Transportation from Cancun to Cozumel

[heydn62]

Did a quick search and didn't find much info on the topic. Looking to book a trip to Cozumel this summer out of Atlanta and finding that flights to Cancun are much cheaper. Can anyone comment on how much of a hassle it is to bus/ferry to Cozumel from Cancun. Is it worth saving the $150-$200 pp?

 

[Doc Harry]

Did a quick search and didn't find much info on the topic. Looking to book a trip to Cozumel this summer out of Atlanta and finding that flights to Cancun are much cheaper. Can anyone comment on how much of a hassle it is to bus/ferry to Cozumel from Cancun. Is it worth saving the $150-$200 pp?

Personally, I don't think it's worth the savings.

From Cancun, you've got to catch a bus or taxi to Playa del Carmen (about a 30 minute trip). ($20-$30)

Then from Playa you've got to stand around and wait for the ferry, then drag you bags onto the boat and ride across to San Miguel (30 minutes, $15). The ferry is actually really nice, fast and spacious.

I guess it depends how much gear you gave. I travel with my girlfriend and we have 4 bags (her recreational dive gear plus my cave diving gear plus camera gear). I really don't feel like spending an extra 1-2 hours schelpping my gear around and making multiple transfers just to save $100.

But that's my opinion.

 

[stortecky]

It isn't bad you take about 45 minute bus ride down to the docks. It is then about another 40 minute boat ride. I would plan for it too take anywhere from 2-4 hours total. it all depends if catch the bus or ferry.

But I don't remember exact prices but I think it ran about 25-30 dollars round trip per person. i think the ferry was about 20 round trip and the Bus was like 8 dollars. But I do not think I will do it again unless it was over 100-150 dollars p/p savings. But we all have different values or time and money.

 

[BaileyM]

Hi heydn62, well, I just did it a month ago. From Cancun to Ferry in Playa del Carmen, it was an hour on the bus, a $10 ride. Then it was a $14 ferry ride to Cozumel, then the taxi to my hotel. On the way back, I didn't have the luxury of time to take the cheaper bus, so had to take a taxi ($40) to the airport. After all was said and done, I only saved $100 (maybe less) and it wasn't worth the hassle as far as I'm concerned. Next time I will go direct to Cozumel.

 

[DandyDon]

Sometimes Cancun is a cheaper, than Coz; sometimes it's not. I agree that $100 saved is not enough to go thru Cancun - unless you want to do some days on the peninsula, to dive cenotes, tour ruins? Then you might coordinate that way, perhaps with an Open-Jaw, fling into Coz, out of Cancun? I can't suggest a PDC hotel tho; I tried one I would not use again once.

You didn't say when exactly, but a spot check shows non-stop flights any day of the week for $423 total. Would you like help shopping for tickets? There are many tricks.
[c]

[/c]
Well, I see Air Trans will do Cancun for $297 or Delta $321, both non-stop, but not worth it to me.

 

[annlaur]

Flying into Cancun is both cheaper and easier for me, as there are no convenient flights from Paris to Cozumel (they all involve a one-night stop over in the US).
There are several ways to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen where you catch the ferry :
- By bus from the downtown bus station (not recommended as it means taking a cab to get from the airport to the bus station).

- By bus from the airport. It's the cheapest alternative, the bus costs less than USD9.

- By shared (USD35) or private (USD50) shuttle booked ahead of time here :
Cancun Airport Transportation - Cancun Airport Transfers - Cancun International Airport, Cancun Taxi, Cancun Shuttle, Cancun Bus

The main issue is to make sure you land early enough to catch the ferry (less than USD15). Departure times vary, and the Ultramar website doesn't seem to update their schedules. To be on the safe side, try to land in Cancun before 5 pm, and for the return, try to fly out after 11 am, which should give you ample time to make the connection.

Lugging your gear is not much of an issue, as you will find tricicleros (locals pushing three wheeled carts) at the PDC bus station and ferry dock. They will take it all the way to the boat for you. In Cozumel, the triciclero can take your luggage to your downtown hotel for less than USD5.

Using the bus, ferry and tricicleros should cost you USD55 round trip per person.

Here a very detailed Internet page about it, with useful links at the bottom :
Cancun Airport to Cozumel by ADO Bus

You can also take a flight from Cancun to Cozumel :
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cozumel/307337-flight-cancun-cozumel.html

 

[idive2]

I stayed in Playa del Carmen so it was an easier choice for me. I
found the air fares into cancun to be less also. All I needed to do
was take the bus from the cancun airport to Playa del Carmen. I took the
ferry over one day to dive cozumel. The ferry dock is very close to the
bus station in Play del Carmen. If I was staying and diving in Cozumel I
probably would have paid the extra.

 

[DandyDon]

I stayed in Playa del Carmen so it was an easier choice for me. I
found the air fares into cancun to be less also. All I needed to do
was take the bus from the cancun airport to Playa del Carmen. I took the
ferry over one day to dive cozumel. The ferry dock is very close to the
bus station in Play del Carmen. If I was staying and diving in Cozumel I
probably would have paid the extra.

Where did you stay in PDC? Like it ok?

There are two bus stations in PDC, it seems. One time arriving there by ferry from Coz, a taxi driver tried to get me to use him to go to one. Had I not known where the closer one was and how to get walk 4 blocks to it, I probly would have let him charge me whatever to go to the other one. I think the PDC to CDC airport bus stops at both. Yeah, here we go...

There are two bus stations. The one located on 5th is primarily for buses running up and down 307 from Cancun to Chetumal. The other bus station in Playa del Carmen is located at Avenida 20 and Calle 12, just behind the supermarket "San Francisco".

 

[annlaur]

I recommand taking a triciclero and not a taxi between the 5 Ave Playa Del Carmen bus station (can't miss it, it's the last stop) and the ferry, as the taxis can't go all the way to the dock. If you're on your own and don't have too much luggage, the triciclero will insit that you climb onto the cart for the ride as well, otherwise it's an easy 5 min walk alongside him.

Another useful advice : bring something warm to wear on the bus, as the AC is freezing cold.
On the ferry, you can either sit inside on the lower deck (watch out for the AC too) or upstairs, where you can enjoy the ocean breeze, views, and even a little concert. Sun protection (hat, glasses&#8230 recommended during the day.

You can buy water and snacks on the ferry, or better yet some big plastic glasses filled with wonderful fresh cut up fruit (15 pesos) on the Playa del Carmen waterfront.

 

[sdiver68]

I was in Cancun/Playa Del Carmen (PDC)/Maya Riviera in December. Personally, we plan on staying in PDC the next time. PDC has easy access to the whole area. When I say we its my wife and I thus that would be a trip with diving, not a dive trip. Of course, finding a great deal in Coz or Maya Riviera would probably override the preference to stay in PDC. Often those deals include shuttle to/from the resort.

Our experience was hiring a private car to/from PDC from Cancun ran about $80 + Tip. Then $30 PDC to Cozumel round trip per person. As stated above, if you pre-book on the internet or phone you'll probably get better pricing on the car or shuttle.

As far as the local bus option perhaps if you are used to mass transit (Boston, NY) or really pinching to afford the trip. However, with your luggage, etc IMHO that would be a long miserable ride. See my clarification below. You could stay on the mainland and rent a car. Be wary of the Police road tax!

So, to answer your original question, I would fly directly to Coz if that is where you are staying on your first trip. The price delta is just not worth the hassle. After that, you'll be able to weigh the pros/cons yourself having been there.

You didn't ask, but I'd be remiss not to mention eating at Carboncitos in PDC. Get the salsa sampler as a unique experience.