Cozumel

From LoveToKnow Travel

Cozumel, the largest island in Mexico, is located about 12 miles from the Yucatan coast, just south of the resort city of Cancun. The low, flat island is home is 40 miles long and 10 miles wide and home to approximately 90,000. It is a popular resort destination, best known for its excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.

On the Beach in Cozumel

History

Cozumel was part of the Mayan Empire from the 1st century AD to the Spanish invasion and many artifacts and remnants of buildings still exist on the island from this period. Cozumel was sacred to the Mayan goddess of love and fertility, Ix Chel, and many temples to her dot the island. The over 40,000 Mayans were killed by disease and forced labor about the Spanish arrived on the island in the 16th century.

Attractions

The primary attractions on Cozumel center around the island's clear azure water, large coral reefs, and plentiful beaches. In addition to water activities, the island offers excellent shopping, ranging from quality silver jewelry to carved wooden furniture to colorful Mexican craft items.

Most of the shopping is located in downtown San Miguel, the island's principal town and the shopping district can be easily navigated on foot. Visitors staying on the island are wise to avoid shopping on days when large cruise ships are in port. Good buys include:

  • Silver jewelry
  • Mexican woven goods
  • Mexican Tequila and Kahlua.


Day trips to the Yucatan Peninsula are popular and include trips to the coastal Mayan ruin at Tulum and the former Mayan city of Chichen Itza, located in the heart of the Yucatan jungle. Boat trips to Cancun depart several times a day, for a half hour journey to that resort mecca.

Snorkeling and Diving

The coral reef network surrounding Cozumel, the second largest in the world (after Australia's Great Barrier Reef), gained world recognition in 1959 when French oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau, discovered the island.

Cozumel Reefs National Park, a 30,000 acre protected reserve at the southern end of the island, contains approximately 85 percent of the island's dive sites. Other popular activities along the western coast include wind-surfing, swimming, fishing, and parasailing. The most visited beaches include Playa San Francisco, Chankanaab Lagoon, and Playa San Juan.

Visiting Cozumel

Cozumel is accessible by boat from Cancun or Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan coast or by small airplane from Cancun. Cancun is reachable from all over the world, with non-stop flights from Houston, Chicago, New York City, Miami, and other major cities.

Accommodations range from luxury beachfront resorts to quiet posadas. Most of the island's hotels are located on the western shore. Cozumel is considered a "good value for money" and accommodations here tend to be somewhat less expensive than in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, on the mainland.

Taxis and public transportation are plentiful near the airport and in San Miguel, but a rental car is desirable for visiting the Mayan ruins and for exploring the island.


 


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