Really Happens
Actually, yes, you can fly Cancun to Cozumel. But here’s the reality:
The second is that direct flights are rare and nearly always costly.
The vast majority of options send you into Mexico City, for reasons that I have never understood, unless you are into collecting frequent flyer miles.
A few local companies offer small charter flights, though prices typically begin at $250 to $400 US one way.
Unless you have a ferry allergy or an ironclad time commitment, it’s just not worth it.
Don’t Waste Money On A Rental. Here’s Why It Won’t Help You Get To Cozumel
Many travelers believe it is also intelligent to simply rent a car in Cancun and drive to the ferry. But here’s the deal:
You will have to pay for parking in Playa del Carmen ($10 to $15 USD per day).
The rental won’t fit on the passenger ferry.
Once on Cozumel, you’ll have to rent a separate vehicle at any rate.
So unless you’re going to be coming and going in Cancun on the same day, a rental car is more trouble than it’s worth.
What You Need To Know About The Cozumel Ferry Back
This is crucial. The final ferry from Cozumel back to Playa del Carmen generally departs at around 9 or 10 PM, depending on the time of year. If you’re heading out on a flight the same night out of Cancun, that seems a bit tight.
Allow at least five hours of wiggle room for yourself if you’re traveling back from Cozumel and directly to the airport. Things go wrong. Ferries get delayed. Taxis disappear. And ADO buses are great but they will not wait for anyone.
Still Not Sure Which Route To Take From Cancun To Cozumel? This Breaks It Down Simple
Budget Route: ADO bus + ferry = around $35 USD, 2.5-3 hours.
Quicker and Easier Way: Private Shuttle + Ferry = $80-120 USD and around 2 hours.
Flight Route: Rare, expensive; on average $300+ not worth it.
Rental Car Option: More difficult, not less difficult.
As for knowing how to get to Cozumel from Cancun, actually it’s not difficult at all once you know how to do it. But just don’t overthink it, start when you have some time and don’t try to schedule your travel to the minute, as if you were playing Tetris with connecting flights and ferry timetables. Cozumel is going to be here while your ferry has already moved on.
