Planning to take the Cozumel ferry from Playa del Carmen — or out to the mainland for a port day? Here is the full 2026 guide to ferry schedules, ticket prices, terminal locations, and the timing tricks that keep cruise passengers from missing the ship.
The Cozumel Ferry in 2026: Schedules, Prices, and Everything Cruise Passengers Should Know
The Cozumel ferry is one of the most underrated parts of a Yucatán trip. For a few hundred pesos and about 45 minutes on the water, you can cross between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen — opening up cenote tours, Tulum ruins, Mayan jungle adventures, and a completely different side of Mexico from what most cruise passengers see. But the ferry can also be the single thing that ruins a port day if you misread the schedule, pick the wrong terminal, or underestimate the return crossing.
This is the 2026 guide to the Cozumel ferry: who operates it, the actual schedule, current ticket prices, how to find the right terminal on each side, and the timing rules cruise passengers must follow if they plan to use it. For a curated overview of how to use the ferry as part of a wider day plan, our Cozumel ferry schedule and travel page is updated with current departure times and operator changes.
Who Operates the Cozumel Ferry?
Two companies operate the passenger ferry route between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen:
- Ultramar — the larger and more frequently used operator, with modern catamarans, air-conditioned cabins, an outdoor sundeck, and consistent on-time performance.
- Winjet — a smaller competitor running similar boats on overlapping schedules, often at a slightly lower price point.
Both ferries run the same route, take roughly the same crossing time (35–45 minutes depending on weather and sea state), and depart from the same general terminal areas on each side. Buying with one operator does not allow you to return with the other — your ticket is operator-specific.
