They say its the journey, and not the destination.  For us, this has never been more true. Getting to this little slice of paradise is half the fun.

After a few hours of downtown shopping at Mercado 23 in Cancun proper, we hailed a taxi for Puerto Juarez and made our way to Isla Mujeres via the Ultramar ferry service.  The Ultramar is how we travel to and from Isla Mujeres from the Cancun area, and it is by far the best water taxi service we’ve ever experienced to date!

Isla Mujeres is easily accessed from Cancun via the Ultramar passenger ferry from Puerto Juarez’s Gran Puerto dock in Cancun.  We found Puerto Juarez to be a very convenient port terminal featuring a gift shop, convenience store, bar, restaurant, restrooms, and even a McDonalds! Although it was busy upon our arrival, the ticketing process moved swiftly and everything was very efficient.  However, if you have the opportunity to pre-purchase your tickets or if they are included in your hotel’s resort package, this will expedite the process for sure.

You may also purchase both round trip and/or one way Ultramar tickets upon arrival at Puerto Juarez.  When you arrive to the Port and step inside the Ultramar sales office/gift shop, one of Ultramar’s friendly customer service associates will greet you and ensure that you are in the right place, answer any of your questions, and help guide you on your way to beautiful Isla Mujeres.

Now this isn’t just any ferry.  For years, getting to and from Isla Mujeres was a bit more of a grueling process.  However, times have changed thanks to the seamless transportation provided by the Ultramar.  On extended stays in Isla, we’ve ridden the Ultramar to and from Cancun on several occasions throughout our trip for sightseeing and tours over on the Cancun coast.

This fabulous double-decker ferry operates 365 days a year, and you can find the ferry’s continuous schedule via their website.  On board the ferry you have the option for open-air or enclosed seating, but we prefer the scenery and entertainment provided by the upper deck open-air seating.

Puerto Juarez is also the perfect place to grab any last minute items you may have forgotten or lost such as sunscreen, an umbrella, or sunglasses! There have been many occasions where we’ve grabbed SPF lip balm as well as a few bottles of water for the ride.  Here you can also purchase Isla Mujeres souveniers before you’ve even arrived in Isla Mujeres.

Starting at just $4.00 (USD) per adult and operating 365 days a year, these ultra-modern blue and yellow double decker catamarans are strictly for passengers and they make transportation to and from Isla Mujeres a piece of cake.  They feature on board television, air conditioning (on the first floor), restrooms, entertainment, and food and beverage (beer and soda) for purchase.  The passenger areas are clean and plentiful.  We prefer the open-air top deck on sunny days.

Ultramar to Cancun Schedule:	5:00am, 5:30am, 6:00am, 6:30am, 7:00am, 7:30am 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm, 3:00pm, 3:30pm, 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm, 11:30pm

We have carried our own luggage with us from Cancun International Airport and on to the Ultramar.  We have also had a car service which provided luggage transportation (carrying our bags for us from the airport to the ferry) on one occasion as well – which was nice.  If you are carrying your own luggage on board, you will be directed to the back of the ferry upon arrival where porters will help load your luggage for you.  There is a luggage holding area towards the back of the ferry where passengers could leave their luggage or large items for the duration of the trip which we found very helpful.  You are welcome to load your own luggage, but we highly recommend you leave it to the porters as they know what they are doing.  During peak times, the luggage area can become very filled and the porters will expertly pack your luggage in a safe manner.

If you are staying in the Hotel Zone of Cancun, there is also an additional Ultramar service available for your transportation to Isla Mujeres.  This ferry is located at: Kukulcan Blvd. Km. 6.5, Cancun Hotel Zone, Mexico.  However, it should be noted that this Ultra Mar is a bit more expensive (most likely due to traveling a greater distance) than the more affordable Puerto Juarez Ultramar.

For those who are familiar, this is also the same company that runs the ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel.

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If you are planning your first or next visit to Isla Mujeres, we highly recommend the Ultramar as our preferred method of transportation to Isla Mujeres.  Their fast and efficient round trip service makes getting to Isla half the fun!

Watch below for a live view of our travels to the beautiful island of Isla Mujeres and wander with us to the fabulous Privilege Aluxes, an All-Inclusive Boutique Hotel in our video below:

Have you had the chance to ride or are you considering the Ultramar to Isla Mujeres (or Cozumel) from the Yucatan? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences!