Tour Operators
Cozumel Tours The premier internet discounter of activities and excursions in Cozumel. They offer discounts on every tour and huge savings on cruise shore excursions too.
travelnotes Travelnotes offers a wide variety of activities and excursions in Cozumel. They also cater to cruise ship passengers.
Museum
Museo de la Isla de Cozumel Located on the waterfront three blocks north of the ferry pier, the two-story Cozumel Museum is housed in a building that was once the island's first luxury hotel. The exhibits on the ground floor focus on Cozumel's ecosystems, including the mangroves and the reefs. The second floor has displays of ancient artifacts found in the island's Mayan sites, as well as relics left by the Conquistadors. You'll also find an exhibit of Cozumel's cultural and economic development during the 20th century. There's a restaurant on site that overlooks the Yucatan Channel that serves breakfast, lunch and drinks.
Located on Avenida Rafael Melgar at Calle 6
Open: daily, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Admission is around $3.00 US
Beach Clubs
The Money Bar Beach Club at Dzul Ha Reef Located about 3 miles south of San Miguel, the Money Bar Beach Club does not charge an entrance fee. There is a rustic restaurant with an extensive Mexican and American menu, plus a beach-side bar; they offer a 2 for 1 happy hour from 5 to 7 each evening. Amenities include fresh water showers, changing/rest rooms, water toys, lounge chairs, lockers and scuba gear rental. Other activities include outdoor massages, parasailing, guided snorkeling tours, Sunfish sailboats and clear kayaks. Seven packages are offered on their web site.
Uvas Beach Club Located about 5 miles south of San Miguel, and next door to the Chankanaab Park, the Uvas Beach Club is a smaller facility for which you need to make advance reservations. The US $7.00 entrance fee includes one Welcome Drink per adult, use of all facilities, including beach umbrellas, white
resort-type or padded teak loungers, fresh water showers, dressing rooms and the fresh water pool. Towel rental, lockers and snorkeling gear rental is extra. They also offer a number of packages that include guided shore snorkeling, clear kayak tours, diving, all-day open domestic bar and massages. A restaurant is on site, and some of the packages include a meal.
Chankanaab Park Located 5 miles south of San Miguel, Chankanaab Park is one of the more popular beach clubs in Cozumel. The US $16.00 entrance fee includes chaise lounges and beach umbrellas on a first come, first serve basis, hammocks, beach volleyball, fresh water showers, restrooms/changing rooms and a small amount of Mayan ruins. Additional amenities available for a fee include snorkeling gear, towels and lockers. Chankanaab has a number of restaurants and bars on site, and a beach boutique, spa, ice cream parlor and a drug store.
San Francisco Beach Club Located about 9 miles south of San Miguel, and adjacent to the Paradise Beach Club (see below), the San Francisco Beach Club charges an entrance fee of US $9.00, which includes the use of umbrellas, chairs, fresh water showers, bathrooms, floating mats and a fresh water swimming pool. Or, for US $40.00, you'll get lunch and an all day open domestic bar as well. The SFBC is situated on 2 miles of white sand beach. And although snorkel gear rental is available, at US $10.00 per day, the reefs are far out into the water.
Paradise Beach Club Located about 9 miles south of San Miguel, the Paradise Beach Club offers free admission to the beach. If you want to use the beach chairs and umbrellas, you need to purchase US $10.00 in food or drink per person. Fun Passes available for US $10.00, which includes unlimited all-day use of the snorkeling gear, kayaks, beach floats, trampoline, iceberg, coconut tree climb and bungee trampoline jump. The facility has fresh water showers, lockers, dressing rooms, a restaurant and a bar with free internet access.
Playa Mia Grand Beach Club Located about 10 miles south of San Miguel, Playa Mia Grand Beach Club is a large theme park-style beach club. The price of admission is US $15, and if you want an all-day open domestic bar, the price jumps to US $38. Throw in a buffet lunch, a towel and snorkel gear rental, and it costs US $49. The facility includes a number of attractions, including a white sand beach, a fresh water swimming pool with a swim-up bar, several restaurants, snack shops, bars and even a zoo. Restrooms with changing facilities and fresh water showers are available for your convenience. Complimentary beach chairs and hammocks are provided, and guests can make use of kayaks, paddle boats and Hobie cats, a water trampoline, the Iceberg Water Mountain (a water slide) and banana boats. Beach umbrellas, snorkel equipment, lockers and towel rental are available for an extra charge.
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club Located about 10½ miles south of San Miguel, Mr. Sancho's Beach Club offers perhaps the best Mexican ambience of all of the beach clubs on Cozumel. The entrance is free, but you pay for the use of beach chairs, mats, etc. The facility has a large beach bar and a good restaurant, fresh water pool, fresh water showers and changing/rest rooms. Snorkel gear is available for rent. Mr. Sancho's also offers beach horse-riding and ATV tours.
Palancar Beach Club Located about 15 miles south of San Miguel, the Palancar Beach Club is less crowded simply because it is so far from San Miguel. The amenities include an outdoor fresh water shower, changing rooms/bathrooms, chaise lounges, swings and lots of hammocks. A very nice restaurant is on site.
Hotel Day Passes
Meliá Cozumel All Inclusive Golf & Beach Resort The Meliá Cozumel Golf & Beach Resort offers day passes (from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm) at their facility, located in the hotel zone north of San Miguel. The Meliá Cozumel features three restaurants, a snack bar and 5 bars on the premises, 2 outdoor swimming-pools, tennis courts, a daytime entertainment program including aqua-aerobics, beach volleyball, cooking lessons, bar tender lessons and even Latin dance lessons. A WIFI Internet connection is available in all public areas. The price is US $50.00 per person (kids ages 7 to 12 are US $25.00, and under 7 are free), and includes meals, drinks and day activities. If you require a day room, the price is US $150.00 for the period 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. You don't need to make a reservation; when you get to the Hotel, just ask for a day pass at the front desk.
Location: Carretera Costera Norte, about 3 miles north of San Miguel.
Tel: (987) 872-9870
Golf
Cozumel Country Club The Cozumel Country Club is one of the most spectacular golf courses in the Caribbean. The 18-hole course was designed by the Nicklaus Design Group and influenced by the Mayan jungle. The golf course is a masterpiece that winds through the jungle and around the native mangroves to offer a challenging experience for the serious golfer, yet just as enjoyable for intermediate and beginners. Course particulars: 18 holes, Par 72, 6,734 yards.
Diving Reefs in Cozumel
The following are some of Cozumel's best-known and most spectacular coral reefs.
- Paraiso Bajo: Beginning just past the entrance to Caleta lagoon and running north almost to the ferry pier, this coral barrier measures 20 to 30 meters wide, and reaches a maximum depth of 50 feet. Coral heads reach over 4 meters in height. The reef also features many small caves and tunnels, home to a wide variety of marine life. Parrotfish are especially abundant.
- Chankanaab: Large coral mounds resembling buttons rise 25 feet or more from the white sandy bottom 60-70 feet below the surface. These unique mounds are home to large numbers of sponges, grouper and small black coral trees.
- Tormentos: Famous for its moray eels and groupers, this reef's depth ranges from 60 feet to 35 feet at its highest point. It's an excellent destination for both beginning and advanced scuba divers.
- San Francisco: A vertical coral wall rises from 120 feet beneath the surface to about 80 feet, after which there's another 40 feet or so of spectacular tunnel-pocked reef that resembles some sort of miniature aquatic mountain range. Large manta rays sometimes float nearby.
- Santa Rosa: One of the most popular dives in Cozumel, a coral wall starts at a depth of 50 feet and plunges down thousands of feet. Caves offer refuge from the strong current for enormous grouper, delicate fans, gorgons, and giant sponges.
- Paso del Cedral: Covered by scattered patches of coral, this small site is known for its docile green moray eels. Maximum dive depth here is about 60 feet with a moderate current.
- Palancar: This magnificent coral mountain was discovered by Jacques Cousteau, who was astounded by the beauty of the site. Scuba divers who visit Palancar reef will experience the thrill of swimming through giant coral canyons that drop into the ocean's depths.
- Punta Sur: One of the most impressive dives in Cozumel, scuba divers enter the famous Garganta del Diablo cave at 50 feet and emerge at 130 feet. The flora are particularly brilliant.
Scuba Diving Operators
There are dozens of scuba diving operators on Cozumel; the following are very popular and come highly recommended:
Eagle Ray Divers Founded in 1984 and run by Antonio Castellanos and his wife Chellie, Eagle Ray Divers has a sterling reputation and has become the premier dive operator in Cozumel.
Blue Angel Dive Shop Owner Alejandra and her staff offer very personalized diving experiences on Cozumel. Blue Angel has been in operation in Cozumel since 1984 and is one of the more popular diving tour operators on the island. The staff is a team of highly trained divers, from first-aid trained skippers to SSI instructors from many different countries. Blue Angel is a PADI resource center and they offer various quality PADI diving courses
Aqua Safari Aqua Safari is one of Cozumel's oldest diving tour operators, and now has two dive shops in Cozumel. Considered one of the island's best diving companies, Aqua Safari has just been awarded a 5 star rating as a PADI facility.
Scuba With Alison If you're looking for something other than big boats, and prefer very personalized private diving trips, take a dive with Alison and her crew. Customer-focused diving tours are always available, and she can easily tailor a dive based on your needs and skills. Scuba diving tours and courses are available for kids and adults.
Fishing
There are dozens of fishing charter operators on Cozumel; the following are very popular and come highly recommended:
Cozumel Charters offers full day, three-quarter day and half-day deep sea fishing, bottom fishing, fly fishing and other charters. They run a fleet of 12 boats, ranging from a 48-foot Hatteras to a 23-foot Celebrity.
Albatros Charters offers full day, three-quarter day and half-day deep sea fishing charters aboard their two boats, the Albatros, a 39-foot Chris Craft; and the Frigate, a 32 foot Intrepid. The crews are qualified and speak English.
Cozumel Offshore offers full day, three-quarter day, and half day deep sea fishing charters aboard their 35-foot Viking. American owned, operated and USA insured, the experienced English-speaking crew will make your fishing adventure memorable.
Reel Action Sports Fishing Cozumel offers full day, three-quarter day, and half day deep sea fishing charters aboard their two boats, the Real Bandida, a 40-foot Viking and the Bandida, a 31-foot Bertram Sportsfish.
Mayan Ruins
San Gervasio San Gervasio is Cozumel Island's largest archaeological site. Extending through 10 acres of lush vegetation, this site and restoration project will give you a glimpse into the ancient Maya civilization. It is believed that San Gervasio served as a sacred city. Legend has it that this was once a sanctuary where women journeyed to worship Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility. Ceremonial temples were built in her honor, and as a sign of her gratitude, Ixchel presented her devotees with her favorite bird, the swallow. Most structures at San Gervasio have roofs less than 4 feet tall and include interior stone walls and exterior columns. Much of the shape of the structures and their roofs remain a mystery, as they were enhanced by wood and straw when in their original condition. It is also speculated that further wood and straw huts surrounded many of the buildings, particularly the Plaza Central. The entrance fee is US $7.00. Visitors who take a video camera into the archaeological areas will be assessed a fee of approximately US $5.00 by the Mexican government.
Tulum Located on the mainland, about 1 hour south of Playa del Carmen, Tulum is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city that had served as a major port for Coba; it's one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites. Tulum was a major link in the Maya's extensive trade network. Both maritime and land routes converged here. Artifacts found in or near the site attest to contacts that ranged from Central America to Central Mexico. Archaeologists have uncovered copper rattles and rings from the Mexican highlands, flint artifacts, ceramics, incense burners and gold objects from the Yucatan, as well as jade and obsidian from Guatemala. Juan de Grijalva and his men were the first Europeans to see Tulum, during their reconnaissance mission along the eastern coast of Yucatan in 1518. The Spanish later returned to conquer the Yucatan, and in the process brought their Old World diseases that decimated the native population. Over time, Tulum, like so many other Mayan cities, was abandoned to the elements. The site is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The entrance fee is about $37 pesos (US $3.00), and should be paid in pesos. If you're bringing a video camera, there is a government fee of $30 pesos. No tripods are allowed. At the site, you will find restrooms and a number of souvenir stands, as well as a small book store where you can buy postcards and Tulum tour books in several languages.
Dolphin Encounters
Dolphin Discovery Center Located in Chankanaab Park, the Dolphin Discovery Center offers a number of dolphin swim activities. If you participate in a dolphin swim, you can visit the other attractions of Chankanaab Park without paying the park's US $16.00 admission fee.
Dolphinaris Located just south of San Miguel, Dolphinaris offers a number of dolphin swim activities and programs, including swimming with dolphins, snorkeling with stingrays, dolphin training sessions, a kid's dolphin program and private dolphin sessions with family or friends.
Activities
Discover Mexico Discover Mexico is a theme park that highlights the cultural and historical treasures of Mexico. Located only a half mile south of the Puerta Maya pier, the facility features scale-model miniatures of dozens of Mexican landmarks, including Maya ruins at Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Edzna and the magnificent cathedrals in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Taxco. The park also has a museum of popular arts featuring works unique to individual Mexican states, as well as a multi-screen "video experience room" where large screens showcase scenic, natural and cultural wonders, accompanied by music and narrative in English and Spanish. Discover Mexico's miniature replicas are arranged in an open-air, garden-like setting where native music and other tropical sounds enhance the experience. Paved walkways allow visitors to stroll at their leisure, progressing from pre-Hispanic to Colonial to modern times. The complex also includes a small mercado, where traditional Mexican food, beverages and ice cream are sold. Tours conclude at a gift shop that sells arts and crafts from various regions of the country. The admission price is US$ 20.00; a discount coupon is available on their web site.
Xel-Ha Xel-Ha is a world famous eco-park located north of Tulum. Xel-Ha's main allure is its awesome aquatic attractions. You can swim, snorkel, explore or relax by the lagoon. There is also a trail that leads around the park taking you through the jungle. You'll see lots of iguanas on this trail. Changing rooms, fresh water showers, shopping and restaurants are available at the Park. The entrance fee is US $75.00 for adults, US $37.50 for kids ages 3 to 11, and it includes all food and beverages, snorkel equipment, use of beach chairs, hammocks and innertubes.
Xcaret Xcaret is an aquatic-based theme park where culture, ecology and Mexican wildlife meet. There's lots to do at Xcaret. You can take a Mayan swim, in which you float for 30 minutes on the surface of an underground river. You can also swim in the Caribbean, in one of the lagoons, pools, channels or cenotes. You can explore the Maya archaeological site in the park as well as in the Mayan Museum. Visit the aviary, take a stroll through the botanical garden and nursery, relax on the beach, enjoy a guided nature tour on the jungle trail or visit the mushroom farm, the orchid house, or the butterfly pavillion. They even have a bat cave! The park has fresh water showers, changing facilities, hammocks and beach lounge chairs for your comfort. The entrance fee is US $69.00 for adults, and US $34.50 for kids ages 3 to 11; a 10% discount is available if you book over the internet.
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