Cozumel to Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is on the mainland. From Cozumel that means a ferry crossing and then roughly two hours of driving, each way.
- Five to seven hours of travelling on a port day, with a sea crossing in the middle that weather can stop.
- If the return ferry is delayed or cancelled you are on the wrong island with no alternative crossing.
Most ships also sell a coach excursion to Chichén Itzá. However you travel, being back aboard before all-aboard is your own arrangement to make — we publish the journey, not your sailing. Your guide plays either way, and it is yours to keep.
This one we will call: take the ship's excursion. The route crosses to the mainland by ferry and then drives more than three hours inland, so the return depends on a boat and a road both running to schedule. The ship will not wait for a late ferry, and there is no second way back. Your guide plays on their coach exactly as it would on your own.
- 45–75 min Ultramar ferry from the Cozumel piers to Playa del Carmen — about 45 minutes on the water, closer to an hour once boarding and queueing are counted.
- 115–150 min Playa del Carmen inland via Highway 305 and the 180D through Valladolid, about 180 km.
2.7–3.8 hours each way
Plan your return against your ship's all-aboard time, which is on your daily programme. It is earlier than the departure time, and if you are coming back by tender the last tender leaves earlier still.
Open live transit directions — times on the day, in your own maps app.
Checked 2026-09-15. Sources: www.cozumelcruisetours.com/cozumel-..., chichenitzaprivatetour.com/from-cozumel.