Cozumel from Playa del Carmen: The 15 Best Day Trips

1.Ultramar Ferry, Regular round ticket, Playa del Carmen-Cozumel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 302 reviews · 30 to 35 minutes (approx.) · from $38Our pick

Take the Ultramar Ferry between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel in about 30 to 35 minutes. Your round ticket includes fees and taxes, but you must exchange your reservation at the official Navega federal pier ticket office for boarding passes. Expect roomy seating, possible live music, snacks for purchase, and busy sailings.

“Great way to travel to the mainland and back. Relaxing for most. Airport on both sides. Diving better in Cozumel.”

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2.Cozumel Luxury Sailing & Snorkeling with Lunch and Open Bar Onboard

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 244 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $139

You’ll cross from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, board a catamaran, snorkel with a guide, swim, paddleboard, and enjoy lunch with an open bar. Guides have included Hugo, Diego, Russell, and Arturo. Allow extra time for hotel transfers, ferry crossings, and the $30 ferry fee.

“This was a well organized fun experience! The light lunch was delicious and the bartender took very good care of us. The snorkel guide was patient and fun.”

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3.Luxury FERRY Xcaret: From Playa del Carmen to Cozumel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Take a 45-minute Xcaret ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel on a modern, air-conditioned boat. Your open ticket lets you choose among 28 hourly departures. WiFi, luggage storage, restrooms, pet space, wheelchair areas, outdoor seating, and travel insurance are included.

“It was a nice easy process. To change the voucher you do have to wait in a line. They were nice and friendly. Getting on and off the boat was fast. The ride is a little rough so bring some motion meds. Overall great for the price.”

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4.Cozumel Dive Package – Certified Divers from the Riviera Maya (4 dives)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $378

Spend two days exploring Riviera Maya and Cozumel reefs with four guided scuba outings. Expect reef walls, swim-throughs, marine life, a ferry ride, and lunch in Cozumel. Guides such as David and Phil have earned praise for calm briefings and careful support, but conditions can change.

“Not Safe- This is my first negative review that I have ever written. We vacationed in Oct and knew the weather wouldn’t be perfect. There was a hurricane that hit 50mi north a week prior. We had booked 3-2tank morning dives. Our first dive was not safe at all. The surge and silt was so bad that I couldn’t see more than a foot in front of me. Looking back I should have surfaced and called it- that was on me for not doing that. The dive was awful, it was hard to see my buddy evening staying very close with each other. The shop should have cancelled dives as…”

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5.8H 38′ Catamaran All-Incl. to Cozumel in Tulum & Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) Top rated

Set out from Puerto Aventuras on a private catamaran for snorkeling, swimming, beach time at Paamul, trolling fishing, ceviche, snacks, and an open bar. The crew may include names such as Captain Jose, Vicky, Pollo, Luis, or Francisco, though staff vary by departure.

“Celeste pinelo pollo and angel did an absolutely amazing job on our 8 hour trip to Cozumel. Highly recommend for amazing trip. Great food and beautiful water to snorkel and swim. Thanks for all your hard work!!”

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6.Tour to Cozumel by Catamaran with Snorkeling and Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 47 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $161

Spend a full day crossing from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, snorkeling at Palancar, Colombia, El Cielo, and Cielito, then relaxing at Playa Mia. Joluga Catamaran provides gear, lunch, drinks, ferry transport, and free time in San Miguel. The group can reach 45 people.

“Please do not book with this company ever! I’ve had the worst experience with them. Their advertisement never states a child age restriction. They allow you to purchase tickets for children without advising people that children under 6 are not allowed on a catamaran and children under 8 are not allowed to snorkel in Cozumel waters. My daughter is 5 1/2 and after arriving at the meet up point, they told us we were not gonna be allowed to board the boat due to her being under 6. They took my full payment of $498 for 3 people (me my husband and daughter) and never informed us of an age…”

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7.Fun Dive Machine in Playa del Carmen or Cozumel-For Certificates

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $251

Choose two reef sites in Playa del Carmen or world-famous Cozumel walls on a four-hour, small-group outing for certified Open Water divers. The Dive Machine provides gear, boat transport, snacks, and water. Guides including Paulina, Ricardo, Pancho, and Jessica are noted for calm, attentive support.

“Superb, the lessons were awesome and the dives were really awesome. Great instructor, i panic on entry only but used my yoga breathing with mouth, calm down and it was peachy. Love it and it was my first time ever, i am a horrible swimmer, i learnt swimming in 10 days only 😅 but i did really good with lots of air to spare :)”

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8.8-Hour Private 40′ Cat 2 Stop to Cozumel, Food, Drinks & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Sail a private 40-foot catamaran from Puerto Aventuras toward southern Cozumel. Ramon and his crew handle drinks, food, fishing, snorkeling gear, towels, and water toys while you visit Playa Palancar, enjoy lunch, and watch the Riviera Maya sunset.

“Ramon and his crew were great. They kept us informed as to what to expect and were at the ready drinks, food, snorkels and other water play activities. We wanted for nothing the entire time. Also the boat was in great shape. Very accommodating and friendly crew. I recommend to anyone contemplating this kind of trip.”

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9.2 Tank Dive in Cozumel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 7 hours (approx.)

Spend about seven hours traveling from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel for two reef scuba sessions with Aqua Excursions. Certified divers get equipment, park fees, reef tax, lunch, bottled water, ferry travel, and private transfers. Pickup covers Playa del Carmen and Akumal, not Cancun or Tulum.

“This is my second scuba trip with Viator and both were very low quality. It is best to Google reputable places in the area and buy directly. The boat was complete garbage, the transport was packed full, the snorkel equipment was the cheapest I had ever seen anywhere. No booties for scuba and only fins that hurt your feet. Our dive master was good, though. This was the only dive trip I’ve ever been on where they forgot to turn on my air. I jumped in the ocean and couldn’t breathe. I understand it was my responsibility to check but the assured me I was good to go. Lesson learned.…”

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10.Cozumel Snorkeling Tour from Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 29 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $135

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, visiting two reef areas with a professional guide, snorkeling gear, refreshments, and buffet lunch. The outing may include Pro Dive Mexico operations, and guide Gustavo has earned praise for his care and help in the water.

“The staff was great! Unfortunately the snorkel trip was combined with a dive trip. Subsequently we drove in deep water and did not see very much. And the water was cold because of the depth. We should have been in a more shallow area so that we could see more and be warm.”

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11.Cozumel Private Yacht and Snorkel with Lunch and Open Bar Onboard

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

You’ll travel from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel for a private four-hour yacht outing with snorkeling, lunch, alcoholic drinks, soda, and bottled water. Round-trip hotel transport is offered, but plan for ferry time and a $30-per-person ferry fee. The yacht is reserved for your group of up to 14.

“For the price we paid for this, somewhat disappointing. The food was a cheese tray. Drinks were fair and service was acceptable, but not rated a 10. Communication with the tour company, “Viator” was not user friendly.”

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12.8-Hour Private 50′ Azimut 2-Stop Tour to Cozumel Beach w/Food, Drinks & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Spend eight hours aboard a private 50-foot Azimut from Puerto Aventuras to Cozumel’s El Cielo and Palancar reefs. You can snorkel, swim, fish, and eat freshly made ceviche and grilled burgers while crew members such as Captain Pinelo, Ramon, and Vicky handle the day.

“We had the most fabulous trip thanks to Vicky, Pinelo, Axel and Eddie. They were friendly, professional, attentive, knowledgeable and courteous! They took the keenest swimmers to the reef while the rest of us snorkelled near the boat, they always ensured we had a drink in our hand (amazing spicy mango margaritas and piña coladas in particular!) and provided such a delicious lunch. They couldn’t have made our experience better and I can only hope that anyone else booking is lucky enough take a voyage with this crew! ¡Muchas gracias to Vicky, Pinelo, Axel and Eddie!”

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13.Full-Day Catamaran Cozumel Tour with Sky Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $189

Spend about 10.5 hours traveling from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, snorkeling Palancar Reef and El Cielo, eating regional food, and cruising by catamaran. Hernan is one of the snorkeling guides noted for careful support. Confirm the meeting point by WhatsApp before departure.

“The the tour itself was great what was frustrating were the directions provided Viator did not give the correct meeting location so we had to search around trying to figure out where we were supposed to meet which was worrisome. luckily, we found somebody from another travel agency that pointed Us in the right direction this could have been a huge fail for our experience.”

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14.El Cielo Cozumel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 12 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $168

Travel from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel for guided snorkeling at Palancar and Colombia reefs, a calm-water stop at El Cielo, lunch, and limited free time. Equipment, hotel transport, ferry arrangements, and return travel are included. Expect a full, active day with changing conditions and group logistics.

“I had a love/hate with this trip. Firstly, we got picked up 30 minutes late.. When we finally got picked up, we sat on the bus for awhile and drove to a gas station where we were transferred to another bus. Our tour guide was a complete disaster. When we arrived to the Ferry to Cozumel he made us all go wait in this horrendous line, and then disappeared for the duration of our wait in the line. (Before he disappeared he gave us ham and mayonnaise sandwich’s for breakfast) We were all concerned about how we were going to get on the Ferry. He shows back up in the…”

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15.El Cielo and El Cielito in Cozumel with Beach Club, Food, and Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 10 reviews · from $180

Board a catamaran from Cozumel after the ferry from Playa del Carmen, then snorkel at Palancar, visit starfish-filled El Cielo and shallow El Cielito, and relax at Bahía Beach Club. Your fare covers the boat bar, gear, guides, fajitas, pool, kayaks, and water games.

“Excellent service, very punctual, and the tour was amazing. The views were beautiful, and the food on board the catamaran was great.”

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