Cozumel Vacation Guide

Introduction

With a Mexican heart and a Caribbean soul, Cozumel is a paradise where tradition, flavor and joy come together.

Famous all over the world for its coral reefs, there are plenty of water sports such as diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and more. Cozumel's mostly undeveloped territory at the center of the island is covered by jungle and swampy lagoons, which are home to tiny mammals and endemic birds that have never left the island.

Isla Cozumel, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, measures 53km (33mi) by 14km (9mi) and sits 71km (44mi) south of Cancun. It's 19km (12mi) off of the Yucatan Peninsula's east coast. The island's only town, San Miguel de Cozumel, is easily traversed by foot.

Population: 67,000
Country: Mexico
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -6

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Attractions and sightseeing in Cozumel

There's always something happening at Cozumel's international airport, which sees many direct flights from other parts of Mexico and the USA. Flights from Europe and other continents are usually less direct, routed through Mexico City or the USA. Another option is to arrive via the seas. Passenger ferries run from Playa del Carmen, and car ferries run from Puerto Morelos.

Aside from the minibus from the airport into town, there is no bus service on the island. Taxis are available, however. For a look-see at the sights, you could probably haggle with a taxi driver to give you a tour of the island, drop you at a beach, and come back and pick you up, and still pay out less than you might for a rental car. But for more freedom, a rental car is definitely the go. Moped rental prices are often negotiable - be sure to ask for a helmet, or risk a fine. Bicycles are the most inexpensive way to get about.

Arrecife Palancar : The reefs are where it's at for prime scuba diving off this island. One of the best is the kilometres-long Arrecife Palancar (Palancar Reef), where stunning coral formations and a 'horseshoe' of coral heads offer some of the world's finest down-under - all at an amazing 70m (230ft) visibility.

El Cedral : This Mayan ruin, which functioned as a jail in the 19th century, is the oldest on the island, dating way, way back to AD800. It's not a very obviously alluring attraction, but is the most accessible of Cozumel's ruins

Parque Chankanaab : Swarms of snorkels bob along the waters here, despite there only being a few brightly coloured fish and some deliberately sunken artificial objects to see. However, its beach is a stunner and a delightful sight is just metres inland: a limestone lagoon that is home to a host of iguanas and turtles.

San Miguel de Cozumel : Isla Cozumel's only town is San Miguel de Cozumel, where you'll find many restaurants, bars, hotels, tour agencies, banks and other amenities. It is well-equipped to deal with the global influx - you can chow down on food ranging from vegetarian to Mediterranean to local mesquite-grilled chicken.

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