Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island off Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and it is best known for its reefs. The island suits snorkelers and divers most of all, with reef sites a short boat ride away and the main reef park just offshore. Beaches, Maya ruins and a walk through San Miguel round out a visit.
The most reviewed first. Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Dolphin Swim Adventure at Chankanaab National Marine Park
Dolphin Encounter and Chankanaab National Marine Park
Cozumel Lucha Libre Meet and Greet Spectacular
Secret Palancar Beach, Local Food, and Open Bar with Transfers
Small Group Cozumel Margarita Making and Mayan Chocolate Experience
All-Inclusive Money Bar Beach Club Day Pass with Transfers
KUZA Beach Park Cozumel VIP Pass (Transfers Included)
KUZA Water Theme Park with Buffet and Open Bar (Transfers Included)
Private Turtle and Starfish Catamaran Snorkel at Turtle Bay and El Cielo
Cozumel E-Scooter, Clear Boat Snorkel, and Beach Combo
KUZA Beach Park Cozumel Day Pass with Buffet with Open Bar
KUZA Beach Park Cozumel Day Pass with Buffet with Open Bar (Transfers Included)
KUZA Beach Park and Extreme Zip Line with Buffet and Open Bar
KUZA Beach Park and Extreme Zip Line with Buffet and Open Bar (Transfers Included)
KUZA Beach Park and Mexican Cooking Class with Open Bar
KUZA Beach Park and Mexican Cooking Class with Open Bar (Transfers Included)
KUZA Beach Park and Off-Road RZR with Buffet and Open Bar
KUZA Beach Park and Off-Road RZR with Buffet and Open Bar (Transfers Included)
KUZA Beach Park and Snorkel El Cielo (Transfers Included)
Chankanaab Park
Chankanaab is a natural park on Cozumel's south coast, with a sandy beach, a shallow snorkel area and a lagoon. Visitors snorkel off the sand, swim with animals or try a reef dive from here.
Playa Palancar
Playa Palancar is a white-sand beach club on the quiet west side of Cozumel, reached from the southern hotel zone. Day passes give you a lounge chair and umbrella, with a seafood restaurant and bar on site.
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is a beach club on Carretera Sur, south of town. You pay for a day of lounge chairs, a heated pool and the sand, with extra water toys on top.
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club is an all-inclusive beach day pass club on the southwest coast of Cozumel. Visitors come for a full day of sand, sea and spa time without leaving the property.
SkyReef Cozumel
SkyReef Cozumel is a beach club on the coast road at Km 10, with a private beach facing the Caribbean. Visitors come for the sand, the sea, the snorkel and a long afternoon by the water.
KUZA Beach and Adventure Park
KUZA Beach and Adventure Park is a beach and theme park on Cozumel's southwest coast. It has a long stretch of soft sand, a snorkel and kayak lagoon, and a zip line circuit for those who want more.
Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park
Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park is a protected offshore reef system along the west and south coasts of Cozumel. Divers and snorkelers come here to see the reefs, which are among the most popular recreational dive grounds in the Mexican Caribbean.
El Cielo
El Cielo is a shallow reef and sandbar off Cozumel, reached by boat and used for snorkeling and time on the sand. Boats and catamarans leave from the island for the trip.
San Gervasio
San Gervasio is the most important and best-studied pre-Hispanic site on Cozumel, a small ceremonial center in the northern part of the island. You walk its paths through jungle, past plazas and temples.
Punta Sur Eco Park
Punta Sur Eco Park is a reserve and lighthouse at the southern tip of Cozumel. You walk trails through dunes, lagoons and low forest, and climb to the Celarain lighthouse for wide views.
Jade Cavern
Jade Cavern is a freshwater cenote on Cozumel, one of the few cenotes on an island. You swim between limestone walls and jump from low cliffs into the pool.
Downtown San Miguel
Downtown San Miguel is the town center of Cozumel, with a main square, shops, and restaurants around it. It is the island's main town, and most of what visitors come for sits within a short walk.
Cozumel Museum
The Cozumel Museum is a museum in a 1930s former hotel on the island's southern hotel zone. Four permanent exhibits and two temporary rooms cover island history, nature and culture.
Good to know
Scuba diving
Cozumel's reefs are the island's main draw. Most dive sites lie well south of town, and many dive shops are based there, so a short boat ride reaches the water. Palancar Reef and the offshore walls are the best-known sites. Dives are usually drift dives, with the current carrying you along the reef while the boat picks you up. Certified divers can book two-tank trips, and first-timers can book a discover-scuba session.
Beach clubs
Beach clubs on the west side give you a day of pools, food and snorkeling without much planning. KUZA, Playa Uvas and Money Bar are among the clubs with full-day passes. Paradise Beach sits about 14.5 km south of the pier and offers a pass for kayaks, paddleboards and waterslides. Most clubs are a taxi ride from downtown San Miguel.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the second most popular thing to do here after diving. Chankanaab's shallow, sand-entry reef is one of the easiest places to start, and Playa Palancar is another option by taxi. Many beach dive shops rent gear for about US$7 to US$10. Expect one to two hours in the water, and add lunch or a glass-bottom reef stop if you want a longer outing.
When to go
Cozumel is busiest from December through April. Mornings are the calmest time at Chankanaab, and they are also the least crowded.
Good to know
- Taxis within town charge a fixed range, but ask the fare before you ride. Many businesses take US dollars at a poor exchange rate, so pay in pesos when you can.
- Beware of pushy touts near the waterfront selling car rentals, activities and timeshares. You can say no and keep walking.
- Scooters are best left to experienced riders. Most tourist traffic accidents involve scooters, and potholes are often unmarked.
- Swimming on the east side can be very dangerous. Check the flags and never swim alone.
- Cameras are not allowed in the swim-with-animals area at Chankanaab.
Coming by ship
Ships usually stay about 10 hours in Cozumel, and most arrive between 7 and 9 am.
Getting ashore and around
Chankanaab is a taxi ride south of San Miguel.
Getting around takes some planning. There is no public transit out of town, so you walk, take a taxi or rent a car or scooter. Taxis are always available, and their fares depend on distance and number of passengers, so agree on a price before you get in. Taxis also run to the west-shore beaches. Renting a car is the best way to reach Punta Sur and the east coast, where the beaches are windward and the surf is strong.
Questions people ask
How do you get to Chankanaab from San Miguel?
Chankanaab Park is a taxi ride south of San Miguel. You can tell any local taxi driver to go to Chankanaab.
Can I snorkel in Cozumel?
Yes. Chankanaab has a shallow, sand-entry reef, and Playa Palancar is a taxi ride south of San Miguel. Chankanaab charges a park entry fee, and snorkel gear is not included in basic entry.
Do I need to be certified to dive in Cozumel?
Boat dives need certification. Dive shops offer discover-scuba sessions for people who are not yet certified, and most shops also offer training for beginners.
These places share what it's known for.
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