Many visit Cozumel by cruise ship and end up spending only a few hours on this Mexican Island. While some venture out, others simply stay in the cruise port area and miss out on what Cozumel has to offer. The area around the cruise port is very different than the other parts of the island. During our last trip to Cozumel we rented a car to explore some of the lesser visited areas. But these too can get crowded at peak cruise ship times!
We loved the east coast’s rugged coastline. Did you know that it’s a turtle nesting ground? On the northern part of the island there’s the San Gervasio Mayan Archeological Site (By the way, this was as far north as we could drive). Did you know that the only way to explore the northern coastline is by boat? To the south there is the Punta Sur Eco Beach Park where you can visit a lighthouse and see El Caracol, a small Mayan temple with an important purpose, it used to be an early warning system for hurricanes. There’s also, a scenic tower from which you can observe wildlife in the marshland.
This time around the main purpose of our trip to Cozumel was scuba diving. We had a great time and we highly recommend that you get in the warm crystal-clear water and see for yourself what lies below the waves.
Of course, if you prefer not to get wet (we’re not sure why you wouldn’t!) there’s always shopping. The island is renowned for its bountiful shopping opportunities. Lots of duty-free goods can be found, especially near the cruise terminals.
Things to do in Cozumel
1- Scuba Diving (or Snorkeling) Cozumel’s Pristine and Colorful Reefs
Cozumel is a world-renowned scuba diving destination with numerous dive sites for all levels of divers. Marine life is plentiful and diverse. During our November visit the water temperature was 86-88°F and we had visibility of at least 100 feet. I had so many wonderful things to say about this that I wrote a full blog post about it: Scuba Diving Vacation in Cozumel
2- Visiting the San Gervasio Mayan Archeological Site
San Gervasio is the largest and most important Mayan site on the island of Cozumel. Even though San Gervasio is less impressive than Chichen Itza or Tulum, it’s an interesting place to visit. This holy site was built during the Post Classic period (1200-1650 AD) and was of great importance to the ancient Mayas. Dedicated to Ixchel, Goddess of the moon, love and fertility, many Mayan women made (and continue to make) the pilgrimage to come and pray at the temples.
We hired a local guide at the entrance to get some information and make sense of what we were looking at. The park is also a wildlife refuge and the local population of iguanas can be easily spotted and observed. Oh, and it’s in the jungle so bring insect repellent and wear proper shoes as the terrain is uneven and can be muddy!
La Manitas (The Little Hands) was the first structure we saw. It is believed that it was the house of the High Priest. Inside we saw small red handprints painted on the walls. Perhaps, the women that made the journey to San Gervasio made these, but no one knows for sure.
The Arch was the main entrance and exit point of San Gervasio and this main road goes all the way to the coast. Also, the arch is made with thirteen stones, each representing a month of the Mayan calendar. On the top of the arch, there is a small opening and when the moon is full, moonlight comes through and lights the small altar under the vaulted passageway. The arch is a fine example of the Mayas ingenuity and understanding of the celestial world.
During the site’s pinnacle, all roads were covered with stucco and embedded with seashells collected from the sea. The shells would shine under the moonlight and light the paths.
The Central Plaza was an important gathering place and ceremonies were held on the altar. We were told that wedding ceremonies took place over here and the whole process lasted a week. The future bride was kept in a small room in the El Alamo temple to be purified before the wedding.
We opted to skip going to some of the further structures because of the heavy rain, muddy path and voracious mosquitos!
3- Exploring Punta Sur
This eco beach park is located at the southern end of the island but it’s easy to get there on your own if you have a car. The park’s prime location by the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park makes it the perfect snorkeling spot. The area thrives with sea life. However, the beach gets crowded when the cruise ship passengers are dropped off here.
Only 2 km away from the park’s main gate there is a small Mayan temple dedicated to the Mayan Goddess Ixchel. El Caracol (the snail) was built by the Mayas and dates back to 1200-1500 AD. The park ranger pointed out remnants of a series of conch shells embedded in the stucco of the temple’s cupola. When strong winds funneled through the shells, it would whistle, alerting people that a hurricane was approaching and that it was time to take cover. He also told us that the Mayans would hide below in the cenotes during storms. Now, wildlife has taken over the site.
If you continue south for another 2 km, you will reach Faro Celarain which is located on the southernmost point of Cozumel. Once there, climb to the top of the lighthouse and get a bird’s-eye view of the beach and marshland. Inside there’s also a small museum with exhibits about navigation.
4- Spotting for Wildlife in the Marshland
Across the road from the Mayan vestige in the Punta Sur Eco Beach Park, there’s a wooden platform overlooking the Laguna Colombia which is perfect for birding. We saw various species of aquatic birds.
The local guide, Ruben, showed us around and introduced us to the “in-house” resident crocs: Cezar, Julio and Camilla. Of course, the ‘boys’ were fighting for the territory and for Camilla’s favors!
5- Relaxing on the Beach
Need I say more?
