There is no mystery boat. There is a twenty-minute ferry and a choice of docks. Pick the wrong one and you'll pay more for the same water.
The Docks
| Dock | Where | Who it's for | Cost, relative to the others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Juárez / Gran Puerto | North of downtown, end of López Portillo | Anyone who can ride an R-1 or a cheap taxi | Usually the better fare and the frequent schedule |
| Playa Tortugas | Hotel Zone ~km 6.5–7 | People who refuse to leave Kukulcán | Fewer departures, typically a higher ticket |
| Playa Caracol / Embarcadero | Hotel Zone ~km 8–9 | Same | Same idea |
| Ultracarga | Cargo / car ferry | Islanders with a car. Not your day trip. | Vehicle money |
Ultramar is the modern, every-thirty-minutes machine from Puerto Juárez — first boats around 5:30, last ones late evening, check the board the day you sail. Hotel Zone Ultramar runs a thinner timetable. Miss the last Zone boat and you're taking a taxi to Juárez or sleeping on the island, which is not a punishment.
Adalberto / Magaña / the smaller waterfront boats used to be the cheap undercut. Some years they're there, some years Ultramar ate the route. Look at the actual ticket window. Do not trust a 2024 fare graphic you found online.
Hotel Zone tickets are usually at or above the Juárez fare for a slower day of departures — you're buying convenience. Sanitation and environmental add-ons appear as a separate line some years. Have small bills.
Airport → Island
CUN is not a ferry. You still do the city.
- ADO or a pre-booked transfer to Puerto Juárez, then Ultramar.
- R-1 from the Zone toward Juárez, 12 MXN, then walk the last bit.
On the Island
The passenger dock dumps you at the north town. Norte is a walk. Punta Sur is a cart or a taxi. You do not need a car on the ferry.
Last-Boat Anxiety
Look at the return board when you land. Zone docks die earlier than Juárez. If you're on Norte at 6pm with a Hotel Zone ticket in your pocket, check whether that ticket still matches a boat that exists.
Need a Car in Cancún?
If you are exploring cenotes, driving to Puerto Juárez, or extending your trip beyond Isla Mujeres, a rental car in Cancún gives you the flexibility.
Compare rental cars in CancúnFrequently Asked Questions
Ultramar if you want frequency and a terminal. The cheap boat, if it's still selling at that dock, if you like a bench.
About 15–25 minutes from Puerto Juárez. Longer from the Hotel Zone piers, plus the wait for a less frequent schedule.
No. Walk, taxi, or rent a cart once you're on the island.
Puerto Juárez, usually — it's the better fare and the frequent schedule, even with a short taxi or R-1 ride to get there. The Zone piers cost you time and money for the same water.
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