Cozumel island is surrounded by endless attractions. Your Cozumel vacations will be certainly unforgettable, the village of San Miguel features a coastal avenue full of restaurants, shops and cafes served by polite and friendly people. You can find as well a unique Island Museum and the second largest reef in the world for scubadiving or snorkel.

Cozumel Description

Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, is approximately 10 miles wide and 30 miles long. Cozumel's only town, San Miguel, stands on the western side of the island, which is home to most of the island's hotels. Cozumel visitors can choose to stay cuddle in full-service hotels, all-inclusive resorts, rustic oceanfront villas, and beachside bungalows.

A haven for nature lovers, snorkelers, scuba divers, and romantics, Cozumel was considered by ancient Mayans to be the home of Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility. Cozumel is also seductive to Mexico travelers on a budget. Your Cozumel vacations will include a combination of the best of Mexico (friendly people, affordable prices, great dining/shopping, interesting cultural sightseeing) with the allure of vacationing on a Caribbean island.

Cozumel's Beaches and Beyond

Cozumel's warm, clear, turquoise waters hold the world's second-largest reef network, filled with limestone caves, tunnels, and rare black coral. Its vivid sea life attract scuba divers from around the world. Cozumel Reefs National Park, a protected 30,000-acre national area at the southern section of Cozumel, encompasses 85 percent of the island's dive sites.

Snorkeling is the second most popular sport on the island. For novice snorkelers, there is no need to swim far distances or take a boat trip to take advantage of the reefs. Great snorkeling opportunities await even at hotel beaches.

Other watersports visitors can engage in include swimming, fishing, windsurfing, and parasailing. The west coast of Cozumel boasts long stretches of golden-sand beaches beside calm waters. Popular spots include Playa San Francisco, Chankanaab Lagoon, and Playa San Juan. For landlubbers, there's horseback riding, tennis and hiking.

Downtown Cozumel

San Miguel de Cozumel, the capital of the island, is a peaceful old village, with all the charm of the Mexican Caribbean. The quality of its gastronomy, based on its excellent seafood, is legendary throughout the region. Its provincial air does not make it any less comfortable or modern. Its days are sunny and full of unforgettable experiences, while its nights are ideal for those who enjoy discotheques and bars. A wide range of accommodation is available, from deluxe hotels, to small, inexpensive hostels.

A duty-free zone, Cozumel is well-stocked with jewelry fabricated in sterling silver and gold with precious and semi-precious stones. Village shops and hotel boutiques carry clothing, perfume, Mexican crafts, and souvenirs. And you'll probably want to import some authentic Mexican tequila as a memento of your visit.

One of the main Cozumel attractions is certainly diving, since this island features the second largest coral reef in the world. Cozumel sightseeing offers beautiful sceneries and various activities visitors can delight in, such as water-sports, boat tours, sunset cruises, an ecological park, duty-free shopping and a few archaeological sites as well. Semi-submersible subs and real submarines are available to take you to see the undersea wonders, unique to Cozumel; or venture on horseback through the jungle. Here we let you know some of the main Cozumel attractions that you can enjoy on your next visit to this gorgeous island.

Horseback Riding

This is the perfect way to enjoy Cozumel sightseeing. Ride on horseback through trails that will take you deep into the dense tropical jungles where the Mayans once lived. Explore the ceremonial caves and sculptures. Trip includes round-trip transportation to the ranch, horse, soft drinks, beers and bilingual guide. The ride takes approximately 3 1/2 hours long.

Punta Molas

Where tourists can watch the arrival of cruise-ships and yachts from the lighthouse and visit the Snail Tomb, a little archaeological jewel which beauty speaks for itself.

San Gervasio Ruins

One of the most popular island excursions is to San Gervasio. A road leads there from the airport, or you can continue on the eastern part of the island following the paved transversal road. This site was once an important ceremonial center where the Maya gathered, coming even from the mainland. The important deity here was Ixchel, known as the goddess of weaving, women, childbirth, pilgrims, the moon and medicine.

Reefs and Scuba Diving

Cozumel is a paradise for divers and sun lovers. San Miguel's dive-shops outnumber the reefs, but those with less experience can also enjoy themselves at following points: Chankanaab Lagoon, where botanic gardens, a small museum, restaurants and a man-made beach line a bay which offers prime snorkeling.

Divers from around the world come to Cozumel to experience the infinite variety of underwater life. Every texture and color you could ever imagine. A certification ID will be required in order to take the advanced dive tours, such as the Palancar Reefs, Paradise, Santa Rosa, Colombia and Tormentos. At these reefs the average visibility ranges from 35 to 50 m.

Silver bate fish, eels, angelfish, grouper, techni-color parrot-fish, sergeant majors and four-eyed butterfly fish are among the residents you may find. . Experienced divers should head for the reefs bordering the southern point of the island (Colombia and Maracaibo), requiring and hour boat-trip from San Miguel. These offer spectacular natural environments. The famous wall of Maracaibo is formed by coral-covered tunnels which descend to depths of 40m, while in the 20m shallows there is a dazzling wealth of reef and marine life.

Beaches

Playa Maya is a quiet, sandy beach backed by jungle. This is beaten in the popularity stakes by the seemingly endless Playa San Francisco, where Palapa restaurants, bars and pleasures-seeking sun-lovers set the tone. You can reach Playa Escondida via a rough turn-off from the main road about 19km south of San Miguel. At the southern tip are a lighthouse, a Mayan temple named El Caracol and a restaurant. Cozumel's east coast beaches include Punta Chiqueros, a beautiful and calm beach; the small cove of Chen Rio, and Punta Morena, a rocky beach with beach-cabins to rent and a restaurant.