How to Get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun Airport

Isla Mujeres is a beautiful, and very popular, island to visit during a holiday in Mexico. It’s located just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, directly across from Cancun. As it’s so close to the mainland, many visitors head straight there after landing at the airport, which is also what we did. So, if you’re planning on doing the same, in this short guide we summarise exactly how you can get from Cancun Airport to the island paradise of Isla Mujeres. This post will also be useful if you’re already in Cancun and want to visit Isla Mujeres on an independent day trip.

If you’re interested in more Mexico content, check out the Mexico Playlist on our YouTube Channel.

How to Get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun Airport

Getting to Isla Mujeres from Cancun Airport is pretty straightforward. If you’re more of a budget traveller there will be a few extra steps involved but nothing too complicated.

Top Packing Tip. If you’re a backpacker travelling through different climates, or you just wanted to wear something cozy on the plane, make sure to have an easily accessible change of clothes ready that’s more appropriate for the Caribbean heat and humidity. You can quickly change in the airport restrooms to avoid sweating like crazy for the next few hours. We might have been the only ones boarding the ferry holding our fleeces and hiking boots, as we’d just come from a hiking trip in Colorado!

1. Cancun International Airport to Cancun Ferry Terminal

Once you’ve landed at Cancun Airport and have gone through immigration, collect your checked-in bag and exit the terminal. We suggest getting some Mexican Pesos from one of the ATM’s so you have some local currency on you before you leave the airport.

You’ll need to get to the UltraMar Ferry Terminal in Puerto Juarez, Cancun, which is located here. There are a few ways to reach the port from the airport:

1. ADO Bus. It’s the most affordable way to get to Cancun ($130MXN). The bus runs regularly between the airport and Cancun Bus Terminal. Book your ADO bus ticket in advance here. The downside is that you’ll need to get either a taxi or a local bus from the bus station to the ferry terminal. It’s only a 10-minute drive, but it can cost around $200MXN in a taxi. Make sure not to get scammed by the taxi drivers. They should have a rate sheet with them that shows the cost of going to certain locations. Always ask to see that before hopping into a taxi.
2. Taxi / Shared and Private Shuttle. If you want to skip the bus ride and head straight to the ferry terminal, you can also pre-arrange a taxi / shuttle pick-up. Due to potential taxi scams, even the airport’s website suggests having a taxi booked rather than flagging one down upon arrival. This way you can guarantee getting the ‘cheaper’ official rate.

We go into more detail regarding each option in our dedicated Cancun Airport to Cancun blog post. Make sure to give it a read because we provide many useful tips and suggestions there.

2. Cancun Ferry Terminal to Isla Mujeres

Once you’re at the ferry terminal just buy your ticket for the next ferry departing. We recommend purchasing a return ticket, which is around $30USD. It works out slightly cheaper than 2 one-way tickets.

The ferries are supposed to run about every 30 minutes. You can check the departure times and up-to-date costs on the official website.

Delays can happen and we actually had to wait quite a while to depart, despite the next ferry being supposed to leave 15 minutes after we arrived. It was very hot and humid, which is why we suggested changing your outfit at the airport. Standing there in long leggings, holding our fleeces and hiking boots wasn’t very pleasant, but this stuff tends to happen when you’re backpacking through very different climates.

Once the ferry arrived, we left our big backpacks in a dedicated area on the bottom deck and found a seat up top. It’s only a 20-minute ride and, since it wasn’t a speed-boat, the gentle breeze felt amazing. (Unlike the water taxi ride we took to Caye Caulker in Belize).

The colour of the water was insanely blue and we even spotted some turtles too. In addition, there was live music on board and we could also purchase a cold drink and some snacks if we wanted to. Obviously very touristy, but it felt great to be back in Mexico again.

3. Isla Mujeres Ferry Terminal to Your Hotel

Depending on where you’re staying, there are a few ways to get to your accommodation from the ferry terminal in Isla Mujeres.

1. Walk. If you’re staying somewhere around the town centre, you can just take a short walk from the ferry terminal.
2. Taxi. If you’re staying anywhere south of the airport, then it’s best to take a taxi. There’s a taxi booth just to the left of the terminal exit. Depending on how far you’re going, expect to pay between $100-150MXN.
3. Hotel Shuttle. It’s always worth checking if your hotel has a free or paid shuttle option.
4. Golf Cart. You may want to rent a golf cart to get around Isla Mujeres. If so, you might rent it straight away and then you can just drive to your hotel.

And just like that, you’ve arrived on the beautiful Isla Mujeres. If you’d like to know what there is to do on this small island, make sure to check out our Isla Mujeres guide.