Cozumel Transportation

Getting There:

Air:

Cozumel International Airport (CZM)(+52 987 872 2081) serves the island. There are more charter flights than commercial international flights to Cozumel, so you can try to book a flight with them or get a package deal. Airlines include:

FunJet (+1 888 558 6654 / http://www.funjet.com)

Continental (+1 800 231 0856 / http://www.continental.com)

US Airways (+1 800 428 4322 / http://www.usairways.com/)

American Airlines (+1 800 433 7300 / http://www.aa.com/)

Aerocaribe (+52 987 872 0877 / http://www.aerocaribe.com/)

Mexicana (+1 800 531 7921 / http://www.mexicana.com/)

Aeromexico (+1 800 237 6639 / http://www.aeromexico.com/)

Rental car companies:

Hertz (+1 800 654 3131 / http://www.hertz.com)

Thrifty (+1 800 847 4389 / http://www.thrifty.com)

Alamo (+1 800 462 5266 / http://www.alamo.com/)

Budget (+1 800 527 0700 / https://rent.drivebudget.com)

Avis (+52 998 886 0221 / +1 800 230 4898; http://www.avis.com)

National (+1 800 227 7368 (US) /+1 954 320 6600 (Intl) / http://www.nationalcar.com/)

By Ferry:

Passenger Ferries (from Playa del Carmen):

Barcos México (+53 987 872 1508)

Ultramar (+53 987 869 2775 / http://www.ultramar.cl/)

Car Ferries (from the Calica pier):

Marítima Chancanaab (+53 987 872 0916)

Getting Around:

By Taxi:

It is easy and relatively inexpensive to get around the island via taxi. Since fares have been standardized, there is no bartering system and the drivers can't rip you off.

By Rental Car:

Rental cars are easy to arrange on the island. If you want to pre-book, see the list above.

By Moped:

Rentals average USD25 a day. Due to the high accident rate, however, they are not recommended, especially since no insurance is offered. It is illegal to drive a moped without a helmet.

By Foot:

The best mode of transportation on the island is on foot. Be careful as a pedestrian; here traffic will not stop for you.

Planning a Trip

Getting There & Departing

By Plane -- During high season, several more international commercial flights fly in and out of Cozumel's airport (CZM) than in low season, including a few flights from northern U.S. cities. You might also inquire about buying a ticket on one of the charter flights. Some packagers, such as Fun Jet (www.funjet.com), will sell you just a ticket. But look into packages, too. Several of the island's independent hotels work with packagers.

By Ferry -- Passenger ferries run to and from Playa del Carmen. Barcos México (tel. 987/872-1508, -1588) and Ultramar (tel. 987/869-2775) offer departures almost every hour in the morning and about every 2 hours in the afternoon. The schedules change according to seasons. The trip takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on conditions, and costs $14 one-way. The boats are air-conditioned. In Playa del Carmen, the ferry dock is 1 1/2 blocks from the main square. In Cozumel, the ferries use Muelle Fiscal, the town pier, a block from the main square. Luggage storage at the Cozumel dock costs 20 pesos per day.

The car ferry that used to operate from Puerto Morelos now uses the Calica pier just south of Playa del Carmen. The fare for a standard car is $80. Marítima Chankanaab (tel. 987/872-7671, -7504) has four departures daily from Calica at 4am, 8am, 1:30pm, and 6pm. Arrive 1 hour before departure. The schedule is subject to change, so double-check it. The ferry docks in Cozumel at the Muelle Internacional (the International Pier, which is south of town near La Ceiba Hotel).

By Bus -- If you plan to travel on the mainland by bus, there is a ticket office for ADO buses called Ticket Bus where you can purchase tickets in advance. One is located on the municipal pier and is open while the ferries are running. Another is on Calle 2 Norte and Avenida 10 (tel. 987/872-1706). Hours are from 8am to 9pm daily.

Orientation

Arriving -- Cozumel's airport is inland from downtown. Transportes Terrestres provides hotel transportation in air-conditioned Suburbans. Buy your ticket as you exit the terminal. To hotels downtown, the fare is $7 per person; to hotels along the north shore, $10; and to hotels along the south shore, $11 to $15. Passenger ferries arrive at the Muelle Fiscal, the municipal pier, by the town's main square. Cruise ships dock at the Punta Langosta pier, several blocks south of the Muelle Fiscal, and at the International Pier, which is at Km 4 of the southern coastal road. A third cruise-ship pier, the Puerta Maya, near the International Pier, is finally operational after severe damage caused by hurricanes in 2006.

Visitor Information -- The Municipal Tourism Office (tel./fax 987/869-0212) has an information booth at the municipal ferry pier, on the main square. It's open 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. There are other information booths at each of the cruise-ship piers and at the airport.

City Layout -- San Miguel's main waterfront street is Avenida Rafael Melgar. Running parallel to Rafael Melgar are avenidas numbered in multiples of five -- 5, 10, 15. Avenida Juárez runs perpendicular to these, heading inland from the ferry dock. Avenida Juárez divides the town into northern and southern halves. The calles (streets) that parallel Juárez to the north have even numbers. The ones to the south have odd numbers, except for Calle Rosado Salas, which runs between calles 1 and 3.

Island Layout -- One road runs along the western coast of the island, which faces the Yucatán mainland. It has different names. North of town, it's Santa Pilar or San Juan; in the city, it is Avenida Rafael Melgar; south of town, it's Costera Sur. Hotels stretch along this road north and south of town. The road runs to the southern tip of the island (Punta Sur), passing Chankanaab National Park. Avenida Juárez (and its extension, the Carretera Transversal) runs east from the town across the island. It passes the airport and the turnoff to the ruins of San Gervasio before reaching the undeveloped ocean side of the island. It then turns south and follows the coast to the southern tip, where it meets the Costera Sur.

Be Streetwise -- North-south streets -- the avenidas -- have the right of way, and traffic doesn't slow down or stop.

Getting Around

You can walk to most destinations in town. Getting to outlying hotels and beaches requires a taxi, rental car, or moped.

Car rentals are roughly the same price as on the mainland, depending on demand. Avis (tel. 987/872-0099) and Executive (tel. 987/872-1308) have counters in the airport. Other major rental companies have offices in town. Rentals are easy to arrange through your hotel or at any of the many local rental offices.

Moped rentals are readily available and cost 250 to 500 pesos for 24 hours, depending upon the season. If you rent a moped, be careful. Riding a moped made a lot more sense when Cozumel had less traffic; now it involves a certain amount of risk as taxi drivers and other motorists have become more numerous and pushier. Moped accidents easily rank as the greatest cause of injury in Cozumel. Before renting one, inspect it carefully to see that all the gizmos -- horn, light, starter, seat, mirror -- are in good shape. I've been offered mopeds with unbalanced wheels, which made them unsteady at higher speeds, but the renter quickly exchanged them upon my request. You are required to stay on paved roads. It's illegal to ride a moped without a helmet outside of town (subject to a 300 peso fine).

Cozumel has lots of taxis and a strong drivers' union. Fares have been standardized -- there's no bargaining. Here are a few sample fares for two people (there is an additional charge for extra passengers to most destinations): island tour, 500 pesos; town to southern hotel zone, 110 to 180 pesos; town to northern hotels, 50 to 70 pesos; town to Chankanaab, 100 pesos for up to four people; in and around town, 30 to 40 pesos.