The wonderful island
Cozumel derives from Kùutsmil (meaning: “island of the swallows”); it’s the largest of the Mexican Caribbean islands and the third largest island in Mexico after Isla Tiburón and Isla Ángel de la Guarda. This Caribbean treasure is very famous among either elite and popular tourism, being an important hub for cruisers.
San Miguel represent the main center of Cozumel, with about 77,000 inhabitants. White beaches and incredible colored sea water surround the coastline. Thanks to the particular ecosystem that exists here, there’s a perfect environment for corals. Beside that, the inner part is almost entirely covered by dense vegetation and mangrove forests.
Finally we want to stress that visiting this place with a cruise ship, will require to choose carefully what to see and do. In fact Cozumel is just extremely various and the choice can be hard! 🙂
What to see & what to do
Beaches
El Mirador Beach
30 min by car from the Cruise Port. Playa El Mirador is located on the south east coast of the island, just south of Playa Chen Rio and Punta Morena. The place it's exposed to the prevalent windward side (facing the wind). That's why we recommend to come here during beautiful days, in order to enjoy its full beauty. The beach sandy but once entering in the water, the bottom is rocky.
Palancar Beach
Playa Palancar is located south west of the Island, and it can be reached in 15 minutes by car from the closest cruise port of Puerta Maya; or 5 minutes more from the other terminals. Named for the famous Palancar Garden Reef, this beach it's a good option to get away from the crowd. While access is free, there are instead fees for tables, chairs, loungers.
Paradise Beach of Cozumel
5 to 10 min by car from the cruise port. This beach is packed with services and comforts. It offers sun chairs, water games, restaurants, bars and family services. There is also a big pool just behind the beach that you can choose to relax during those windy days, when the sea maybe is not so smooth. All together with the classic Caribbean white sand and palms which make it one of the favorite spot for tourists.
Playa Chen Rio
30 Min by car from the Cruise Port. The surf that hits this beach is interrupted by a series of large rocks, therefore, there is a fairly sheltered water at a depth of less than two meters. Swimmers and snorkelers will appreciate the sea and there are lifeguards. A small rocky island is located just offshore, which is fun to explore. As with all the beaches on the east coast, Playa Chen Rio is almost never crowded.
Playa de Isla Pasion
30 minutes drive from the cruise port. Located on the north side of the Island, the beach of Isla Pasion measure less than a mile in length and it's a romantic spot for couples. The landscape its very unique with lots of Caribbean palms and white sand beach. More over also turtles can be spotted and many bird species are populating this unique place.
Playa El Cielo
Among all the stunning sandy beaches all over Cozumel, we consider Playa El Cielo to possibly be the best one. First of all is not accessible by car since no street are reaching this area. Only boat tours allow tourists to enjoy this spectacular place; in this way the beach is never overcrowded and the nature is perfectly preserved. Crystal turquoise waters host amazing starfishes and stingrays to admire. Finally it really feels like paradise and it's very family friendly from kids to grandparents.
Playa Mia Gran Beach Park
15 min car form the cruise port. The beach park is located further south of the similar Paradise Beach, with even more activities. It has in fact lots of thing to do for all ages and enjoyable for families. There are 200-foot long waterslides, a floating obstacle course, a kids' pirate-themed water park, a underwater "sunken" Maya village, kayaks and more activities. With additional costs you can experience parasailing and wave runners.
Playa Punta Morena
30 Min by car from the Cruise Port. This beach is located in the middle of the east coast, just north of the other beauty "Playa Chen Rio". Playa Morena is a beautiful stretch of fine white sand. Being on the prevalent easterly wind side, during windy days the sea breaks long wild waves. Eventually you can admire the beautiful sound and sight, rather than swimming. Deck chairs and refreshments are available at the local beach club, where there is also a small swimming pool. Visitors here can discover as the east coast is quieter than the west coast; Punta Morena is never too crowded and it certainly deserves some time.
Park & Landmarks
Celarain Lighthouse in Punta Sur
30 min by car from the Cruise Port. The Celarain lighthouse (Faro de Celarain) is located on the headland of Punta Sur (Punta Celarain) and is part of a nautical museum. Just north-east of it lies the Caracol (Tumba del Caracol), a Mayan building erected during the post-classical period. There is a persistent myth, often repeated in the tourist literature, according to which the building functioned as a weather alert, producing a whistle that would precede the arrival of a hurricane, but it's just a legend
Punta Sur Eco Beach Park
30 Min by car from the Cruise Dock. A fun place to explore the diversity of the coast of Cozumel and experience its flora and fauna, the Punta Sur Eco Park Beach is the largest island ecological park. Located on the southern tip of the island, Punta Sur offers plenty of opportunities to swim and have fun at the beach, as well as the opportunity to practice snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. Part of the Parque Punta Sur, over 240 acres, is home to a variety of beaches, reefs and lagoons, as well as a wooded area with many trails.
Xcaret Park
You will have a 45 min ride by ferry boat from the Cruise Port, since you need to reach Playa del Carmen, which is on the mainland in front of Cozumel. Xcaret Eco-Archaeological Park is a really amazing place full of experiences beyond any expectation. There's a lot to walk, to see and to experience. It offers an aquarium section with fish, turtles, manatees; a zoo section with deer, jaguars, crocodiles, tapirs, a bird aviary, a butterfly pavilion and more! If you like to swim there's a natural salt water pool by the sea, or a beach where to snorkel as well. Moreover a river runs from one end of the park to another; you can swim through its mangroves and caves. Finally additional activities include swimming with dolphins, speedboat and more!
Snorkelling
Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park
Chankanaab Beach Park is a jewel and incredible tribute to nature. It's a perfect combination of beach relaxation (thanks to shaded towering palm), snorkeling, park attractions like crocodiles, dolphins and more. You can also see schools of colorful tropical fish, a colorful reef and underwater statues. Other entertaining options include exploring the archaeological site and discovering how tequila is made. Kids are accepted only above 8 years of age.
Palancar Gardens Reef
15 by car from the cruise port. The south west is the best Cozumel area to practice snorkel. In fact the presence of very high variety of coral systems make this destination one of the most beautiful for find corals in Cozumel. There are also copious and colorful fishes. The reef is covered from current, which is only moderate sometimes. Furthermore the depth of the water is between 30’ and 80’. That's why Palanca Reef a perfect spot for beginner and intermediate levels.
Playa El Cielo
Among all the stunning sandy beaches all over Cozumel, we consider Playa El Cielo to possibly be the best one. First of all is not accessible by car since no street are reaching this area. Only boat tours allow tourists to enjoy this spectacular place; in this way the beach is never overcrowded and the nature is perfectly preserved. Crystal turquoise waters host amazing starfishes and stingrays to admire. Finally it really feels like paradise and it's very family friendly from kids to grandparents.
Animal Encounter
Dolphin Discovery in Chankanaab National Park
5 min by car from the cruise port. You’ll be able to swim and hang out with the lovely dolphins while they give you a hug, kiss, belly ride or foot push! The different activities depend on which program you choose. Anyway there are lots of programs and tours offered by cruise companies or right outside the port. Be aware that taking your own picture is not allowed. There are local photographers and you will need to pay additional fees to bring pictures with you.
Meet sea lions and crocodile in Chankanaab National Park
Be sure to have time in Chankanaab National Park to watch the sea lion performance, as these marine animals love to show off with acrobatic leaps and by zipping through the water at remarkable speeds. There are also exhibits with manatees and crocodiles, allowing you a close-up view of these vastly different creatures.
Stingray Beach
5 min car from the cruise port. With its crystal clear waters and coral reefs, there are humorous encounters with wildlife in Cozumel. One of the best is Stingray Beach, an attraction that offers a little close time with one of the most mysterious sea creatures. The highlights include a guided swim with stingrays, where you will learn many fascinating facts about these passive animals. Finally you can feed and touch them.
Family
Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park
Chankanaab Beach Park is a jewel and incredible tribute to nature. It's a perfect combination of beach relaxation (thanks to shaded towering palm), snorkeling, park attractions like crocodiles, dolphins and more. You can also see schools of colorful tropical fish, a colorful reef and underwater statues. Other entertaining options include exploring the archaeological site and discovering how tequila is made. Kids are accepted only above 8 years of age.
Playa Mia Gran Beach Park
15 min car form the cruise port. The beach park is located further south of the similar Paradise Beach, with even more activities. It has in fact lots of thing to do for all ages and enjoyable for families. There are 200-foot long waterslides, a floating obstacle course, a kids' pirate-themed water park, a underwater "sunken" Maya village, kayaks and more activities. With additional costs you can experience parasailing and wave runners.
Xcaret Park
You will have a 45 min ride by ferry boat from the Cruise Port, since you need to reach Playa del Carmen, which is on the mainland in front of Cozumel. Xcaret Eco-Archaeological Park is a really amazing place full of experiences beyond any expectation. There's a lot to walk, to see and to experience. It offers an aquarium section with fish, turtles, manatees; a zoo section with deer, jaguars, crocodiles, tapirs, a bird aviary, a butterfly pavilion and more! If you like to swim there's a natural salt water pool by the sea, or a beach where to snorkel as well. Moreover a river runs from one end of the park to another; you can swim through its mangroves and caves. Finally additional activities include swimming with dolphins, speedboat and more!
History & Culture
Cozumel Pearl Farm
20 min by car from the Cruise Port. The Cozumel Pearl Farm is a family owned project that began operations in 2001 and is considered the only pearl farm in the Caribbean. At the farms they works with oyster Pinctada radiata also known as Atlantic Pearl Oyster. This oyster was considered almost exctinted in the Caribbean so they are helping with the preservation of this oyster species in the region.
Maya Ruins in Tulum
To reach the area it will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the cruise port. There is a 45 min ferry ride plus 45 minutes run on the bus from Playa del Carmen. Tulum is perhaps the best preserved coastal Mayan Ruins site. It's the second most visited site in Mexico, after Chichen Itza. The ancient city of Tulum is about 800 years old and it was abandoned by the end of the 1500s. In fact it served as a fortress against enemies approaching by sea; that's why there are many walls surrounding the city. It was also also a major trading port for the inland city of Coba. Tulum is perched on a lookout atop a 40' sheer cliff, creating a drastic and awesome view of the Caribbean Sea. It's the kind of view that you'll never forget.
San Gervasio Maya Ruins
San Gervasio archeological site is located north east of San Miguel, about 30 minutes from the cruise port of Puerta Maya, the most distant cruise terminal from this place. It's a small site, compared to Tulum, which is still accessible from cruise ship with a longer trip. But it's still a very famous maya ruin site. In 1560, the Spanish historian, Diego Lopez de Cogolludo, wrote: "The pilgrims arrive at Cozumel for the fulfillment of their vows to offer their sacrifices, to ask help for their needs, and for the mistaken adoration of their false gods." The bishop of Yucatán, Diego de Landa, wrote in 1549 that the Maya "held Cozumel in the same veneration as we have for pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Rome, and so they used to go to visit and offer presents there, as we do to holy places; and if they did not go themselves, they always sent their offerings."
Walking
San Miguel downtown
San Miguel is the capital of Cozumel and a great window on the typical Mexican destination. The city has adapted to the growing tourism, which made it quite busy, full of restaurants, shops and even shopping malls in the center of the city. But everything has preserved the original character of local people. If you dock in Punta Langosta Pier, you will be right in the city as soon you exit the cruise terminal. If you arrive at Puerta Maya or International Piers, than we recommend to ride a taxi for just few minutes and 5 to 10 dollars charge. It's a nice alternative for those not loving beaches and nature, or just looking for an alternative day to find out more about culture, architecture and Mexican lifestyle. Don't forget that restaurants are offering great fresh fish and delicious traditional dishes.
Shopping
Playa del Carmen Downtown
45 minutes by ferry to cross the cannel and reach the mainland. For those shopping addicted, especially crew members with time off, in Playa del Carmen there are plenty of shops from locals one to big chains like Zara, Mango, Swarovski, just to mention some. Souvenirs boutiques alternates with big malls; to enjoy your brake there are also many restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops.
Puerta Maya
This facility is part of the cruise port ad it welcomes ashore guests coming from ships docked at Puerta Maya Cruise Port. It's very well organized, with bars and restaurants in full Mexican style, with regards to Americans preferences. Shops are offering souvenirs, jewelries and goods calling especially the local traditions. Picturesque performance are offered by entertainers dancing and playing, representing the Mexican joy at its best.
Best cruise deals: (Cruises are still suspended till 2021)
Carnival Cruise Line
Departing from: Miami, Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans, San Juan, Galveston, Port Canaveral, Baltimore
Royal Caribbean
Departing from: Galveston, Ft. Lauderdale, New Orleans, Port Canaveral.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Departing from Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, New Orleans, New York.
MSC Crociere
Departing from: Miami, Port Canaveral
Celebrity Cruises
Departing from Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale.
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[🇺🇸] When night falls and the turquoise blue of the sea darkens, the sky of Cozumel 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗽 and all the interesting spots take on a different appeal. ✨
What's your favorite place at night in Cozumel?
[🇲🇽] Cuando se hace de noche y el azul turquesa del mar se apaga, el cielo de Cozumel 𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲 y la ciudad y todos los sitios de interés toman un atractivo diferente. ✨
¿Cuál es tu sitio favorito en #Cozumel de noche?
📸: damianmiranda
#MexicanCaribbean #CaribeMexicano](https://www.cruisando.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
