Getting from Cancún to Isla Mujeres, about 13 kilometres across the water, can be as simple as a public ferry or as considered as a private charter with lunch on the water. The right choice depends on how much time you have, how many people are travelling and whether the boat is part of the experience or just the way across.
Here is how the three options compare, with the ports, crossing times and approximate fares we could verify, followed by what is worth doing once you arrive. Fares and schedules change by season, so treat the figures as a guide.
Prices change often. Treat any figure here as a guide and ask for a current quote.
The Ultramar ferry: ports and crossing times
Ultramar is the main operator, and it serves Isla Mujeres from several points. The main terminals are Puerto Juárez, on the mainland north of downtown Cancún, and Gran Puerto Cancún nearby. In the Hotel Zone, Ultramar uses the Playa Tortugas pier (around Km 7) and the Playa Caracol pier (around Km 9.5). A second company, Xailing, runs from El Embarcadero in the Hotel Zone, and a car ferry leaves from Punta Sam.
The crossing from Puerto Juárez or Gran Puerto takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes, and from the Hotel Zone piers about 25 to 30 minutes. Puerto Juárez has the longest schedule, with first departures between about 5:30 and 6:00 in the morning and the last around 11 at night. The Hotel Zone piers run on a shorter day, roughly from 9 in the morning to 6 or 6:30 in the evening, with departures about every hour.
Published one-way adult fares recently ranged around 290 to 320 pesos, roughly 16 to 17 US dollars, with round trips about double. Fares differ by class and terminal, so confirm on the day. Arrive early at peak times, between about 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, and bring pesos for small purchases.
Cancún to Isla Mujeres by catamaran: day trips
A catamaran turns the crossing into the outing. Private charters we reviewed leave from the Hotel Zone, with Marina Las Perlas at about Km 2.5 and Playa Tortugas at about Km 6.5 listed as departure points. A 32-foot catamaran for up to 13 guests was listed from about 725 US dollars for four hours and about 1,240 for seven, with the crew, snorkel gear and an open bar included; a 44-foot sailing catamaran takes up to 45 guests, and its full-day option adds lunch and beach club access on the island.
Budget for per-person fees on top: a 20-dollar dock fee and, when snorkelling, about 2 dollars for the marine park, both in cash according to one operator. Inclusions and prices vary by operator and season, so compare them in writing before booking.
Private yacht: when it makes sense
A motor yacht is the choice for a celebration, a family group that wants privacy or a day with a specific schedule: a late start, a long lunch, a swim stop, back for sunset. Pricing depends on the size of the vessel, the number of hours and what is on board, so a quote is the only reliable figure. We can build the day around your group and arrange the catering and the transfer to the marina.
What to do on Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte is the island's most popular beach, with calm, shallow, turquoise water and free access; beach clubs charge for loungers. Punta Sur, at the southern tip, has cliff-top views, a lighthouse, sculptures and Maya temple ruins, and a small entry fee. Golf carts are the usual way to get around, and several sources put rentals at roughly 600 to 1,000 pesos, or 40 to 60 US dollars, per day; pick one up before noon in busy periods.
The MUSA underwater museum, created by the sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, has more than 500 submerged sculptures at around 4 metres depth and is reached by snorkelling or diving tours, with snorkel tours listed from about 59 US dollars. El Farito is a reef reachable by swimming from Playa Norte for confident swimmers, with snorkel gear rentals around 10 to 15 dollars. Garrafón Natural Reef Park and the Tortugranja turtle sanctuary are paid options for families.
Whale sharks: a summer-only experience
Whale shark tours depart from Isla Mujeres from mid-May through mid-September; one source puts the official season at 15 May to 17 September, with peak sightings in summer. Since it is October now, the season has just ended. The sharks gather north of the island, and boats from Isla Mujeres reach them in about 30 to 45 minutes.
Regulations are strict: snorkelling only, no touching, and two swimmers with one guide per shark. Tours typically cost between about 120 and 280 US dollars per person depending on the source and operator. Choose a licensed operator, and note that foreign visitors to Quintana Roo pay the Visitax tourism tax.
