Day trips · Cozumel · Mexico
4 best day trips from Cozumel
Where to go when you want a day away from Cozumel, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Johnnie Flashlite, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Cozumel is Playa del Carmen (About 45 minutes by ferry). The closest option is Playa del Carmen, about 20 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Playa del Carmen (20 km)
- Most popular
- Playa del Carmen
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playa del Carmen | 20 km | About 45 minutes by ferry | Passenger ferry from the town pier | Shopping, Nightlife, Food lovers |
| Xcaret park | 25 km | About 1–1.5 hours by ferry and road | Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then taxi or park shuttle | Families, First-timers |
| Tulum | 85 km | About 2 hours by ferry and road | Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then bus, tour or car | Culture, Couples, Beach |
| Chichén Itzá | 220 km | About 3–3.5 hours each way by ferry and road | Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then tour coach | Culture, First-timers |
The day trips
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20 km · About 45 minutes by ferry
1.Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen across the channel has a long pedestrian street (Quinta Avenida) of shops, restaurants and bars, beaches and beach clubs. It is also the gateway to the parks and cenotes of the Riviera Maya.
- Getting there
- Passenger ferry from the town pier
- Best for
- Shopping, Nightlife, Food lovers
25 km · About 1–1.5 hours by ferry and road
2.Xcaret park
A large eco-theme park just south of Playa del Carmen with underground rivers to float through, a Maya village, aquariums, wildlife and an evening show of Mexican history and folk dance. It fills a long day.
- Getting there
- Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then taxi or park shuttle
- Best for
- Families, First-timers
85 km · About 2 hours by ferry and road
3.Tulum
The walled Maya city of Tulum stands on a clifftop above a Caribbean beach. Combine the ruins with a swim in a cenote such as those along the road to Cobá, or with the beach-front town.
- Getting there
- Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then bus, tour or car
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Beach
220 km · About 3–3.5 hours each way by ferry and road
4.Chichén Itzá
The great Maya-Toltec city in the Yucatán interior, with the El Castillo pyramid, the ball court and the sacred cenote. It is a very long day from Cozumel, so an organised tour that handles the ferry and road is easiest.
- Getting there
- Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then tour coach
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Cozumel?
Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen across the channel has a long pedestrian street (Quinta Avenida) of shops, restaurants and bars, beaches and beach clubs.
+How long does it take to get from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen?
About 45 minutes by ferry — Passenger ferry from the town pier, about 20 km.
+How long does it take to get from Cozumel to Xcaret park?
About 1–1.5 hours by ferry and road — Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then taxi or park shuttle, about 25 km.