Last Updated: January 3, 2024
Isla Mujeres was the highlight of our trip to Mexico and we have written an extensive article on the best things to do on the island; below, however, we will focus on how to get to Isla Mujeres. Thankfully, the island attracts many visitors each year so there are many options of how to get to Isla Mujeres. Isla Mujeres is a gorgeous island in Mexico located only 30 minutes from Cancun. The island offers some of the most amazing beaches with beautiful white sand and clear waters.
We stayed a few days in Cancun but the truth is, the party scene there was not our cup of tea, so we couldn’t wait to leave. If I’m being honest, Isla Mujeres was not originally on our plans so we spent a lot of time researching at the last minute what to see and what’s the best way to get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun. We want to rid you of the stress of having to worry about how to get to Isla Mujeres. Below we will reveal all the information you’ll need to plan your trip to Isla Mujeres; how to get there, how much is the ferry from Cancun, and a few useful tips.
Without further ado, here is how to get to Isla Mujeres.
HOW TO GET TO ISLA MUJERES
There are 2 terminals located in the Cancun Hotel Zone, so if you’re wondering how to get to Isla Mujeres from Zona Hotelera then you have 2 options; Playa Tortugas or Playa Caracol. Both ferries depart from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. We highly recommend that you stay at least a couple of days in Isla Mujeres to fully enjoy this amazing island. It can also be discovered in one day, so if you’re happy to do that, you can catch the first ferry in the morning and still manage to see a lot in Isla Mujeres. The Ultramar ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres is quite frequent therefore, you can easily make this a day trip.
These 2 terminals are located in the hotel zone, however, the main terminal to Isla Mujeres is Puerto Juares. This is your best choice if you’re not staying in Zona hotelera and you want to travel to Isla Mujeres.
BONUS TIP: Be sure to buy a return ticket so you can benefit from the discount and save money.
There is also the Punta Sam terminal in Cancun from where you can catch a ferry to Isla Mujeres. This is a great option if you plan on taking your car to Isla Mujeres however keep in mind that the ferry allows only one driver and no additional passengers.
IS THERE A FERRY TO ISLA MUJERES?
Isla Mujeres is one of the most famous islands in the Mexican Caribbean, so the answer to your question “Is there a ferry to Isla Mujeres?” is “yes”. There are frequent ferry routes that can take you from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. The best ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres is Ultramar; their service is fast and reliable. Here you can find the Ultramar ferry schedule from Cancun to Isla Mujeres
HOW TO GET TO ISLA MUJERES FERRY FROM ZONA HOTELERA?
If you’re staying in the hotel zone, you can reach the Ultramar ferry terminal by bus. There are many buses that go along the strip but the R1 is always a safe bet. The bus costs less than a dollar just make sure to have peso coins in hand as the drivers don’t accept notes nor do they exchange money.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi, however, keep in mind that in the hotel zone, taxis are quite expensive. Be sure to negotiate the taxi fare before you enter the cab as the drivers tend to overcharge.
While Uber operates in Cancun, there are certain areas where they are not allowed to work. There is quite a competition between the local taxi companies and Uber in many parts of Quintana Roo. We were able to book an Uber to drop us off at the Cancun hotel zone. However, when we asked the driver if we could agree on a time to pick us up later in the day, he said that Uber drivers avoid being seen picking up tourists from the hotel zone. The same applies to pick-ups from the ferry terminals and airports.
Another taxi service app worth downloading is Cabify. It is cheap; cheaper than the local taxis but they too are not allowed to pick up tourists from certain areas in Cancun. So if you’re wondering how to get to Isla Mujeres ferry from zona hotelera, our best recommendation would be by bus.
HOW MUCH DOES THE FERRY COST TO ISLA MUJERES?
The ferry to Isla Mujeres from both Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol cost 18 dollars per person, one way. Whereas, the ferry from Puerto Juarez in Cancun to Isla Mujeres is cheaper at 12 dollars per person, one way. You can buy your tickets from the ticket machine located at the entrance of the terminal. Don’t worry if you’re short in cash, as you can pay safely for your ticket with a credit card.
READ ALSO: BEST PLACES TO EAT IN ISLA MUJERES
HOW TO GET TO ISLA MUJERES FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN
There are no ferries departing directly from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. If you’re wondering how to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen, your best options are the following.
BUS
Take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Cancun downtown and from there you can catch a taxi or a colectivo minibus to Puerto Juarez. ADO buses are great for getting around Quintana Roo. They are very reliable and cheap and what’s best, you can book your ticket online. We were using ADO buses frequently during our visit to Quintana Roo and our experience was very smooth.
RENT A CAR
If you have a car rented and you’re wondering how to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen, you can simply drive to one of the terminals in Cancun and from there catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres. There are parking lots close to the ferry terminals so you will have no problem with finding parking space. Most people who visit Quintana Roo opt to rent a car as it is very convenient and it offers flexibility in the schedule. However, we didn’t feel very comfortable driving in Mexico, so we decided to move around by bus and occasionally taxis. If you rent a car, practice extra caution when you drive, read the fine print when signing the paperwork, and be sure to have full insurance.
TAXI
Every article we read prior to our visit to Mexico claimed that taxis are cheap. While this was the truth for really short distances, we found the prices overall not so cheap. To give you an example, we wanted to catch a taxi ride from the Tulum hotel zone to Tulum downtown and all the drivers we asked wanted to charge 30 dollars for a 15-minute ride. So when we’re asked how to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen, our first instinct is to warn you not to use a taxi.
HOW TO GET TO ISLA MUJERES FROM CANCUN AIRPORT
Cancun airport is one of the largest in Mexico and as such, it offers a number of options for its visitors to connect by land to many areas in this part of Mexico. Our most recommended options if you’re wondering how to get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun Airport are the below.
ADO Bus – As you exit the airport building, turn right and walk for about 5 minutes. Past the arrivals, you will find the ADO bus terminal on your left-hand side. You can buy your ticket in advance at the kiosk found after the security control area. The bus will leave you in downtown Cancun and from there you can catch a colectivo minibus or a cab to Puerto Juarez.
TAXI – This is most certainly not the best choice if you’re on a budget but it is a great option if you’re arriving late at night and you want to get to your destination as soon as possible.
CONCLUSION
Mexico is a beautiful country and it has a plethora of amazing things to see. With that said, we understand that planning a trip can be a little overwhelming at times but we hope that in this article you found all the information on how to get to Isla Mujeres. If you have any questions on how to get to Isla Mujeres that we haven’t covered, feel free to leave a comment and we’ll be more than happy to help!
Is this correct
ADO bus from Isla Mujeres or should it be from Playa del Carmen?
. ….If you’re wondering how to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen, your best options are the following.
BUS
Take the ADO bus from Isla Mujeres to Cancun downtown and from there you can catch a taxi or a colectivo minibus to Puerto Juarez. ADO buses are great for getting around Quintana Roo.
Yes, it should be from Playa del Carmen. Thank you 🙂