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Tourists Complain About The High Cost To Get To This Beautiful Island Near Cancun 

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It doesn’t take long to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen, and then to the island of Cozumel by ferry.   

The total trip time is less than an hour and a half, roughly 45 minutes from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, and then a 20-40 minute ferry ride, depending on which one you choose.   

The most popular option is the Ultramar ferry, but it’s pretty pricey, which has led to tourists complaining about the high cost of getting to this beautiful island near Cancun. 

Small Ultramar Ferry Taking Tourists to Cozumel, Mexico

So How Much Is The Ultramar Ferry To Cozumel? 

The ticket prices for the Ultramar ferry trip between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel vary based on several factors.   

Tourists pay higher prices, and a couple of different ticket classes also determine the price.   

A roundtrip Premium Plus ticket, which is the basic ticket, costs about $35 for tourists who want to take the ferry to Cozumel.   

For the First Class ticket, the price is around $41 roundtrip. 

Passengers departing from an ultramar ferry in cancun

Is It Worth It?  

Tickets for the ferry to Cozumel may be a little steep, but it’s a small price to pay to be able to visit such a beautiful island paradise.   

The island has stunning beaches and coral reefs that are part of the world’s second-largest reef system.   

In addition to enjoying nature in Cozumel, a stroll through town for some shopping and a sampling of the local food scene is also a must.   

cozumel street scene

Ultramar Ferry Information  

The Ultramar ferry runs every hour in both directions, seven days a week.   

The first departure from Playa del Carmen is at 9:00 a.m., and from Cozumel at 8:00 a.m. The last ferries depart at 9:00 and 8:00 p.m., respectively.   

Travelers are asked to arrive at the Ultramar ferry terminal 40 minutes before departure, as lines to board the ferry are reportedly long.   

Other Ferry Options For Getting To Cozumel 

Tropical ferry port in Cancun

Xcaret Sailing 

The Ultramar ferry is not the only option for getting to Cozumel; in fact, a new option has just become available.   

This newest option is through Xcaret Sailing, but although it is in operation, the pricing is unknown.   

We do know that the ferry will run from 7:30 am from Cozumel to 9:30 pm from Playa del Carmen.   

A Xcaret Mexico sign in Quintana Roo

Winjet Ferry 

There is also the winjet ferry that offers service to Cozumel.   

It runs similar hours, every hour on the hour, starting at 8:00 am and ending at 9:00 pm.   

The Winjet ferry costs about $32 for a roundtrip ticket.   

Ferry with People Onboard

Flying Into Cancun Or Cozumel – Which Is The Better Option? 

Cozumel does have its own airport, with direct flights available from 10 U.S. cities.   

The U.S. has much stronger connectivity with Cancun Airport, though, with nonstop flights from 42 American cities.   

While you may save time and money on transportation by flying into Cozumel, you have a lot more options flying into Cancun, which is what the majority of Cozumel visitors do.   

Cloudy day in the beautiful Cozumel International Airport

Getting From Cancun To Playa Del Carmen 

If you do opt to fly into Cancun, you’ll need to book transportation to Playa del Carmen.   

Up until recently, this could be expensive, particularly if you chose a taxi or private transportation.   

Now you can opt for the Maya Train, though, which costs even less than an ADO bus ticket and will get you to Playa del Carmen even faster. 

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Robin

Wednesday 27th of March 2024

Just a small correction; Winjet and Ultramar alternate every hour. For example you might get an Ultramar ferry at 8:30, then Winjet at 9:30 or vice versa. Thanks for the information!!

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