Destination overview

Just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, adjacent to Playa del Carmen, is where you will find the Caribbean island of Cozumel, Mexico. With its Mexican heart and Caribbean soul, Cozumel appeals to all sorts of travellers, from cruise ship passengers to extreme diving fanatics to history and nature buffs and to those simply seeking relaxation. Native Mayans first established Cozumel as a ceremonial centre and commercial port for trade. Today it still continues to be an important haven for ships, welcoming passengers to one of Mexico’s most popular ports-of-call.

San Miguel, Cozumel’s only town, offers an extensive selection of restaurants, cafés, boutiques and colourful shops selling unique souvenirs and traditional Mayan handcrafts. And while there, you must take a leisurely seaside stroll along the charming malecón (boardwalk) that is filled with sculptures and monuments. Despite being the main tourist destination of Cozumel, San Miguel still retains a sense of laid-back tranquillity.

Several ecological parks, such as Chankanaab and Faro Celerain, offer the most popular snorkel and dive sites for all levels. More activities for adventuresome sightseers include jungle trails, lush botanical gardens, enchanting lagoons, delightful dolphin encounter programs and sea turtle sanctuaries.

You must make sure that your holiday to Cozumel includes a visit to Faro Celerain Ecological Reserve, the largest on the island. Located at Punta Sur, Faro Celerain harmoniously accommodates the vibrant past within its lush environment. Exotic birds, crocodiles, iguanas and tropical fish are just a few of the creatures you’ll encounter over the thousands of acres dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the five eco-systems in the park.

A visit to the lighthouse, which lies eight kilometres from the entrance to the park, will mean you will need to rent a car or scooter. From the top of the old lighthouse you’ll enjoy magnificent views and a museum dedicated to maritime navigation. Learn about the seamen who used to inhabit the region, including pirates and modern day sailors. The historic lighthouse paints a picture of life in Cozumel in the early 20th century through photos and other artefacts.

The park also boasts Mayan archaeological ruins, such as El Caracol, dating as far back as the seventh century. Guided catamaran rides venture out into the Columbia mangrove lagoon to expose beautiful beaches that double as sea turtle sanctuaries from May through to September.

Cozumel is also renowned for its incredible snorkelling and diving due to the sea’s remarkable clarity. Whether you are a pro-diver or a first-time snorkeller, the island is sprinkled with accessible sites for underwater exploration over one of the world’s largest reef systems that positively teems with tropical fish and marine life. After Jacques Cousteau declared Cozumel to be one of the most spectacular diving sites in the world in 1961, people from every corner of the planet have been regularly coming here to discover this underwater Caribbean biosphere.

If it’s diving and snorkelling that take your fancy, you may just get to see the huge gropers and bass at Arrecife Paraiso, the Hawksbill turtles, colourful toad fish and eagle rays at Yucab Reef and Santa Rosa Wall, and the incredible coral gardens populated by swarms of tropical fish at the shallow Yucab and Palancar reefs. You’ll find barracuda, nurse sharks, dolphins and yellow snapper at any of the 100 dive sites within five kilometres.

For those of you not into diving, take a wildlife-viewing tour aboard a catamaran through the Faro Celerain Ecological Reserve’s lagoon. You’ll see graceful flamingos, egrets and maybe even a crocodile or two. Swim with the dolphins, spot turtles in the lagoon or laze on a hammock on the beautiful beach at Chankanaab National Marine Park, or hop into a submarine and experience the deeper coral and sea life through the portholes.

When you come up for air, laze on the magnificent soft calcium white beaches including Playa Palancar, Azul and Santa Pilar. There are bars and water sports at Paradise, crashing waves at El Mirador and azure waters at Chen Rio. There is more great snorkelling at Playa San Francisco and pristine Playa Bonita or Punta Morena on the wild west coast. Although it’s not all wild – you often find lovely little coves in the sheltering arms of tumbled rocks. And there’s nothing like a cold Cerveza and fried fish at beachside cafés.

Why not salsa in the plaza with the locals on a Saturday night, indulge in Huevos Motuleños or sip margaritas while watching the sun set over the ocean. It is sheer bliss in Cozumel.

The west coast is so pristine that you might think you were alone on a deserted island. The lighthouse on the southern tip is picture perfect and Chichén Itzá, the best restored Yucatán Maya site, is impressive, especially the Pyramid of Kukulcán at the western entrance.

San Gervasio is an absolute treasure house. Apart from the numerous iguanas, the bushes hide underground waterways, iridescent butterflies, hidden wells, colourful flowers and small temples dedicated to the Mayan goddess Ixchel who rules over fertility and the moon. Look out for the one marked with manitas – small handprints.

Another thing about Cozumel is that the locals never pressure you to buy trinkets. Go to Avenida Rafael Melgar in San Miguel and have a quiet browse. You’ll find some lovely exotic jewellery among the souvenirs.

If you want to escape the tourist areas you won’t have a problem, because on this small island (48 kilometres x 16 kilometres), only about six per cent is actually developed, leaving a jungle-like interior and deserted beaches for rest and relaxation. And, although it’s only 35 minutes from the Riviera Maya mainland, Cozumel provides blissful isolation if that’s what you’re looking for.

This is the type of holiday that will remind you why you have a job – it will spur you on to keep working so you can come and visit again.