Cozumel Overview

A million visitors a year flock to beautiful Isla Cozumel, the jewel of the Yucatan, for its relaxing beaches, rich culture and superb diving. No wonder the Mayans, who took up residence here almost 2000 years ago, considered this sacred ground.

Orientation/Geography

Cozumel is a resort island located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in southeast Mexico near Cancún and within the Mayan Riviera.

Districts

Mexico's largest island, Cozumel, is a heady mix of cosmopolitan restaurants, hotels and shops set amidst astounding natural beauty. It has become famous for its superb scuba diving, and also as a cruise ship destination where stylish amenities are offered in a simple island atmosphere.

There are three different areas to explore on Cozumel: town (San Miguel), beach and jungle. Town walks center on the plaza and local neighborhoods away from the water. Beach walks take you to either the West or East coast while jungle treks are usually done with an experienced guide.

Cozumel's only town, San Miguel, has a laid back elegance combining the charming remnants of colonial Mexico with the conveniences of modern life. Its heart and soul is the center plaza, known officially as Parque Benito Juarez, but often referred to as the zocalo, or simply as Plaza Central. Shops, restaurants and hotels surround the plaza, and since the whole area is blocked off to traffic, it can become quite crowded. Still, the area is a pleasant place for a paseo (walk), particularly on Sunday evenings when the locals gather to enjoy the free open-air concerts and dances. The main stretch, Avenida Rafael Melgar, is lined with high-end jewelry boutiques, souvenir shops, department stores and restaurants.

Entertainment

As one of the world's premier vacation destinations, Cozumel offers visitors a variety of things to see and do. In addition to a vibrant nightlife, visitors can entertain themselves by shopping, dining, playing mini-golf, visiting ruins, sunbathing, surfing, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding and, of course, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Dining and Drinking

Many of the restaurants on Cozumel serve Mexican fare that focuses on seafood. However, visitors can also enjoy French, Italian, Cajun and Yucatecán cuisine. Fast food chains, including KFC, Subway, Burger King and Baskin-Robbins, are in abundance in downtown San Miguel. Street vendors sell everything from corn on the cob to fresh orange juice. If you are really lucky you may come across one selling homemade hot tamales.

As the only city on Cozumel Island, San Miguel sees a lot of tourist traffic. During the day the city's numerous restaurants and bars are packed with tourists, many from the cruise ships docked at the international pier or day-trippers from the mainland. Reservations are recommended at those places that accept them. It is a good idea to arrive early at those restaurants that do not accept reservations. Lunchtime, particularly if a cruise ship has arrived, can be the most hectic meal of the day. Most of the fine dining restaurants do not open until the evening and do not cater to the cruise ship crowd.

Cozumel is not a late-night town, since most of its visitors are up bright and early to enjoy the sights or dive the reef. What little nightlife there is on the island is confined to San Miguel. Restaurants along the east coast tend to close at sunset since many do not have electricity. But downtown partygoers do keep things hopping from the late afternoon until midnight. A handful of clubs and bars stay open until 2am with a few that cater to die-hards and stay open until 5am.

Where To Stay

Divers searching for a place to flop after exploring the renowned coral reefs, families seeking all-inclusive sun and fun, and business travelers on the prowl for conference facilities will all find a wide range of accommodation in Cozumel. Visitors can choose from 3,600 rooms in a diverse mix of hotels, resorts, condos and bed-and-breakfasts on the island.

Did You Know?

The Mayans were the first to occupy Cozumel and first settled on the island in the 1st millennium A.D. They considered the island to be sacred and dedicated it to Ix Chel, the Maya Moon Goddess. Many temples were built here and were places of pilgrimage, especially by women seeking fertility.


Content Provided by WCities