You don’t need a car on Isla Mujeres. In the north of the island, you can simply walk and take a taxi if necessary; a golf buggy is ideal for a day’s exploring, and the bus is the cheapest option – provided you’re not in a hurry.

Although we saw Uber in the app, not a single ride was confirmed for us. You should therefore consider taxis, buses, golf buggies or scooters as your practical transport options.

Compare hotels on Isla Mujeres

What to do	Best transport
Stay in Centro or near Playa Norte	On foot
Take a trip or two to another part of the island	Taxi
Tour the whole island with stops	A golf buggy for the whole day
Save money and keep your plans flexible	Bus
Travelling as a couple and being able to ride a scooter	Scooter
Bringing a car from the mainland	It’s almost never worth it

Walking through the north of the island

Centro, the harbour and Playa Norte are all close together. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the ferry to Playa Norte, and there’s no point in hiring anything for this part of the island.

Isla Mujeres is about 8 km long to the south. A walking trip to Punta Sur is no longer practical due to the heat, traffic and, in places, poor or non-existent pavements.

When choosing accommodation, therefore, consider the location carefully 👉Compare hotels on Isla Mujeres by location.

Taxi

The best option for individual journeys, travelling with luggage and returning in the evening. Taxis are red, do not have a meter and the fare is determined by fixed zones based on the pick-up point and destination.

Route	Price to expect
Short journey in the north	100 mxn
Centro – centre of the island	150 mxn
Centro – Punta Sur or Kin Ha	200 mxn

Prices are per vehicle, normally for up to 4 people. The rates are also displayed at the taxi rank next to the ferry terminal.

How to use a taxi

• Ask for the price before getting in
• Pay in Mexican pesos, ideally in cash
• Use the official taxi rank at the ferry terminal
• On main roads, simply wave to flag down a taxi
• In the south, ask a restaurant or hotel to call a taxi for you

We tried haggling a few times, but we didn’t manage to get the price down. The drivers quoted the price in advance and treated it as a fixed rate, not as a starting point for negotiation.

Uber, DiDi and Bolt

Don’t rely on Uber on Isla Mujeres. The app offered us the option to book a standard taxi, but even after repeated attempts, no driver confirmed the journey.

Confusion arises from Uber’s page for Zona Urbana Ejido Isla Mujeres. However, based on the listed destinations in Cancún, it refers to the mainland part of the municipality of the same name, not the island itself.

The ‘Taxi’ button displayed therefore does not mean that a driver is available on the island. You should simply expect to hail a red taxi from the street, book one through your accommodation, or contact a specific driver.

Golf buggy hire

A golf buggy is particularly good value as a full-day experience for 3 to 4 people. It isn’t the cheapest form of transport, and it’s unnecessary for a stay in Centro or a full day at Playa Norte.

Duration and type	Current price
Standard buggy for 1 hour	26 usd
Standard buggy for 2 hours	50 usd
Standard vehicle for 3 to 9 hours	65 to 80 usd
Standard vehicle for 24 hours	75 usd up to 95 usd
Six-seater vehicle for 24 hours	130 usd up to 175 usd

The price range is based on the published prices of Prisma and Pepe’s car hire companies.

Please note the difference between the ‘all day’ rate, which may only cover 3 to 9 hours, and a full 24 hours.

One or two hours offer poor value for money. Allow 4 to 6 hours for the loop via Punta Sur; ideally, opt for the full-day rate.

What you’ll need

• You must be at least 18 years old
• A valid physical driving licence (or an international driving permit)
• A licence for everyone who will be driving the vehicle
• A deposit by card or in cash, subject to the hire company’s terms and conditions

Many hire companies retain the licence until the vehicle is returned; others require a deposit. A standard model can carry 4 people, whilst a larger model can carry 6.

What to check before collection

• Take photos of any scratches or damage
• Test the brakes, lights, horn and steering
• Check the steering wheel lock and whether the price includes fuel
• Find out the excess and the exact scope of the insurance cover
• Make a note of the return time and the late return penalty

Fuel and basic third-party liability insurance are usually included in the price, but the cover varies.

Road rules

• Drive on the right
• The vehicle is only permitted on tarmac roads
• They must not be taken onto the beach, the promenade or in pedestrian zones
• In Centro, follow one-way streets and park only in designated spaces
• Do not drive a golf trolley whilst under the influence of alcohol

Golf buggies are slow, open to the elements, and difficult to park in Centro. Do not leave valuables inside them.

When to book

Book over Christmas, at New Year, at Easter, for a six-seater model, or for a short one-day trip. Outside peak periods, you can compare standard models and hire one on arrival at the ferry terminal.

Some websites only accept online bookings for a minimum of 4 days, even though they will rent out a vehicle for a single day on arrival. Before paying, check the final price, the duration of the hire, the insurance cover and the condition of the vehicle.

Local bus

There is a bus service and it is very cheap, but it does not have a timetable you can rely on. It is operated by Isleños Bus and runs on two routes.

Information	How it works
Single journey	20 mxn
All-day ticket	7 usd for both routes
Operating hours	Approx. 7:00 to 21:00
Frequency	approx.20 minutes(but sometimes more than 30 minutes)
Timetable	None

Routes

• Punta Sur – from Centro along the western side via Chedraui and Garrafón to Punta Sur, back along the eastern side via La Gloria
• Sac Bajo – from the Centre via Chedraui and Hacienda Mundaca to Dolphin Discovery and Palapa Capitán, returning the same way

You can find the exact route on the Isleños Bus map. The service to Punta Sur is a circular route.

How to board

1. Stand by the main road and wave to the bus
2. Check with the driver: “Punta Sur?” or “Sac Bajo?”
3. Pay in cash and say “Baja, por favor” before your stop

Don’t worry about fixed stops away from the starting point – the bus can be flagged down anywhere along the route.

The pick-up point is at the UltraCarga ferry terminal, not at the main speedboat terminal.

We didn’t see the bus once during our stay. According to other passengers’ experiences, it can arrive in 10 minutes, but it can also take a long time – or not turn up at all – so don’t rely on it for your ferry crossing or day trip.

Scooter or motorbike

A scooter makes sense for solo travellers and couples who are already confident riders. It’s quicker, easier to park and costs less than a golf buggy, but it offers almost no protection in the event of an accident or from the rain.

Current deals include 49,50 usd for 8 hours or 59 to 60 usd for 24 hours, including fuel and two helmets.

The terms and conditions vary between rental companies, so before paying, check the accepted driving licence category, insurance, excess and the condition of both helmets. If you’ve never ridden a scooter before, Isla Mujeres isn’t the best place to learn.

Cars on Isla Mujeres

For a typical holiday, a car is completely unnecessary. The island is narrow, the centre has one-way streets and very little parking, and all tourist destinations are served by taxis, buses, scooters or golf buggies.

UltraCarga ferries cars from Punta Sam. The crossing takes about 45 minutes, unloading takes a further 15 to 20 minutes, and there are only 3 or 4 crossings a day.

A single journey costs 520 mxn without a booking or 750 mxn with a booking, including a driver; each additional adult 290 mxn. Add to this the journey to Punta Sam, the return crossing and any waiting time.

If you’re hiring a car, confirm in writing in advance that the contract permits transport by ferry and that the insurance remains valid on the island. Do not take the car onto the ferry without this confirmation.

This may only be worthwhile for a long stay in the south, when transporting a large amount of equipment, or if your mobility is severely limited. For a day trip or even a stay of several nights, leave your car on the mainland.