hd0519
Registered
I returned from my first trip to Cozumel about two weeks ago. I had thoroughly researched the details on this board but having never done it before, the bus/ferry journey seemed like a big hassle and I was not looking forward to it at all. When I researched the alternatives though, I could not find any of the cheap airfares mentioned in this thread. Mexicana quoted me $95 round trip on their website (after taxes). I looked into a transfer company that would take me from the airport to my hotel for $75 but that seemed pretty expensive too. I asked Christi what she thought and she said "take the bus/ferry, it's easy". I did, and now that I've done it, I couldn't agree more. There is absolutely nothing complicated or stressful about the bus/ferry journey. In fact it's the exact opposite, I found it to be a very smoothly run operation and a very relaxing and enjoyable start/end to my trip.
How long did it take? I was in my room at the Caribe Blu unpacking my gear three hours after we touched down at Cancun. The buses leave the airport on the hour so depending on your arrival time you can get there more quickly than I did. I arrived at 11:40 AM so there was no way I could clear immigration and customs in time to make the noon bus. I was there way early for the 1:00PM bus though, and that put me into PDC in time for the 2:00 PM ferry. After a thirty-minute crossing and a five-minute cab ride I was in my room at 2:40PM and one hour later I was in the water doing a shore dive (with a free tank from the Blue Angel dive shop).
How much does it cost? I purchased my bus ticket right at the bus for the trip to PDC and I purchased my return bus ticket on the ferry during the crossing (but I could also have gotten it at the bus station). The bus fare was 65 Pesos each way. While walking from the PDC bus station to the ferry dock, I passed at least a half dozen vendors in booths along the street offering ferry tickets. I don't know if they all have the same price or not but I ended up getting a ticket for the Waterjet ferry at the very last booth before the ferry dock. The roundtrip fare was 180 Pesos which I paid in US dollars and received change in Pesos. After a very pleasant crossing, I hopped in a cab in front of the dock in Cozumel and paid a $4 fare to the hotel. Total round-trip cost for bus/ferry/cab was $36 (at an exchange rate of 11.0).
I think a lot of it comes down to how you approach this. I figure my vacation starts when I get on the plane, not when I get to my hotel, so I wasn't in any mad rush to get to Cozumel. After sitting in a plane for four hours the bus ride was nice and sitting in the fresh air on the open upper deck of the ferry was absolutely wonderful. Schlepping luggage could be a legitimate factor for some folks that would make the air option more attractive but if you're an able-bodied adult with a reasonable number of bags, the bus/ferry route is a piece of cake. I had a small backpack, a large rolling duffle, and medium sized duffle that I could attach to the roller so the 200 yard (maximum) walk between the bus station and ferry dock was just not an issue for me. If you have more luggage it's still not that big of a deal though because I saw plenty of families on the ferry that took full advantage of the tricycle guys who will transfer your luggage for tips (I heard a buck a bag).
If you have your heart set on flying and can get a good fare then by all means go for it but if you're going out of your way and spending more money just to avoid the bus/ferry I'd reconsider. I enjoyed the buss/ferry crossing, got there in about the same time as I would have if I'd flown, and saved money too.
How long did it take? I was in my room at the Caribe Blu unpacking my gear three hours after we touched down at Cancun. The buses leave the airport on the hour so depending on your arrival time you can get there more quickly than I did. I arrived at 11:40 AM so there was no way I could clear immigration and customs in time to make the noon bus. I was there way early for the 1:00PM bus though, and that put me into PDC in time for the 2:00 PM ferry. After a thirty-minute crossing and a five-minute cab ride I was in my room at 2:40PM and one hour later I was in the water doing a shore dive (with a free tank from the Blue Angel dive shop).
How much does it cost? I purchased my bus ticket right at the bus for the trip to PDC and I purchased my return bus ticket on the ferry during the crossing (but I could also have gotten it at the bus station). The bus fare was 65 Pesos each way. While walking from the PDC bus station to the ferry dock, I passed at least a half dozen vendors in booths along the street offering ferry tickets. I don't know if they all have the same price or not but I ended up getting a ticket for the Waterjet ferry at the very last booth before the ferry dock. The roundtrip fare was 180 Pesos which I paid in US dollars and received change in Pesos. After a very pleasant crossing, I hopped in a cab in front of the dock in Cozumel and paid a $4 fare to the hotel. Total round-trip cost for bus/ferry/cab was $36 (at an exchange rate of 11.0).
I think a lot of it comes down to how you approach this. I figure my vacation starts when I get on the plane, not when I get to my hotel, so I wasn't in any mad rush to get to Cozumel. After sitting in a plane for four hours the bus ride was nice and sitting in the fresh air on the open upper deck of the ferry was absolutely wonderful. Schlepping luggage could be a legitimate factor for some folks that would make the air option more attractive but if you're an able-bodied adult with a reasonable number of bags, the bus/ferry route is a piece of cake. I had a small backpack, a large rolling duffle, and medium sized duffle that I could attach to the roller so the 200 yard (maximum) walk between the bus station and ferry dock was just not an issue for me. If you have more luggage it's still not that big of a deal though because I saw plenty of families on the ferry that took full advantage of the tricycle guys who will transfer your luggage for tips (I heard a buck a bag).
If you have your heart set on flying and can get a good fare then by all means go for it but if you're going out of your way and spending more money just to avoid the bus/ferry I'd reconsider. I enjoyed the buss/ferry crossing, got there in about the same time as I would have if I'd flown, and saved money too.
