23 Best Things to do in Cozumel
- Check out the amazing reefs.
- Go on a Boat Tour.
- Take a Submarine Tour.
- Enjoy a Beach Day (best beaches in Cozumel)
- Swim with stingrays.
- Visit Chankanaab National Park.
Paradise Beach All-Inclusive Food and Beverage Plus Fun Pass.
- Shop at Plaza del Sol. The Punta Langosta pier leads straight to Cozumel's main souvenir-shopping area, Plaza del Sol.
- Jeep Tour.
- Snorkeling.
- Head for the Beach.
- Punta Sur Park Ecological Reserve.
- Mayan Ruins of Tulum.
- Faro Celarain.
Paradise Beach or Plage Paradiso as it is known, is a popular tourist destination of Chunnambar. This Pondicherry beach got its name because of the peaceful experience it offers to its visitors. To access this beach, you need to take a boat ride from the town of Pondicherry.
Thirty miles south of hotspot Cancun lies a tropical paradise with some of Mexico's most exquisite beachfront, yet it remains nearly secluded. Vibrant turquoise waters line the pure white sands in Maroma Beach, with sprinklings of tropical trees sprawling out from the rain forests nearby.
Cozumel is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean and the region's most popular cruise port. Known as a diver's paradise, Cozumel is considered safe for visitors, since most of the recent drug-related violence has been in cities along the border.
18 Fun Cheap (or FREE) Things to Do in Cozumel
- Visit Playa San de Martin. Want a wide expanse of white-sand beach, electric blue water, and no huge crowds?
- Explore San Miguel.
- Visit the Cozumel Island Museum.
- Visit the Ruins of San Gervasio.
- Take a Picture with WWII Fighter Planes.
- Go Snorkeling.
- Go Souvenir Shopping.
- Enjoy a DIY Foodie tour of San Miguel.
There aren't really public beaches located in walking distance from the cruise ship dock on Cozumel, however it's possible to pay for day access to one of the nearby beach clubs. Walk south to the Money Bar Beach Club, a lively beachside hang with a restaurant and spa, as well as paddle board and snorkel gear rentals.
Currency. The official currency is the Mexican peso, but almost just as official is the American dollar. The most important thing to know about money is that most tourist merchants in Cozumel accept both pesos and dollars, but will give change in pesos.
Playa Corona is one of the oldest beaches in Cozumel and is a popular destination for snorkeling and scuba diving – in fact, it's considered one of the best snorkeling beaches in Cozumel. Admission to the beach is free, and you can either bring your own gear or rent it (only snorkel gear is offered).
The Cozumel beaches located on the leeward side or west side of Cozumel are sheltered from storms and are the best for swimming. They are also the busiest since they are also closest to town as well as cruise ship terminals. You will also find "beach clubs".
A walking tour of Cozumel is a great way to spend a few vacation hours. The main downtown area of Cozumel spans approximately 5 blocks. Shopping, eating, drinking, and experiencing the local culture is sure to be a highlight of your trip.
Cozumel is known primarily as a diving destination, but it does have some wonderful beaches. Cozumel's west coast (the side facing Playa del Carmen) has calmer beaches and better snorkeling (the coral is protected from the waves, so it can thrive).
Here, our favorite picks in the top 15 ports:
- Sapphire Beach. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.
- Tabyana Beach. Roatan, Honduras.
- Cupecoy Beach. Philipsburg, St.
- Palm Beach. Oranjestad, Aruba.
- Cockleshell Bay. Basseterre, St.
- Blue Bay. Willemstad, Curacao.
- Rum Point. George Town, Grand Cayman.
- Brandons Beach. Bridgetown, Barbados.
Shopping in Cozumel Cruise Port: 9 Popular Souvenirs
- Hammocks.
- Blankets and Throws.
- Ceramics.
- Vanilla.
- Tequila.
- Leather Goods.
- Diamond and Gemstone Jewelry.
- Logowear from Popular Brands.
What to Buy in Cozumel
- Vanilla.
- Chocolate.
- Coral.
- Silver.
- Jewelry.
- Clothes.
- Hammocks.
- Liqueur.
The taxi's on Cozumel are safe, I've been to Cozumel 12 times and have never had an issue. I don't know of another way to get to the beach resorts unless you take a taxi, it would be a long walk.
Exploring Cozumel on your own allows YOU to set the pace. Unlike some Caribbean islands that come to mind, Cozumel is an unusually safe vacation destination where you'll find the local population to be friendly, kind and civilized.
Cozumel cruise terminalThey all are located on the west side of the island. If in your cruise itinerary to Cozumel is added “Fundeo”, that means the cruise ship will anchor in the harbor and passengers will be transported to and from the shore (Punta Langosta pier) via the ship's tender boats.
Some cruise ships anchor offshore or at the pier of Cozumel, and then send passengers over to Playa del Carmen by tender. Others dock at the Puerto Calica Cruise Pier (which doubles as a dock for cement freighters), 8 miles south of Playa del Carmen and basically in the middle of nowhere.
Cozumel On Your Own
- Visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum. Tulum is one of the best preserved Mayan ruins.
- Spend a day at a beach club.
- Scuba dive in one of Cozumel's amazing dive sites.
- Exercise your shopping gene in San Miguel.
- Spend the day on a private island.
- Enjoy a great meal.
- Get down and dirty on an ATV excursion.
- Land a big one.
Downtown zone rates (to travel within a zone) are around 25 pesos, with zone 7 at 30 pesos and zone 8 at 35 pesos. Taxis will take your dollars if you offer them, but the official syndicate exchange rate is only 13 pesos to a dollar.
There are two main docks in Cozumel, and Royal Caribbean ships will dock at the International Pier, which is located south of San Miguel and is about a 5 minute taxi ride away.
While there are no urgent safety issues in Cozumel, it's always good to exercise safety precautions. According to the U.S. Department of State, criminal activity and violence do take place in the state, though the attacks are usually targeted and not aimed at general crowds or tourists.
Crime rates in Cozumel, Mexico
| Level of crime | 31.25 | Low |
|---|
| Problem people using or dealing drugs | 31.48 | Low |
| Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft | 44.83 | Moderate |
| Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery | 31.03 | Low |
| Problem corruption and bribery | 52.78 | Moderate |
Mr Sancho's is only 12 minutes away from the Cruise Piers and we remind you that we are always open from Monday to Saturday.
