Getting to Cozumel by Ferry: Routes, Times, Prices, and Mistakes to Avoid in 2026

Cozumel is an island — which means unless you arrive by cruise ship or plane, the ferry is your ride. Every year, millions of travelers cross the 12-mile channel between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, and every day some of them miss departures, overpay for tickets, or lose half a vacation morning to avoidable mistakes.

This guide covers exactly how the ferry to Cozumel works in 2026: which routes exist, how to get to the ferry from Cancun, current schedules and prices, and the practical details nobody tells you until you're standing at the pier. For the complete, regularly updated version with current departure times, check our full Cozumel ferry guide.

The One Route That Matters: Playa del Carmen ⇄ Cozumel

Here is the most important thing to understand: there is no passenger ferry directly from Cancun to Cozumel. The passenger ferry route runs between Playa del Carmen and downtown Cozumel (San Miguel). If you are coming from Cancun, you travel by road to Playa del Carmen first, then take the ferry — more on that below.

Two companies operate the crossing:

• Ultramar — the yellow-and-blue boats, modern catamarans with air-conditioned lower decks and open-air upper decks.
• Winjet — typically slightly cheaper, with a similar crossing time.

Crossing time: 35–45 minutes. Frequency: Departures roughly every 1–2 hours from each side, from early morning (first boats around 7:00–8:00 a.m.) until evening (last boats typically 9:00–11:00 p.m., varying by season and operator). Roughly $12–$16 USD each way for adults, with discounts for children and occasional online promotions.