Over the past five years, I’ve traveled between these two places on the east coast of Mexico probably over a dozen times. At first, we only knew about the ADO buses. However, in the past couple of years, we discovered all the ins and outs of traveling from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres.
In this guide, I’ll help you pick the mode of transportation that best suits your needs. I’ll also tell you where to find everything, how much it will cost, and what the estimated travel time is. Let’s get into it!
Ferry From Playa Del Carmen To Isla Mujeres: Is There A Direct Option?
First, it’s good to know that there’s no public ferry (no Ultramar, Xcaret, or Winjet) that goes directly between Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres. There has also never been an option like that, nor are plans being discussed.
If you want to know how to get from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Playa Del Carmen To Isla Mujeres: First, You Need To Get To Cancun
To get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen, you need to get to Cancun first. There are three ways to do this: via ADO Bus, collectivo, or via taxi. I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each method below, as well as how to do it efficiently.
Option 1 (most convenient): ADO Bus from Playa del Carmen to Cancun
For the first couple of years that we visited Mexico, we only took the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. That’s because it’s the most well-known option, it’s relatively affordable, and it’s comfortable because they always have A/C. A one-way trip sets you back 124 pesos ($6 USD) if you book it beforehand via their website.
The fewer seats there are, the higher the price goes. We’ve often paid $200 to 250 pesos ($10 – $12.5 USD) because we’re terrible at planning ahead. The journey from Playa del Carmen to Cancun will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you’re traveling between 7 and 9 AM or 5 and 7 PM, that may even be 1,5 to 2 hours. If you choose this option, please note that you will need to go to Cancun’s downtown area. Do not go to one of the airport terminals.
There are two places in Playa del Carmen where you can get the ADO bus to Cancun. One is called “Playa del Carmen Turistica” and is located at the beginning of the main street, close to the ferries. This is the exact location on Maps.
The other option is called “Playa del Carmen alternate” and is located right here.
There’s not a lot of difference between these two terminals, and which one you pick depends on which one you’re closest to. I prefer the Alternate option, because it’s not as busy as the Turistica one.
What To Expect At The ADO Bus Station
If you haven’t bought a ticket already, the ticket counters can be seen as soon as you enter. There are TV screens above the ticket counter that show what tickets are being sold at that counter. Look for the ones that say Cancun.
You walk up to the person at the counter, say where you want to go and at what time, and she’ll show you her screen and ask you which seat you want (yes, you pick a seat). Then, you pay with a card or cash.
Pro tip: the bathrooms are all the way in the back of the bus, if possible don’t sit right next to those. Sometimes we had to sit next to them, and they could have a chemical smell. Also, you’ll have to deal with the bathroom door banging for the entirety of the ride.
From there, walk to the waiting area. If you already have a ticket, you skip buying one and go directly to the waiting area. There will most likely be a guard checking your tickets; just show them, and you’ll be let into the area.
Important to know: there are no screens. Often, an employee at the terminal will just yell to let people know which bus is boarding next. When your bus arrives, put your luggage in the lower area of the bus and show the ticket to the driver when entering. Find your designated seat, and you’re good to go!
Good to know: Cancun downtown (your stop) is the final stop on the route. You can’t miss it.
Option 2 (cheapest): Collectivo from Playa del Carmen to Cancun
Often, we don’t book tickets in advance. Instead of paying $200 – 250 pesos for a last-minute ADO bus, we’ll take the collectivo mini-vans (called Playa Express). These vans cover the roads between Tulum and Cancun. A one-way trip to Cancun will set you back $60 pesos per person ($3 USD). You pay this to the driver when you exit at your destination.
To be clear, collectivos are only a good option if you don’t have large suitcases with you. That’s because they don’t really have a luggage compartment. We only did this once, and if anyone else had brought a suitcase, it wouldn’t have fit. Drivers could deny you boarding or charge you for an extra seat if you bring a big suitcase.
Now, to get to the station, all you have to do is walk to the collectivo station and stand in line for the bus to Cancun. This is the location of the collectivo station. Keep in mind that only +/- 16 people fit in a minivan. However, these buses go every 15-25 minutes. The longest we ever had to wait was less than 30 minutes.
Long-range collectivos are a lot more comfortable than the ones that only drive around a city. These minivans have air conditioning and quite comfortable seats.
Keep in mind that collectivos stop at certain points along the road. The stops are short, and it’s only to let people get on or off the bus. The final destination is the ADO bus station in Cancun. Collectivos park outside the bus station. However, since it’s the final stop, you can’t miss it.
Option 3 (quickest): Taxi from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres
Finally, if you don’t value money at all, you can take a taxi from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres Ultramar ferry terminal. There are plenty of taxi drivers in Playa del Carmen who will happily do this, and they’ll happily charge you $1900 – 2400 pesos ($95 – 120 USD) for this.
Because it’s private transportation, this will, of course, be the fastest way to get to Puerto Juarez so that you can take the Ultramar ferry to the island. This is a 45-mile (70km) journey that will take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
If you do prefer private transportation, I suggest getting in contact with some transportation providers by Googling the possibilities beforehand. They’ll likely offer you the best price. If you get a taxi off the street, you can be sure that it was the most expensive option.
Step 2: From the Cancun Bus Station to Ultramar Ferry in Puerto Juárez
Now, if you take the ADO bus or the collectivo, you’ll notice that you’re now at the bus station in Cancun. This is correct. You need to go to the ferry terminal (Puerto Juarez), which will take you to Isla Mujeres.
Pro tip: There are ATMs at the bus station, so this is a good opportunity to get some money if you ran out. I prefer the Santander ATM because they only charge around 30 pesos to withdraw money, whereas some other banks charge 100 pesos or more.
After you get your cash, ask one of the taxi drivers to take you to Puerto Juarez. Depending on the mood of the taxi drivers, they’ll charge you 150 – 200 pesos. Anything above that is a rip-off.
Pro tip: if your Spanish is decent, try to do this in Spanish because we’ve noticed they tend to charge you less 🙂
The taxi ride to Puerto Juarez will take 10 minutes.
Step 3: Taking the Ferry from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres
One of the most relaxing parts of answering the question of “how to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen” is taking the ferry from Puerto Juarez in Cancun to Isla Mujeres. Reason being: there’s only one company that provides ferry trips from this location. Which means you’re not bombarded by salespeople.
Ultramar is the company we’re talking about. Enter the terminal, and you’ll see a ticket office on your right side. You can either opt for the automated checkouts (sometimes, these do not work. Also, or they only accept cards. If that doesn’t work for whatever reason, just stand in line to buy a ticket from the ladies at the desk. A one-way ticket for an adult will cost 290 pesos (around $15 USD). Click here for the official Ultramar prices.
Keep in mind: these ladies will try to upsell you on a round-trip ticket. If you’re going back and forth within the same couple of days, that’s not a problem. However, if you’re staying for a longer time (we usually stay for months on end) opt for a one-way ticket. There’s not really a discount for the round-trip ticket anyway.
Go stand in line for your ferry, and you’ll be on the next available one in no time. Ferries depart every 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the season and the time of day. During high season (Jan-Apr), they will depart way more frequently than at other times of the year.
Also, ferries operate between 6 AM and 11 PM, but during the off-season, that will be closer to 6 AM and 8/9 PM. I recommend you Google “Ultramar schedule Puerto Juarez Isla Mujeres” to find the current schedule.
The boat trip itself is a joy. If you take the upper deck in the middle of the day during high season, there will be a musician who will play songs for you all the way to Isla Mujeres. If that’s too hot or too loud for you, you can sit inside on the lower deck where A/C is heavily used.
The total trip will take around 20 minutes. Heavy luggage can be stored on the lower deck before entering the inside area or the upper deck. When you arrive, you’ll learn that the terminal ferry is in the middle of the Northern part of the island, which is also the busiest part.
A lot of you will have a hotel booked here, and you’ll be able to walk there on foot. Otherwise, the taxi stand is 50 yards to your left after exiting the terminal. Alternatively, the bus stand is 50 yards to your right, which will cost $20 pesos ($1 USD) per person. However, they go infrequently and aren’t ideal if you have a lot of luggage.
Day Trip From Playa Del Carmen To Isla Mujeres: Worth It?
Some of you reading this might want to go from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres as a day trip. This can definitely be done and is done by a lot of people on a daily basis. However, keep in mind that it’s a 2,5 – 3 hour one-way trip.
If you are going to do this, I suggest leaving from Playa del Carmen at 8 AM at the latest. That way, you’ll reach Isla Mujeres by 11 AM at the latest, which is before the hottest point of the day. If you’re traveling between January and August, you don’t want to be traveling during the hottest part of the day, which is 12 PM to 4 PM.
When you arrive on Isla Mujeres, you’ll be in the Northern part of the island. This is the part of the island where most restaurants, hotels, and beach clubs are located. You can visit Playa Norte, for example. You can also take one of the taxis from the taxi terminal on the left of the ferry terminal and get to a specific beach club or point on the island.
On your way back, keep in mind that ADO buses will stop going at 10-11 PM, depending on the season. Check this beforehand. Depending on the season, ferries from Isla Mujeres to Puerto Juarez will stop service between 8 PM and 11 PM. Make sure to time your way back.
FAQ – Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres
Can you take a Catamaran from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres?
Yes, some catamarans go from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. However, these are often day-trip events that also bring you back to Isla Mujeres the same day. On average, this will cost $100 USD per person. The round trip will take 5,5 hours.
Private Boat from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres
Yes, you can charter a private boat from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. Prices are calculated per hour and range from $130 USD to $270 USD, depending on the boat and the extra services that are provided. Keep in mind that most operators expect you to return to Playa del Carmen as well. If you want Isla Mujeres to be your final destination, there will probably still be a fee for the return trip that the boat needs to make. A one-way trip to Isla Mujeres will take 2,5 – 3 hours depending on weather conditions.
How Long Does The Journey Take?
A one-way trip from Playa del Carmen will take 2 – 2,5 hours if you take the ADO bus and the Ultramar ferry. If you take a collectivo instead of the ADO bus, expect it to be between 2,5 – 3 hours. If you take a private taxi from Playa del Carmen, you’ll make it to Isla Mujeres in under 2 hours. All of these times can differ based on the ferry schedule and the smoothness of your connection.
