Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Passenger traffic on Cozumel’s federal ferry route declined in eight of the first nine months of 2026, even as vessel operations increased, according to statistics from the Quintana Roo Port Administration (Apiqroo).
Between January and September, the route recorded 2,818,136 passengers and 24,527 maritime movements — 12,192 arrivals and 12,335 departures. The rise in crossings did not translate into more people carried.
January was the only month to post growth, with passenger numbers up 2.20 percent compared with the same month in 2025. From February through September, the trend was negative.
September Posts the Lowest Volume
July drew the most travelers, with 353,715 passengers, followed by August at 352,114 and January at 341,200. September recorded just 238,008 users, the lowest figure of the period, even though maritime operations rose 24.38 percent against the same month a year earlier.
June saw the steepest year-on-year drop, moving 267,203 passengers for a decline of 9.97 percent.
The figures point to a widening gap between the growth in vessel movements and the number of people using the crossing, a key link between the island and the mainland that serves both residents and tourists.
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