Village Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo Municipality of Isla Mujeres Cancún
Small mainland point north of Cancún where the car ferry leaves for Isla Mujeres; close to El Meco and the Costa Mujeres resorts.
From Cancún: 15 min by car (12 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Plan your visit to Punta Sam
Where to stay near Punta Sam
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Punta Sam.
Tours to Punta Sam
Day trips and guided outings from Isla Mujeres often include Punta Sam; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid Tour with Tequila and Lunch
★ 4.7 (17,034) · From US$39
How to get to Punta Sam
- From Cancún: about 15 min by road (~12 km)
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Popular tours to Punta Sam
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About Punta Sam
Punta Sam is a small settlement on a low point of the mainland coast about 16 km north of central Cancún, facing Isla Mujeres across the bay. It belongs to the municipality of Isla Mujeres, although in practice it is part of Cancún's urban sprawl. In the Yucatán Peninsula 'punta' is used in the sense of a cape, and this one marks the spot where the coast road from Puerto Juárez reaches the channel. The 2020 census counted 108 residents.
Punta Sam is known above all for its dock. This is the terminal of the car ferry to Isla Mujeres, run by Ultracarga, the only way to take a vehicle to the island; passenger ferries leave from Puerto Juárez and Gran Puerto, a few kilometres south. Around the point there are a couple of beach hotels and resorts under the palms, and just to the north begins Costa Mujeres, the newer strip of all-inclusive hotels.
On the way in, the road passes the Maya site of El Meco, a Postclassic port with a tall pyramid. Offshore, MUSA lists Punta Sam among the locations of its underwater sculpture galleries, a shallow spot for snorkelling. The view from the shore takes in the hotel towers of Cancún to the south and the long low shape of Isla Mujeres to the east.
How to get to Punta Sam
Drive from Cancún: 15 min, 12 km
By road, about 16 km north of central Cancún on the coast road through Puerto Juárez, past El Meco. Ultracarga's car ferry to Isla Mujeres leaves from the Punta Sam dock; book at least 24 hours ahead. Foot passengers usually use the faster passenger ferries from Puerto Juárez or Gran Puerto instead.
Directions to Punta Sam on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Punta Sam
- Cancún · 12 km by road, 15 min
- Playa del Carmen · 75 km by road, 1 h 5 min
- Valladolid · 168 km by road, 2 h 10 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Punta Sam: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Car ferry from Punta Sam to Isla Mujeres: Monday to Friday 6:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00; Saturday 6:00, 10:30 and 17:00; Sunday 10:00, 13:00 and 17:00. Returns from the island Mon–Fri 8:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 19:30. Subject to change. Ultracarga (2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- Car ferry one way: adult passenger 290 pesos (Quintana Roo residents 80); family car with driver 520 pesos, SUV or pick-up 750; motorbike with rider 225. Ultracarga (2026) · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Punta Sam: what to see and do
Take the car ferry across to Isla Mujeres
Watch the ferries come and go with Isla Mujeres on the horizon
Visit the Maya site of El Meco on the road from Puerto Juárez
Snorkel at MUSA's shallow Punta Sam gallery on a tour
Continue north to the beaches of Costa Mujeres
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Punta Sam
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Punta Sam.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Isla Mujeres often include Punta Sam; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at CUN (Cancún), 26 km from Isla Mujeres as the crow flies; Punta Sam is 7 km beyond the pueblo.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cancún (CUN), 26 km from Isla Mujeres, the base for Punta Sam.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Isla Mujeres: download a map of the way to Punta Sam before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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Photos
When to go to Punta Sam warm
Punta Sam shares the climate of Isla Mujeres, 7 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and July.
See the month-by-month climate of Isla Mujeres
Weather in Punta Sam now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Punta Sam, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Closest to Punta Sam
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El Meco · Archaeological site · 3 km away
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Costa Mujeres · Beach · 5 km away
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Puerto Juárez · Town · 6 km away
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Cancún · City · 8 km away
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Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) · Landmark · 9 km away
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Punta Sur · Viewpoint · 10 km away
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Laguna Nichupté · Lagoon · 15 km away
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Zona Hotelera de Cancún · Town · 15 km away
Near Punta Sam
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.