The beautiful paradise island of Isla Mujeres in Mexico is high on everyone’s list when they visit the Riviera Maya, and rightly so. With it being such a popular thing to do, you might think it’d be straightforward to get there. However, hopping on a ferry isn’t an option for getting from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres, so you’ll have to take a three-leg journey to get there.
However, don’t worry, we took this journey in November 2023, and it was straightforward enough. What we can tell you is the journey is definitely worth it!
How to Get From Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres
There are three legs of the journey to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres – bus, taxi and ferry. Overall, the journey takes a little over 2 hours and costs around $650 pesos per person one-way (less if there are multiple people to split the taxi ride).
- Step 1: Get a bus from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun Centro bus station.
- Step 2: Take a taxi from Cancun Centro bus station to Puerto Juárez ferry port.
- Step 3: Jump on the Ultramar ferry from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres.
Alternatively, you could drive directly to the Ultramar ferry and park at Puerto Juárez, but you would need to rent a car for that. If you’re thinking of renting a car in Cancun, we suggest using DiscoverCars.
Step 1. Getting the bus from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun: 1 – 1.5 hours
Since there are no direct ferries, to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres, you have to go via Cancun. The most cost and time-efficient way to do this is by bus, which takes around 1 – 1.5 hours depending on traffic. You could take a taxi, but it would be ridiculously expensive, so we won’t look at that option.
Bus option 1: ADO – $108 pesos per person
ADO buses are large coaches with comfortable, reclining seats, space to store your bags and plenty of legroom. Buses leave from two stations, Playa Del Carmen Turistica or Playa Del Carmen Alterna, with multiple buses departing per hour, making the first leg of the journey super easy. Costing just $108 pesos per person one-way, it’s worth the small extra cost for the additional comfort, especially on the return journey!
Bus option 2: Colectivo – $40-50 pesos per person
Alternatively, you could take a colectivo, which is a shared shuttle. This would be the cheapest and fastest option. However, these small vans get cramped and have very little legroom. If you’re going on a day trip, it’s going to be a long day, so we suggest taking the ADO bus. An alternative is the Playa Express, which is like a colectivo, but the vans are more modern, slightly bigger, and have some more legroom.
🚌 Here is the location for Playa del Carmen colectivo bus station:
Top Tip: Arrive at the colectivo bus station 10-15 minutes before you want to leave – the buses are small but popular, so often there are queues to get on.
Step 2. Taking a taxi from Cancun Centro bus station to Puerto Juárez ferry port: less than 10 minutes
Step two to get from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun is a short taxi ride from Cancun Centro to Puerto Juárez. As soon as you step out of the bus station in Cancun, you’ll be greeted by a line of taxi drivers. Tell them you want to go to Puerto Juárez or the Ultramar ferry.
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The journey takes less than 10 minutes and costs $200 pesos in total. These are fixed government prices, but be sure to confirm the price with the driver before getting in.
Step 3. Getting the ferry from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres: 20 minutes
The final leg of the journey is a ferry from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres with Ultramar. This relatively smooth crossing takes around 20 minutes with ferries leaving the mainland every 30 minutes. The first ferry is at 5:30 am, and the last return ferry leaves Isla Mujeres at 11:00 pm, but it’s best to check the most up-to-date schedules.
At the time of writing this article, the prices are:
| Return | One Way | |
| Adult Tourist | $540 pesos | $270 pesos |
| Child Tourist | $400 pesos | $200 pesos |
| Adult Quintana Roo Resident | $200 pesoes | $100 pesos |
| Child Quintana Roo Resident | $132 pesos | $66 pesos |
Top Tip: You do not need to book your ferry tickets in advance. You can get your ticket at the ferry terminal.
Returning from Isla Mujeres to Playa Del Carmen
To get back to Playa, you’ll do the same route in reverse. If you’re planning on returning later in the evening, we suggest booking your ADO bus in advance. In the evening, the number of buses is reduced, so you could find yourself waiting 1-2 hours for a bus, and they may sell out.
Things to Do in Isla Mujeres
Even if you’re visiting Isla Mujeres from Playa Del Carmen for one day, there’s still plenty of amazing things you can squeeze in.
🤿 This 5-star snorkelling excursion takes you to two of the best snorkelling spots on Isla Mujeres and takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, giving you plenty of time to explore the rest of the island. TOP TIP: Rainy season is whale shark season in Isla Mujeres, so snorkelling is best then.
🍹What better way to find the best spots to eat and drink than with this Golf Cart Bar Crawl?! Sample some local beer and famous Mexican cocktails at some off-the-beaten-path bars. Don’t worry, there’s no drunk driving involved, a driver is included.
🎨 There’s plenty of impressive street art on Isla Mujeres, and this golf cart island tour is a great way to find the best work without searching yourself and you’ll see most of the island too!
🐠 Want to spend a bit longer on the water? This snorkelling trip with 1200+ 5-star reviews lasts around three hours and includes ceviche, a margarita, and water.
🎣 This 5-star fishing excursion takes you miles off the coast of Isla Mujeres for a few hours of fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Find: More Things to Do in Isla Mujeres.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres?
It costs around $650 pesos one-way to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. Part of the journey is a taxi, so this cost will come down by splitting that cost among multiple people. For example. If you’re a group of 4, it will cost $428 pesos per person.
How much is a round trip from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres?
The total cost of a round trip from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres is approximately $1156 pesos per person. However, if you’re in a group of four and splitting the taxi ride, it costs around $856 pesos per person.
How long does it take to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres?
It takes around 2 hours or a little over to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. This can take a little longer if you get caught in traffic or have to wait for a ferry.
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Is there a ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres?
No. There isn’t a direct ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. The ferry port in Playa Del Carmen goes to Cozumel. The only way to get from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres is to take a bus to Cancun, a taxi to Puerto Juárez ferry port and get a ferry from there.
Where do you get the ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres?
There are four ferry ports to get from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. Puerto Juárez is the easiest to access if you’re coming from anywhere that isn’t the hotel zone. Alternatively, you’ll find Playa Tortugas, El Embarcadero, or Playa Caracol in the Cancun hotel zone.
How to Get From Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the journey from Playa Del Carmen to Isla Mujeres is well worth it – Isla Mujeres is a breathtaking and unforgettable experience and the island is steeped in history. Its stunning beaches and laid-back island vibe make it feel like a world away from mainland Mexico. Even though it’s tiny, there are a bunch of things to do in Isla Mujeres, and we recommend exploring this slice of paradise on a golf cart or a scooter: we promise you’ll have one of your best days in Mexico!
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