Costa Mujeres is Cancun’s newest resort coast: a strip of beach north of the city and just past Playa Mujeres, running toward Isla Blanca. It has grown quickly since the late 2010s into a second hotel zone made up almost entirely of large all-inclusive resorts, with mangroves and lagoons behind them and Isla Mujeres across the bay. Expect a quiet, resort-based stay about 40–50 minutes from Cancun Airport.
At a glance
- From Cancun Airport: 40–50 minutes by road; private transfer from 74 USD one way per vehicle.
- Best for: all-inclusive vacations, families and couples, kitesurfers.
- Where: mainland coast north of Cancun, beyond Playa Mujeres, on the way to Isla Blanca.
- Getting around: taxis, private transport or a rental car; very little within walking distance outside the resorts.
Costa Mujeres vs Playa Mujeres
The two areas sit side by side on the same coast and are often confused. Playa Mujeres is the gated golf community closest to Cancun, with an 18-hole Greg Norman course and resorts such as Excellence, Secrets and Dreams. Costa Mujeres begins just north of it and is younger: most of its resorts opened from 2018 onward, they tend to be bigger, and the area is still being built up, with new hotels and road works along the corridor toward Isla Blanca. Both share the same calm bay facing Isla Mujeres. Costa Mujeres adds roughly 5–10 minutes to the airport drive.
How to get to Costa Mujeres from Cancun Airport
There is no airport in Costa Mujeres – you fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN). The drive north takes 40–50 minutes. A private transfer costs from 74 USD one way or 135 USD round trip per vehicle for up to 8 people, straight to your resort’s lobby. For route details see Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres, which covers the same road.
Book your transfer to Costa Mujeres
Costa Mujeres resorts
These are the main resorts covered on our site; all are all-inclusive:
- Riu Palace Costa Mujeres and Riu Dunamar – two neighboring Riu resorts that were among the first to open here.
- Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres – a family-friendly resort, sharing its complex with the adults-only TRS Coral Hotel.
- Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres All Suites & Spa – an all-suites resort popular with families, with kids’ and teens’ clubs.
- Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres – a large resort with a separate family section, near the Punta Sam ferry terminal.
Browse the full list on our Costa Mujeres hotels page. Several adults-only and family resorts next door are covered in the Playa Mujeres guide.
Things to do in and around Costa Mujeres
- Beach time: the resorts face the Bahía de Mujeres, usually calmer than the open sea along the Hotel Zone. Seaweed (sargassum) can arrive in some months, as anywhere in the region.
- Isla Blanca and kitesurfing: north of the resorts, the Isla Blanca peninsula has a long, undeveloped beach on one side and the shallow Chacmuchuch lagoon on the other. The lagoon is a well-known kitesurfing spot, busiest in the windy months from about February to June, with schools offering lessons for beginners.
- Golf: the 18-hole Playa Mujeres Golf Club, designed by Greg Norman, is a short drive south.
- Isla Mujeres: take a taxi to Puerto Juárez, where passenger ferries cross in about 15–20 minutes, or use the car ferry from Punta Sam. See the Isla Mujeres ferry guide.
- Isla Contoy and whale sharks: Isla Contoy is a protected bird sanctuary visited only on authorized tours, with a cap of about 200 visitors a day – see the Contoy Island tour. Whale shark season runs from mid-May to mid-September (May 15 to September 17 in 2026).
- El Meco: a small Maya site on the Puerto Juárez–Punta Sam road, reopened in 2024 after restoration and visited mostly by guests from Costa Mujeres hotels. Check hours and fees with INAH before you go.
- Day trips: cenotes, Chichen Itza, Tulum and other trips are listed on our Cancun tours page.
Where to eat
Costa Mujeres has few independent restaurants yet, so most meals are at your resort. For a change, head to downtown Cancun for tacos and local spots (downtown Cancun restaurants), to the seafood places around Puerto Juárez, or across to Isla Mujeres. The Hotel Zone has the widest choice of restaurants and nightlife: Cancun restaurants · Cancun bars.
Getting around
A single coastal road links the resorts with Cancun. Plan on about 20–30 minutes to downtown Cancun and Puerto Juárez, and longer to the Hotel Zone, depending on traffic, where your resort sits and which part of the Hotel Zone you are heading to.
- Taxis: available at resort entrances and from the city. Ask your front desk about typical fares and agree on the price before the ride.
- Private transport: the easiest way to do dinners in town, the ferry or day trips, with pickup at your hotel.
- Rental car: practical for Isla Blanca, Cancun and day trips. Parts of the road can be in poor condition, so drive with care, especially after rain.
- On foot: fine along the beach, but there are no shops or restaurants to walk to between most resorts.
FAQ
How far is Costa Mujeres from Cancun Airport?
The drive takes 40–50 minutes. A private transfer costs from 74 USD one way or 135 USD round trip per vehicle for up to 8 people.
Is there an airport in Costa Mujeres?
No. The nearest airport is Cancun International Airport (CUN); from there you continue by road.
Is Costa Mujeres the same as Playa Mujeres?
No, but they are neighbors. Playa Mujeres is the gated golf community closer to Cancun; Costa Mujeres is the newer resort coast just north of it.
How far is Costa Mujeres from downtown Cancun?
About 20–30 minutes by car, depending on traffic and your resort. The Hotel Zone takes longer.
Can I visit Isla Mujeres from Costa Mujeres?
Yes. Take a taxi or private transport to Puerto Juárez, where passenger ferries cross in about 15–20 minutes, or use the car ferry from Punta Sam.