Cozumel is a wonderful island with luxuriant vegetation and beautiful beaches. The island is a fantastic paradise for diving lovers because of the true blue waters. The Cozumel reefs were declared « National Marine Park », which means an increased protection of the site and fauna.
Location
You reach the island with boat-shuttles or ferries from Puerto Morelos (27miles from Cancun) and from Playa del Carmen (47 miles from Cancun). The trip lasts 35 min. There are many round trips during the day. Check on the premises for the prices and the schedules.
Cozumel is 47 km (29miles) long and 17 km (10miles) wild and located at 20km (12 miles) from the coast of Quintana Roo. It is mainly busy with American tourists and seniros coming directly by plane from Miami, Houston, New-York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Cozumel, mythical city of the Mayan Empire Maya was forgotten for centuries. During the fifties, Commandant Cousteau dived off this Mexican island and discovered an extraordinary site. Cozumel then started a new life.
Nowadays, the three thirds of its 80,000 inhabitants live in the only village of the island, San Miguel.
Cozumel is also famous for Mardi Gras carnival.
Visit of the island
In San Miguel, see the Museum of the Island of Cozumel, two blocks from the main plaza « zocalo », in an old two-story hotel. The museum recounts the history of the island and introduces the fauna, flora and coral reefs of the island.
A 7km (4miles) from San Miguel, take the road towards the seaport of Caleta to go to Paraiso Reef. It is close to the coast, shallow and very colorful (it is 1km – 0.6mile – long). Look at Chankanaab National Park with replica of Indian sculptures (Mayas, Zapotecs, Aztecs, etc.) and a botanic garden. It houses the reef with the same name, shallow and colorful, very pleasant for beginner divers.
From the smaller and more intimate Playa Corona, you can take a small boat to the reef of Tormentos.
4 km (2.5miles) to the south there is Playa San Francisco with many restaurants. A paved road leads to the oldest Mayan ruins of the island: El Cedral.
Playa Sol, 500 m (0.3 feet) south of playa San Francisco, offers sports activities (volley, table tennis) and relaxing activities (massage, swimming pool, chaise lounges).
The following beach, Playa Mister Sanchos, whose tables and chaises lounges are set around an « exotic » bar, is one of the most pleasant for swimming. A few hundred meters further south, Playa Nachicocom, with a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi lined with coconut trees, is said to be the most chic in the island.
The reefs facing these two beaches, Santa Rosa reef and Paso del Cedral reef are also famous for the possibilities of diving among thousands of fish with colors and shapes as wonderful as unexpected. Palancar beach, houses the beautiful Palancar reef. The site is famous for its exceptional seabed. You can also go south and see another beautiful reef, Colombia reef. There are sea turtles and eagle rays.
Go along the southern point of the island, you will be surprised with the change of vegetation and the atmosphere. You can enter the Punta Sur ecological reserve which offers a ride along the coast between the Caribbean Sea and the lagoons (kayak or catamaran). There are a lot of birds and crocodiles. Go snorkeling to admire beautiful fish.
The road follows the east wild, limestone and windy coast for 13 km (8miles) to Playa Chen Rio, a large white sand band, sheltered from the wind and sprinkled with palm trees and palm umbrellas.
A little further north, Punta Morena, with rough waters, is ideal for surfing. By the Mezcalitos, take the road crossing the island from east to west. The right junction leads to San Gervasio ruins. This is a nice Mayan site. Playa Azul, the blue beach, located 5km (3miles) north of san Miguel.