Isla Mujeres is a ferry island. You cannot drive there; you leave the car on the mainland and boat across. The good news is the crossing is short, frequent and easy, and once you land you barely need wheels at all.
Getting there
From Cancún airport (CUN)
Cancún International (CUN) is the gateway. From the airport to a ferry dock is roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and which dock you use (approximate). Options: the official ADO airport bus toward downtown Cancún and a short taxi to Puerto Juárez; a pre-booked shuttle; or a straight taxi, which is the priciest but simplest with luggage.
The ferry
Two operators run the crossing, Ultramar and Naveganto (formerly Magnicharters), on largely the same schedule from Puerto Juárez / Gran Puerto in downtown Cancún. This is the cheaper, faster, more frequent route locals use, about 15 to 20 minutes across, boats leaving roughly every half hour through the day and into the evening. Round-trip fares are modest and paid at the dock (approximate; confirm current pricing there).
There are also boats from the hotel zone (Playa Tortugas, Playa Caracol) and Puerto Cancún, which are pricier and less frequent but convenient if you are staying on the Cancún strip. If you are only day-tripping, check the last return time before you commit to a late island dinner, because missing the final boat means an expensive scramble.
You can also reach the island by car ferry from Punta Sam north of Puerto Juárez, but there is no reason to bring a car onto an island this small.
Getting around
- On foot. El Centro and Playa Norte are entirely walkable, a five-to-ten-minute stroll end to end. If you base in town, you never need wheels for the north end.
- Golf cart. The classic island rental, ideal for a single day running down to Punta Sur and back. Rentals cluster along Avenida Rueda Medina near the dock and on Avenida Juárez. Book ahead in high season, bring your driver’s license, and expect to pay by the hour or the day. Drive slowly and watch the sand-covered curves.
- Scooter or bicycle. Cheaper than a cart. Fine for confident riders, but the coast road has fast carts and blind bends, so ride defensively. Bikes are best kept to town and flat stretches; the full loop in Caribbean heat is a slog.
- Taxis. Plentiful, cheap for short hops, and the smart choice at night, after drinks, or when you are heading to or from the quiet south side. There is no Uber culture on the island; use street taxis and agree the fare first.
Comfort notes
The crossing is short but can be choppy in wind or the rainy season, so if you are prone to seasickness, sit low and toward the middle of the boat and skip the top open deck in rough weather. On land, avoid driving the unlit southern road at night, when blind curves, no lighting and the occasional stray cart make it the one genuinely dicey drive.
A friend’s advice
Do not rent a cart for your whole stay. Take the Puerto Juárez ferry, walk everything in town, and rent a cart for exactly one day to do the Punta Sur loop. You will save money and skip the parking hassle.