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Cozumel
, Mexico ………
Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island. The average temperature is 26º C (79º F) and the climate is warm and humid, with strong rainfall in the summer.
The island is covered with lush jungle vegetation and surrounded by rocky coastlines, white-sand beaches, lagoons and mangroves. Great places to do scuba diving, the waters encircling the island have an impressive group of coral reefs that are part of the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef system in the world. Marine reserves of great ecological importance, such as Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel (Cozumel National Reef Marine Park) and Parque Natural Chankanaab (Chankanaab Nature Park), were created to protect areas with a wide diversity of marine life.
The island’s only town is San Miguel de Cozumel, which has a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere and Mexico’s most important international cruise dock. During your stay, you can enjoy excellent golf courses, spas, and restaurants serving up a wide array of regional fish and seafood dishes. And of course there’s the thriving nightlife, where one can drink national and exotic beverages with new friends under a moonlit sky.
SCUBA DIVING
For several decades now Cozumel has been considered an ideal place to scuba dive, thanks to its biodiversity of marine life. In its waters you can see countless schools of angelfish and parrotfish, as well as sponges and manta rays that inhabit the Great Mayan Reef. The reef system is the second largest in the world, spanning from Isla Mujeres to Costa Rica. In Cozumel’s National Reef Marine Park you’ll find 25 reefs where you can scuba dive, some of which are excellent spots for novice divers due to the calm waters.
Palancar. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 13 km (8 mi) south of San Miguel and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. It has one of the island’s most visited reefs with depths ranging from 6 to 37 meters (20 to 122 feet). Here you can also do cave diving, as it has some spectacular caverns and impressive abysses that will put your endurance to the test and let your imagination run wild.
San Francisco. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel on the southern part of the island, 11 km (7 mi) from San Miguel and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. One of the main sights at this place is a vertical wall encrusted with coral and large, yellow, tube-shaped sponges. For the best view, the recommended depths range from 18 to 37 meters (60 to 122 feet). As you follow the wall downward, it begins to slope gently and it becomes bright green, at which point you might be able to spot some large manta rays.
Santa Rosa. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 9 km (5.5 mi) from San Miguel and about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. Here you can scuba dive at average depths of 15 to 24 meters (50 to 80 feet). At one point, the reef here drops off into a huge abyss. As you descend, some of the wall’s apertures provide shelter from the currents. Along the wall, you’ll find various caves that house sea fans and large sponges.
Paraiso Bajo. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 3 km (nearly 2 mi) from San Miguel and about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. This barrier reef begins at the Caleta Lagoon in the north and runs parallel to the coast until reaching the Terminal Maritima del Sureste pier. Here you can scuba dive at depths ranging from 20 to 30 meters (66 to 100 feet).
Paraiso Norte. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 2 km (1.2 mi) from San Miguel and about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. At this spot you can dive at a maximum depth of 14 meters (46 feet), making it ideal for beginners. Here you’ll find long reefs that run parallel to the coast with coral, sponges measuring 2 meters (6.6 meters) in diameter, and schools of bright blue fish.
Paraiso Sur. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecfies de Cozumel, 5 km (3 mi) from San Miguel and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. This spot has two barrier reefs, each stretching about 500 meters (1,650 feet). In these waters, you can spot angelfish, longspine squirrelfish and sea cucumbers. It has a maximum depth of 14 meters (46 feet), which is ideal for novices.
Balones de Chankanaab – Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, about 9 km (5.5 mi) from the city center and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. This reef, which is more than 14 meters (46 feet) deep, gets it name (The Balls of Chankanaab) from the many round coral formations found in its waters. Here you’ll find crags measuring 4 to 10 meters (14 to 33 feet) with abundant cavities full of marine life such as lobsters, eels and manta rays. Maximum depths range from 18 to 21 meters (60 to 70 feet).
Parque Natural Chankanaab. Located at the Chankanaab Lagoon on the southeastern part of the island, 9 km (5.5 mi) from the town of San Miguel. This protected area has a body of water that is connected to the sea by an underground tunnel. At this place you’ll find numerous coral reefs and an underwater statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Offered as part of the park’s services, you can take diving classes with licensed instructors. You can also do snorkeling, which allows you to explore underwater gardens at a shallow depth. Open daily from 7:00 to 5:00.
Reserva Ecologica Parque Punta Sur. Located on the island’s southern coast, 30 km (18 mi) from the town of San Miguel. Has virgin beaches and wonderful jungle landscape, such as mangroves, marshes and dunes. At these reefs you can find coral formations such as the so-called Tormentos and you can spot sea bass and eels at depths ranging from 10 to 18 meters (33 to 60 feet). Here you can also see the famous Garganta de Diablo, a cave that lies 15 meters (50 feet) below the surface and leads to an incredible abyss that is 40 meters (132 feet) deep. Open daily from 9:00 to 5:00.
ECOTOURISM
In Cozumel you’ll find various places to do ecotourism outings. You can visit nature reserves with indigenous flora and fauna, lagoons surrounded by regional plant species and coral reefs off the coast.
Parque Natural Chankanaab – Located at the Chankanaab Lagoon on the southeastern part of the island, 9 km (5.5 mi) from the town of San Miguel. This protected area has a body of water that is connected to the sea by an underground tunnel. Here you can visit a magnificent botanical garden, which has various tropical plant species such as orchids, bamboo and 60 different palm varieties. In addition, you can catch a sea lion and exotic bird show or go on an unforgettable photo safari.
Reserva Ecologica Parque Punta Sur – Located on the island’s southern coast, 30 km (18 mi) from the town of San Miguel. Has virgin beaches and wonderful jungle landscape, such as mangroves, marshes and dunes. This ecological reserve offers quite a mixture of natural environments and ecosystems where you can see a wide variety of plant and animal wildlife. It is a refuge for about 50 aquatic bird species. The area attracts indigenous and migratory bird species; the majority of them migrate from cold climates each year from November through March seeking the reserve’s warm waters. It is also the habitat of marine turtles, as well as fresh-water and yellow crocodiles. Here you can take workshops if you are interested in learning more about nature.
BEACHES
Along the island’s coastline you’ll find white-sand beaches and the beautiful turquoise-blue sea. In the warm waters off the coast of the northern and southern hotel zone, you’ll find numerous places to do various aquatic activities.
Playa San Francisco – Located on the southern coast, 14 km (8.7 mi) from the town of San Miguel. Here you can enjoy a classic Caribbean beach with fine white sand and gentle waves. This beach is a stopover point for glass-bottom boats that tour the coast. These boats give you an excellent view of the coral banks below.
Playa de San Juan – Located in the northern hotel zone, 5 km (3 mi) from the island’s city center. With its white-sand beach and calm waters, this spot is ideal for horseback riding, playing tennis and excursions.
Playa Encantada – Located on the southern tip of the island near Punta Celarain. From its lighthouse, you can take in a breathtaking view of Playa Encantada. About 4 km (2.5 mi) from here lies El Caracol archaeological zone, which probably was once an observatory that the ancient Mayans used to predict the arrival of hurricanes and storms.
Playa Santa Maria – Located in the southern region of the Chankanaab Lagoon, about 25 km (15 mi) from the town of San Miguel. The beach is dotted with palm trees, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing, shady day in the sand and escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Playa Bonita – Located at Rancho Ixpalbarco near the Colombia Lagoon on the island’s east coast. This exclusive private beach has limited access and an isolated cove that invites you to spend a pleasant and peaceful day, far removed from civilization.
Playa Hernan – Located near the ruins of Parador Turistico de San Gervasio. This beach has two small islands off the coast and El Castillo Real, the island’s largest pre-Hispanic construction.
Isla de la Pasion – Located north of San Miguel. This is a small and peaceful island with beautiful beaches and an abundance of birds. Its estuaries are a turtle and crocodile habitat. The coast is accessible if you have a small boat.