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Transportation |
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| Taxi Information |
There are over 500 taxis on the streets of Cozumel at any given time and they provide transportation to locals and tourists alike. The vehicles do not have meters, but rather there is an established fare that drivers are authorized to collect depending on distance and zone. Each driver must have this fare schedule in his possession and present it to the customer when requested to do so.
Always ask the driver how much the fare is from point A to point B before getting in the taxi. Be certain that you have close to the exact amount because drivers rarely carry a great deal of change and occasionally claim they have none in hopes of keeping it for themselves.
Calling a Taxi: 872-0236
While you will almost always find taxis on the island's busier streets and waiting outside most hotels, you may have occasion to call a taxi to pick you up. You should be aware that if you need to catch an early plane or ferry, you would be better off calling one day prior to departure. Phones are generally not answered before 7:00 A.M., therefore, we suggest you call and schedule pick-up the night before your departure. Be aware that the individual answering the phone may speak little or no English, so if you are not a Spanish speaker, you may want to ask someone who is to do the calling for you. Again, be sure that you or the individual calling for you clarify what the rate will be from point A to point B.
It is customary to tip the gas station attendant and the kid who bags your groceries as well as taxi drivers in Mexico. If you feel that your driver has been especially friendly or helpful, you may wish to give him/her something extra! |
Note: Since the exchange rate varies daily, all fares are listed in US dollars, are approximate and should be used as guidelines when checking fares with drivers.
From Punta Langousta and Downtown Ferry Pier:
| Downtown |
$4 |
El Presidente Hotel |
$7 |
Muncipal Market |
$5 |
| The CZM-Palmar Estate Beach Club |
$7 |
Fiesta Americana Hotel |
$8 |
Chakanaab Park |
$10 |
| Playa Corona |
$10 |
Cozumel Country Club |
$10 |
Chen Rio Beach |
$21 |
| San Clemente Beach |
$13 |
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club |
$15 |
Playa bonita Beach |
$24 |
| San Francisco Beach |
$13 |
Nachi Cocom Beach Club |
$15 |
Punta Sur Park |
$30 |
| Northern Hotel Zone |
$8 |
Palancar Beach |
$20 |
San Gervasio Ruins Round Trip |
$45 |
| Airport |
$9 |
Punta Morena Beach |
$19 |
Paradise Beach |
$13 |
| Playa Azul |
$8 |
Puerto de Abrigo |
$6 |
El Cozumeleño |
$8 |
| Rancho Las Palmas |
$15 |
Paradisus |
$8 |
San Francisco Beach |
$13 |
| Puerta Maya Pier |
$6 |
Playa Sol-renamed Playa Mis |
$15 |
Punta Francesa |
$18 |
| Isla de la Pasion |
$45 |
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From the International Pier and Puerta Maya:
| Downtown |
$6 |
El Presidente Hotel |
$6 |
Municipal Market |
$6 |
| The Palmar Estate Beach Club |
$7 |
Fiesta Americana Hotel |
$7 |
Chankanaab Park |
$10 |
| Playa Corona |
$10 |
San Clemente Beach |
$12 |
San Francisco Beach |
$12 |
| Northern Hotel Zone |
$12 |
Airport |
$12 |
Cozumel Country Club |
$13 |
| Mr. Sancho's Beach Club |
$14 |
Playa Sol Beach Club |
$14 |
Nachi Cocom Beach Club |
$14 |
| Palancar Beach |
$17 |
Punta Morena Beach |
$25 |
Chen Rio Beach |
$25 |
| Playa Bonita Beach |
$30 |
Punta Sur Park |
$30 |
San Gervasio Ruins Round Trip |
$45 |
| Paradise Beach |
$12 |
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To the Airport:
| Northern Hotels (Condumel to Country Club) |
$9 |
| Southern Hotels (Plaza Las Glorias to Fiesta Americana) |
$9 |
| Reef Club |
$17 |
| Allegro |
$17 |
| Iberostar |
$20 |
| (Additional passengers $2.50 each) |
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| Gas Stations |
 There are 3 PEMEX stations on the island. Two are located on Ave Juarez with one being at Calle 30 and the other at Calle 75. The newest PEMEX station is south of the downtown area on the beachfront highway just across from Puerta Maya and the International Pier.
NOTE: The new PEMEX seems to close early in the evenings on days when few/no ships are in port at the nearby piers.
Many times when filling up at a gas station, attendants will purposely not reset the gas pump, causing you to pay 2 to 3 times more than needed. Make sure you turn the car in on time…a few minutes late can sometimes cost you a full day. Make sure the fuel is at the required level when returned.
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| Insurance |
 One thing that's important to remember is that U.S. insurance companies do not make direct payments for damages outside the country. If your rental car is involved in an accident, you will be required to make full payment of all damages by Mexican law before you leave the island. The rentadora is "supposed" to supply you with the necessary reports for you to take to your insurance company at home to recover payment. For those companies that require a mandatory insurance fee of $10 U.S. a day, it will usually include collision, with a deductible of anywhere from $650 to $1000 U.S.
Make sure you know exactly what you are covered for!
Take careful note as to what voids your coverage… e.g. leaving a paved road or drinking alcohol. Scooters are not covered by theft. |
| Mopeds |
The danger of mopeds on Cozumel cannot be overstated.
With the increasing amount of mopeds, pedestrians, bicycles, and cars in Cozumel's narrow streets it is becoming very dangerous to ride these around the island. Be very careful of your surroundings if you choose to rent one, and by all means wear a helmet!
After an afternoon thunderstorm, the lack of drainage in the streets coupled with the oil on the streets creates a very slick road. It’s not advisable to ride a moped during these conditions. |
| Mainland Bus Services |
For the adventurous traveler there are many mainland excursions on the mainland available by bus. It's a great (inexpensive) way to travel throughout the Mayan Riviera, however there are many pitfalls of which to be concerned.  Make sure you communicate with the driver, ahead of time, where you want to be dropped off. Some of the stops are not bus stations (like in Playa del Carmen) but just stops along the highway which are unmarked. The driver won't stop unless there is someone present at the stop or a request is made from a passanger to stop. When purchasing a bus ticket, all you get is the bus ticket. Nothing is included in the form of admittance into the destination, tour guide, or translation of tour itself.
To buy bus tickets in Cozumel go to:
Riviera Buslines
Ave 10 at Calle 2
The main bus station for tourist related destinations is located in Playa del Carmen about 2 blocks from the ferry dock. Just walk through the little park on the Northern side of the ferry and you will see it across from the big McDonalds (not to be confused with the smaller McDonalds in front of the ferry stop).
Some approximate sample fairs and travel times from Playa del Carmen include:
(These are subject to change. Check for Tours to these places also!)
| Destination |
Cost (Pesos) |
Travel Time |
| Merida |
188 |
5 hour |
| Chetumal |
135 |
5 hours |
| Coba |
46 |
2 hours |
| Chichen Itza |
140 |
3 ½ hours |
| Akumal |
100 |
2 hours |
| Puerto Morelos |
20 |
30 minute |
| Cancun |
50 |
1 hour |
| Tulum |
25 |
1 hour |
| F. Carrillo Puerto |
50 |
2 hours |
| Xcaret |
15 |
10 minutes |
| Xel-Ha |
20 |
45 minutes |
Typically there are 2 levels of bus service in Mexico, first class and coach. First class buses generally adhere closely to the maintained schedule and rarely have any stops between the departure and destination points. However, coach service can be quite different as schedules can and usually will deviate from stated departure and arrival times. Don’t be surprised if many spontaneous stops are made along the way to pick up passengers. |
| Cancun Airport Bus Schedule |
Due to the high volume of passengers, this schedule is usually very reliable.
The approximate cost (one way) is $65 pesos or US$7-10.
The bus also makes regular trips between the Cancun Airport and Playa del Carmen. When combined with the ferry shuttle, this can be a very inexpensive alternative to a air shuttle between the Cancun and Cozumel airports. (bus is $65 pesos or US$7 (one way)).
Playa del Carmen to Cancun
8:00am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:15pm
Cancun to Playa del Carmen
10:45am, 11:45am, 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 3:00pm, 4:45pm, 5:45pm, 7:00pm, 8:30pm
| Cozumel to Playa del Carmen Passenger Ferry Schedule |
Cozumel now enjoys the services of 2 competing passenger ferry companies which arrive and depart from the same location: the downtown pier (Muelle Fiscal) and then arrive/depart from the same pier in Playa del Carmen as well.
The approximate cost (one way) is $110 Pesos or US$10.50 per person.
Schedules may change without notice.
For more information call (872-1588)
From Playa del Carmen to Cozumel
6AM, 8AM, 9AM, 10AM, 11AM, 1PM, 3PM, 5PM, 6PM, 7PM, 9PM and 11PM
From Cozumel to Playa del Carmen
5AM, 7AM, 8AM, 9AM, 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, 4PM, 5PM, 6PM, 8PM and 10PM
Schedule as of January 2006.
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| Cozumel to Mainland Vehicle Ferry Service |
 Schedules may change without notice. The ferry between Cozumel and Punta Venado remains one of the hidden treasures of the area for those wanting to cross a vehicle. Up until just a couple of years ago, crossing a car between the mainland and Cozumel took 4 - 6 hours plus waiting in line at all hours of the night to ensure a space on the 1 or 2 crossings made daily. Thankfully, with competition comes efficiency and speed for the journey now is only about 1 hour and there are so many crossings daily that there is hardly ever a back up of folks wanting to put their vehicles on the vessel.
 On the mainland, no signs direct you to it, or even tell you of its existence (unlike the passenger ferry at Playa del Carmen, or the car ferry at Puerto Morelos - both of which are marked by highway signs). There is a sign at the roadway entrance, but it is not illuminated, and it is set back far enough from the road that your car headlights likely won't pick it up. It is approximately 7km south of the main highway intersection at Playa del Carmen, and about 1.5km south of the exit for Xcaret.
Please note ~ this crossing service is not a tourist activity. The crossing service is a critical link in Cozumel's island economy. It is used primarily by locals and distribution companies getting inventory to and from Cozumel. So don't expect the staff to speak or understand any English and don't get huffy when change is provided in pesos. All one needs to do is drive up to the offices where there will be a man with a clipboard who sells tickets. He will direct vehicles into lines as they will embark the boat. The crossing takes about 60 minutes from dock to dock. The fare is roughly 500 pesos ($US 50) for a car & driver and 30 pesos ($US 3) for each additional passenger.
Information and schedule as of April, 2006
Cozumel to Punta Venado
Monday through Saturday
Sunday
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6:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM, 8:00 PM
Check - Schedule Varies |
Punta Venado to Cozumel
Monday through Saturday (cargo trucks only)
Monday through Saturday
Sunday
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4:00 AM, 8:00 AM
1:30 PM, 6:00 PM
Check - Schedule Varies |
| Aerocozumel |
872-0928 |
| Aerocaribe |
872-0877 |
| Aeromexico |
872-0251 |
| American Airlines |
872-0899 |
| Mexicana |
872-0157 |
| Continental |
872-0847 |
| AeroTucan Airbus Schedule |
This schedule may change at any time without prior notice from AeroTucan.
Schedule Posted as of February 2006.
| Days |
Cozumel > Cancun |
Cancun > Cozumel |
| Tue, Wed, Sat |
8:45AM, 5:30PM |
8:15AM, 4:45PM |
| Sunday |
11:45AM, 2:45PM |
11:15AM, 2:15PM |
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Some ideas on Island Transportation
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