Imagine the bluest sky with fluffy cotton ball clouds and an ocean full of intricate coral and phenomenal sea life. Welcome to Cozumel, one of Mexico's finest and most diverse towns on the Yucatan peninsula! You can scuba dive, snorkel, go shopping, explore ruins, enjoy fine dining, and relax on the beach. Look for package deals to Cozumel, especially through companies such as FunJet Vacations, which offer hotel and airfare for very reasonable prices. Cozumel is a great quick get away – it is affordable, fun, and offers a variety of activities for the whole family.
Already well known in the diving world, Cozumel has an impressive coral reef and ample marine life. Drift diving is the norm here, which means that your dive boat will drop you off at a site with your dive master, follow your bubbles while you are underwater, then pick you up at the end of your dive. The currents can sometimes be swift, but many divers enjoy drift diving because it is less work. In essence, the current does your swimming for you! In Cozumel, as with most other dive locations, it is recommended that you dive with a small operation.
There are "cattle boats" that you can take, probably less expensive, but it is so much more enjoyable to go with a smaller group. That way, there are fewer people in the water with you, which greatly increases your chances of seeing the larger sea life, such as turtles or dolphins. In addition, it is safer to take a smaller boat, they are more personalized and there is less chance of being left behind. If you dive in Cozumel, you can expect to see some really big Groupers, lots of Rainbow Parrotfish, quite a few barracudas and maybe even a Nurse Shark or an Octopus if you're lucky!
If you are not a diver, but still enjoy the underwater scene, you could try snorkeling. It's amazing what you can see right in front of your own hotel. Imagine, as you are snorkeling, you suddenly see a Spotted Eagle Ray with a Remora feeding on it, swimming just 10 feet below you! Besides for the area in front of your hotel, another great spot to visit and snorkel is Chankanaab Park. This park has fantastic areas for snorkeling and lots of cool, shady huts called palapas, for lounging and relaxing. Chankanaab offers snorkels and fins to rent for a small fee. Also, if you are interested in the history of Mexico, Chankanaab has an Archaeological Park with a beautiful walking path that winds through replicas of famous ruins. Be sure to look for the colorful iguanas as they sun themselves on the stone statues, or as they dart across the dirt paths!
While the replicas at Chankanaab might be enough history for some people, others might like to visit the authentic ruins of Tulum. Tulum is an impressive Mayan site, dating back to A.D. 564, with an amazing location overlooking the Caribbean. From Cozumel, you take the ferry over to Playa del Carmen, and then about an hour-long bus ride to the ruins. It is best to take a bus ride, rather than rent a car in this case, because the roads are very narrow and the driving is very reckless! Another historical site can be found in the jungles of Mexico: Chichen Itza. Here again, you would take the ferry to Playa del Carmen and journey inland to reach Chichen Itza. These ruins date back to 800 A.D. and they are quite a bit larger than Tulum. In its prime, Chichen Itza was the political, historical and social center of the Yucatan. You can still climb up the main pyramid there, named El Castillo, which offers an incredible view when you reach the top. Chichen Itza would be an excellent day trip, especially if you would like to see a different side of Mexico – the jungle, as opposed to the coast.
Once you have explored the island, both underwater and above ground, you are bound to be hungry! Cozumel offers a wide variety of restaurants, from casual to fast food to fancy. One traditional favorite, called Primos, has outstanding food with pretty reasonable prices. They have an outdoors patio upstairs, and the menu usually includes a bargain-priced surf & turf with very fresh steak and lobster tail. If you are looking for really tasty traditional Mexican food, ask your taxi driver to take you to Las Tortugas, which translates to "The Turtles." They have been in business for over 20 years and it is easy to see why. The fajitas and tortillas are homemade and out of this world! There are also restaurants such as Carlos & Charlie's and Senor Frog's, if you are looking for a more touristy spot, with lots of great food and great drinks. And, if you want good old American food, chains such as Subway and McDonalds are even available.
After you eat, you can walk around the town square and check out the shops. The charming downtown area centers around a large fountain. It's fun to just go sit by the square and people watch, or watch the local artists creating vibrantly colored spray-paintings. On the weekends, there are often events like concerts and dances in the square. It's an enchanting little town, perfect to visit after a hard day of diving, snorkeling or relaxing!
With so much to do in Cozumel, it's doubtful that you would ever run out of things to see. However, if you find yourself with an extra day to spare, you could venture out to rent a Jeep and drive over to the other side of the island. With rugged landscapes and beautiful ocean views, it is well worth the drive. The ocean is much rougher on the Eastern side of the island, and certainly, it is not as developed as the Western side. Be sure and take your swimsuit with you, in case you want to jump in!
Saving the best for last, sometimes relaxing at your hotel is one of the nicest ways to wrap up a day. Many of the hotels on the island have man-made beaches with palapas. You can sit out under a cool palapa, and enjoy drinks and snacks from the hotel, brought right out to your lounge chair. On the other hand, you could take a refreshing swim in the hotel swimming pool, often with swim-up bars. You really do feel pampered in Cozumel!
So whether you dive or snorkel, sightsee or relax, Cozumel has a little bit of something for everyone. The scuba diving is superb, the snorkeling is almost as good as the diving, and relaxing is easy to do. With the great prices and fun things to do, Cozumel is an ideal getaway!
