Taking the ferry Cozumel to Playa del Carmen, or Playa del Carmen to Cozumel really couldn’t be easier. In this post, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about the Cozumel Ferry.
Currently, there are three companies that operate ferries between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Ultramar and Winjet run the passenger ferries. While Trancaribe and Ultramar operate the car ferry.
The Passenger Ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen
The passenger ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen starts at 5:45 and runs through until 10 pm each day. Generally, the ferry leaves on the hour every hour however, there is an extra service at 6:30 pm each day.
The Playa del Carmen ferry departs Cozumel from the center of Cozumel and arrives in Playa del Carmen right on the beach close to 5th Avenue (the main tourist street in Playa del Carmen). It is a short walk (or bicitaxi) to the ADO bus stop or the Taxi rank if you are trying to get from Cozumel to Tulum, Cancun, or anywhere else.
How long does it take to get to Playa del Carmen from Cozumel?
The ferry takes around 40 minutes so you should arrive in Playa del Carmen around a quarter to the hour.
Arriving in Playa del Carmen
When you arrive in Playa del Carmen you are likely to encounter a lot of people trying to get your attention, offering you a taxi service or tours, etc. The best thing you can do is to keep walking and politely tell them no thank you.
If you are heading to the ADO just keep to the right as you exit the ferry terminal, walk through the park, look left and you will see it just up the road on the corner of 5th and Juarez. If you do want a taxi you can also find one here.
Please be aware that taking a taxi from here (or anywhere along 5th Avenue) will cost you a lot more money. If you have luggage it is usually worth the money, if not it is worth walking a few blocks and flagging down a taxi on the street. Always check the prices before you get in the taxi.
If your plan is to explore Playa del Carmen for the day, everything that you will want to see will be off this street known as the Quinta (the 5th Avenue). From the ferry head straight up and you will arrive at a shopping center, which is the start of the Quinta.
Arriving in Cozumel
Similarly to arriving in Playa del Carmen coming the other way is no different. You will be asked if you want to book a tour, rent a car, or need a taxi. The taxi rank is to the left as you exit the ferry terminal. Always check the prices before you get in. If you want to save a few pesos, then walk down the road a little (away from the main road) and flag a taxi down.
https://www.facebook.com/WinjetMx/photos/a.224303858252643/397421580940869/?type=3&theater
Tickets
To get tickets for the ferry you will need to arrive at the port just before the ferry is due to leave and pay for your ticket. I would advise getting there at least 10-15 minutes before the ferry is due to depart. You can buy a one-way ticket or a round-trip.
To check the departure times of the Ultramar Ferry click here.
To check the departure times of the Winjet Ferry click here.
Local discount
If you are a permanent or temporary resident of Mexico you can get a locals discount on the ferry. You will need proof of this though and the discount does vary, it isn’t a fixed price.
If you are living in Cozumel you should go to the Kiosk in front of the Mexico Water Jets building (Calle 6 entre 10 y 15 -the right-hand side of the road) on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 10 am and 1:30 pm with a copy of your Residency ID and a copy of a CFE bill. The cost of the card is $100 pesos and this will get you the best discount, as long as you get your round trip ticket in Cozumel. If you buy your ticket in Playa del Carmen you won’t get as much of a discount.
Please be aware that this information is only a guide, these things change constantly and so the best thing to do is to always go to the ticket office and ask what the current procedure is. You will need a discount card for both companies as one won’t accept the others.
Taking the Car Ferry
As of now, there are two companies running car ferries in operation between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen: Ultramar and Transcribe. Both car ferries leave Cozumel from Muelle and arrive into the Port of Calica on the south side of Playa del Carmen (close to Xcaret).
They run on different timetables which you can find here:
Transcribe car ferry timetable
How much does the Car ferry cost:
For Ultramar prices check here. Currently, the cost is $400 pesos per passenger vehicle each way.
For Transcribe prices check here. Currently, the cost is $500 pesos per passenger vehicle each way.
If you are a resident or temporary resident you will get a discount, the exact amount changes and it is only for Cozumel residents. To get the best discounts you will need to apply for a Plan Local Card specifically for the car ferry.
To get the card you need to go to the Kiosk in front of the Mexico Water Jets building (Calle 6 entre 10 y 15 -right hand side of the road) on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 9 am and 1:30 pm with a copy of your car registration, a copy of your FM3 and a copy of a CFE bill. The cost of the card is $100 pesos.
Again, do check this out first as it does often change.
How long does it take on the Cozumel car ferry?
The trip takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. You will need to arrive at the port 90 minutes to 1 hour before the departure is due to arrive. You don’t need to pre-book online, but it may save time and hassle to do so.
Although I will endeavor to keep this as up to date as possible things do often change and without warning. So please use this as a guide only. To get the most up to date information you can visit the three different companies operating the ferries here:
P.S. if you spot something out of date on this post, please do let me know so I can make sure I update it.
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