HOW TO GET TO COZUMEL, MEXICO
LOOKING FOR THE BEST WAYS TO GET TO COZUMEL, MEXICO?
Getting to Cozumel is an adventure in itself, with multiple options to suit every traveler’s style or geographic challenges. Whether you’re flying directly to the island, taking a scenic ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, or arriving by cruise ship, the journey offers stunning views of the beautiful Caribbean waters.
I’ve travelled to Cozumel on two separate occasions and I’ll show you how I did it, so that you don’t have any unnecessary stress or complications. I’ll walk you through all the best ways to reach Cozumel!
WHAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET TO COZUMEL, MEXICO?
Flying to Cozumel is the easiest way to get there, especially with direct flights available from several major cities. It’s fast, convenient, and eliminates the need for a ferry connection.
WHAT AIRPORT DO YOU FLY INTO TO GET TO COZUMEL?
To get to Cozumel, you can fly directly into Cozumel International Airport (CZM) which is about a 5-10 minute drive from San Miguel’s main city square. Cozumel’s airport offers direct flights from several cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
CAN YOU FLY DIRECT INTO COZUMEL?
Yes, you can fly directly into Cozumel. Here are all of the cities offering direct flights to Cozumel.
- From the USA – Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Minneapolis.
- From Canada – Toronto & Montreal.
- From Mexico – Guadalajara, Mexico City, Cancun and Monterrey.
WHICH AIRLINES FLY TO COZUMEL, MEXICO?
There are currently 11 airline companies that fly into Cozumel, Mexico.
- Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Transat, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, VivaAerobus, Volaris, and WestJet.
DO YOU FLY INTO CANCUN TO GET TO COZUMEL?
This is actually how I got to Cozumel and it can be a great option because there are more direct flights into Cancun than there are to Cozumel. Depending on where you are coming from, it might be faster to land in Cancun and make your way to Cozumel instead of getting a connecting flight. Cancun also offers more direct flights than Cozumel.
For example, I live in Calgary which doesn’t have direct flights to Cozumel, but there are many direct flights per day to Cancun that are actually quite cheap. It’s often cheaper and faster to fly to Cancun and transfer to Cozumel by bus and ferry.
HOW TO GET TO COZUMEL FROM THE CANCUN AIRPORT?
Affordable Option – After clearing Customs at the airport, look for the ADO bus counter as soon as you leave the luggage area. Purchase a ticket to Playa del Carmen (250 pesos per person), then head to the bus platform which is very simple and easy. The trip takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on your starting terminal. The bus stops at Terminals 3, 4, and 2 before heading directly to Playa del Carmen. I have used ADO many times and it is cheap, safe, and easy!
I made the mistake of buying the bus and ferry tickets directly at the airport. I recommend just buying the bus ticket because there are two ferry companies that alternate sailings every hour. If you’re like me, you might pay for the wrong ferry and have to wait 2 hours for the next sailing.
The bus arrives at the ADO “Turistica” terminal on 5th Avenue and Av. Benito Juarez. From there, it’s a short 250-meter walk to the ferry terminal.
For ferries to Cozumel, choose between Ultramar and WinJet which are both reliabe. Again, just take the next available boat.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET FROM CANCUN TO COZUMEL
The ferry tickets from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel are:
- Adults: $290 pesos one way, 580 pesos for a round trip.
- Children: $230 pesos one way, 460 pesos for a round trip.
- Infants: Free
HOW LONG IS THE FERRY FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN TO COZUMEL
The ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel is about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
If you tend to get sea sick I recommend sitting in the upstairs open air roof area vs the enclosed main cabin as the air flow helps to reduce sea sickness.
FERRY OR FLIGHT? WHICH TRANSPORTATION OPTION IS BEST TO GET TO COZUMEL?
If you live in a major city with direct flights to Cozumel that will surely be the best way to get to Cozumel with the least amount of hassle and waiting around.
If you live in a city with convenient flights to Cancun this is also a great option. If you time everything correctly it should only take you 2-3 hours to get from Cancun to Cozumel, which is comparable to flying to a connecting city to catch a flight to Cozumel.
CAN YOU TAKE A DAY TRIP TO COZUMEL FROM CANCUN OR PLAYA DEL CARMEN?
I’ve been asked this questions many times, “is it possible to take a day trip to Cozumel from Cancun or Playa del Carmen?” You absolutely can but it’s such a cool place you’ll probably want to spend more than a day.
There are both early morning and late night ferry sailings back and forth from Cozumel to Playa. With a little planning you shouldn’t have any problem taking in Cozumel as a day trip.
WHERE DO CRUISE SHIPS DOCK IN COZUMEL?
Cruise ships in Cozumel typically dock at one of three main ports.
- Punta Langosta Pier – Located right in downtown San Miguel and close to shops, restaurants and amenities. Often used by Norwegian Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Line.
- International Pier – About 3.5km from downtown San Miguel. Serves multiple cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.
- Puerta Maya Pier – About 5km from downtown San Miguel and primarily serves Carnival Cruise Line .
ONE DAY COZUMEL ITINERARY
- 7:30AM: Ferry to Cozumel
- 8:30AM: Breakfast at a local spot – I recommend Chilaquiles
- 9:30AM – Join a half or full day scuba diving trip. I recommend ScubaTony.
- 1:00PM – Lunch at a beachside restaurant.
- 2:30PM – Explore the island – I recommend renting a scooter and driving around the entire island. Stop on the east side beaches for pristine stretches of sand.
- 5:00PM – Discover the main town – San Miguel. Stroll the the colourful streets and shop for local gifts.
- 6:00PM – Dinner
- 8:00PM – Ferry back to Playa del Carmen
IS COZMEL, MEXICO WORTH VISITING?
Yes, Cozumel is definitely worth visiting especially if you enjoy beaches, vibrant marine life, and a relaxed atmosphere. Here’s all the main reasons I think it’s one of the best locations in Mexico.
- Scuba Diving – The main draw for most people visiting Cozumel is for world famous scuba diving. Cozumel has crystal clear warm waters, healthy coral reefs, and is teeming with marine life. Check out my guide to scuba diving in Cozumel by clicking here!
- Stunning Beaches – Cozumel is underrated in terms of how nice the beaches are – especially on the east side of the island.
- Laid-Back Island Vibes – Cozumel is less crowded and chaotic compared to Cancun. It definitely has a relaxed and slow paced island vibe to it.
- Delicious Food and Drinks – Beachfront bars, fresh seafood, and delicious food. Basically every meal I have had in Cozumel was outstanding.
- Adventure Activities – Surfing on the east side, snorkelling, ATV tours, paddle boarding, and exploring the island by scooter.
- Accessibility – Cozumel is easy to get to with either direct flights or by ferry.
IN SUMMARY: GETTING TO COZUMEL
Traveling to Cozumel is relatively easy with both flight and ferry options.
I hope you’ve found the advice in this post helpful and that you feel more comfortable flying or booking a ferry to visit Cozumel, so you can explore and island that gets considerably less tourists than both Playa and Cancun. It’s definitely worth the trip!