How to Get to Isla Mujeres for Your Flying Dress Photoshoot

The short answer: the Ultramar ferry from Cancun

You cannot drive to Isla Mujeres — the island sits a few kilometres off the coast and the only way across is by boat. The simplest, most reliable option is the Ultramar passenger ferry, which runs frequently throughout the day from Cancun and crosses in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The boats are modern, air-conditioned and comfortable, and the ride itself is part of the experience — open water, a fresh breeze and your first glimpse of the island skyline. For a Flying Dress session there is nothing complicated to arrange: you simply hop on the ferry, and we meet you on the other side.

Where the ferry leaves from

There are two main Ultramar departure points on the Cancun side, and the right one for you depends on where you are staying.

Puerto Juarez (Gran Puerto)

This is the main ferry terminal, located just north of downtown Cancun. It has the most frequent departures throughout the day and is the easiest option if you are staying in Cancun's city centre or arriving from elsewhere in the region. Parking and taxis are readily available, so it is a straightforward starting point for a morning crossing.

Playa Tortugas (Hotel Zone)

If you are staying in the Cancun Hotel Zone, the Playa Tortugas dock is far more convenient — it sits right on the main hotel strip, so you avoid the trip back into the city. Departures here are a little less frequent than from Puerto Juarez, so it is worth checking the schedule the night before, but for many of our guests it is the quickest door-to-ferry option.

Day trip from Cancun, or stay on the island?

Both work beautifully, and which one suits you simply depends on your trip.

As a day trip from Cancun. This is how most of our Flying Dress guests visit. You catch a morning ferry, do your session in the soft morning light, and still have the whole day to explore the island — Playa Norte, the golf carts, the little downtown streets — before heading back. Because the session runs about an hour and the crossing is short, a day trip never feels rushed.

Staying on Isla Mujeres. If you are spending a night or two on the island, even better. You wake up steps from the beach, walk to your morning session at Playa Centro, and have the rest of your stay to enjoy the slow island pace. Staying over also makes the very best light — the soft glow of early morning on a calm, quiet beach — effortless to catch.

We can help with transport and the meeting point

This is where an Isla Mujeres session is genuinely easy: we help coordinate the logistics. Unlike a cruise stop, where everything runs on the ship's clock, a trip to Isla Mujeres is entirely yours to plan — and we are happy to guide it. On request we can help arrange transport on the Cancun side and agree on a clear meeting point on the island, so you always know exactly where to go and when. Just tell us where you are staying and roughly when you would like to shoot, and we will help build a simple, stress-free plan around the ferry.

Ferry schedules and timing your session

Ultramar ferries run frequently from early morning until late evening, with departures roughly every half hour to an hour depending on the time of day and the terminal. For a Flying Dress photoshoot, the timing that matters most is the light. We recommend shooting at 8:00 a.m. — the early-morning light is soft and flattering, and Playa Centro is calm and uncrowded at that hour. An 8 a.m. session means catching one of the morning ferries, which is well worth it for the gentle light and the quiet sand right beside Playa Norte.

The session itself takes about an hour. Once we confirm your shoot time, we work backwards to recommend which ferry to aim for, building in a comfortable buffer so you arrive relaxed rather than racing the clock. The dry season, November through April, brings the most dependable conditions, but the island is beautiful year round.

What to consider before you go

Aim for an 8 a.m. session. The soft light and the calmest, emptiest beach come first thing in the morning, so plan your crossing around an 8:00 a.m. shoot at Playa Centro.

Travel light. The Flying Dress is provided in sizes XS to XXXL and is included in your package, so there is nothing to carry on the ferry. Bring sunscreen, a hat for between shots, and something comfortable for the beach — sessions are shot barefoot on the sand.

Wear the right swimsuit underneath. Under the airy, flowing dress we recommend a strapless or backless swimsuit so nothing shows through the lightweight fabric.

Bring your family or friends. Anyone you bring along is welcome in the session at no extra cost, and for groups and bachelorette parties we offer group discounts with a personalised quote.

Book ahead. Reserve your session with just a $30 deposit; the balance is paid on the day of your shoot. Confirming early lets us lock in your preferred light and help plan your ferry around it.

Your island session, sorted

Getting to Isla Mujeres is one short, scenic ferry ride — and the reward is one of the most beautiful Flying Dress backdrops in the Caribbean, on a beach that stays blissfully uncrowded. As the original creators of the Flying Dress experience in the Riviera Maya, we handle the photography and help with the logistics so all you have to do is enjoy the crossing. Tell us your dates and where you are staying, and we will help you plan the perfect island session from the moment you step off the boat.