Perfect One-Day Cozumel Scooter Itinerary: Easy Day Trip from Playa del Carmen
We spent a week staying in Playa del Carmen and planned a day trip to Cozumel. Hence it is totally worth heading over for a day and exploring this beautiful island.
Taking the Ferry:
We took the Ultramar Ferry to Cozumel and back to Playa. We purchased tickets online the morning we wanted to go just in case it sold out. I was told this is common, but the ferry we were on was half empty.
You can book tickets in advance here.
Timing: Be sure to get to the port at least 30 minutes early in case there are lines or delays. Some people even say 1 hour early, but that seems excessive to me.
Cost: A round trip ticket for an adult is 580 MXN for a standard ticket
Getting Around:
We rented a scooter to get around Cozumel and it was so much fun! I read a bunch of blogs saying not to do this because it’s dangerous, but I’d disagree. We had the best time and felt totally safe. As long as you are comfortable driving a scooter, follow the road rules, wear a helmet, and have a phone in case of emergencies – you should be fine!
We rented at HTL Rentals for about $40 for the whole day.
Start with Breakfast
After we picked up our scooter, we kept it parked at HTL and walked to breakfast at Jolly: Coffee And Late Breakfast. This was such a cute little cafe with delicious food and coffee.
Circle the Island:
I loved exploring the island on the scooter! A lot of people say the east side of the island (the opposite of the port) is bare and boring, but I actually loved the scenery. We started by driving from breakfast to the south side of the island and stopped at Freedom in Paradise Reggae Beach Bar & Grill. This is a no frills bar on the beach where we just grabbed a coke and hung out in the hammocks.
Enjoy the beautiful beaches:
The beaches on the east side of the island are fairly empty and you don’t need to pay big beach club fees to enjoy. We grabbed a coconut and hung out here for a while just soaking up the sun.
Spend Your Afternoon at a Beach Club:
After exploring, we decided to drive to Buccanos and park ourselves there for the afternoon. The entrance is 400 mxn per person which can be used on food and beverages while you’re there. They have a great little beach, nice chairs, and a lovely pool. There is even snorkeling there right off the shore!
Snorkeling:
Cozumel is famous for snorkeling and scuba diving, so if you should definitely plan to go! You can book a tour to take you out. The best reefs are south of town and you can also snorkel from some of the beach clubs. For diving, I’ve heard that Roberta’s Scuba Shack is a good dive shop!
