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:: Snorkel Shore :: Cozumel Island

Where is Cozumel?

20.4230° N, 86.9223° W
Cozumel is an Island in the Caribbean Sea off the east coast of mainland Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and a part of the Mexican state Quintana Roo. The island is roughly 400.2/sq. mi (154.5/sq. km) of mostly undeveloped land. Cozumel sits within the Mesoamerican Reef system, also called the Great Mayan Reef, a marine region approximately 621.4/sq. mi (1000/sq. km) that stretches from the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and along its eastern side, Belize, and Guatemala, and north of Honduras.

Although mostly undeveloped land, Cozumel is a popular cruise ship port and is famous for reef-diving and snorkeling.

Mesoamerican Reef Map

second largest Barrier Reef on Earth- Wild Caribbean - BBC Nature


Riviera Maya Map
Gulf of Mexico and Carbbean Sea Map

How to get to Cozumel?

Direct: Cozumel has it’s own airport, it is currently only accessible through major hubs in Mexico and the USA, like Mexico City and Dallas, Texas and others. The airport is small, easy to navigate, and get a reliable taxi or shuttle to ride directly to your hotel. You can also rent a car there and rates are quite affordable for a standard sedan at approximately $10/day plus $18 liability coverage (required).

From Cancun: Flights go Cozumel airport are usually more expensive than the closet major airport hub in Cancun on the mainland and about 1.5-hour shuttle ride away. However, flights are more frequent to Cancun and have more options. When arriving to Cancun airport you can find the ADO bus that is very affordable to take the trip south to Play de Carmen to ride the ferry to Cozumel. Shuttles are also available and only slightly more money, at approximately $3.00 to ride the whole way with around 12-14 other passengers.

From Play de Carmen: If not going to Cozumel direct, most likely you will need to take the 45-minute ferry boat ride from Playa de Carmen to Cozumel, the cost is around $10 for one way ticket. There are two ferry companies in the area with slightly differing schedule but you should be able to find a boat from Playa de Carmen and to Cozumel every hour on the hour, from 5:45 AM in the morning to 11:00 PM at night.

Puerta Maya Ship Terminal

By cruise ship: You can, of course, get to Cozumel by cruise liner which will dock south of the main part of town along the main street Ave. Rafael E. Melgar.

Travel Tips

  1. Avoid exchanging currency at the airports either from the one you departed or arrived from, or if necessary, only exchange a minimal amount. The exchange rates at the airports are always higher than what can be found at a “casa de cambio” or exchange house. You can usually find your hotel to have a much fairer rate as well.

  2. Sunscreen is important in the tropical climate, but it is also expensive in Cozumel. It is not uncommon to see it price three times higher than what you might find back at home so it is wise to bring your own; however, remember the reef is a delicate ecosystem and it is import to use only reef safe sunscreen when you plan to enter the water.

  3. Cozumel is small but lodging can be quite spread out and the main form of transportation for foreigners in by taxi car. You can also rent a cat or dune bug. Dune bug are more expensive and usually only come in manual transmission which they will not teach you there. When in doubt with a manual transmission it is best to opt for a regular car sedan. Prices are very affordable and when you explore the island you can use the vehicle as a locker to keep your stuff relatively safe.

  4. Safety: is Cozumel safe? Yes, Cozumel is safe and when you talk to the people that live and work there, they will tell you Cozumel is the safest part of Mexico. As a solo female traveler, I have traveler through the island on foot, by car, and around by boat. I never once felt uncomfortable and found people to be extremely helpful when I needed directions.

  5. Spanish is not necessary; it is common to find someone that speaks enough English to help you get what you want. That said, you may find yourself in a taxi with a driver that can understand when you request a destination somewhere on the island but little else. It is always beneficial learn Spanish; I have found Paul Nobel’s Spanish classes, on Audible, to be quite easy and affordable.

When to go?

The best times to visit Cozumel are January through March with temperatures in the lower 80s and August through September with summer temperatures around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It is mainly a tropical savanna climate but is close to a tropical monsoon climate as well. The summer can bring about short bursts of rain while the winter rains are usually longer lasting.

While it is best to avoid in the wet months the sea turtle nesting season starts in June and goes through July and some of August. Although, you can not go to these protected nesting beaches on the south and south east side of the island, you have a much higher chance of swimming along side them while out snorkeling, especially if you are near sea grass which is a favorite food source.



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