Cancun to Isla Mujeres Ferry (2026): Every Departure Point, Ultramar vs Xcaret Xailing

The Cancun to Isla Mujeres ferry leaves from five places: Ultramar runs from Puerto Juárez (its Gran Puerto terminal north of downtown) and from two Hotel Zone piers, Playa Tortugas (Km 6.5) and Playa Caracol (Km 9.5), and Xcaret Xailing runs from El Embarcadero (Km 4.5). Puerto Juárez has the most departures and the shortest crossing, about 20 minutes. The Hotel Zone piers save you a taxi ride but have fewer sailings and a slightly longer trip. A fifth terminal, Punta Sam, is a car ferry. This guide compares every departure point so you can pick the right one for where you are staying. We checked routes, terminals and rules on the operators’ own sites in October 2026.

We do not print fares or full timetables here, because both operators change them by season and sell some tickets cheaper online. Use the operator links in each section for the live schedule and price on your travel date.

Cancun to Isla Mujeres ferry: every departure point compared

The table below covers every way to cross by boat without joining a tour. The crossing times come from the operators and from the Quintana Roo tourism board’s official Mexican Caribbean site. Frequencies are described in general terms because they change with the season.

Every passenger ferry lands in the north of the island. Ultramar docks at the maritime terminal on Avenida Rueda Medina in Isla Mujeres town, a short walk from the shops and from Playa Norte. Xcaret says its boats arrive at a pier in the island’s northern area. You will not need a taxi to start your day on either one.

Puerto Juárez and Gran Puerto: the main Ultramar terminal

Many travelers get confused by the names. Puerto Juárez is the neighborhood and ferry district on the coast just north of downtown Cancún. Gran Puerto is Ultramar’s modern terminal there, and it is the place to go. Ultramar lists it as its Terminal Marítima on Av. López Portillo in Puerto Juárez. Taxi drivers understand “Puerto Juárez”, “Gran Puerto” and “Ultramar”.

The Mexican Caribbean tourism board says this is where sailings are most frequent, roughly every half hour, and where the crossing is shortest, about twenty minutes. That makes it the best choice in these cases:

• You are staying downtown, in Puerto Cancún or in Costa Mujeres. From Playa Mujeres resorts it is usually closer than any Hotel Zone pier (see our Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres guide).
• You want to be on the island early, before the day-tour boats arrive, or stay for sunset and dinner.
• You are on a budget and happy to take the bus. Hotel Zone buses with “Puerto Juárez” on the windshield go there via downtown. Our Cancun Hotel Zone bus guide explains the routes and how to flag one down.

The trade-off for Hotel Zone guests is the ride to get there. From the middle and south of the Hotel Zone, Puerto Juárez is a long trip in traffic, so the extra sailings may not make up for the lost time.

Hotel Zone piers: Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol

Ultramar also sails from two piers on Boulevard Kukulcán, and its booking page gives the locations as Playa Tortugas at Km 6.5 and Playa Caracol at Km 9.5. Both are on the calm, north-facing side of the Hotel Zone. That side is the top bar of the “7”, which faces Isla Mujeres across the bay. Check your hotel’s Km number to see which pier is closer.

• Playa Tortugas (Km 6.5) is a public beach with food stands and calm water. You can easily make a whole morning of it around the ferry. Our Playa Tortugas guide covers the beach itself.
• Playa Caracol (Km 9.5) sits at Punta Cancún, close to the Party Center. Hotels at Km 8–10 can usually reach it with a short taxi ride, and some guests walk.

Both piers have fewer sailings than Puerto Juárez, mostly from mid-morning to early evening, and the crossing takes a little longer. The big catch is the last boat back: the final departures from the island to the Hotel Zone piers leave earlier than the last boats to Puerto Juárez. Check the return times on Ultramar’s site before you plan a sunset dinner on the island.

El Embarcadero: Xcaret Xailing ferry to Isla Mujeres

Xcaret Xailing is the ferry brand of Grupo Xcaret, and in October 2026 it is still selling Cancún–Isla Mujeres tickets. Its boats leave from El Embarcadero at Km 4.5 of the Hotel Zone. The company says the crossing takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Its published schedule shows roughly hourly departures during the day only, with no early-morning or late-night boats, and some hours are skipped. Times depend on the weather and how many boats are running.

Xcaret lists these features:

• Free entry to the Scenic Tower (Torre Escénica) next to the pier. Show your ferry ticket within 7 days of your trip date.
• Wi-Fi and toilets on board, a luggage area, a pet area, seats and spaces for passengers with disabilities, and traveler’s insurance.
• Paid parking at the terminal. This helps if you have a rental car, because Puerto Juárez is harder to drive to.
• Tickets are valid for six months from the date you choose, and open tickets are available.

Ultramar or Xcaret Xailing? If you are staying between roughly Km 3 and Km 6 and plan a normal daytime visit, El Embarcadero is often the most convenient pier, and the Scenic Tower is a small bonus. If you want the first boat of the day, a late return or the most flexibility, Ultramar from Puerto Juárez wins. Choose by schedule and location rather than by brand. Both run modern passenger ferries on the same short crossing.

Punta Sam car ferry (and why most visitors skip it)

Ultracarga, Ultramar’s cargo partner, runs the vehicle ferry from the Punta Sam pier north of Puerto Juárez. Its site says you must book at least 24 hours ahead. It only makes sense if you have to take a vehicle across. Isla Mujeres is small, and most visitors get around by golf cart, taxi or bicycle. If you have a rental car, check whether your contract allows ferry crossings. For a day trip, take a passenger ferry and rent a cart on the island (see our Isla Mujeres golf cart guide).

Which ferry terminal should you use? By where you are staying

If you are staying near a pier, two north-side hotels we have reviewed are close to the Hotel Zone ferries. Presidente InterContinental Cancun is at Km 7.5, about 1 km from Playa Tortugas. Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach is at Km 9.5, on the same stretch as Playa Caracol.

Tickets, check-in and onboard rules

These rules come from Ultramar’s terms and Xcaret’s ferry page as of October 2026:

• Arrive 30 minutes early. Both operators ask for this on the Isla Mujeres route, and boarding depends on space. On busy holiday weekends, arrive earlier.
• Buy from the operator. Ultramar and Xcaret both sell online and at their terminal windows. The online price can be lower. Ultramar has a cheaper fare for Quintana Roo residents, but it requires original ID at boarding.
• Validity and refunds. Ultramar tickets are valid for six months on the route you bought, but they are non-refundable. Xcaret tickets are also valid for six months from the chosen date.
• Children. Ultramar charges child fares by height: from age 1 up to 1.20 m. Babies under 12 months ride free but still need a boarding pass. Anyone under 18 must travel with an adult on both lines.
• Luggage, pets and bikes. Ultramar includes one bag up to 25 kg and charges for excess. Pets (up to two per passenger) ride in its Pet Zone, and bikes travel free. Xcaret also has a luggage area and a pet area.
• Alcohol. Ultramar can refuse boarding to anyone who is intoxicated, without a refund. That matters if you plan an open-bar afternoon at a beach club before you sail back.
• Weather. The Port Captaincy decides whether boats can sail in strong wind or storms. In winter, cold fronts (“nortes”) can make the crossing rough or stop it for a while. If you have a flight the same day, do not plan to cross back just before it.

Ferry or catamaran tour?

The public ferry is the do-it-yourself option. You choose your times, eat where you like and spend as long as you want on the beach. Catamaran tours leave from Hotel Zone marinas and usually add snorkeling, an open bar and a beach club stop. In exchange, you follow a fixed schedule and get less free time in town. Families and first-timers who want everything arranged tend to prefer tours. Independent travelers usually prefer the ferry plus a golf cart. Our best day trips from Cancún guide compares the main tour options.

Once you land: planning the day on Isla Mujeres

Most day-trippers do the same simple loop. They walk from the pier to Playa Norte for its shallow, calm water. Then they rent a golf cart for a few hours to drive the island’s single loop road to the cliffs at Punta Sur, with lunch in town on the way. Our things to do on Isla Mujeres in a day guide has a full itinerary.

• Snorkeling and diving: some MUSA underwater museum sculptures lie in the waters between Cancún and the island. Snorkel trips there can be booked in Cancún or on the island.
• Whale sharks: in season, many whale shark boats leave from Isla Mujeres itself. See our whale shark tour guide.
• Staying overnight: the island is quiet once the last day-trippers leave. One night there gives you a sunset at Playa Norte and an empty beach in the morning.

Getting to the ferry terminals

• By bus: inside the Hotel Zone, any bus heading your way along Kukulcán will take you to Playa Tortugas, Playa Caracol or El Embarcadero. For Puerto Juárez, you need a bus signed for Puerto Juárez, which runs through downtown.
• By taxi: agree on the fare before you get in. Hotel taxis cost more than taxis hailed on the street.
• From the airport: a pre-booked transfer can drop you at Puerto Juárez or a Hotel Zone pier. Book it before you land to avoid the touts in the arrivals hall.

For more practical guides on fees, transport and timing, browse our Cancún travel logistics hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres?

About 20 minutes from Puerto Juárez, according to the Mexican Caribbean tourism board. It takes a little longer from the Hotel Zone piers. Xcaret Xailing gives about 20 to 30 minutes from El Embarcadero. Allow extra time for the 30-minute check-in.

Where do I catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres from the Hotel Zone?

There are three Hotel Zone departure points. Ultramar sails from Playa Tortugas (Km 6.5) and Playa Caracol (Km 9.5), and Xcaret Xailing sails from El Embarcadero (Km 4.5). Puerto Juárez, north of downtown, has more sailings but is a longer ride from most hotels.

Is Puerto Juárez the same as Gran Puerto?

For ferry passengers, yes. Gran Puerto is Ultramar’s terminal in the Puerto Juárez area, on Av. López Portillo. If you ask a taxi for Puerto Juárez, Gran Puerto or the Ultramar terminal, you will end up at the same place.

Do I need to book the Isla Mujeres ferry in advance?

Usually not, because boats are frequent, but buying online saves time in line and can cost less. Book ahead on holiday weekends and in peak season, and arrive 30 minutes before your departure either way.

What time is the last ferry back from Isla Mujeres to Cancun?

It depends on the route and the season, so check the operator’s live schedule for your date. As a rule, the latest boats run to Puerto Juárez, while the last sailings to the Hotel Zone piers and El Embarcadero leave earlier in the evening.

Can I take my car to Isla Mujeres?

Only on the Ultracarga car ferry from Punta Sam, which must be booked at least 24 hours ahead. Most visitors do not need a car on the island, rental contracts may not allow ferry crossings, and a golf cart rented on arrival is the usual choice.