How to Get to Cozumel | Travel Tips for Visitors
Getting to Cozumel is one of the first things people ask me about when they start planning a trip and there really isn’t one right answer.
Jefé and I have gotten to Cozumel both ways. We usually fly directly into Cozumel International Airport (CZM), but we’ve also done what we jokingly call the “bag drag”: fly into Cancun, get ourselves and all our luggage to Playa del Carmen, take the passenger ferry across to Cozumel, and then grab transportation once we reach the island.
Given the choice, I’m flying directly into Cozumel. There is something pretty wonderful about landing, walking out of that little airport and realizing you’re already here. No shuttle to Playa. No hauling luggage onto the ferry. No extra travel leg when all I really want to do is get to the house, change clothes and start island time.
But that doesn’t mean Cancun is always the wrong choice. Sometimes the flight schedule is better. Sometimes the airfare difference is enough to make the extra travel worthwhile. And depending on where you’re flying from, Cancun may give you a lot more options.
My advice is always to compare the whole trip, not just the airfare. By the time you add transportation from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, ferry tickets, luggage, the extra travel time and another ride once you reach Cozumel, that cheaper airline ticket may or may not still look like the better deal.
So let me walk you through the two ways we actually use to get to Cozumel, what each one involves, and the things I’d think about before choosing.
Option 1: Fly Directly to Cozumel International Airport (CZM)
If I can make the flights and the price work, this is the way I want to get to Cozumel.
Cozumel International Airport is small, and that’s one of the things I love about it. You land on the island. There’s no second leg of the journey to figure out, no ferry, and no dragging suitcases, or dive bags, from one form of transportation to another.
Flight options into Cozumel can be more limited than Cancun, and depending on where you’re coming from, you may need to connect. Schedules can also change seasonally, so I wouldn’t build your plans around a particular nonstop flight until you’ve checked what’s available for your actual travel dates.
And yes, sometimes the airfare into CZM looks more expensive. But this is where I pull out the calculator before automatically choosing Cancun. I compare the difference in airfare with what it will cost to get from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen, take the ferry to Cozumel, and then get from the ferry terminal to where we’re staying. I also think about the extra time and how much stuff we’re hauling with us.
If I can spend a little more and save myself several hours of travel and a whole lot of luggage wrangling, that can be money very well spent.
This is especially true when we’re traveling with dive gear. There’s nothing particularly fun about getting off an airplane and realizing you still have several more steps between you and a cold drink in Cozumel.
💎 Dory’s Treasure Tip
When you compare flights, search CZM and CUN separately rather than assuming Cancun will be cheaper. Then compare the total cost and travel time for each route. I’ve seen plenty of trips where the airfare into Cancun looked better at first, but the difference wasn’t nearly as impressive once we added everything else.
Option 2: Fly Into Cancun and Take the Ferry to Cozumel
That’s what we call flying into Cancun and making your way to Cozumel through Playa del Carmen. We’ve done it, and given the choice, it’s not my favorite way to start a Cozumel vacation. I value my vacation time, and I’d rather land on the island and already be there. But sometimes the Cancun route absolutely makes sense - especially when the flight choices are much better or the savings are significant enough to make the extra travel worthwhile.
Just know that when your plane lands in Cancun, you’re not almost in Cozumel yet.
From Cancun International Airport, you first need to get to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen. We usually arrange transportation ahead of time rather than figuring it out after we land. There are also bus and other ground-transportation options, so choose whatever works best for your group, luggage and budget.
Once you reach Playa del Carmen, you’ll take the passenger ferry across to Cozumel. The crossing itself is usually the easy part, and on a pretty Caribbean day, it can actually be a fun way to arrive. On a rough-water day, though, it can be a very different ride. If you’re prone to motion sickness, this is one of those times when you may want to take whatever motion-sickness medication you normally use before you board. Trust me, you don’t want to discover halfway across that the Caribbean is feeling a little too Caribbean that day.
The part people sometimes underestimate is everything around it: unloading your luggage, getting to the ferry terminal, buying or managing tickets, getting yourself and all your bags onto the ferry, then doing it all again on the Cozumel side.
And if you travel like we do, add a couple of dive bags to the equation. That’s how the “bag drag” earned its name in our family.
Once the ferry arrives in downtown San Miguel, you’re finally in Cozumel. From there, you’ll need a taxi or other transportation to wherever you’re staying.
Would I choose this route if I had a good option to fly directly into Cozumel? Probably not. I value my vacation time too much. But if the flights or price made enough of a difference, I’d consider it. I just want you to know what you’re signing up for so you can compare it fairly with flying directly into CZM.
💎 Dory’s Treasure Tip
Give yourself some breathing room between your flight arrival and the ferry. Immigration, baggage claim, traffic between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, and ferry schedules don’t care what time your plane was supposed to land. I would much rather have time for a drink or something to eat in Playa than spend the beginning of my vacation worrying about whether we’re going to make a particular ferry.
So, Should You Fly Into Cozumel or Cancun?
Given the choice, I’m flying directly into Cozumel. I value my vacation time, and there’s something pretty great about landing at CZM and knowing I’m already on the island.
But I wouldn’t tell you to automatically rule out Cancun. Sometimes the flight schedule is much better, and sometimes the airfare difference really is enough to make the extra travel worthwhile.
The important thing is to compare the whole trip, not just the price of the airline ticket.
If you’re considering Cancun, add up the transportation from Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen, ferry tickets, transportation once you arrive in Cozumel, and any other costs for your group. Then think about the extra travel time and how much luggage you’ll be moving along the way.
For two people traveling light, that calculation may look very different than it does for a family or a group of divers hauling several suitcases and dive bags.
For me, vacation time has value too. If flying into CZM costs a little more but gets me to Cozumel several hours sooner with a whole lot less hassle, I’m probably paying the difference.
If Cancun saves enough money or gives me a substantially better flight schedule? Then I’ll do the bag drag. I just want the savings to be worth it.
💎 Dory’s Treasure Tip
Price both routes before you book. Search flights into CZM and CUN separately, then compare the real cost and travel time of getting all the way to Cozumel. The cheapest airfare isn’t always the cheapest—or best—way to start your vacation.
Once You Arrive in Cozumel
Once you’re actually on the island, getting to where you’re staying is pretty straightforward.
If you fly into Cozumel International Airport (CZM), you’ll find authorized ground transportation outside the terminal. If you arrive on the passenger ferry from Playa del Carmen, you’ll step off right in downtown San Miguel, where taxis are readily available.
What you do after that really depends on where you’re staying and what you have planned for your trip. You may want a rental car for exploring the island, use taxis when you need them, arrange a private driver for certain days, or do some combination of all three.
I’ve covered all of that separately in my How to Get Around Cozumel guide, including rental cars, taxis, private drivers, scooters, bicycles and what we actually use depending on what we’re doing.
💎 Dory’s Treasure Tip
Don’t assume you need a rental car for your entire trip. Think about what you actually plan to do first. Where you’re staying makes a difference too—our condo at El Cantil is walkable to restaurants, shopping and groceries in San Miguel, while at our Costa del Sol villa on the quieter south side, having transportation can be much more useful.
Keep Planning Your Cozumel Trip
Once you’ve figured out how you’re getting to the island, the fun part starts. If this is your first trip, my Cozumel Travel Guide is a good place to start, or head to my Things to Do in Cozumel guide for ideas once you’re here.
If you’re still working through the practical stuff, I also have a Cozumel Packing Guide with the things I actually recommend bringing and the things you can leave at home.
Beach Villa at Costa del Sol
3 bedrooms, 3 baths, steps from the beach and Caribbean Sea, with access to Costa del Sol's oceanfront infinity pool and private community pier.
Explore Our Costa del Sol Beach Villa →
Oceanfront Condo at El Cantil
4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Caribbean views, a heated saltwater pool and hot tub, private community pier, and an easy walk to restaurants, shopping and groceries.
Explore Our Oceanfront Condo at El Cantil →
Once You Get Here, Make Yourself at Home
Choose the quieter south-side setting of Costa del Sol or stay close to restaurants, shopping and downtown San Miguel at El Cantil. They're two very different ways to experience Cozumel, and we love them both.
Check Availability & Book Direct →Meet Dory (Shannon Coleman)
I’m Dory—also known as Shannon Coleman, owner of We’ve Gone Coastal with my husband, Jefé. I’ve been diving since 1987 and became an SSI Open Water Instructor in 2014, but Cozumel has become much more than a place we come to dive. It’s the island we love, the place we keep coming back to, and a place we’re happy to help other travelers discover.
I share what we’ve learned from our own time here—the places we eat, dive, explore and take our family and friends—along with the practical things I wish someone had told us when we first started coming to Cozumel.
