What to Expect at Playa Linda
Let's get straight to the point: Playa Linda isn't a beach to spend the day at — it's a ferry terminal. Almost nobody shows up here with a towel and sunscreen; they show up with a ferry ticket, because this is the busiest departure point in the Hotel Zone for Isla Mujeres. It's at Km 4 on Boulevard Kukulcan, next to El Embarcadero (Km 4.5), and both the regular Xcaret ferry and the catamaran tours leave from here. The crossing to the island takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Playa Linda is better known as a departure point for Isla Mujeres than as a beach itself. If you're staying in the Hotel Zone and want to visit Isla Mujeres, this is the most convenient place to board the ferry or a tour.
The "beach" at Playa Linda is on the Nichupte Lagoon, not the Caribbean Sea, so the waters are very calm but don't have the crystal-clear Caribbean characteristics. Most visitors come specifically for the ferry terminal.
📍 GPS Coordinates: 21.1445, -86.7880
⛴️ Ferry to Isla Mujeres: ~20-30 minutes
💰 Round-trip ferry price: ~$560 MXN per adult (2026)
🕐 Hours: departures 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM; last return ~8:00 PM
🅿️ Parking: $150-250 MXN/day
📍 Distance to downtown: 4 km (10 min by car)
Ferry to Isla Mujeres
The ferry from El Embarcadero (Km 4.5), next to Playa Linda, is run by Xcaret (Xailing), not Ultramar. It takes 20-30 minutes to Isla Mujeres and leaves roughly every hour from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM; the last return from the island leaves around 8:00 PM. A round trip costs about $560 MXN per adult (2026 price, check xcaret.com). In the Hotel Zone, Ultramar ferries leave from Playa Tortugas (Km 6.5) and Playa Caracol. Note that none of these boats go to Cozumel. There's no direct ferry from Cancun to that island; you travel by road to Playa del Carmen and cross from there, as explained in our Cozumel day trip guide.
Ferry Prices (2026)
| Category | Price (one way / round trip) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $290 / $560 MXN(US$14.50 / US$28) | Ages 12+ |
| Child (6-11 years) | $220 / $420 MXN(US$11 / US$21) | — |
| Under 5 | FREE | — |
| Q. Roo residents / INAPAM | Discounted fare | With ID |
🕐 Ferry Schedule (Approximate)
| Route | First Ferry | Last Ferry | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Embarcadero → Isla Mujeres | ~9:00 AM | ~7:00 PM | Roughly hourly |
| Isla Mujeres → El Embarcadero | ~10:00 AM | ~8:00 PM | Roughly hourly |
Tours from Playa Linda
Several tours depart from Playa Linda to Isla Mujeres: all-inclusive catamaran tours ($1,500-2,500 MXN), snorkeling with lunch tours ($1,200-1,800 MXN), and sunset sailing tours ($1,000-1,500 MXN). They include transportation, food, and drinks.
| Tour | Approx. Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| 🚢 All-Inclusive Catamaran | $1,500-2,500 MXN(~$90-150 USD) | Open bar, snorkeling, lunch, free time |
| 🤿 Snorkeling + Lunch Tour | $1,200-1,800 MXN(~$70-110 USD) | Snorkeling, gear, lunch, free time |
| ⛵ Sunset Sailing | $1,000-1,500 MXN(~$60-90 USD) | Sailing, snacks, open bar |
| ⛴️ Ferry Only (On Your Own) | ~$560 MXN(~US$28) | Round-trip transportation only |
If you decide to go on your own, our complete Isla Mujeres guide helps you plan the day: what to do, how to get around the island, where to eat and how much to budget.
Playa Linda vs Puerto Juárez
There are two main departure points for the ferry to Isla Mujeres: Playa Linda and Puerto Juárez. Which should you choose?
| Feature | Playa Linda | Puerto Juárez |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Hotel Zone (Km 4) | Downtown Cancun |
| Best if staying in... | Hotel Zone | Downtown |
| Operator | Xcaret (Xailing) | Ultramar |
| Ferry frequency | Roughly hourly (9 AM - 7 PM) | Every 30 min by day, hourly at night (from ~5:30 AM) |
| Round-trip ferry price (adult) | ~$560 MXN | ~$580 MXN |
| Tours available | Many tours | Mainly ferry |
How to Get to Playa Linda
How do you get there? It depends on how fast you need to board. The budget option is the R1 or R2 bus ($12 MXN), which drops you steps from the terminal at Km 4 after 10-15 minutes from downtown. If you're racing the clock, a taxi covers the same route in 10 minutes for $80-120 MXN. And if you're driving yourself, there's paid parking right next to the terminal for $150-250 MXN a day.
Dock Facilities
Gallery
