Cozumel and Isla Mujeres Ferries: Schedules, Fares and the Car Ferry

Two of the Riviera Maya's islands sit less than an hour from the mainland, and the ferry services that connect them run often enough that neither feels remote. But the fares, the departure points and the schedules are spread across half a dozen operator websites, and several of those sites disagree with each other. This is the current picture, checked against the operators' own pages on 14 October 2026.

If you own property on the Riviera Maya or are considering buying here, you will use at least one of these crossings. Cozumel is the day trip most guests ask about. Isla Mujeres is the one most owners take for themselves.

Playa del Carmen to Cozumel: the passenger ferry

Two operators run fast catamarans between Playa del Carmen and San Miguel de Cozumel: Ultramar and Winjet. Both depart from the ferry pier at the foot of Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen and arrive at the central pier in Cozumel town. The crossing takes about 45 minutes.

Winjet schedule, 14 October 2026 (from winjet.mx, subject to change without notice):

Ultramar runs a similar schedule. Both operators sell tickets at the pier and online. A one-way adult fare is roughly 200 to 250 MXN (about $12 to $15 USD). Children pay a reduced fare, and children under five ride free. Buying a round trip ties you to one operator's return schedule, so most regular users buy two singles.

The detail that catches visitors out: the last boat back from Cozumel leaves earlier than the last boat from Playa. On the Winjet schedule above, the last Cozumel departure is 19:00 against Playa's 20:00. Check the return time first.

The car ferry: Calica to Cozumel

If you need to take a vehicle to Cozumel, the car ferry departs from Punta Venado, near Calica, a few kilometres south of Playa del Carmen. This is not the same pier as the passenger ferry. UltraCarga operates the route.

UltraCarga schedule (from ultracarga.com, checked 14 October 2026):

The 06:00 and 21:00 weekday departures from Calica accept only private cars with up to two adults. Minors, pregnant women and pets are not permitted on those sailings.

Fares (one way, includes the driver):

A reservation costs more than a walk-up. Vehicle length is measured including any roof rack or structure. Loads of sand, block, rebar or gravel require a valid weighing certificate from a registered scale; without one, an 8% surcharge applies.

Contact UltraCarga: WhatsApp +52 998 302 9244, phone (998) 364-2936.

Transcaribe also operates on this route. Their current timetable was not available on their website as of 14 October 2026, so confirm directly if you prefer their service.

What owners deal with on the car ferry

The car ferry is how furniture, building materials and heavy equipment reach Cozumel. If you are fitting out a property there, you or your contractor will use this crossing. Three things worth knowing:

The schedule is thin on weekends. Saturday has two departures, Sunday two, and neither has a late evening sailing from Calica. A contractor planning a Monday start needs to ship materials by Friday afternoon.

The early and late weekday sailings restrict who can travel. A family moving household goods on the 06:00 or 21:00 cannot bring children.

Reservations exist but cost more, and they close 24 hours before departure. Most regular users buy at the window.

Cancún to Isla Mujeres

The main departure point is Puerto Juárez, also called Gran Puerto, in downtown Cancún. Ultramar runs fast catamarans roughly every 30 minutes from about 05:30 until around 23:00, depending on the season. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and arrives at the central pier on Isla Mujeres, near Playa Norte.

Fares from Puerto Juárez: approximately 300 MXN round trip (about $17 USD) with Ultramar. A slower public ferry departs from the adjacent dock at about half the price, roughly 150 MXN round trip, with less frequent departures.

From the Hotel Zone: ferries also depart from piers at El Embarcadero, Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol, but they run less often and cost 400 to 500 MXN or more round trip. Unless you are staying in the Hotel Zone and the convenience justifies the premium, Puerto Juárez is the better departure point.

Getting to Puerto Juárez from the Hotel Zone: the R-1 bus costs about 12 MXN; a taxi runs 150 to 250 MXN.

The passenger ferry is for foot passengers only. Bicycles, golf carts and scooters cannot be taken on it. A car ferry to Isla Mujeres exists but runs infrequently and is not a practical option for most visitors.

Before you go

Schedules change by season and by weather. The times above were checked against the operators' own websites on 14 October 2026, but a storm or a vessel rotation can alter them on any day. Confirm the current timetable at the pier or the operator's site before you travel, and always check the time of the last return sailing before you leave the mainland.

Buy tickets at the official operator booths or windows, not from touts at the pier offering bundled "ferry plus tour" packages.

Sources: Winjet (winjet.mx/en/schedules, accessed 14 October 2026), UltraCarga (ultracarga.com/en/ruta-punta-venado-calica-cozumel, accessed 14 October 2026), cancun-trip.com (ferry-to-isla-mujeres and ferry-to-cozumel guides, accessed 14 October 2026).