Cozumel Vacations


	The 490-square-km (189-square-mi) island of Cozumel hangs 19 km (12 mi) off the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. Calm waters wash the white sandy beaches on its leeward side, which is fringed by a spectacular reef system. On the windward Caribbean side, powerful surf and rocky strands are broken at intervals by calm bays and hidden coves. Aside from the 3% of the island that has been developed, Cozumel is made up of expanses of sandy or rocky beaches, quiet little coves, palm groves, scrubby jungle, lagoons and swamps, and a few low hills (the maximum elevation is 45 ft). A few Maya ruins provide what limited sightseeing there is aside from the island's glorious natural attractions. The island's name comes from the Maya word Ah-Cuzamil-Peten, which means "land of the swallows." For the Maya, Cozumel was the sacred site of the fertility goddess Ixchel, as well as a key center of trade and navigation. For the Spanish, it was useful as a naval base in the late 16th century. For pirates, its safe harbors and the catacombs and tunnels the Maya dug were ideal for their treasure-gathering and -storing needs. After cycles of settlement and abandonment that included an economic boom based on the island's abundant supply of zapote trees, which produce chicle, a chewing-gum industry staple, Jacques Cousteau discovered its incredible reefs and diving opportunities in 1961, and the trajectory of its current life was set. Cozumel related links: Cozumel Hotels \| Cozumel Vacation Specials Mexico Vacations

Weather & When to Go

High season along the Mexican Caribbean runs from mid-December through the week after Easter. The most popular vacation times are Semana Santa (Holy Week, the week before Easter) and the week from Christmas to New Year's. Most hotels are booked well in advance for these holiday periods, when prices are at their highest and armies of travelers swarm popular attractions. Resorts popular with college students (i.e. any place with a beach) tend to fill up in the summer months.Off-season price changes are considerable at the beach resorts. To avoid crowds, and high prices, the best times to go are October and March-May.December to May is usually pleasant along the coast, although you may experience some afternoon rain and winds; in autumn, storms are common. The steamiest times of year both on the coast and inland are late spring and in August and early September, just before the rainy season.

Attractions & Excursions

You may never want to leave this island treasure, instead choosing to enjoy activities both below and above water. Cozumel is the diving capital of Mexico, and enthusiasts fly in for 100-ft. visibility, drift diving, sheer walls, and Chankanaab Park, home to the world's only inland coral formation. Above water, the island is home to museums, ruins, and an island culture unique to Mexico.

If you go south from Cozumel's principal town, San Miguel, you'll come to Chankanaab Nature Park, Playa Corona, Playa San Francisco, Playa del Sol, and the ruins of El Cedral. Farther south past Playa de Palancar -- the famous reef lies offshore -- is the island's end, where a dirt trail to Laguna Colombia leads from the Paradise Café. The road north is quite rough and only half of it is accessible by car. Walk north along the beach to Castillo Real, another Maya site. There are other minor ruins in the area, including Punta Molas Faro, at the island's northern tip. If you travel west on Avenida Benito Juárez, you'll come to the turnoff for the ruins of San Gervasio.

Cozumel is 33 miles long and 9 miles wide, but only a few of its roads -- primarily those in the southern half -- are paved. It's worth renting a vehicle to explore the island, which has more sights than either Cancún or Isla Mujeres. Most of the dirt roads are not maintained, so proceed with great caution, especially after a rain. Mopeds and motorcycles are very popular here, but also extremely dangerous because of heavy traffic, potholes, and hidden stop signs.

Entertainment

Cozumel offers enough daytime activities to make you want to retire early, but that doesn't keep the island from hopping late into the night. The arts scene on Cozumel tends to focus on the local culture.

The whole island explodes with music, costumes, dancing, parades and parties for Carnival, which takes place just before the start of Lent in February. Tourists come from around the world and are encouraged to dress up and catch the fever.

Shopping

As in other Mexican resort areas, Cozumel's shops accept dollars as readily as pesos, and many goods are priced in dollars. You'll get a better price everywhere on Cozumel if you pay with cash or traveler's checks since there is a hefty surcharge on credit cards that you may be asked to pay. MasterCard and Visa are the two most popular cards, followed by American Express. The many warnings you will receive about buying from street vendors should be heeded -- the quality of their merchandise leaves much to be desired, although this may not be apparent until it's too late.

Cruise ships usually dock at Cozumel on Monday, but there is traffic here almost every weekday, and the shops are the most crowded 10-11 and 1-2. Traditionally, stores are open 9-1 and 5-9, but a number of them, especially those nearest the pier, tend to stay open all day and on weekends, particularly during high season. Most of the shops are closed Sunday morning.

Don't pay much attention to written or verbal offers of "20% discounts, today only" or "only for cruise-ship passengers" -- they're nothing but bait to get you inside. Similarly, many of the larger stores advertise "duty-free" wares, but these are of greater interest to Mexicans from the mainland than foreigners since the prices tend to be higher than retail prices in the United States.

A last word of caution: don't buy black coral -- it's an endangered species and really overpriced on the island.

Dining

Dining options on Cozumel reflect the nature of the place as a whole: breezy and relaxed with the occasional harmless pretensions. There are more than 80 restaurants in the downtown core, so you can choose among American fast-food outlets, simple outdoor eateries that serve great regional dishes, and dining spots offering gourmet seafood and romantic settings. Most restaurants accept credit cards; café-type places generally take only cash. A tip: don't be influenced by cab drivers' suggestions -- usually they are paid to recommend restaurants.

Lodging: Hotels & Accommodations

The small one-of-a-kind hotels found in Cozumel are without the glamour and glitz with an emphasis on luxury, comfort and reasonable rates. Most of Cozumel's hotels are on the west and south ends of the island. The larger resorts are north and south of San Miguel, while the less expensive hotels are in the town. Enjoy a Cozumel vacation package at the top luxury hotels!
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	Ruinas del Rey Large signs on the Zone's lagoon side, roughly opposite the Playa de Oro and El Pueblito hotels, point out the small Ruins of the King, which have been incorporated into the Caesar Park Beach & Golf Resort complex. Skeletons interred both at the apex and at the base suggest that the site may have been a royal burial ground. Tulum Tulum is the Yucatán Peninsula's most visited Maya ruin, attracting more than 2 million people annually. Though most of the architecture here is of unremarkable post-classic (AD 900-1541) style, the amount of attention that Tulum receives is not entirely undeserved. Its location by the blue-green waters of the Caribbean is indeed breathtaking. Highlights include the Temple of the Frescoes, the Temple of the Descending God, and Tulum's largest and most famous building, the Castillo (castle), looming at the edge of a 40-ft limestone cliff. Cancún Convention Center The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, a small museum on the ground floor of the Convention Center, traces Mayan culture with a fascinating collection of 1,000- to 1,500-year-old artifacts collected throughout Quintana Roo.


	Occidental Grand Cozumel Presidente Intercontinental Cozumel Resort & Spa Cozumel Palace Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort

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