Traveling from Cancun to Cozumel

If you’re headed to Cozumel for vacation, you’ll likely be flying into the Cancun International Airport. There is a small airport in Cozumel and another airport in Playa del Carmen, but almost all flights come into Cancun, especially from abroad. Traveling from Cancun to your destination is relatively easy, and we’ve created this little guide to getting from Cancun to Cozumel to help you in your journey!

Getting from Cancun to Playa del Carmen

First, you will need to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen. We wrote a post about your options more in-depth at https://therivieramaya.org/cancun-to-playa-del-carmen/ that you can check out, but the basics are that you can choose between public transporation options or private transfers.

Public transportation is much cheaper, completely safe, and an easy way to go. The private transfers and car rentals may cost more, but offer you some freedom and privacy. We’re going to skip over the car rentals in this post, as it really isn’t pragmatic to bring a car from the Cancun airport to Cozumel. You can do so if you wish, but we don’t recommend doing so. On an added note, spend a few extra hours checking out some of the fun things to do in Playa while you’re there before you board the ferry!

Public Transportation

There are two options to start the journey from Cancun to Cozumel by getting to Playa del Carmen via conventional methods. First, you can take the ADO bus right from the Cancun airport to the center of Playa del Carmen. Bus tickets from the airport generally run around 300 pesos per person, and the bus is air conditioned and quite comfortable. You get a nice seat that reclines, a popular movie to watch, and an easy trip down the highway. From the bus station, it’s a relatively short walk or taxi ride to the ferry terminal.

You can also hop in a taxi at the Cancun airport with great ease. Taxis are quite a bit more costly, running at least 1,000 pesos. However, if you have multiple people, this may not end up being more than bus tickets. Taxi rates are organizaed and overseen by the government, so you aren’t super likely to get messed around with the prices. Taxi drivers range from quiet and efficient to more friendly and talkative. Overall, the taxi experience in the Riviera Maya is pretty fantastic as far as cabs go. You can ask the driver to take you straight down to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen, and he or she will know exactly where to go.

Private Options to get to Cozumel

If you have a large group or want the privacy of your own transport, you can always hire a private transportation service to get you down to Playa del Carmen. You can find one we like here that costs about 20 USD a person for the round-trip journey. You can set these up ahead of time and have a driver wait for you when you get off the plane. These experiences tend to be great, with drivers offering beverages or snacks, and perhaps a little bit of guidance and knowledge as you make your way down south to the ferry terminal.

The Ferry to Cozumel

To get from Cancun to Cozumel, the next step is to get on the water. Once you get to Playa del Carmen, you’ll need to head to the ferry terminal. Just east of the famous 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, the ferry terminal is located right at the end of Juarez Avenue. Walking toward the beach, you’ll see Parque Fundadores on your left, and the ferry terminal to Cozumel on your right. You can read our post The Cozumel Ferry Guide from Playa del Carmen for more information on the ferry to Cozumel!

We strongly recommend buying your tickets directly at the ferry terminal to get the best price. These are clearly marked stands and kiosks with official ferry workers. The other vendors will try to sell you VIP services or normal ferry tickets, but they are just marking up tickets they bought themselves from the ferry terminal. Getting on the ferry is pretty straightforward and easy. You buy a ticket (we usually buy a ticket from whichever company/ferry is leaving next), wait in line, get on, and take a ride!

Upon arriving in Cozumel, you will get off the ferry at the Cozumel ferry terminal. Much like the pier over in Playa, there are tons of vendors, taxis, and people shouting at you to take tours or buy things. If you know where you are going, you can get a taxi or walk. Remember to check out some of our favorite things to do in Cozumel while you’re there.

Planning Your Return

Getting from Cancun to Cozumel is one thing, but you also need to plan your return back. If you have a flight to catch, it’s useful to make a plan to make sure you’re there on time. Ferries don’t run twenty-four hours a day, so if you have an early morning flight you may need to spend the night back on the mainland in order to make your flights in time!

If you’re wondering if Cozumel is safe or looking for some tips on security during your stay, check out our recent post Is Cozumel Safe for Travel in 2018?