Cozumel-Mexico | Mesmerising Coral Reefs in a Mayan Marine Eden.

Cozumel is definitely a wonderful place of Mexico, a special destination in which every tourist can enjoy  stunning beaches and an extraordinary natural environment, very famous worldwide for its iconic  mesmerising coral reefs, a magnificent marvel of nature  in a Mayan Marine Eden, a divine place which conquers thousands of visitors who immediately landing on that heaven can appreciate just in a while the astonishing beauty of a stupendous exotic land spending fantastic holidays delighted by an eternal warm sun breathing the unique atmosphere of a Caribbean paradise.

A large fun of fabulous tonalities composed by stunning crystalline turquoise waters lining long and inviting bright sandy stretches, a green lush tropical vegetation and the colours of unforgettable sunsets simply fascinating are all features which enchant all people at first sight and including in the smallest details there is always the sensation to be in a sort of magic planet in which everything born to delight the human eye.

Situated at just 18, 0 kilometres from the east coast of the large and marvellous Yucatan Peninsula, the resort belonging to the State of Quintana Roo in the sunny Riviera Maya off the coastline of the magnificent Playa del Carmen next to its endless natural marvels that fascinating site also boasts a fantastic historic secular patrimony which is certainly another stupendous highlight.

 That dreamland until not long time ago was better known mainly as a favourite spot for scuba divers but many things changed in the last decades elevating itself as a leader of the Mexican tourism industry with very high peaks of incoming flows.

Spending holidays in Cozumel is now shifting its reputation not just for diving lovers but attracting more international tourists with over 300,000 visitors a year, something simply impressive considering other bigger resorts including much more developed in that Eden of Central America and today it is an outstanding destination very appropriate and perfect for families, honeymooners, echo tourists but also for others who desire to live an unforgettable experience in the Caribbean on a stunning Mexican island.

In the past five years Cozumel developed its Air Service both charter and commercial with also an incredible increase in number of cruise ships which constantly visit that stupendous place as a favourite stage bringing 1, 2 million visitors every year and also that statistic date is highly significant or better simply extraordinary in its kind.

In 1996 a deep water pier for cruise boats was established and it has been a few times enlarged due to a continuous demand for its fascinating appeal and thanks to all that it is since then that Cozumel became a famed stop of the Caribbean cruise circuit offering to thousands of travellers the opportunity to admire a special and unforgettable place which in every metre of its territory offers a multitude of natural beauties bewitching a myriad of sea lovers. 

A great new tourism development and a robust range of facilities also combined with a vast network of options related to shopping, water sports and catering activities all together have undoubtedly transformed that stupendous heaven in one of the most attractive and leading destinations of the entire country.

Although Cozumel was the first area developed in the Yucatan Peninsula before the famed and very promoted Cancun which is just 56, 0 kilometres away, you can not compare that enchanting exotic island to that busy and eternally bustling resort in terms of great volume and high indexes of incoming operations.

Its population is around 100,000 inhabitants and its main economic activity is of course the tourism but despite it is the largest inhabited island of that Nation, one of the greatest paradoxes of Mexico is that Cozumel is very peaceful and somehow still undiscovered until over 20 years but at the same time today it competes with many bigger destinations in the Caribbean basin in terms of visitor services, activities and dazzling beauty.

Despite that increasing boom that land never altered its image with a massive constructions of giant structures as happened in the boundaries of the previously mentioned nearest sister Cancun and also for all that it is a favourite dreaming destination for all those who are seeking a quiet exotic haven enjoying something of true and highly genuine which never radically changed its face and image greatly preserving its stunning environment.

Linked to all that is also very interesting to analyse some aspects related to the local territory, that magnificent island is approximately 48, 0 kilometres long and only 16, 0 kilometres wide, not too large and despite it is the most populated island it is not the largest because the biggest is the marvellous Isla Del Tiburon, the stunning Shark Island in the State of Sonora. 

Of volcanic origin from north to south despite its longitude of less than 50, 0 kilometres along its entire coastline all is very special because in that short distance from one point to another it offers a very varied scenery with a unique biodiversity much more than other sites at the same latitude and in similar geographic areas occupying a major surface in square kilometres which have not those natural treasures and all that is another special feature which impresses every tourist at first sight in a while.

In addition to all those wonderful qualities that Mexican pearl is surrounded by one of the most spectacular coral reefs existing in the entire hemisphere considered the second largest in the world.

That striking extraordinary natural oceanic Caribbean chain is undoubtedly the great highlight of that enchanting corner of Central America and in its kind something which represents for someone as an incredible dream, for others simply a marine paradise without equals and including for some people a sort of astonishing mirage.

Thanks to its stunning seabed, that Mayan Eden is in addition a Mecca for diving but also fantastic for snorkeling, all the lovers of those activities are constantly delighted by those incomparable crystalline and clear waters which offer a superb visibility and a rich marine life and what it is great facing that fantastic enchantment is that you can spend hours and hours never tired to continue to admire shining marvels present in every corner at different depth.

An intact and virgin nature and an uncontaminated environment are also relevant attractions, hence the importance given to the great preservation of that place, an aspect which certainly played and plays an important role conquering many people for the total integrity and conservation of nature all around its boundaries.

The interior is composed by a captivating wild jungle lined in its outskirts by a fabulous coastline packed by white sandy beaches bathed by warm waters with dazzling colours ranging from a turquoise tonality to the deepest indigo and certainly also that attraction to move from to a tropical forest to that amazing shoreline lining a dreaming sea with a total change of scenery in just a very short distance is something of extremely inviting and exciting for all people who love the wonders of nature in a nutshell.

Cozumel is in addition more than ideal for all those who are seeking the best of Mexico also in other aspects such as the pleasure to meet friendly and hospitable people, reasonable prices, a great genuine gastronomy, good shopping,  a large number of interesting historic places to visit despite its size and much more the chance to admire unique corners discovering an ancient culture as the Mayan with several centuries of magnificent history full of captivating and suggestive mysteries and realities.

Furthermore worth a special mention to add to all those incentives, a detail pretty relevant is that Mexican diamond attracts a multitude of visitors with the desire to try the exotic charm of vacationing on a Caribbean island enjoying excellent temperatures with a sun eternally shimmering and warm, long virgin sandy beaches special and unique which transmit to someone dreams to fix a permanent residence on one of them without hesitations.

Others also fall in love for the peace and tranquillity of many remote corners finding in them a great oasis of serenity and relaxation ideal to recharge batteries, a topic which is in its kind  another relevant attraction considering the very peaceful atmosphere you can find in many points of that marvellous heaven totally intact and where the silent is protagonist next to a tropical vegetation transmitting in a while you are in another dreaming planet.

That more than complete combination makes Cozumel a unique destination offering for a more than pleasant stay comfortable Hotels and accommodations, several facilities and the opportunity to enjoy many excursions all around its territory. Trekking and horse riding are two great outdoor activities you can practise in that divine place admiring the beauty of the most appealing exotic Mexico which is a mine of infinite natural marvels and historic treasures.

That Mexican wonder historically has a lot to narrate since the times when it was populated more or less for 2000 years by the Maya civilisation and its name originally derives from a word by an ancient Yucatec Mayan linguistic expression as Cuzamlumil or according to other versions such as Kúutsmil and Kosomlumil.  

All that etymologically may be subdivided as follows: Cuzam or the other suffixes Kúut and Kosom composing the first part of the word meaning swallow while the second,  lumil or mil means land or place and there is another further morphological local folk expression in which it is named Ah-Cuzamil-Peten but with the same meaning and the result of all that is land of the swallows.

Several eminent historians and archaeologists believe that the Maya people settled in the early Cozumel in the 1st millennium and across the island today there are stupendous scattered ruins of those first inhabitants located in several places of the local territory some of them hidden, others established in special locations as to represent something and not just a simple and ordinary site to elevate an architectural symbol of a civilisation but something extremely rooted in the the deepest culture of those ancient settlers.

Also that is extremely interesting because the choice to establish in specific points a structure is closely linked to iconic divinities such as sun, moon, sea, forests and determined spaces in which were elevated temples or houses nothing regarding the construction of them was a simple randomness.

The location of those constructions was carefully selected well defined, studied and in many cases including analysing corners in which those sort of venerated idols or gods of nature could always transmit those former polytheist  inhabitants something of important as points of reference in which the sun rays could easily reach the environment and never too dark, because they never loved shades and settings surrounded by gloom considered spaces symbolising pitfalls and inhabited by the evil.

That ancient population mainly lived of fishing and hunting, the former inhabitants venerated a figure called Ixchel, a Goddess who also represented the moon illuminating at night their settlements and with notable powers about fertility, love and one of the oldest temples dedicated to that emblematic divinity was established in Cozumel.

The composition of that ancient Mayan ethnic group living in that Mexican island also has created controversial opinions and suppositions about if they were the first autochtone population living in that Caribbean territory. 

Some opinions declared that the land was previously populated by the Galibi also called Caribes, an ethnic group who also inhabited the northern coasts of Colombia and Venezuela, and including reaching part of the current Brazil.

For some historians that people had a nomadic life migrating to other lands and after a period of settlement they moved to other lands but leaving as sort of pioneer colonist community with some members established in the territories they occupied and from that supposition is derived a remote possibility that the Maya could be their direct descendants.

A further tells that the Maya population is a native civilisation born and bred there and never had an ancestral link with that tribe and forming a unique group with other Mayan groups coming from the area of Péten, a department of Guatemala bordered by Mexico and Belize and all that according to historic documentations was widely confirmed.

Juan de Grijalva was the first non Mexican to visit the island in 1518. He was a Spaniard linked to the Iberian navigation pretty active after the discovery of the American Continent in 1492 led by Christopher Columbus in a period in which after that extraordinary event for many European powers was the time to organise a further vast plan of trips focused to new explorations and additional challenging discoveries.

Unfortunately not all those expeditions were peaceful and concentrated in the research of new routes and lands on which to establish something of great developing new settlements and consolidated centres living in harmony with the locals and a famous Iberian Conqueror, the Conquistador Hernán Cortés landed on the coast of Cozumel with his fleet and he destroyed many temples.

In that time approximately 40,000 inhabitants lived there but that large devastation next to a smallpox epidemic ravaged the entire island in 1570 and according to historic dates there were just 30 survivors.
 

That desolated and almost uninhabited territory became in the course of that era and in the following centuries a very convenient base for Caribbean pirates and buccaneers who found in that exotic Eden thanks to the presence of hidden bays and coves a perfect refuge for their vessels after their numerous incursions and raids.

The independence from Spain dated 1821 and the Caste War of Yucatan which endured from 1847 to 1901 also highlighted the local history. The second event had a notable resonance because it was a big a Maya revolt against the Spanish descendant called Yucatecos an event which brought many refugees fleeing the violence raging in the Mexican mainland and something started since then to change in terms of re-population.

During that period some native Mayan groups resettled Cozumel in an attempt to escape from that war despite several of those landings were often unlucky and many people could not reach the shore of the island with a very sad destiny.

The 20th century and especially after the 2nd World War was a time in which the first signals of flows of tourism linked to diving and snorkeling lovers who found in Cozumel an authentic Mecca generated a notable interest to develop a pioneer start-up in a more than ideal place for all those who admire the marine life and certainly that destination was immediately considered something of simply outstanding for those kinds of activities capturing in a while the attention and interest of those visitors in the post-war era.

All that was furthermore highlighted since 1961 when a documentary by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, that famous French explorer and former naval officer but also scientist, photographer, author and filmmaker visited Cozumel one year before in 1960 showing the entire world the beauty of the famous Palancar, that famed coral reefs off the southwestern coastline of Cozumel.

That marine paradise was a wonderful discovery able to hypnotise all people for its unique beauty, something with no equals, a masterpiece of nature of an outstanding fascination.

Since then that marine  Mayan Eden entered in the list of preferences of many tourists fond about diving and sea life and that Mexican island for all the information and including smallest fascinating details that prominent character from Saint Andre-de-Cubzac provided and it  became a sort of myth and of course a kind of obliged destination to admire something of simply wonderful and totally unknown.

The sensational Palancar Reef is a sort of marine high plateau full of intricate coral formations, the shallow sections are between 6,0 and 12,0 meters and the deepest between 30,0 and 37,0  metres.

 

That wonder often has caused special visual effects to someone as a kind of mesmerising  illusion compared as a dream, something of extraordinary and unique in its kind and others considered it as something of surreal and extremely bewitching without equals in the world.

That site was inserted in the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park established in 1996, a protected area boasting a surface of 120, 0 square kilometres and it is something of simply astonishing also for its marine fauna because you can see there different kinds of species such as Barracuda, Angelfish, Grouper, Parrot fish, Crabs, Lobsters, Splendid toadfish but also Nurse Sharks and Sea Turtles among many others.   

Punta Sur is another fantastic place rich in marine life and beautiful landscapes but it is recommended only for experienced divers and familiar with deep-dives. The depth media is similar to that of the Palancar ranging between 27, 0 and 37, 0 metres and also in that site the views are absolutely hypnotising for those who love to discover and admire stupendous natural underwater marvels as sculpted by the strength of the sea.

What is really impressive in Punta Sur are also the contrasts of tonalities of the coral reef with the colour of those magnificent Caribbean waters with reflections which does not be to seem real but the reality is another, all that is true and alive facing everyone and also for those wonders of Cozumel are something which transmit the most high vibrations and stuning sensations in a while.

Another very interesting place to enjoy is Arrecife La Herradura particularly beautiful with high curved coral formations and where the depths change from 10, 0 to 20,0 metres and in some points reaching 30, 0 meters. 

Also that stupendous place is highly suggested for all divers and furthermore in the last decades it started to be object of different kinds of studies to discover the right age of that spectacular formation with deep and meticulous scientific analyses of fragments and specific researches focused regarding the establishment of determined specific wonderful sections.

A notable further attraction is of course the Parque Nacional Marino, the Marine National Park located on the western side of the coast of the island boasting approximately 25 reefs, in that area some corners have calm waters and others less and for diving there are appropriate places for everyone, beginners, intermediate or very experienced divers.

Consequently to the presence of all those striking underwater mesmerising masterpieces the Government of Mexico established that Institution as main support to protect and preserve the local marine life within the park boundaries and thanks to all that scuba diving is still today one of Cozumel's primary attractions and a relevant source of tourism.

That kind of activity is also classified by a sort of plan of merits or achieved experiences simply because the diver is carried away by the currents. That place has over a hundred local dives but it is important to remember that to use those services is required to be certified attesting skills certifying a true experience.

An important and relevant aspect is also the visibility of those waters and what it is extremely loved and highly appreciated by a multitude of people it is that it is possible to dive all year. 

In addition for all those who are interested there are also chances to obtain certification courses available at every level and obviously also advanced. In that last case it is necessary that the experienced diver presents identification or something official in terms of documentations  and certificates attesting and confirming the previous levels acquired.

The site has won the acceptance of millions of enthusiastic people around the world and according to statistic dates Cozumel was elevated in the top five worlds ranking about diving and snorkeling.

The Caribbean sea around that Mexican island is full of marine life and including highlighted by the presence of old hulls of Spanish galleons lying in the deep sea bed and all that is in its kind another spectacular attraction considering how many centuries ago they sank evoking memories of a suggestive past.

A lot of visitors from all around the world fond of those kinds of those activities come to Cozumel to try and enjoy new challenges and to admire the infinite variety the sea world donates in that heaven with its incomparable colours and textures, flora and fauna, reefs but including many of them can not even image that in an amazing underwater scenery they will see an incredible quantity of great surprises as the rests of those vessels which crossed an ocean and never returned to the motherland centuries ago.

Linked to that there are also many legends, histories and narrations related to naval clashes, battles which saw protagonists legendary Caribbean corsairs, including ships overcharged of gold and treasures sinking just some kilometres offshore from the mainland and other most remote linked to magic and sorcery of  Mayan divinities.

 Cozumel does not offer only Mexico's best diving and beautiful coral gardens and for non-divers that island boasts a very large panorama of many inviting things to do. 

According to some accurate statistics by the local Tourism Board and eminent Mexican Tourism Marketing Institutions only the 30% of the visitors are divers or linked to that specific activity and that percentage is a relevant date which can illustrate you the impressive mine of proposals that destination offers.

That extremely significant detail simply confirms that place has a very varied fan of options with a multitude of alternative chances and it is a destination which is an ample gateway for different niches of tourism attracting visitors with different tastes and focused to other interests.

  

That large remaining 70% is the result of a big segmentation including many other tourists who chose that destination for many other reasons.It is a fantastic place for bird watching and special paradise for ornithologists thanks to the presence a multitude of rare native and migratory species.

 Due to that it is a favourite heaven for a;; people fond about that kind of fauna who can have the chance to discover and learn more including studying attitudes and movements of  approximately 252 kinds types of birds and that is certainly an impressive number.

You can find on that Mexican island different kinds of Herons, American White Ibis, Egret, Pelicans, Kestrel, Cormorants, Falcons, Hawks, a large range of Terns and Doves, Flycatcher, Swallows, Woodpeckers, Yucatan Parrots, Tropical Kingbird and Black Catbird among others.

Trekking and tourism adventure in the jungle are other outdoor activities highly loved, stunning highlights for many visitors who desire to alternate the sun and emerald waters of that Caribbean diamond with a wild life in wonderful exotic forests which boasts hidden secrets of immense fascination and a lush vegetation. Horse riding is a further captivating proposal offering the chance to explore along wild intact paths that fabulous scenery in a virgin environment.

That special territory since a long time ago is in addition a more than captivating and inviting paradise for photographers who can return home with stupendous sets of unforgettable pictures to exhibit in their works with images of an exotic jungle composed by a myriad of vegetation species and also boasting ruins and sculptures of an ancient civilisation all around the boundaries of extraordinary forests.

Spa is another very appreciated niche with complexes and centres which offer the best  with different kinds of therapies and treatments.

Other visitors select that site for water sports such as sailing, wind and kite surfing and others visit that Mexican jewel also for its incomparable history and cultural patrimony.

Linked to the latter many are the attractions with approximately 35 archaeological sites despite just some of them are accessible but simply the view of those in which is not possible to visit, their external layout and image are simply striking considering that the former locals had not the equipments and means of other advanced civilisations to build those masterpieces.

 The charming town of San Miguel with a population of approximately 50,000 official inhabitants is the most populated centre of Cozumel and also that centre for who is highly interested regarding history and a secular culture will find in that municipality a superb place offering many attractions.

It is the major centre of the ancient former Kùutsmil and a very touristic focal point because historically it is the second site in terms of antiquity of Quintana Roo State. The current centre visible nowadays was founded in the 19th century and in the 20th century it became the major tourist hub of the entire island.

That place represents in all its essence the advent of the tourism industry well developed with a great presence of cosy cafes, typical restaurants perfect and ideal sites to taste and enjoy a local rich and divine gastronomy, a wide number of shops and also attractive boutiques. 

All around the main square and extending several blocks along the windy territorial municipality on the seashore a tourist can find a wide variety of things to do.

Many are also in that centre very peaceful corner with stunning view points delighting the tourists who are searching a relaxing place and it is also a special site for photography lovers immortalising the striking coastal formation from different perspectives with an incredible and varied gradation of tonalities of the sea simply mesmerising especially in its southern side.

The core of that town also has its historic attractions and monuments starting from the Iglesia de San Miguel, the Church dedicated to St. Michael which is the largest Christian Catholic building erected in the island and its foundation is approximately dated one century ago.

That Religious site is a structure which reflects the architectural national canons in use in that period with typical white walls, a high facade and a wide nave with natural exterior light illuminating the interior coming from large windows.

That Sacred structure was elevated in a special occasion when some farmers found a buried ivory statue depicting that Saint which is now presents as an icon in the altar. That sculpture was found on 29th September which is today celebrated in Cozumel as the day of San Miguel.

That event is currently celebrated corresponding to the date of that discovery by locals who thought that episode was as a sign of a miracle and according to historic in formation it believed that image was brought by the Spanish navigator and explorer Juan de Grijalva who landed there in the early 16th century losing it for some problems derived by rough sea and overweight in the hold of thr ship.

Very pleasant is enjoying a walk along the Zocalo, a charming and characterful pedestrian hallway reflecting in all its spirit an colours a traditional bustling passage  decorated by various scenic species of trees and a variety of different kinds of flowers. 

Located next to the sea and close to Hotels and shops of all kinds, bars and restaurants, it is a very tourist place and it is also used to celebrate events. In addition it is one of the favourite meeting points of young locals and tourists and it is characterised to be a very lively area all year.

Another important attraction is of certainly El Malecon consisting in wide scenic sidewalks offering the opportunity to enjoy relaxing and pleasant walks admiring the beautiful environment and within its proximity you will be delighted bt the presence of some traditional restaurants offering delicious and genuine local cuisine.

  

The Palacio Municipal, the Town Hall is situated in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, a large square and it consists in a modern white building with a central clock tower. It lies on the southern side of that wide urban space lined by palm trees and just like the Zcalo it is often used for exhibitions, concerts and elevated since a long time ago as another famous meeting point due to its very central location.

Another monument with a significant expression is El Monumento al Mestizaje which is a sort of tribute to the Mexican people. It depicts the image of a Spanish man called Gonzalo Guerrero who assimilated the Mayan world with his native wife and their children.

The human concept  and philosophy of the representation of that work has a very significant message. It was erected to pay homage to the Mestizos but what it is most relevant in that the main meaning is to transmit the fruit of love and not a violation of the losers in a land conquered by people coming from another country trying to change life and different cultural aspects and including having a future life together.

 A peculiar curiosity of Cozumel but very attractive in its kind which delights many visitors is that it boasts the presence of one of the most Beautiful Hard Rock Cafes in the world with several ancient objects, a superb ceiling and murals depicting a wide underwater setting.

The various Mayan ruins and especially the Ruinas de San Gervasio,  St. Gervasius ruins are undoubtedly among the most representative and important historic highlights showing the visitor the ancient constructions of the former settlers, something you can not miss during your stay in Cozumel.

Those ancient rests are today pretty well preserved and worth a special mention that the period of activity was from 100 BC to 1600. The complex is formed by a setting of six public buildings connected by causeways and among them the house of the previously mentioned Goddess Ixchel.

It was a very special site in which thousands of Mayan women gathered to worship that Sacred divinity, creator of medicine and textiles, ensured fertility, childbirth and the entire population considered that figure a more than venerated protector. Many pilgrims devote to the image of that powerful deity according to the culture of that ancient civilisation identified it with the moon.

Historically that planet for that population was always a source of observation, in its full appearance, eclipses, light, tonality and all those different kinds of situations always represented something of relevant, such as hopes, days of happiness, prosperity but also alerts, signals of menace and sad times.

 In addition they constantly checked Itzanmá or Kinich Ahau who represented the God sun but it is also said it was a kind of double divinity also identified as the sky and the protector of the night, a sort of icon with different faces and identities for some including much more important than Ixchel.

It said that the Mayan settlers had a sort of obsession to watch continuously them and due to that including they developed studies of astronomy to analyse different cycles and they were used for many others issues with their lights always protagonists as the arms to defeat the evil.

Of considerable relevance for that civilisation were also the four cardinal points which were the great gates to the sublime universe and including for that people they had a distinctive colour. The East was linked to the red while the West was the Black, the North was represented by the white and the South was the yellow.  

Related to all that the number 4 was considered a sacred and venerated number as something of perfect, as a divine sublimation of those tonalities representing all together one next to the other the Zenith of their faith.

There were other minor divinities but equally venerated and highly regarded including in the animals. One of them was the Jaguar considered the lord of the stars and another was the Frog elevated as sacred messenger of the rains and protector of the floods and much more including in their visions there was often the appearance of a mysterious snake which is closely linked to another iconic Mexican civilisation: the Aztecs. 

 The Mayan culture is very interesting, suggestive, full of deep meanings and there is an endless list of other secrets, narrations, stories and legends extremely fascinating.

In the interiors of the buildings in which you can enter despite some of them are closed you can admire numerous engravings of that ancient people, most of them are scenes of sacrifices to be offered to that previously mentioned Goddess which receiving them was very generous supporting a family and the growth of a child or protecting a familial nucleus by different kinds of diseases.

It is also very interesting to know the history of the island in the Museo de la Isla, the Museum of the Island housed in a building dated 1936.

Currently that exhibition hosts four rooms and it shows the visitor the past and present daily life, including many aspects of the marine life of Cozumel. One of its main highlight is a magnificent representation of a Mayan house which recreates the ancient domestic traditions and cultural use of those emblematic settlers.

I suggest you that visit because it will give you the opportunity to follow all the chronological stages of the entire community starting from the first tribe which settled that land and very interesting are other sections devoted to the lifestyle in all the most important periods until the more recent times which have characterised the history of that marvellous island of Mexico.

It is certainly in its kind a great introduction to illustrate the most remote past ending to the recent realities and you will discover in a chronological step by step all what happened in Cozumel entering in direct contact with something of extremely interesting and for many people unknown.

North of San Miguel you can reach the famous Isla de la Pasion, the Passion Island. It is a very small place, very peaceful and highlighted by beautiful beaches and views simply striking.

That is a land in which the fauna is protagonist and where you can see several birds landing on its shores, some migratory species and some born and bred in the local territory and it is also a site highly attractive for a presence of sea turtles and crocodiles which reach that place to find a safe refuge for their reproduction, it is  accessible by small boats but you can also reach it by land from the opposite beach. 

In addition that place is excellent because it offers many opportunities to enjoy several water sports and beautiful excursions along its virgin coastline simply wonderful for its stunning exotic scenery and it was one of the favourite sites for the Maya to observe the planets.

During a stay in Cozumel do not miss a visit to the Parque Natural de Chankanaab, a fabulous Nature Park enjoying a beautiful tour in which you will find an extraordinary coral reef in a lagoon on the shore of the Caribbean Sea communicated through a tunnel.

That place has calm and clear crystalline waters, ideal for snorkeling and diving in total relaxation and one of the main attractions is definitely the Lake Chakanaab which in Mayan language means little sea. 

The Park shows a great diversity of marine life and it is surrounded by a botanical garden with the chance to see approximately 350 types of tropical plants coming from more than 20 countries and a further attraction is an archaeological site with exact replicas of lapidary art of Central Latin America.

That complex furthermore boasts the presence of some species of animals which are unique in the world as the dwarf raccoon and four types of birds living only in Cozumel. That splendid site is in its kind a complete representation of the natural origin and formation of that exotic land with a rich flora, fauna and a true replica of the original Mayan environment.

If you love dolphins you can enjoy the Dolphinaris Cozumel, a big area of 5950,0 square metres of which over 1300,0 are natural creeks and it offers the visitors the chance to swim with those beautiful and clever marine mammals admiring their performances highlighted by spectacular acrobatic shows.

 In addition once there for a pleasant break and other kinds of activities as a meal, recreation and shopping you can find in that place restaurants to have a delicious lunch, dive shops, social areas, it is certainly a great corner of Cozumel to enjoy relaxation, fun and something of alternative filling with a special day your enjoyable holidays.

Parque Natural Punta Sur is another splendid place which worth a visit. It is a nature reserve which houses a museum and where you can learn several aspects related to the navigation since the time of the first Mayan tribes with an amazing overview of the entire south coast of the island. 

Punta Molas is a further destination which certainly deserves to be visited. It is a great attraction consisting in a mystical site and absolutely great with the opportunity to visit the Tumba Caracol, an archaeological site in which the beauty speaks for itself apart the relevant historic value it boasts.

Tumba means tomb while Caracol translated is snail and that distinctive place consists is a stoned structure the ancient natives used to know when a hurricane was approaching. They entered in that space and when a strong wind whipped the air entering in that environment emitting a sound, that represented an alert and the people in the interior receiving that signal informed the population a storm was coming.

Next to the lighthouse you will enjoy another special point offering magnificent panoramic views and from there you can see the cruise ships and yachts reaching the northern side of the island.

 That area is also very suggested for different activities such as cycling and horse riding which could be another really exciting experience exploring along stupendous trails the wild jungle ending in proximity of superb coastal corners and learning more about the local natural environment in which the first settlers lived and including in that concrete territory you will have the chance to see some caves and ancient sculptures.

Another main attraction of Cozumel is definitely the presence of wonderful beaches which form with that stunning Mayan marine Eden consisting in the iconic coral reefs an extraordinary additional beauty absolutely unforgettable. A good number of them range from the rockiest to sandy highlighted by calm waters to the rough sea across the island.

Perhaps the most popular is the lively Playa San Francisco, St. Francis beach. It is pretty loved because next to its enchanting image in its immediate proximity it offers the chance to reach easily pleasant restaurants and bars but it also has quiet corners for swimming and sunbathing in peace and tranquillity and much more it is easily accessible with a total absence of natural barriers.

Pretty long and wide, one of its great feature is certainly the stunning tonality and quality of its light and soft sands and very suggested to immortalise in a multitude of pictures during a divine sunrise when the first sun lights come delighting that divine stretch with stunning reflections on the waters. 

Playa Maya is more quiet and accessible and it is located a few kilometres from the previous while Sunset Beach is a stupendous sandy stretch near the town centre and very frequented for different kinds of water sports such as swimming, diving but also snorkeling. 

It provides in its immediate proximity a bar and restaurant and it is considered one of the most popular of the island. It is well known to be a favourite destination for romantic couples for enjoying wonderful sunsets. It is often immortalised in covers and post cards as a great Cozumel spot to show in many Tourism Fais and Exhibitions the coastal beauty of Mexico and in addition it is highly appreciated for its excellent maintenance, cleanliness and reflecting the image of a typical exotic Caribbean beach.

Playa de San Juan,  St. John Beach is another one I suggest you and it is located in the north Hotel zone, approximately at 6, 0 kilometres from the major centre, the previously mentioned San Miguel. 

It is an enchanting extension of white sands lined by crystalline waters also chosen for activities as beach football the famous futbol playa as it is called by locals or beach volley and in its vicinity you can enjoy a lot of other kinds of sporting activities such as tennis, horse riding and hiking.

Also many people fond of windsurfing frequent that area, it is one of the best places for that because it has some small inlets favouring that kind of activity especially when the wind generates excellent conditions for that kind of water sport.

In Mexico, Cozumel is very well known for its prestigious Acqua Spa located in downtown. Visitors can enjoy there excellent therapies to rejuvenate and detoxify their skin, relaxation therapies, and having anti stress sessions.

The Spa complex performs different kind of massages including reflexology, aromatherapy and hot stone massages among others. In addition if you are interested there are also several types of facial treatments and in addition hydrotherapy, hydrating wraps, a waxing area and pulsed light.

In that island as well as in the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula there is a great gastronomic diversity, result of the culinary mix left by indigenous and European cultures which also characterises the cuisine of the entire State of Quintana Roo.

The local specialities are mainly linked to the preparation of plates based on delicious fish and seafood and highly appreciated are the divine grouper, snapper and lobster seasoned with various spices as the traditional and famed spicy chilli as relevant ingredient and icon of the local culinary art often present in a multitude of recipes.

Many are the delectable delights and one of them is the Papadzules. The name is of Mayan origin meaning food of love, it is a relatively simple speciality consisting of corn tortillas dipped in a sauce of pips seeds, pumpkin and filled with boiled egg as a traditional Taco and finally dipped in a tomato sauce with habanero chilli and onion.

Also delicious is the famous Chocolomo consisting a tenderloin meat seasoned with garlic, onion, fresh chili, tomatoes and peppers, simply excellent if accompanied by the traditional fragrant Nachos.

Cozumel offers a very vibrant nightlife, Charlie's is a famous choice for dancing until the morning while Joe's is excellent for all people who love live music and particularly frequented by several tourists.The locals generally spend their nights at Scaramuche and Neptuno while Cozumel Hard Rock Café is another important meeting point for both locals and visitors. 

A Pura Vida is another site very popular for all people who love Salsa music and Caribbean rhythms and it offers free dance lessons in the early evenings. The Viva Mexico situated in downtown Cozumel is a very famous club with an amazing view of the Caribbean Sea and a wide variety of cocktails.

Aeropuerto Internacional de Cozumel, the Cozumel International Airport is located pretty close to the town of San Miguel and at just 7, 0 kilometres from the tourist area.

It is a pretty busy airport despite it is not very big but providing flights from and to many U.S.A, Canadian and European airports such as New York, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte and transcontinental such as London, Manchester, Madrid and Glasgow.

Cozumel in all its splendour is a favourite destination for all those who seek quiet and sunny holidays with that great opportunity to admire its mesmerising coral reef, a Mayan marine Eden highly attractive also for a magnificent variety of things more with a wide fan of chances and options for every tourist who will immediately fall in love with that marvellous exotic wonder.

That island of Mexico is a land which simply at first sight will conquer you for all what of extraordinary there is all around its boundaries, its incomparable colours will accompany you during all your pleasant and unforgettable stay kissed by warm sunbeams which will delight you in a magic atmosphere so easy once returned home to remember forever. 

Francesco Mari

Recommended Hotels in Cozumel

Hotel Cozumel Palace

Hotel Royal Club Occidental Cozumel

Hotel Melia Cozumel Golf & Beach Resort

Hotel Intercontinental

Secrets Aura Cozumel Grand Resort

Hotel Casita de Maya

Hotel Villas Las Anclas

Useful links

www.cozumel.net
www.palacecozumel.com
www.intercontinentalcozumel.com
www.auraresorts.com
casitademaya.com
www.hotelvillalasanclas.com
www.cometocozumel.com
 www.gocozumel.com
www.cozumel.travel
 www.cozumelinsider.com
www.visitmexico.com