Are you visiting the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and wondering how to go on a day trip from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Cozumel is one of the best places to visit in Mexico and an absolute paradise if you love snorkelling or scuba diving.
No matter what, going to Cozumel is definitely something you need to add to your bucket list! It’s absolutely stunning and well worth your time.
It’s very easy to get to since there are two ferries from Playa del Carmen and you can rent a car on the island or book guided tours.
In this article, I tell you everything you need to know to plan the perfect Cozumel day trip from Playa del Carmen.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Is it worth going to Cozumel for a day?
Yes, absolutely! Cozumel is such a beautiful place and one of the best islands to visit in Mexico. Also, it’s very easy to get there from Playa del Carmen. There are ferries every hour and it only takes 45 minutes which makes it very easy.
Of course, with only one day you won’t get to see the entire island but you can still cover a lot of ground with a car, scooter or guided tour.
What To Book in Advance For Your Day Trip to Cozumel
You don’t need to book a lot of things in advance to be honest but there are two things that I recommend booking online a day or more before:
- Ferry to Cozumel. You can book here and it will give you a voucher that you can change at the office near the ferry terminal.
- Snorkelling tour of Cozumel. This tour is the highlight of the day trip and it’s very good value for money. You can book it here.
How to get to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen
There are 2 ferry companies that offer crossings from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. You can easily book your tickets online here.
In the morning, head to the ferry terminal and go to the Ultramar office to change your vouchers for a ticket.
There is a special line on the right hand side.
Once you have your tickets, you can go inside the ferry terminal. There are some security checks and you can then go up the stairs to the boarding area.
Once you’ve boarded you can either go on the top deck (nice to see the views) or the middle area which has a live band and a bar.
45 minutes later, you will arrive in Cozumel and can go off the ferry.
You arrive straight in the centre of San Miguel de Cozumel which is very handy.
Cozumel Day Trip Itinerary
Now that you know the logistics, it’s time to talk about the itinerary and exactly what to do during your day in Cozumel.
8AM: Head to the Ferry Terminal in Playa del Carmen
I recommend going to the ferry terminal no later than 8AM so you can catch the 9AM ferry. Of course, if you are up for an early one and want to go a bit earlier, feel free.
The ferry terminal is located near Quinta Avenue, on the right hand side of the Parque de los Fundadores.
Head to the ferry office to exchange your vouchers or buy your tickets.
Once you have your ticket, make your way in the ferry terminal to board the ferry.
9AM: Ferry crossing
Once you board the ferry, you have two options, the top deck or the middle deck (unless you booked the premium ticket, in which case you can go to the ground floor).
I recommend going on the top deck in the morning since the views are beautiful and while it’s sunny, the sun is not too strong yet.
10AM: Arrival on Cozumel
You will arrive around 10AM to Cozumel. At that point, you can leave the ferry and start discovering Cozumel.
10:15 AM: Exploring San Miguel de Cozumel (Option 1)
You will find Benito Juarez Park on the right hand side. This is a small but cute park where you can find the letters Cozumel and take some photos. You will also see the tower which is another great photo spot.
After that, I recommend going to COZ Coffee Roasting Company to get one of their famous peanut butter coffee (it’s seriously delicious!).
There are loads of shops in Cozumel (both in the centre and on the promenade). If you fancy doing some shopping or finding some souvenirs.
For lunch, you’ll find plenty of options but if you want to try something traditional, head to the mercado municipal. Here you will find loads of local food stands including one that offers tacos, gorditas and other typical Mexican food.
Around 1:15PM, make your way to the taxi stand on the promenade to get a taxi to the marina where your afternoon snorkelling tour takes place.
This should cost between 150MXN and 200MXN.
10:15 AM: San Gervasio Mayan Ruins (Option 2)
If you’d rather a more adventurous option then this is for you! Instead of staying in the town and exploring on foot, you can rent a scooter or car near the ferry terminal and explore more of the island.
This will give you a lot of freedom and flexibility but don’t forget that you need a valid driving licence and if you are not experienced with a scooter, a car would be a better option.
PRO TIP: Make sure you can return your vehicle after 6PM, if the shop closes sooner it may be an issue.
Once you have your vehicle, head to the San Gervasio Mayan ruins. It only takes 20 minutes from San Miguel de Cozumel.
While this is no Chichen Itza, it’s still a very interesting site to visit. You will need to pay the entrance fee and can either explore by yourself or hire a guide.
Make sure to be done by 12ish so you can head back to the marina where the snorkelling tour starts. This is near the cruise town so you can stop there for a quick lunch.
2PM: Snorkelling tour to Palancar, Colombia, El Cielo and El Cielito
This is going to be the highlight of your day trip to Cozumel!
Cozumel is famous in the entire world for its scuba diving and snorkelling spots. There is so much to see and that’s something you can’t miss.
As previously mentioned, you should have booked your snorkelling trip online in advance and can now head to the meeting point to start the tour.
There are a lot of companies in Cozumel that offer snorkelling tours but this is the one I picked based on the reviews and it was simply amazing.
Once you get to the office, you can check in and will be led to the boat.
It’s a small boat with no toilets so make sure to go to the bathroom beforehand.
The company will provide the snorkels so you simply need to wear a swimming costume, take a towel and your phone in a waterproof pouch.
You will then head to three different snorkelling spots. The first one is Palancar. There we got to see a lot of fish and a stingray.
After that, you’ll go to Colombia where you can see some corals and if you’re lucky (like us) a reef shark.
The last snorkelling spot is called El Cielo and it’s a magical place. The water is very clear and the sand so white. But more importantly, that’s where you’ll see all the starfish! There are literally dozens of them! It’s incredible!
You will then head to El Cielito which is a stunning beach / sea lagoon where you can go for a swim and take beautiful photos.
The guides will also give you guacamole (which is delicious!) and some beers (or soft drinks if you’d prefer that).
After your break at El Cielito, you’ll head back to the marina and can catch a taxi back or bring back your vehicle.
6PM: Back to San Miguel de Cozumel
Once you’re back to San Miguel de Cozumel, you can have a walk on the promenade and enjoy the colours of the sunset.
There are loads of restaurants in town so if you want to get dinner here, you can, there will still be time for the ferry.
Once you’re done, head back to the ferry terminal to make your way back to Playa del Carmen.
PRO TIP: For the way back, I recommend going on the middle floor. Firstly, it will be dark by the time you take the ferry so there won’t be much of a view to enjoy from the top deck but more importantly, you can watch the live band and it’s quite a nice way to end your day.
Tips to enjoy your Cozumel Day Trip
Now that you know exactly what to do during your day in Cozumel, here are some tips and recommendations.
1. Go early (before 10AM)
While you don’t need to go to Cozumel super early, I still recommend to go before 10AM because otherwise you will get there quite late.
Not only will that leave you with only half of the day but it will be very hot and a lot less enjoyable.
The ferry is not long, it’s only 45 minutes but between the boarding time and everything, it does take a while.
If you go before 10AM, you’ll make it a lot more worthwhile.
2. Take a hat and sunscreen
The sun on Cozumel is very strong and you can get pretty bad sunburns so make sure to wear a hat and put sunscreen on regularly.
I hope this article has helped you plan your day trip to Cozumel. Have fun!
You may also be interested in:
