The two legs of the trip
Isla Mujeres is about six kilometers northeast of Cancún, according to Quintana Roo's tourism information system, so the trip always has two legs:
- By land, from Mérida to Cancún: crossing Yucatán eastbound on the highway.
- By sea, from Cancún to the island: a boat or ferry from one of the departure piers.
A same-day round trip is possible, but it's a very long day. Plan to leave before dawn and get a good night's sleep beforehand.
Where the ferry leaves from
The state's official listing mentions four departure points in Cancún: Puerto Juárez, Playa Tortugas, El Embarcadero and Playa Caracol. If you're arriving by road from Mérida, Puerto Juárez is usually the most practical because it's at Cancún's northern entrance, so you don't have to cross the hotel zone.
Schedules and fares are set by each operator and change; check them before you travel. The island also charges a sanitation fee.
Tour or transfer: which suits you
| Option | What's included | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Isla Mujeres tour | Transportation, boat, snorkeling, beach-club lunch and a guide | People who want everything sorted in one day |
| Isla Mujeres transfer | Van and driver from Mérida to Puerto Juárez and back; the driver waits at the pier | People who want to explore the island on their own |
With the transfer, the ferry, activities, food and entry fees are paid separately. At the agreed time, the driver picks the group up at the same pier.
What to do on the island on your own
- Playa Norte, with shallow, calm water.
- Downtown, small and colorful; Isla Mujeres has been a Pueblo Mágico since 2015.
- Punta Sur, at the southern tip, with Maya remains that tradition links to Ixchel.
- Water activities: the state tourism system records reefs, lagoons and mangroves, plus the MUSA underwater museum off Cancún and Isla Mujeres.
The island is about seven kilometers long; you can get around by golf cart, bike or taxi.
Tips
- Official ID.
- Cash in pesos for the ferry, sanitation fee and food.
- Swimsuit on and biodegradable sunscreen.
- Motion-sickness tablets if you need them.
- Plan your return to the pier carefully: the driver waits at the agreed time.
Fun facts
- Isla Mujeres is about seven kilometers long and roughly 500 meters wide.
- There are four departure piers in Cancún for Isla Mujeres.
- MUSA, off Cancún and Isla Mujeres, has more than 440 submerged sculptures.
Related tours
Transfers · 17 h
Transfer to Isla Mujeres
Mérida to the ferry pier and back, the whole day
from $5,550 MXN per vehicle
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte, which makes every list for a reason
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 5:30 AM Drive to Valladolid — Two hours on the motorway, with a fifteen-minute stop.
- 7:45 AM Drive to Puerto Juárez — Two more hours to the pier in Cancún.
- 10:00 AM Isla Mujeres — Sailing the Caribbean, snorkelling at the reef with gear included, a stop at Playa Norte, buffet lunch at the beach club and free time in town.
- 6:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat transfer, Snorkelling gear, Lunch
Not included: Environmental tax, Shopping on the island, Extra drinks
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
- 12:15 PM Casa Tortuga cenotes and lunch — Four cenotes of different kinds, with a guided route, trails and changing rooms. Lunch is on site.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
Does the Isla Mujeres transfer include the ferry?
No. The transfer is the van from Mérida to Puerto Juárez and back; the ferry is paid separately.
Where does the ferry to Isla Mujeres leave from?
From Cancún: Puerto Juárez, Playa Tortugas, El Embarcadero or Playa Caracol, according to Quintana Roo's official listing.
Can you go and come back in one day from Mérida?
Yes, but it's a very long day. You leave before dawn and get back at night.
How far is Isla Mujeres from Cancún?
About six kilometers northeast of the Cancún coast.
Do you pay anything when you arrive on the island?
Yes, a sanitation fee, plus the ferry if you're traveling on your own.
