Things to do in  Cozumel

One of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations, Quintana Roo is the gateway to the Mexican Caribbean. Palm-lined beaches, Maya ruins, and family-friendly nature parks characterize this southeastern state, where you can dive or snorkel coral reefs, cool off in ancient cenotes, and party in the nightclubs of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. It’s a short hop across the border to Belize.

Shady cabanas are manicured and offer relaxation—and a party atmosphere—at this Cozumel beach club. It’s all about sea, sun, and sand, minus the crowds that fill some of Cozumel’s public beaches. Along with the waterside cabanas, Mr. Sancho’s Beach Club offers sun loungers, spa services, dining, and toys such as sit-on-top kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and Jet Skis, available for use in the calm water just offshore.

Set within Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, Chanakanaab Adventure Park offers a touch of nature with the amenities, convenience, and safety features of an aqua park. While it’s open to anyone who pays entry, it’s especially popular with Cozumel’s cruise ship crowd, given its location just south of the terminal. The park’s things-to-do list is lengthy, from basking on a beach with a cocktail, to discovering replica Maya ruins, to snorkeling in sandy shallows and learning to scuba dive.

With a name that translates as “place of the turtles,” Akumal is unsurprisingly popular with turtles and turtle-loving tourists alike. The town’s lagoon and horseshoe-shaped bay attracts various species of the shelled reptiles thanks to an abundance of sea grass in the area. It’s also known as a place where sea turtles return to lay eggs, although continuing coastal developments around Akumal are putting nesting grounds at risk and giving rise to environmental concerns.

The star attraction of Cozumel Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel), Palancar Reef is a rich underwater landscape ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Aquatic species thrive amidst these colorful corals, including sea turtles, rays, nurse sharks, barracudas, moray eels, and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish.

Located on Cozumel’s southernmost tip, Punta Sur Eco Beach Park (Faro Celerain Ecological Reserve) spans 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of coastal wilderness, coral reefs, and Caribbean ocean. Here you can find ancient Maya ruins, a picturesque lighthouse, and sandy beaches—plus exotic birds, crocodiles, and sea turtles.

Located on Cozumel’s rugged eastern coast, El Mirador lookout is a rocky seascape dotted with natural bridges, tide pools, and stone spires. This wild, undeveloped area looks out onto the open Caribbean Sea and offers a breezy escape from Cozumel’s more touristy areas.

Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park encompasses the island’s best-known diving and snorkeling spots, including the Palancar, Columbia, and Paradise reefs, as well as the Devil’s Throat at Punta Sur and the shipwreck ofFelipe Xicoténcatl—a minesweeper ship used in WWII. The park houses up to 26 species of coral and 300 species of fish.

Centuries ago, Maya women visited this sacred site to pay tribute to Ixchel, their goddess of love and fertility. Today, the San Gervasio Mayan ruins are one of Cozumel’s largest archaeological sites, with low stone structures, a central plaza, and a main temple scattered throughout the jungle.

Columbia Reef is famous for its complex architecture of caves, arches, and coral spires. Here, you can find schools of snapper, barracudas, sea turtles, scorpion fish, and even the rare passing nurse shark. With both shallow coral gardens and deep ocean-floor caverns, the reef is accessible to snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

El Cedral is a village on the southwest side of Cozumel. It is also the site of the island’s oldest Mayan ruins, which date to AD 800. Spanish explorers first discovered El Cedral in 1518, and it became the island’s first official city in 1847. Today it’s home to a small community of quaint houses and farms, as well as an annual festival.

Playa Mia Grand Beach Park offers myriad options for enjoying the Caribbean Sea, whether you want to swim in the warm ocean, enjoy a massage, zip down water slides, or float in one of the park’s many pools. Here you can find beachfront lounge chairs and hammocks, a buffet and full bar, and even an underwater Maya city to explore.

One of Cozumel’s most popular dive sites, Paradise Reef (Paraíso Reef) is famous for its clear water, diverse coral structures, and teeming schools of colorful fish. Here you can spot large sea species such as eels, rays, and nurse sharks in addition to smaller creatures such as seahorses, boxfish, and delicate pipefish.

Playa Palancar is a laid-back beach where you can swim, snorkel, or just relax in a hammock under the coconut-palm trees. It’s one of Cozumel’s most beautiful beaches, with fine white sand and access to an outstanding coral reef just offshore. For a relaxing beach day away from the crowded tourist spots, there’s no better place.

Facing Cozumel’s white sands and turquoise waters, Playa Uvas Beach Club sits directly on the coast and offers a variety of activities and amenities. Active visitors will enjoy snorkel tours, parasailing, and kayaking, and there are lounge chairs, beachside massages, and pool facilities for those who simply want to relax in the sun.