Looking how to get from Cancun to Cozumel? Here you’ll find all the details of the available transportation options, from taking a ferry to flying to the island!
Cozumel is a Mexican island in the Caribbean sea and a popular day-trip destination from the Riviera Maya.
The straight line distance between Cancun and Cozumel is 47 miles / 74 kilometers. Due to its location in the middle of the sea, there is only one popular way of getting from Cancun to Cozumel: by ferry.
While flying to the island is also possible, it’s not the most popular option, money, and practicality-wise. However, if that’s the means of transportation you’d rather use, you can either fly directly to Cozumel Airport from your country of origin or take a Cancun – Cozumel flight (these are charter flights).
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Cozumel Ferry from Playa del Carmen: Schedule & Price
If you plan on traveling from Cancun by ferry to Cozumel, there are two ferry companies you can choose from: Ultramar, which is the most popular, and Winjet.
➥ Ultramar’s first ferry departs at 8 AM, and from 10 AM to 1 PM there is one every hour. In the afternoon there is one ferry every two hours until 10 PM.
➥ Winjet has ferries departing every hour from 8 AM, and after the 1 PM ferry there’s one every two hours until 10 PM; except for the extra Winjet ferry at 9 AM, their schedules are pretty similar.
⚠️ There is NO Cancun – Cozumel ferry (or Cozumel to Cancun ferry). What you might see advertised as the Cancun to Cozumel ferry actually departs from the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen, so we’re gonna cover the different ways you can get there from Cancun to catch the boat and enjoy the best day at the beach!
How To Get from Cancun Airport to Cozumel
Getting from Cancun Airport to Cozumel is fairly easy, and there are quite a few transportation options that can get you to the ferry terminal.
Private transfer from Cancun Airport + Ferry
The most comfortable way of getting from Cancun to Cozumel is by private transfer. If you opt for a private transfer from Cancun to Cozumel and you book it in advance, a driver will be waiting for you at the airport and will handle your bags, so all you have to do is relax the whole way. The drive takes around 55 minutes in normal traffic conditions.
▶ If you’re up to 8 passengers, the most economical transfer type is the Private Service from Cancun Airport to Cozumel. You’ll be greeted in the arrival area, and enjoy the comfort of traveling in an air-conditioned vehicle that is exclusively at your disposal.
Prices differ slightly depending on the number of travelers. A one-way trip for up to 3 people costs $60. It’s $70 if you’re up to 6 people, or $85 for 7 to 8 people ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶ If you want to upgrade your trip, you can get the Luxury Service that accommodates up to 6 people. You’ll travel in an air-conditioned luxurious vehicle, Suburban or equivalent model, and your driver will provide you with the best travel tips to make your stay memorable.
One-way trip with the luxury service costs $99, and if you want to book a round-trip transfer it costs $175 ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶ If you’re traveling with a bunch of friends or your extended family, you may want to get the Group Service that takes up to 16 people. You’ll be greeted at the airport and transported in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.
The cost of a one-way trip of the group transfer costs $140, and $250 if you book round-trip ➥ BOOK IT HERE
⚠️ The private transfer takes you from the Cancun Airport to the Cozumel ferry terminal (or the other way around!) and it does not include the ferry tickets to the island. You can buy your ferry tickets here.
Once you arrive at Cozumel, you can either take a taxi to your hotel (prices will depend on the zone where the hotel is located) or you can take a private shuttle to your hotel..
➤ The private shuttle in Cozumel offers you direct transportation to your hotel, with personalized service and baggage handling included. All vehicles are modern and air-conditioned, and the best part is that the price is final: there are no hidden extras and all fees and taxes are covered. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶ Otherwise, you can buy a combo ticket that includes all transportation from Cancun Airport to Cozumel (or on the way back from Cozumel to Cancun Airport). This transfer Cancun-Cozumel includes the transfer from the Cancun airport to the ferry terminal, the ferry tickets and a transfer to your Cozumel hotel in zone 2, the southern area of the island. It accommodates up to 8 people and offers roundtrip transportation back to Cancun. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
If you’re staying in a hotel in zone 1 of Cozumel, meaning Downtown or the northern area of Cozumel, this is the combo ticket for you to travel from Cancun to Cozumel. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Shared transfer from Cancun Airport + Ferry
If you’re traveling solo or don’t want to get a private transfer, you can still get the combo transportation from Cancun to Cozumel by sharing your trip with fellow travelers.
The shared transfer includes transportation from the Cancun Airport to the ferry station, ferry tickets and transfer to your hotel.
▶ If your hotel is in zone 2 (southern Cozumel) ➥ GET THIS TRANSFER
▶ Is your hotel in zone 1 (Downtown & northern Cozumel)? ➥ THIS IS YOUR TRANSFER
Cancun to Cozumel Transportation
Are you already in Cancun? Regardless if you’re staying in Downtown Cancun or in the Hotel Zone, there are several ways you can get to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen and from there to the island.
Join a Day Tour to Cozumel from Cancun
If you’re only planning a Cancun to Cozumel day trip, the best way to get to Cozumel is to join a tour, so you can forget about the hassle of organizing transportation.
➤ One of the best tours from Cancun to Cozumel is the Cozumel Snorkel Day Trip from Cancun. You’ll be picked up at your hotel in Cancun and enjoy the ferry ride to Cozumel. On the island, you’ll be able to relax on the white-sand beaches and snorkel along with colorful fish. If selected, you’ll also enjoy lunch and an open bar. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
➤ Another fantastic Cozumel tour from Cancun is the Cozumel Snorkel Tour. You’ll embark on a full-day excursion that offers numerous water activities, roundtrip transportation, beverages and lunch. Besides snorkeling near a reef you’ll visit a water park, where you’ll be able to try the water slides and the floating park, or relax at the beach. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Taxi to Cozumel Ferry Terminal + Ferry
A taxi ride from Downtown Cancun to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen costs around USD 50 at the time of writing. To board the ferry directly when you arrive, you can buy your tickets beforehand here. ➥ BUY YOUR FERRY TICKETS HERE
Once in Cozumel, you can take a taxi from the terminal to your hotel (prices vary depending on your hotel’s zone) or you can take a private shuttle that offers roundtrip transportation, so you also ensure your ride back to the terminal when your vacation is over. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
ADO bus to Playa del Carmen + Ferry
If you’re traveling on a budget, you can get to Cozumel for even less by taking the ADO bus from Cancun to the Cozumel ferry terminal.
You’ll take the ADO bus at the ADO bus station in Downtown Cancun (Calle Pino, SM23, MZ56) and arrive at the 5th Avenue station in Playa del Carmen, which is only 3 blocks away from the ferry terminal.
You’ll then hop aboard the ferry to get to Cozumel island; you can buy your ferry tickets here.
Once in Cozumel, you can get to your hotel by either taking a taxi or a private shuttle, which offers round-trip transportation in air-conditioned vehicles. All fees and taxes are covered with the fee, and you’ll be taken from the ferry terminal directly to your hotel, and the other way around when your stay is over. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Colectivo to Playa del Carmen + Ferry
The cheapest transportation option in the Riviera Maya is the colectivo (shared vans). Colectivos depart approximately every 10 minutes, and you can hop on a collective right in front of the ADO bus station. The arrival point in Playa del Carmen is Calle 2, which is a few blocks away from the ferry terminal. You’ll find your ferry tickets here.
Once in Cozumel, take a taxi to your hotel or choose the Private Shuttle, which offers roundtrip transportation from the terminal to your hotel in air-conditioned, fully insured vehicles. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Cancun to Cozumel FAQ
The ferry ride from Cancun to Cozumel takes around 45 minutes.
Cozumel is as touristy as Cancun, and visited by thousands of tourists every year, so the journey to Cozumel and the island itself are safe.
Taxi rates from Cancun airport to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen are around USD 70.
If you’re traveling from Cancun to Cozumel by ferry, the cost of the overall journey from Cancun Airport to the ferry terminal in ADO bus + ferry tickets will cost you around USD 26.
The Cozumel ferry is generally safe, and although violent crime is low in the area, there were 2 incidents involving explosives on tourist ferries in 2018 .
The distance from downtown Cancun to Cozumel is 70.5 miles (113.6 kilometers). Cancun Airport is about 54 miles (87 kilometers) from the island.
You probably can if you rent a private boat, but I couldn’t find any information about it. I suggest you ask your hotel in Cozumel if they can arrange a water taxi from Cancun to Cozumel for you.
10 travelling from cancun to cozumel Ideas
Monday 10th of April 2023
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Deborah Thistlethwaite
Sunday 11th of September 2022
Hi yes super excited about visiting next month! Wondering about the Car Ferry from Callica to Cozumel and back. The schedule I could find says only 1 to and 1 back at 4am and 130 pm respectfully. Is that all or is there a more extensive schedule like the other ferries every few hours or a later one in the late afternoon or evening so we can bring our rental car and do the whole island?