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Updated January 2026
If you are exploring the Riviera Maya in Mexico chances are you will want to visit the island of Cozumel off the coast of Playa del Carmen. Cozumel is an absolute divers paradise, has some beautiful beaches and resorts as well as fun bars and yummy restaurants.
There are a few different ways how to get to Cozumel and I will tell you about the best options in this post.
How to get to Cozumel – Ferry or Flight?
Ferry to Cozumel
Having boarded quite a few ferries in my life I can confirm that getting to Cozumel by ferry is incredibly easy and comfortable. The ferry departs in Playa del Carmen (luckily there is only one big terminal so you cannot miss it) and goes directly to the main pier in Cozumel. The ride takes approximately 40 minutes.
Three companies, Winjet, Ultramar and XCartet, go to Cozumel and it depends on the season when and how often they offer trips. Usually companies alternate their times and each hour one or the other goes.
You can book your tickets below, directly online, or at the counter in either Playa Del Carmen or Cozumel. Some tickets are open and some are specific for a certain time – unless you have a flight to catch or it is Christmas high season you will be absolutely fine with an open ticket. Just be at the pier 15 minutes before departure.
Tickets cost between $14 and $16 for one way for tourists, roundtrip is double. If you are living in Quintana Roo there is usually a discount. Some offer a first class for a premium but I don’t think you need that for a 45 minute crossing.
Which company should you choose to go to Cozumel? Choose the company whose departure time works best for you! Honestly, the prices are pretty much the same as are their services and boats, I don’t think it makes a difference.
I traveled with both, Winjet and Ultramar before and found them equally comfortable with nice seats, aircon, and a well-stocked bar for coffee and cocktails. And yes, that was in economy class.
If you are traveling with big luggage you will leave that with the crew before you board and get a luggage tag in return. Upon arrival, the staff will put all the luggage on the pier, you show your tag, and get your suitcase.
On my second trip to Cozumel, the guy handling the luggage lifted my suitcase and immediately put it on a scale. While I was fully prepared to pay extra for my 25kg monster he simply told me to get it on board myself. It was a bit tricky but I managed. I guess fair enough, for not wanting to lift that thing, but on the way back they accepted without any issue.
For those needing help to get their luggage to or from the boat (the piers in Cozumel and Playa are both quite long), there are plenty of porters around you can hire. I don’t know if they have set prices but I paid $4 for someone to bring my suitcase from the dock to the ADO bus station in Playa Del Carmen. Worth every penny!
WARNING!!
On my most recent trip, I bought my ferry ticket by the pier. Or so I thought. The little office on Fifth Avenue, one road up from the pier, was decked in Winjet Colors but turned out to be a third-party seller where I got scammed.
First, he told me that a roundtrip ticket would save me a bit which was actually not true. Not a big deal but I was tied to Winjet’s timetable.
Then he charged me an additional 200 pesos for an alleged Cozumel tourism tax. In hindsight, I don’t know how I could have been so stupid especially as I obviously didn’t get a receipt but the whole shop just looked so very official and the guy was nice.
Stupid, rookie error. There is no tourism tax in Cozumel that you need to pay extra. I took the issue up with Winjet but since it was a third party there was little they could do. I think they are still an okay company but they need to vet their sellers better.
So don’t buy your ticket here, but to the office in the right picture:
Either you buy it here, directly next to the pier, or online which is what I will do in the future.
How to get from Cancun or Tulum to Cozumel
There is only one ferry route from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel. If you are coming from Cancun or Tulum you will either need to book a private transfer or, the much cheaper option, take the ADO bus. From Cancun airport, the trip will cost you about $10 and from Tulum $2,50 – $5 depending on what bus you take. You can either book and pay for your tickets online or get them straight at the station.
The ADO bus station is in the center of Playa and it will take you about 5 minutes to walk to the ferry terminal. If you are heading from Cozumel to Tulum, you will simply walk from the ferry to the bus station and get a ticket for the next bus out. If you either need to wait for your bus or your ferry, there are plenty of bars and restaurants around where you can hang out.
How to get to Cozumel with your car
If you live in Mexico or have booked a rental car you can take your vehicle to Cozumel as well. Naviera M29 offers daily trips from Punta Venado in Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel and back. You should book these in advance as there are only a few transfers daily.
Fly to CozumeL
While Cozumel is not a huge island it is home to its own international airport in San Miguel, the island’s capital. Most flights to Cozumel come from other parts of Mexico, from some US hubs, or from Toronto thus making it an International airport. With that, you will need to pass immigration if Cozumel is your first Mexican destination.
When should you fly from Cozumel instead of taking the ferry? Considering that take-off and landing contribute the most carbon emissions during a flight, I try to avoid short flights whenever possible.
So I’d say if you can get a direct flight from the US, Canada, or another Mexican destination, go for it. But if you are coming via Cancun International Airport I think it is better and cheaper to take the ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen and then the ferry. And while Tulum now has its own airport, there are also no direct flights from Tulum to Cozumel.
If you do get a flight and after arrival at the Cozumel airport, you can just grab a taxi to take you to your destination in Cozumel or ask your resort to organize a transfer for you. Make sure to stop at Diego’s on the way out, a little curbside eatery right by the airport hailed to have the best fish tacos in Cozumel!
Cozumel day trip
If you prefer the Riviera Maya and are staying at a hotel in Cancun, Tulum, or Playa Del Carmen you can still visit with a Cozumel day trip. Either you organize a ferry ticket and plan your own excursion, or you book a day trip to Cozumel with a tour operator.
Most day trips include a hotel pick-up (make sure the area where you stay qualifies for a free transfer), roundtrip ferry ticket, tour guide, and snorkeling excursion in Cozumel. Some operators take you around in a glass-bottom boat and to the most beautiful reefs around the island of Cozumel. Others will also take you to the El Cielo sandbar, an Insta-famous beach and popular hangout for day-tripping boats.
Many operators also include drinks as well as lunch but most offers are excluding marine park fees – check the T&Cs to find out what exactly is and isn’t included.
And last but not least: yes, you have the option to get to Cozumel on a day trip if you are on board a cruise ship. Unfortunately many big cruise liners still stop in Cozumel and I am not a fan, to be honest. However, if you are already on board while reading this or have your spot booked – I definitely recommend exploring Cozumel so I’d make sure to get off the boat as soon as you dock.
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