Cozumel, a divers playground
Cozumel is a sleepy little island off the coast of Mexico. It’s located on the Caribbean side, south of Cancun across from Playa Del Carmen. Even though it’s world renowned for snorkeling and scuba diving this tropical paradise has something for everyone.
Crystal clear waters in 50 shades of turquoise is hard to beat.
First and foremost this idyllic island is know for scuba diving. Many of the resorts operate as dive resorts, ie you can take lessons and get certified right out of the hotel. Start in the pool and end 40’ down. Its reefs belong to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest reef system in the world. They are the perfect place for spotting large corals and turtles.
Think you have to go to the mainland to see Mayan ruins, you would be wrong. San Gervasio is an archaeological site located on Cozumel and is home to Mayan ruins. Its pre-Hispanic name is Tantun Cuzamil, which translates to Flat Rock in the Place of the Swallows. They were known to worship the goddess Ix Chel, a deity for childbirth, fertility, medicine and weaving.
Cozumel isn’t know for its sandy white beaches, because sandy white beaches and snorkeling don’t really go together. So to make up for this there are a handful of beach clubs on the island. You pay a a fee per day, and it’s all you can eat and drink. They have large pools, tons of activities, trampolines in the ocean, anything you could want to spend a day at the beach or to keep you busy. This is pretty popular with cruise ship passengers so plan ahead.
So what are some of my other must do’s while in Cozumel? Check out the list below for what we did and other popular items.
Check out the insanely gorgeous sunsets. Check them out every night, no 2 look the same.
Hire a cab driver to drive you around for the day and show you all the best spots. Honestly I would recommend this for any country you visit!
Tequila factory tour and tasting. Make it a game and see who can last the longest. Be careful with your teenagers because they don’t care down there as long as they look old enough they can drink.
Meet the resident Crocodile and watch the locals bravely feed him raw chicken and not die.
Spend an afternoon or evening in town and make sure you wander off the beaten path for to-die-for Mexican food. Tacos and mangonadas, enough said.
Take the ferry across to Playa Del Carmen. This cute little town has lots of shopping and dining.
Go snorkeling. If scuba diving isn’t your thing, just float on the surface and check out the fish below.
I can’t say enough good things about Cozumel. The weather is gorgeous, the people are very friendly and speak a lot of English. The US dollar is widely accepted. It’s a quick flight from the midwest or east coast and is very safe.