I will add my thoughts to the DIY plan. My big unknown is knowing how long it takes to get off the boat. I will assume that they can make the 1000 AM ferry to Playa del Carmen (PDC).
Get into PDC and in a taxi (not a colectivo) by 1100 AM
At Tulum ruins by about 1145 AM. Buy tickets, and use the tram.
How long you stay there is determined by getting back to the boat on time. As noted above, the 500 PM ferry from PDC to Cozumel is too late. The 400 PM ferry gets you to Cozumel is time but allows no backup if you have issues getting to PDC. I will use it for this case but personally I would plan on the 300 PM ferry back to Cozumel.
Assuming the 400 PM ferry to Cozumel, you want to be there getting a ticket about 330 PM. That means leaving Tulum around 230 PM.
That means you have about 2.75 hours to do everything you want. If you can see Tulum ruins, eat lunch and spend time at a cenote in that time you are fast.
You can probably spend one hour at Tulum, eat on the go or take a sandwich and one hour at a cenote and make it work. But that is using the less than preferred PDC ferry departure at 400 PM.
Target the 300 PM ferry to Cozumel and you van only do one thing.
Independent Tulum Ruins + Cenote excursion
in Cozumel
Posted · Edited by CO_Pilot
I will add my thoughts to the DIY plan. My big unknown is knowing how long it takes to get off the boat. I will assume that they can make the 1000 AM ferry to Playa del Carmen (PDC).
http://www.mexicowaterjets.com.mx/
https://www.ultramarferry.com/en/routes-and-departures#Playa-del-Carmen-Cozumel
https://www.barcoscaribe.com/horarios.php
Get into PDC and in a taxi (not a colectivo) by 1100 AM
At Tulum ruins by about 1145 AM. Buy tickets, and use the tram.
How long you stay there is determined by getting back to the boat on time. As noted above, the 500 PM ferry from PDC to Cozumel is too late. The 400 PM ferry gets you to Cozumel is time but allows no backup if you have issues getting to PDC. I will use it for this case but personally I would plan on the 300 PM ferry back to Cozumel.
Assuming the 400 PM ferry to Cozumel, you want to be there getting a ticket about 330 PM. That means leaving Tulum around 230 PM.
That means you have about 2.75 hours to do everything you want. If you can see Tulum ruins, eat lunch and spend time at a cenote in that time you are fast.
You can probably spend one hour at Tulum, eat on the go or take a sandwich and one hour at a cenote and make it work. But that is using the less than preferred PDC ferry departure at 400 PM.
Target the 300 PM ferry to Cozumel and you van only do one thing.
This is why using the ship excursion makes sense.
Barcos Caribe is the newcomer ferry company.