Cancun to Isla Mujeres Ferry: How to Get There
Reviewed by Jean Nájera, Transportation Industry Expert
From Cancun to Isla Mujeres, you take a ferry: there is no bridge or road.
For most people that means the Ultramar ferry from Puerto Juárez, 30 minutes across, running from early morning until about 11 pm.
If you are staying in the Hotel Zone, Ultramar also leaves from Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol, with fewer departures.
Only take a car across on the Punta Sam car ferry if you really need it on the island.
The detail everyone misses: which pier you use depends on where you sleep in Cancun, not on the ferry.
Puerto Juárez is 10 minutes from downtown and has the most departures and the latest boats.
From the Hotel Zone it is 20 to 35 minutes away, so a Hotel Zone pier near your hotel can save time, as long as you catch a boat before the last one leaves around 6 pm.
At a glance
- Crossing: about 30 minutes by fast ferry, roughly 10 km of water
- Fare: about 290 MXN (around US$16) per adult one way at the Ultramar window, plus a small sanitation fee
- Most departures: Puerto Juárez, about every 30 minutes until around 11 pm
- From the Hotel Zone: Playa Tortugas or Playa Caracol, last boats around 6 pm
- Avoid: leaving your return to the last boat from a Hotel Zone pier. Puerto Juárez runs much later
Cancun to Isla Mujeres transport options
Compare fares and crossing times, then select an option for the pier and booking details.
| Transport | Estimated fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Ultramar from Puerto JuárezMain passenger ferry | Estimated fareAbout 290 MXN at the windowper adult one way; US$24 booked on GuateGo | Travel time30 min crossing |
| Ultramar from the Hotel ZonePlaya Tortugas or Playa Caracol | Estimated fareAbout 290 MXNper adult one way | Travel time30 min crossing, fewer departures |
| Xcaret Xailing from El EmbarcaderoHotel Zone, km 4.5 | Estimated fareFrom about US$19per person one way | Travel timeAbout 20 to 30 min |
| Car ferry from Punta SamOnly if you need a vehicle | Estimated fareAbout 750 MXNper car, plus passengers | Travel time40 to 50 min crossing |
Fares and times are estimates. Confirm current prices, pier and departures before you travel.
More routes from Cancun
1. Ultramar from Puerto Juárez, the one I’d take
Ultramar’s main terminal is on Avenida López Portillo in Puerto Juárez, about 10 minutes north of downtown Cancun.
Fast ferries cross to Isla Mujeres in about 30 minutes and dock on Avenida Rueda Medina in the island’s downtown.
Boats run roughly every 30 minutes for most of the day, and hourly later in the evening, until about 11 pm.
At the ticket window, a one-way adult ticket is about 290 MXN, with cheaper child fares and a small environmental sanitation fee on top.
Booking ahead on GuateGo costs US$24 per person. It costs more but saves queueing at busy times.
Getting there: from downtown Cancun, a taxi to Puerto Juárez takes about 10 minutes, and the R-1 city bus heading north stops nearby for a few pesos.
From the Hotel Zone, allow 20 to 35 minutes; Uber or DiDi costs roughly 150 to 250 MXN. From the airport, see our Cancun Airport to Isla Mujeres guide.
My verdict: the best choice if you are staying downtown, coming from the airport, or want a late return.
It has the most boats and the latest ones.
Want your seat sorted before you get to the pier?
2. Ultramar from the Hotel Zone piers, if you stay nearby
Ultramar also runs boats from two piers on Boulevard Kukulcán in the Hotel Zone: Playa Tortugas at km 6.5 and Playa Caracol at km 9.5.
The crossing still takes about 30 minutes and the fare is about the same, but there are fewer boats, roughly every 1 to 2 hours, and the last departures are around 6 pm.
My verdict: great for a day trip if your hotel is close to one of these piers. If not, Puerto Juárez is usually quicker overall and gives you more return times.
3. Xcaret Xailing from El Embarcadero, a newer option
Xcaret’s Xailing ferries leave from El Embarcadero at km 4.5 of the Hotel Zone.
Bookaway lists this crossing from about US$19 per person, taking around 20 minutes.
My verdict: handy if you are staying at the north end of the Hotel Zone. Compare the departure times with Ultramar before you book.
Staying near km 4.5?
4. Car ferry from Punta Sam, only with a vehicle
If you need your car on the island, a separate car ferry leaves from Punta Sam, north of Puerto Juárez, and takes about 40 to 50 minutes.
Expect about 750 MXN for a compact car, plus passenger fares.
Isla Mujeres is only about 7 km long, and most visitors get around by golf cart, scooter or taxi, so few people need a car there.
My verdict: skip it unless you are moving there for a while or have a specific reason. Park on the mainland and cross on foot instead.
Arriving in Isla Mujeres
Passenger ferries from Puerto Juárez and the Hotel Zone dock at the pier on Avenida Rueda Medina, in the island’s downtown (Centro).
Most hotels in Centro and along Playa Norte are a 5 to 15 minute walk away. For the south of the island, taxis wait at the pier; confirm the fare before you get in.
Golf carts are rented near the pier for exploring.
Haven’t booked a place yet? See hotels in Isla Mujeres, and stay in Centro if you want to walk everywhere.
Practical notes
Day trip? Take an early boat and check the time of the last return from your pier before you leave.
Puerto Juárez runs until about 11 pm, the Hotel Zone piers only until about 6 pm.
Bring cash. The ticket window takes cards, but island taxis and small shops often want pesos.
Coming back? The same boats run in reverse; see our Isla Mujeres to Cancun guide.
Tours on Isla Mujeres
Catamaran days, snorkeling at the reef and whale shark tours (in season) leave from Cancun and from the island.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres?
About 290 MXN (around US$16) per adult one way at the Ultramar window in Puerto Juárez, with cheaper child fares and a small sanitation fee. Booked ahead on GuateGo it costs US$24.
Where do I catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres in Cancun?
Most people use the Ultramar terminal in Puerto Juárez, 10 minutes north of downtown. Ultramar also leaves from Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol in the Hotel Zone, and Xcaret Xailing from El Embarcadero.
How long is the ferry to Isla Mujeres?
About 30 minutes on the Ultramar fast ferry from Puerto Juárez or the Hotel Zone piers. The car ferry from Punta Sam takes 40 to 50 minutes.
What time is the last ferry to Isla Mujeres?
From Puerto Juárez, Ultramar runs until about 11 pm. From the Hotel Zone piers, the last boats leave around 6 pm. Check the timetable on the day, as it changes by season.
Where does the ferry arrive on Isla Mujeres?
At the pier on Avenida Rueda Medina in downtown Isla Mujeres, a short walk from Centro hotels and Playa Norte.
Can I take my car to Isla Mujeres?
Yes, on the car ferry from Punta Sam, for about 750 MXN for a compact car plus passengers. Most visitors leave the car on the mainland and use golf carts or taxis on the island.
Is Puerto Juárez or the Hotel Zone better for the ferry?
Puerto Juárez has more departures and later boats, so it suits most trips. A Hotel Zone pier is better only if it is close to your hotel and you return before about 6 pm.
Can I do Isla Mujeres as a day trip from Cancun?
Yes. With a 30-minute crossing and boats until about 11 pm from Puerto Juárez, a day trip is easy. Leave early and confirm your last return boat.
Planning more of your Mexico trip?
Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: GuateGo’s live Ultramar listings; Ultramar window fares and hours from transfer operators’ published ferry info and Ultramar’s fares page; Hotel Zone pier locations and schedules from Cancun ferry guides; Xcaret Xailing fare from Bookaway’s route page; Punta Sam car ferry fare from local guides.
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AnaMaria is a dedicated SEO specialist and content strategist with profound expertise in Transport in Costa Rica, Transportation in Mexico, Transport in Guatemala, Transport in Peru, and Transport in Thailand.
- About the Author
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Jean Nájera is the CEO of GuateGo, an online marketplace to buy transportation tickets in more than 200 cities. He has profound expertise in Transport in Costa Rica, Transportation in Mexico, Transport in Guatemala, Transport in Peru, and Transport in Thailand.
