How do I take the ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel?

The Playa–Cozumel ferry is one of the easiest international ferry crossings you'll ever take. Two operators run from the same pier and they're effectively interchangeable for tourists:

- **Ultramar** — the larger operator, big modern catamarans, ferries about every 30 minutes during peak hours - **Winjet** — smaller, slightly cheaper, ferries every 1–2 hours

**Where:** Playa del Carmen's main passenger pier sits at the south end of 5th Avenue, at Calle 1 Sur — walk to the end of 5th, turn toward the water. Both operators have ticket booths right at the pier. **Don't** confuse this with the cargo ferry at Calica (south of town, vehicles only).

**Schedule (verify same-day at calmaritimo.com.mx or ultramarferry.com):** - First ferry: roughly 7:00 am - Last return ferry: roughly 11:00 pm (sometimes earlier in low season) - Frequency: every 30 min during peak hours (10am–6pm), every 60 min off-peak - Crossing time: 45 minutes — sometimes 60 in choppy water

**Price (as of early 2026):** - Adult one-way: ~$300–425 MXN ($16–22 USD) depending on operator + class - Round-trip: ~$540–800 MXN - Kids 4–12: roughly half price - Kids under 4: usually free with a paying adult - Cash gets a small discount; cards accepted

**Practical tips:** - **Arrive 30 minutes early** during peak season to clear ticket buying + bag screening + boarding - **Bring motion sickness medication if you're prone** — the crossing is rough on a windy day. Sit on the lower deck for less motion. - **Avoid the upper open-air deck if it's windy** — you'll get soaked - **Bag screening** is light but real — no large knives, no excessive liquor; behave normally - **Bathrooms** on board but it's only 45 min — use the terminal before boarding - **Last ferry caution** — if you're staying in Cozumel for the day and ferry-ing back, don't book the final ferry. Take one back at 8 or 9pm with margin for cancellations.

**For drivers:** the **car ferry** to Cozumel runs from **Calica** (15 km south of Playa) and is operated by Transcaribe. ~$1,800 MXN for a small car one-way. Reservations recommended; runs much less frequently than passenger ferries (3–4 sailings a day).