5 Things to Do in Cozumel, Mexico
As Mexico’s largest island, the stunning island of Cozumel is home to silvery white sandy beaching, azure blue oceans, and swaying palm trees. It is located 12 miles off the coast in the Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen. Cozumel is known as the quieter option to Mexico’s major party destination, Cancun, which is located around 45 miles north of Cozumel’s quiet beaches. Before visiting this picturesque location, check out the following list of five top things to do in Cozumel, brought to you by Air Evac International:
1.) Punta Sur Ecological Park
The beach of Punta Sur Eco is the best beach on the entire island. This park, which is located on the southern part of the island, contains some 2,500 acres is home to breathtaking beaches, tropical flowers, sea turtles, crocodiles, and exotic birds. It is a “must-do” for any nature lover. The cost can’t be beaten, either at just $14 for adults and $8 for children. The park even has its own lighthouse, the Celarain Lighthouse, now a part of a maritime museum. It provides a 360-degree view of the Island you get to enjoy as your reward for climbing 127 steps to reach the top. It is said that you can see all the way to Cuba on ultra-clear days. (cost of the lighthouse is included with the park entrance fee.) Along with a reef that is ideal for a snorkeling adventure, Punta Sur Eco Park also offers a 40-minute tour of the Marshlands of Punta Sur Eco, which is designed to hopefully give you a few glimpses of area crocodiles. In addition to all that’s already been mentioned to Punta Sur Eco Park also has a Mayan Ruin, called El Caracol ruin.
2.) Jeep Safari and Snorkeling
Known as the Ultimate Cozumel Island Expedition this mother of all Jeep tour is something you don’t want to miss. Some tours even come complete with lunch and free tequila tastings. Visit the natural scenery of Cozumel’s remote eastern shore, check out Punta Sur, and check out the Mayan Ruins of Cozumel, the Mayas at San Gervasio. After all this fun, you can enjoy amazing snorkeling at one of the most beautiful reefs in all of Cozumel, Villa Blanca. Your Jeep safari and snorkeling experience will come with the following:
- Tequila tastings.
- Snorkeling equipment.
- Water, sodas, and beer.
- Mexican themed lunch served at El Galleon Beach Club.
- Jeep Wranglers, which hold four people to a Jeep for your tour.
- English speaking, nature guides
- Round trip transportation.
3.) Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park
Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park, located just 10 minutes from the Cruise Port, is an ideal snorkeling haven. Observe schools of vibrant, colorful fish swimming around the world’s 2nd largest coral reef, the breathtaking Mesoamerican Reef. At the Chankanaab Reef, also be on the lookout for the underwater sculptures of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Be aware that this park will fill up when Cruise Ships are docked and tourists on the ship come to shore. Therefore, it’s a good idea to schedule around those events. The cost for park admission is reasonable at $23 per person, with kids aged 4 to 12 years of age is $16. This beautiful jewel of the island was the first tourist spot of the island and features an array of additional activities beyond snorkeling. Chankanaab, which translates from Mayan to mean small sea, also allows guests to swim with dolphins, have a kayak trip, observe some sea lions or try out the zip line. Guests can even have a massage at the spa, hang in an oceanfront hammock, or explore the Mesoamerican cultures by touring the archeological replicas. There is also a botanical garden that features over 350 different species of plants.
4.) Cozumel Pearl Farm
Touring this family-owned and operated pearl farm is a unique experience you won’t soon forget. To get to Cozumel Pearl Farm, you will be transported to a secluded, uninhabited area of Cozumel by boat. You begin your tour by going through a demonstration that will teach you the various techniques associated with pearl farming. Then, your tour will take you to where the pearls are hatched. You can even snorkel down to view the hatchery yourself. While diving for pearls be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Virgen de Guadalupe statue. Spend the rest of your tour time either resting in a hammock or swimming in the warm waters. Keep in mind that Cozumel Pearl Farm is the only pearl farm, worldwide, to cultivate pearls using this specific type of oyster, so you will be seeing something trying unique. You also get drinks and lunch included with the price of your tour, making this activity well worth doing.
5.) Temazcal Cozumel
Another thing you have to do when in Cozumel is to take part in an ancient Mayan ceremony called a Temazcal. You begin by entering a brick hut, which has been warmed by volcanic rock, for a sauna-like experience. Then, a Shaman will greet you. Throughout the Temazcal ritual, your body will be purified, relaxed, and cleansed. End the ceremony by swimming in a refreshingly cool cenote located nearby. It is a cultural yet highly spiritual experience and intensely relaxing if those two things are possible to obtain simultaneously. This ceremony is often performed in Cancun, but you can also experience it in Cozumel as well.
Try out any of the above activities the next time you are in Cozumel. You most certainly won’t regret giving any of them a try, and a few are richly rewarding as well as being downright fun. These helpful suggestions were brought to you by AirEvac International.
