Isla Mujeres to Cancun Ferry: How to Get Back
Reviewed by Jean Nájera, Transportation Industry Expert
Need Cancun → Isla Mujeres? See the reverse guide.From Isla Mujeres to Cancun, you take the Ultramar ferry: 30 minutes across, with boats from 7 am until about 11 pm.
Most boats go to Puerto Juárez, 10 minutes from downtown Cancun. A few go to the Hotel Zone, which saves a taxi if your hotel is there.
The detail everyone misses: pick the pier on the Cancun side, not just the boat. Puerto Juárez has the most departures and the latest ones.
The Hotel Zone piers have fewer boats and stop in the late afternoon.
At a glance
- Crossing: about 30 minutes by fast ferry
- Fare: about 290 MXN (around US$16) per adult one way at the Ultramar window, or US$24 booked ahead
- Most departures: to Puerto Juárez, about every 30 minutes from 7:00 to 23:00
- Flying out: allow at least 2 hours from the island pier to your check-in desk
- Avoid: planning on a late boat to a Hotel Zone pier. Use Puerto Juárez in the evening
Isla Mujeres to Cancun transport options
Compare fares and crossing times, then select an option for the pier and booking details.
| Transport | Estimated fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Ultramar to Puerto JuárezMain passenger ferry | Estimated fareAbout 290 MXN at the windowper adult one way; US$24 booked on GuateGo | Travel time30 min crossing |
| Ultramar to the Hotel ZonePlaya Tortugas or Playa Caracol | Estimated fareAbout 290 MXNper adult one way | Travel time30 min crossing, fewer departures |
| Xcaret Xailing to El EmbarcaderoHotel Zone, km 4.5 | Estimated fareFrom about US$19per person one way | Travel timeAbout 20 to 30 min |
| Car ferry to Punta SamOnly with 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 Isla Mujeres
1. Ultramar to Puerto Juárez, the one I’d take
Ultramar ferries leave from the passenger pier on Avenida Rueda Medina, in the island’s downtown.
GuateGo lists 19 departures a day, from 7:00 to 23:00, each taking 30 minutes.
Boats run about every 30 minutes at busy times and hourly later on.
Booking ahead on GuateGo costs US$24 per person.
At the ticket window, a one-way adult ticket is about 290 MXN, plus a small sanitation fee.
Booking ahead costs more but saves queueing in high season.
On the Cancun side: you arrive at the Ultramar terminal on Avenida López Portillo in Puerto Juárez. Taxis wait outside.
Downtown is about 10 minutes away, and the R-1 city bus stops nearby.
My verdict: the best choice for most trips, especially if you are staying downtown, heading to the airport, or leaving in the evening.
Want your seat sorted before you reach the pier?
2. Ultramar to the Hotel Zone, if you stay there
Some Ultramar boats go straight to Playa Tortugas (km 6.5) or Playa Caracol (km 9.5) on Boulevard Kukulcán. The crossing still takes about 30 minutes and costs about the same.
There are fewer boats, roughly every 1 to 2 hours, and the last ones leave the island in the late afternoon.
My verdict: handy if your hotel is near one of these piers and you travel by day. Check the return time before you go.
3. Xcaret Xailing to El Embarcadero, another option
Xcaret’s Xailing ferries run between Isla Mujeres and El Embarcadero at km 4.5 of the Hotel Zone.
Bookaway lists this crossing from about US$19 per person, taking 20 to 30 minutes.
My verdict: worth comparing if you stay at the north end of the Hotel Zone.
Staying near km 4.5?
4. Car ferry to Punta Sam, only with a vehicle
If you brought a car to the island, the car ferry runs to Punta Sam, north of Puerto Juárez, in about 40 to 50 minutes.
Expect about 750 MXN for a compact car, plus passenger fares.
My verdict: only relevant if you have a vehicle with you.
Arriving in Cancun
From Puerto Juárez, a taxi to downtown takes about 10 minutes.
The Hotel Zone is 20 to 35 minutes away, and Uber or DiDi costs roughly 150 to 250 MXN.
The R-1 city bus runs along Avenida Tulum and on into the Hotel Zone for a few pesos.
Flying out? The airport is about 35 minutes from Puerto Juárez by car.
See Isla Mujeres to Cancun Airport for transfers and timing.
Need a bed for the night? See hotels in Cancun.
Practical notes
Leave a buffer. In high season, ticket lines on the island can be long, so get to the pier early.
Bring cash. The ticket window takes cards, but taxis in Cancun often want pesos.
Coming back to the island? See our Cancun to Isla Mujeres guide.
Tours from Cancun
Back in Cancun, Chichén Itzá, the cenotes and snorkeling trips are easy to book.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the ferry from Isla Mujeres to Cancun?
About 290 MXN (around US$16) per adult one way at the Ultramar window, plus a small sanitation fee. Booked ahead on GuateGo it costs US$24.
How long is the ferry from Isla Mujeres to Cancun?
About 30 minutes to Puerto Juárez or the Hotel Zone piers. The car ferry to Punta Sam takes 40 to 50 minutes.
What time is the last ferry from Isla Mujeres to Cancun?
To Puerto Juárez, the last Ultramar boat leaves around 23:00. Boats to the Hotel Zone stop in the late afternoon.
Where does the ferry leave from on Isla Mujeres?
From the passenger pier on Avenida Rueda Medina, in the island’s downtown, a short walk from Centro hotels.
Where does the ferry arrive in Cancun?
Most boats arrive at the Ultramar terminal in Puerto Juárez, 10 minutes north of downtown. Some go to Playa Tortugas or Playa Caracol in the Hotel Zone.
Can I take the ferry from Isla Mujeres straight to the Cancun Hotel Zone?
Yes, Ultramar runs some boats to Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol, and Xcaret Xailing goes to El Embarcadero. They run less often than boats to Puerto Juárez.
How do I get from the ferry to Cancun Airport?
From Puerto Juárez, a taxi or booked transfer takes about 35 minutes. See our Isla Mujeres to Cancun Airport guide.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
No, you can buy tickets at the pier. Booking ahead saves queueing in high season.
Planning more of your Mexico trip?
Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: GuateGo’s live Ultramar listings; Ultramar window fares from transfer operators’ published ferry info; Hotel Zone pier locations and schedules from Cancun ferry guides; Xcaret Xailing fare from Bookaway’s route page; Punta Sam car ferry fare and Cancun taxi ranges 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.
