Quick answer: Driving the full paved loop around Cozumel takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. The loop is roughly 40 miles (about 65 km): down the west coast, around the southern tip, up the wild east coast and back across the island to town. To actually enjoy it, with a beach, lunch and photo stops, plan 4 to 6 hours.
Ready to drive it? Buggies from $99 per vehicle, not per person, seats up to 5. Book your buggy →
I get this question almost every day at our office across from the cruise piers, usually from someone holding a ship card and checking the time.
Here's the honest answer from someone who has driven this loop more times than he can count: the drive itself is short. What takes time is everything that makes you want to stop. And on this island, that's a lot.
Total loop distance
About 40 miles (≈ 65 km)
Driving time, no stops
1 h 15 min – 1 h 30 min
Recommended time with stops = 4 – 6 hours
Island size = About 29 miles long and 9 miles wide
Cross-island road (Carretera Transversal) = About 9 miles (14 km)
Road type = Paved the whole loop, no 4x4 needed
Driving side = Right side of the road, like the US and Canada
The Cozumel loop, leg by leg
From the cruise piers, the easiest way to drive the loop is south first, then up the east coast and back across the middle of the island. You finish in town, a few minutes from the piers.
Start and finish at the cruise piers. The dashed road north of the junction is off-limits for rental vehicles.
Leg
Road
Approx. drive time
What you'll see
1. Cruise piers → southern tip
Carretera Costera Sur
20 – 25 min
Calm turquoise water, beach clubs, the classic Cozumel postcard
2. Southern tip → east coast junction
East coast highway
25 – 30 min
Open Caribbean, waves, empty beaches, little beach bars
3. East coast → San Miguel
Carretera Transversal
15 – 20 min
Jungle interior, San Gervasio ruins turnoff, the airport
4. San Miguel → back to the piers
Waterfront road
10 – 15 min
The malecón and downtown
Total ≈ 70 – 90 min
Times are approximate, at legal speeds and in normal traffic.
Two local tips for the route:
• At the east coast junction, turn left toward town. The road that continues north toward Punta Molas is not part of the paved loop and is off-limits for rental vehicles.
• On the east side you'll see a path right along the water. That's a bike and walking path. Cars use the main road just inland, with the same views.
How much time should you really plan?
The drive is 90 minutes. Your day doesn't have to be.
Your kind of day
Just the loop
About 2 hours
The full drive plus a few photo stops
Classic cruise day
4 – 5 hours
The loop, a beach club swim and lunch on the east coast
Full explorer
6+ hours
All of the above, plus Punta Sur Eco Park, San Gervasio ruins and more beaches
Cruise passengers: plan to have the vehicle back at least one hour before all-aboard. Our office is directly across from the Puerta Maya and SSA International piers, so the walk back to your ship takes minutes, not a taxi ride.
The best stops along the way
San Francisco Beach Club. On the west coast, on your way south. Entrance is free with your rental, so it's an easy first stop for a swim in calm water.
The southern tip and Punta Sur Eco Park. The lighthouse, the lagoon and some of the most dramatic views on the island. The park charges its own entrance fee.
East coast beaches and beach bars. This is the wild side of Cozumel, and the reason the loop is worth it. It's also where the currents get strong, so enjoy the views and the beach bars, and only swim where the water is clearly calm.
San Gervasio Mayan ruins. The turnoff is on the cross-island road on your way back to town. Give it about an hour.
Tequila tasting. Also included with your rental. Let a passenger do the tasting, or save it for the end of the day once the keys are back with us.
What can slow you down (honest tips)
• Topes. Cozumel's speed bumps. Some are clearly marked, some aren't. Take them slow, especially in town.
• Police checks. Speed limits are enforced, especially on the southern coastal highway. Follow the posted signs and you'll have no problem.
• Wildlife. Coatis and iguanas cross the perimeter road. Another reason not to rush.
• Fuel. A single loop uses only part of a tank. Our main office is at the gas station across from the port, so you start and finish right next to the pump. Return the vehicle at the same fuel level you received it.
• Off-road and alcohol. Neither is allowed. The loop is paved, beautiful and more than enough adventure.
Doing the loop on cruise day? Walk off the ship, cross the street, and you're driving in minutes. Reserve your buggy online →
Buggy, Sedan or Jimny: which is best for the loop?
All three seat up to 5 people, and every price is per vehicle, not per person.
Sedan
$79 - 👤 5
Smart budget choice, closed cabin, protection from sun and rain
Buggy ⭐ Most popular
$99 - 👤 5
The open-air Cozumel experience: wind, sun and the sea right next to you
Suzuki Jimny
$119 - 👤 5
A compact 4x4 look with a roof, and the best photos in the parking lot
Every buggy rental includes roadside assistance, liability insurance with no deductible and unlimited mileage. Drive the loop twice if you want. Optional collision coverage is +$20, and a car seat is +$10.
Where to pick up your wheels
• Puerta Maya and SSA International piers: our office is at Costera Sur Km. 4+230, directly across the street.
• Punta Langosta pier: meet us next to the lighthouse, beside Starbucks.
• Coming on the ferry from Playa del Carmen: we deliver to the ferry pier at no extra cost.
• Security deposit: we hold your ship card or a signed card voucher, which we hand back at the end for you to destroy.
• Booking: reserve at buggycozumel.com/en/book and choose how you want to pay.
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it to drive around Cozumel?
The paved loop around Cozumel is about 40 miles (roughly 65 km). It goes down the west coast, around the southern tip, up the east coast and back across the island on the Carretera Transversal.
Can you drive around Cozumel in one day?
Easily. The full loop takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes without stops, so you can drive it, stop at beaches, have lunch and still have time to spare.
Can I drive around Cozumel during a cruise stop?
Yes. With 4 to 5 hours on the island you can drive the whole loop with a beach stop and lunch. Rent across from the piers so you don't lose time in taxis, and plan to return the vehicle at least an hour before all-aboard.
Which direction should I drive around Cozumel?
From the cruise piers, head south first along the west coast, then north up the east coast, and cross back to town on the Carretera Transversal. You finish close to the piers.
Do I need a 4x4 to drive around Cozumel?
No. The entire loop is paved. Off-road driving is not allowed in rental vehicles.
Can I drive to Punta Molas or the north end of the island?
No. The road north from the east coast junction toward Punta Molas is not part of the paved loop and is off-limits for rental vehicles.
Is it easy to drive in Cozumel?
Yes. You drive on the right, there are only a few main roads and it's very hard to get lost. Watch for topes (speed bumps) and follow posted speed limits.
How much does it cost to rent a buggy in Cozumel?
At Buggy Rentals With Dani, buggies are $99 per day per vehicle, seating up to 5. Sedans are $79 and the Suzuki Jimny is $119.
The loop is short. The day doesn't have to be.
You could drive around Cozumel in 90 minutes. But the people who love this island the most are the ones who stopped: at the beach that wasn't on their list, at the bar with three plastic chairs, at the turn that made them pull over.
You bring the adventure. I'll get you the wheels.
Book your buggy for cruise day →
— Dani
Buggy Rentals With Dani · Costera Sur Km. 4+230, across from Puerta Maya and SSA International · @buggywithdani
