In the Mexican Caribbean, there is one of the most beautiful islands in Mexico: Cozumel. Its natural richness combines perfectly with the Mayan culture legacy, as well as its modern infrastructure to welcome tourism, such as its international airport, its hotel zone, and its pier, suitable for receiving large cruise ships.
Also known as “Isla de las Golondrinas” (Swallow’s Island), Cozumel, Quintana Roo, is the perfect place to watch the extensive marine flora and fauna, since it is located by the second largest barrier reef in the world.
Surrounded by the turquoise waters from Caribbean Sea, more than half of the territory of this destination is a Natural Protected Area, which helps on the preservation and practice of responsible tourism for the delight of visitors who arrive, either by ships or planes.
Although a common option is to take a ferry from Playa del Carmen to visit Cozumel, this island has a wide range of activities, so it is worth staying for a few days to make the most of it.
Activities you cannot miss in Cozumel
1. Visit the pier and San Miguel de Cozumel downtown
Being one of the main entry points to this island, we recommend that you visit its pier and San Miguel de Cozumel downtown, where the municipal center is located. It has a wide variety of historical and cultural sites, as well as restaurants, handcrafts, and souvenir shops, among other stores. Additionally, you can admire the modern murals that provide the visit with a picturesque and pleasant touch, ideal for taking beautiful pictures.
2. Practice diving and snorkeling
Due to its privileged geographical location, the best way to enjoy the natural wonders of Cozumel is diving. Whether for experts or beginners, there are service providers who help visitors to learn this activity in different areas of the island. If you prefer, you can also snorkel and see the natural wonders hidden deep in this area of the Caribbean Sea.
3. Travel to Punta Sur
As its name indicates, Punta Sur is located at the ‘lower’ end of Cozumel, a large natural area with lush vegetation, mangroves, and reefs, as well as an impressive lighthouse and the Navigation Museum, where the passage of Mayan history and navigators of this area of the Mexican Caribbean, and even vestiges of this impressive culture are sheltered.
4. Visit San Gervasio Archaeological Site
For Mayans, Ixchel is the goddess of fertility, childbirth, medicine, and arts, and this archaeological site in Cozumel is dedicated to this deity. Although this area preserves the main vestiges of veneration, there are different manifestations throughout Cozumel attesting the worship rendered to her. It is even known that previously, all women had to visit the island at some time.
5. Appreciate the arrival of the Sacred Mayan Journey
Since we are talking about Ixchel, it is also important to talk about one of the most significant events in Cozumel, the Sacred Mayan Journey, which is currently a recreation of the route made by canoeists who depart from the mainland in Playa del Carmen, to pay tribute to this goddess, with the purpose of asking for the fertility of Earth and thanking for what has been received.
6. Enjoy Chankanaab National Park
History, nature, and fun are concentrated in a single place, the Chankanaab Park, already declared a national park, where, apart from snorkeling, diving and even swimming with dolphins, you can simply relax in its beach club or visit its museum, what makes of it one of the best places for all kinds of travelers.
7. Rest at El Cedral
If Cozumel is the perfect destination for those seeking serenity and relaxation, El Cedral is the perfect corner of the island. This small town has a particular charm and is witness to the passage of history from the rise of the Mayan Culture to the present day. It is also home to the second most important festivity in the destination: La Fiesta del Cedral, the day of the Holy Cross.
8. Perform water activities
If diving and snorkeling are some of the most recurring activities in Cozumel, there is a wider range of activities to enjoy its beaches. Along the coast, you will find options to practice paddleboarding, jet skiing, kayaking, always with the support of experts in the field who will provide you with all the confidence.
9. Visit Isla Pasión
Heading north from Cozumel, there is a small site called Isla Pasión, with an extension of only one kilometer, here we find mangroves, reefs, and jungle. Here you can tour and enjoy its quiet and relaxing beach or perform activities with a little more of adrenaline. Additionally, due to its characteristics, it has also become a beautiful weddings destination.
10. El Cielo
South of Cozumel, at the bottom of the sea, with the white sand that characterizes the Caribbean Sea, we find the authentic “marine sky”. It was named like that due to the hundreds of starfish resting in a wide extension of the sea floor, so it could not receive any other name than El Cielo, but within the sea. Enjoy this attraction diving or snorkeling, it is one of the tours that tourists cannot miss when traveling to Cozumel.
