How to Get from the Cancun Airport to Cozumel
Are you looking to get from the Cancun Airport to Cozumel? Here are easy instructions and the transportation options for you so you can have a smooth transfer. If you were not able to get a flight into Cozumel Airport you will need to fly into Cancun Airport and transfer to Cozumel. Here is our guide on how to do it. It is actually pretty easy to do.
I have been living in Mexico for the past 15 years and Cancun Airport is my home airport. I have used about every form of transportation to and from the airport. Living in Playa Del Carmen means that Cozumel is just in front of Playa and easy to take the ferry to. I like to help people enjoy everything the area has to offer. To do this, we make easy to follow and step by step instructions on how to get between destinations in the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula. I hope you find this article helpful for your trip.
Step 1 Getting from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Camen
The first step is getting from the Cancun Airport (CUN) to Playa Del Carmen. This is because the ferry for Cozumel leaves from Playa Del Carmen to make the crossing. You have 3 main options to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen.
- Taking a private transfer. This is like a taxi, but you prebook these and have a driver waiting at the airport for you. This is the preferred option because it is direct and convenient.
- Booking a shared shuttle. These are vans that take multiple people and drop them at their hotels or destinations. This option is less expensive but can add some time to the transfer because of stops and loading up at the Cancun Airport.
- Take the ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen and walk to the ferry terminal that is two blocks from the bus station.
These are the three most commonly used forms of transportation to and from Cancun Airport to Cozumel. There are some other options which we will talk about later in this article. First though, let’s do step by step instructions for each of the preferred methods of transportation.
Private Transfer from the Cancun Airport to Playa and Taking the Ferry to Cozumel
The most popular option for visitors is booking a private airport transfer. These are vans that take you and those traveling with you direct to where you want to go. Once you reserve, you will have a driver waiting for you at the airport. The driver helps with your luggage and takes you directly to the Cozumel ferry Pier in Playa Del Carmen. This is the easiest and most comfortable way to get to the ferry. the prices are to the pier. then when you arrive, you can purchase your ticket on the next available ferry to Cozumel (details below for this step).
How much are transfer vans from Cancun Airport?
Prices for private van service is as follows:
- $101 USD one way or $181 USD round trip from the Cancun Airport to the Cozumel Ferry for up to 8 people. You do save 10% if you book a round trip! So, we recommend doing this!
Private transfers are popular for several reasons:
- No waiting for other passengers
- Air-conditioned vehicles
- Flat rate per vehicle rather than per person
- Option to book round trip transportation with discount
- Bilingual driver
Many travelers like this option because after a long flight you can get to the ferry for Cozumel and on your way to your vacation.
This is the same option we recommend for travelers going to Playa del Carmen. If you want to see how that trip works, read our full guide on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen. How to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen
Luxury Transfers from the Airport to the Cozumel Ferry Pier
If you are traveling for a special occasion or just want to make your trip a little more special, there are luxury transfers available from the Cancun Airport going to the Cozumel Ferry. Cancun luxury transportation is regularly provided with Suburbans or similar vehicles, like Expeditions. This is for transportation of up to six people.
Prices for the luxury transfer from the Cancun Airport to the Cozumel Ferry:
- $165 USD one way or $280 USD round trip. To save money you just need to book a round trip at time of booking. Click the reserve now button below to go to the official booking website.
Shared Shuttle to Playa Del Carmen and Ferry to Cozumel
Shared airport shuttles are another option if you are traveling on a budget. These are small vans that sell individual tickets for a seat and drop people off at their hotels or destination. These vans transport several passengers who are staying at different hotels in one area. They are cheaper than private transfers but can take longer. This is the best option if you are one or two people traveling since the price of the shared shuttle is cheaper than taking a private transfer.
How Much Are Shuttles and How to Reserve a Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles from the Cancun Airport to the Cozumel Ferry Pier area range in price depending on the company you go with. Here are two options for shared shuttles. Here are two good companies that provide shuttle service between the airport and Playacar. What are the differences between the two besides the price? There will be more departures available from the Cancun Airport, nicer vehicles and faster service with option 2.
Option 1 The price is $27 USD per person one way with a minimum of two people. You can also take this as one person, but the charge is $54 USD one way or the same for two people.
Option 2 The price is $38 USD per person one way with a minimum of two people.
This shared shuttle company is well recommended for its good service. Unlike some shuttles that offer individual rides, this shuttle has a mi minimum of two people. For example: two people going one way to Playacar is $76 USD. We have found that you get what you pay for in shared shuttle companies. This shuttle for example tends to have less people and sometimes it is just the two of you going all the way to Playacar.
If this transportation option looks good for you, you can click the reserve now button and go directly to the booking page. Once you put in your arrival information and hotel, they will reserve your spot and be waiting at the airport with a sign for you.
Things to consider with shared shuttles:
• You may need to wait for other passengers at the airport
• The shuttle may stop at several resorts before yours
• Travel time can increase depending on the route
Shared shuttles are often used by solo travelers or couples who want to save money.
ADO Bus to Playa Del Carmen from Cancun Airport
The ADO bus is the only “public” transportation that services the Cancun Airport. ADO makes transferring to Playa Del Carmen easy and affordable. Most people consider this to be the cheapest transportation from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen. However, you will need to buy your tickets to Cozumel and take the ferry after taking the ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen. So how does the ADO bus work from the Cancun Airport?
When you arrive at the Cancun Airport, you can purchase tickets for the bus to Playa Del Carmen. Buses leave about every 30 minutes. You can see the schedule here on the ADO website. Tickets cost 270 pesos per person. The bus takes between 1 hours and 25 minutes to 1 hours and 50 minutes. The amount of time it takes to get to Playa depends on what terminal you get on. Busses leave the airport from Terminal 3, then got to Terminal 4 and then go to Terminal 2 (Terminal 1 is in renovations now).
The ADO bus only goes to the Playa Del Carmen ADO on Juarez Avenue and 5th Avenue. This is perfect because it is only about two blocks from the Cozumel Ferry Pier.
To see the full guide for how to take the ADO bus from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen, see our guide here.
Getting from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel on the Ferry
Depending on how you get to Playa Del Carmen, there are two spots where you are dropped off at to transfer to the Cozumel Ferry. If you take the ADO bus, you will be dropped off at the ADO bus station on 5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue. This is just about two block walk to the ferry pier.
If you take the private transfer or the shared shuttle, they also will drop you off about two blocks from the pier. You will need to walk to the pier because the whole area is a pedestrian area. If you have luggage that you don’t want to carry, there are tricycle bikes that for a few dollars will load up your bags and take it to the ferry pier.
Buying tickets to Cozumel
There are three companies that provide service and there is one leaving about every 30 minutes (check the Cozumel ferry schedule article here). The ride across takes about 45 minutes and you arrive right in the middle of San Miguel, the main town of Cozumel. From there you can walk to your hotel if it is close by or take a taxi. For more exact details on the Cozumel Ferry you can see our article here.
If you want to take a car to Cozumel, there is a separate car ferry just outside of Playa Del Carmen. To see how to do this trip, see our guide for the Cozumel car ferry service here.
We hope you have enjoyed this guide on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Cozumel. We hope you have a great vacation or stay. Check out our dozens of other guides too for everything you might need while here.
About The Author
So we are going to fly into Cancun and take your recommended transport from Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen. We they be able to point us to the ferry ticket booth? Is there any way to buy in advance the tickets? Thank you.
Hello Ned. It is very easy to find one of the three ferry companies ticket booths. They each have several by the entrance. There is no need to buy a ticket in advance since it only takes a few minutes to get one and then walk onto the next ferry to Cozumel. We hope you have a great trip here!
What is the cost for a vehicle to transfer three people from Cancun Airport to the Cozumel ferry?
Hello Ed
The link has the prices for the transfers. The going rate for is $60USD for the transfer from the ferry to the Cancun Airport.
Do the private vehicles accommodate luggage? I was looking at the list and only the limos specifically stated “luggage.”
Hello Geeta
All of the vehicles used do accommodate luggage. Vans are the most common method of transport from the airport. These can handle everyone’s bags. The limos are the ones that of course have a small truck for the amount of people that can fit into the car. So they mention that they can have a other vehicle for bags.
Is $60.00 the price per person?
Hi, I’m very confused by this article and the other ones I seen similar to it. Why would you bus then ferry to Cozumel when mayair offers a connecting flight from. Cancun to Cozumel for around 73$ a person? I’m honestly confused as you are the 3-4th article I’ve seen to suggest it. The flight from mayair takes an hour at best vs up to 4 hours and hassle of boat + ferry or plane flight.
The flights are quick and an option. There are some drawbacks though. You do need to transfer to the smaller terminal at Cancun, there are limited flights a day and limited space for luggage. Pricewise and time wise they are similar. Some people cannot take small planes because they get sick. These are just some of the things to think about.
It’s really a nice and helpful article. We have visited Playa once and this time are staying on Cozumel. We could not get a flight directly there so we are taking the transfer and water taxi.
Good article. Very helpful, thankyou. Can anyone recommend accommodation on Cozumel, and do any of the hotels have a shuttle service from Cancun? Also, is English widely spoken?
We do not know of any hotels that have transfer service from Cancun Airport. English is widely spoken on Cozumel. There are guest houses, hostels, Airbnb and resorts on Cozumel. What might you be looking for?
We are flying into Cancun and need to get to Cozumel. We heard about the problem with the ferries but not sure what the situation is like now. We are concerned about crossing. Are there other options?
Hello Caroline
As you might have heard the security alert has been taken down and things seem to be back to normal. The ferry company that had issues is not running now. There are still the original two companies that run between Playa and Cozumel. This still is the better option for making the crossing. There is Mayan Air from Cancun but can be hard to line up your flight with.
Good Morning, We are taking our family of 10 to Cozumel in May 2019. We will be booking private transfer from Cancun to the Playa del Carmen ferry terminal. We will book our ferry tickets when we arrive there as I believe this is a good idea to check for the next ferry leaving. When we arrive in Cozumel do they have taxis close to the arrivals from the ferry or is there a long walk as with 2 young children this might not be a good option. Is there a transfer company that we can book Cozumel ferry to our villa 20 kilometers away. We decided to not take a small plane from Cancun into Cozumel as it is difficult to get one to follow on from your International flight.
The pier in Cozumel is right in town and there are taxis just at the entrance. So from your arrive from Cancun Airport vía Playa Del Carmen, it will be easy to get a cab in Cozumel.
The pier in Cozumel is right in town and there are taxis just at the entrance. So from your arrival from Cancun Airport vía Playa Del Carmen, it will be easy to get a cab in Cozumel.
Hi, How long is the trip roughly from Cancun airport by private transport and then ferry to Cozumel and Transfer the other end?
Hello Suzette. It is about one hour to Playa. The ferries leave every 30 minutes or so. So count in waiting 20 minutes and then the ferry ride is about 40 minutes. So that is two hours. That might sound like a lot it it is a fun trip back once you get to the Ferry pier in Playa you will feel like you re in vacation and just part of the adventure.
I understand there is a car ferry in Playa Del Carmen that goes to Cozumel. Does anyone know how long the trip takes and information on a website?
Hello David
We have information on the car ferry to Cozumel here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/ferry-from-playa-del-carmen-to-cozumel/
The ferry is not new but has been around. It leaves just south of Playa in Calica.
I got a great deal to Cancun Airport but not sure if it was such a good deal since we are staying in Cozumel. I read your guide here and have a question. How many times about do the ferries have trouble crossing to Playa or are they full and you need to get the next one? I just need to amke sure of getting back and forth to the airport. Thanks
Hello Alfonso
We have never seen a ferry actually fill up and turn away people. They run so frequently that they are good about being full but not over full. The crossing is usually smooth and only a few times a year the wind is too strong to make it comfortable for the crossing. It can last a half a day or day but not something you really need to worry about. You can always watch the wind predictions before you need to make the crossing to and from the Cancun Airport to Cozumel. We hope you have a great time in Cozumel and happy vacationing.
If I opt to take the bus, will I need to purchase my ticket in advance? Is there a kiosk at the airport or do I just have the correct fare amount and pay at the door of the bus?
There are counters in the airport for ADO bus and also outside if you don’t buy it inside.
Hello. I have been to Playa del Carmen before but this time staying on Cozumel. I am hoping for a more quiet stay. I like Playa but it has become more commercial Can you tell me how the beaches are now in Cozumel?
Many thanks!
Hello Lucian
All of the hotels are on the west side of Cozumel. Since the current come from the east the amount of seaweed is almost none on the beaches in Cozumel western side. So there is not much to worry about. We hope you have a great holiday and enjoy exploring Cozumel.
How early is the trip from the port of Cozumel to Playa del Carmen?
Hello. Here are the ferry schedules for you: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/cozumel-ferry-schedule/
How much is the Ferry to Cozumel?
Hello Marta
The current price is 220 pesos one way and 400 round trip.
How far from the ADO drop off in Playa del Carmen to the ferry to Cozamel?
Hello Sue
The ADO drops you at the bus station pon 5th and it is very close. There are bike taxis that can take luggage or you can walk through the park to the pier.
I want to go to Cozumel on December 24th. Will there be a problem getting the ferry to Cozumel on this day? Do the ferries run the same or limited schedules then? Thank you
Hello
There is a lot of constant traffic between Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel even during these days of the Christmas holiday. There are not problems getting a ferry and service is pretty much normal. We hope you have a good trip. Let us know if you need anything else for your trip.
hi
i need to fly into cancun ,than meet the cruise ship in cozumel -what do you suggest
If it is just you the ADO bus can take you to Playa and then you can take the Cozumel Ferry. Check which port the cruise is coming into. This is important because there are three different piers. One is near the ferry and the other two are farther away. On Cozumel you can take a taxi to the cruise ship dock. If you are traveling with someone and want to get more efficiently from the Cancun Airport to the ferry dock you can book a transfer. The ones in our article are very good and our readers really like them.
If you book a transfer to your Cozumel hotel from Cancun airport will their be a bus collecting you from the ferry to take you to your hotel? Also how does the transfer pick you up when you are returning back to the airport?
The transfer from the airport will get you to the ferry and you will take it. We Belice the way it works is on the Cozumel side you will need to take a taxi to your hotel and return to the ferry to come back. You can click the book now button to go directly to the transportation companies website. There you can see details and also ask them directly.
We are heading to Cozumel and saw that Southwest is going to open flights again there! Wahoo. We are glad things are coming back for tourism. We really need a break.
I am trying to buy ferry tickets from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen AHEAD OF TIME. I have heard the ferries are often full and I do not want to miss my flight.
There are a little more full now with less service. You can buy tickets ahead at the pier.