Visit Cozumel, Mexico’s largest island with lovely beaches and a diving paradise.
Cozumel is Mexico‘s largest island and 53 km long and 14 km wide. (See the map below). It is famous for so many blinding white and quite different beaches and was first truly discovered by divers such as Jacques Cousteau, the well-known movie director, and diver, who in the 1960s filmed the coral reef in the Caribbean.
Dolphinarium in Cozumel Mexico
You can visit this exciting island on a beach & sun holiday, but it will undoubtedly also be exciting to snorkel or scuba diving a bit, see the coral reefs and play with curious and colorful coral fish.
Cozumel Mexico Chankanaab
In just 30 min. by boat, you can be on mainland Mexico and visit the famous resort of Cancun. Or go to Cuba on a day trip. Ready to explore Cozumel?
Cozumel in Mexico, a diving experience with a garantee for coral reefs
Arrecife Palancar at Cozumel, one of the world’s largest coral reefs.
If you are a diver, this is a fantastic place for you.
Cozumel lies ca. 10 kilometres/six miles off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, also known as the “Island of the Swallows.” It is a small island has become a popular scuba diving destination. Cozumel has all the ingredients for a great dive getaway – friendly locals, good food, lively nightspots, towering coral formations, warm water, great underwater visibility and white sandy beaches. Cozumel is famous among the diving community for its lush reef walls and high energy drifts. The reef system around the island is a part of the Mesoamerican reef system and is protected by the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park. As such, it is extremely healthy for a Caribbean reef and is home to 26 coral species and more than 500 species of fish. Cozumel is suitable for all levels of diver from beginners to tec divers. In particular, Cozumel is currently ranked as one of the top ten places for advanced diving. This is due to the deep walls and too-clear visibility that require extra vigilance. Diving in Cozumel can be completed by speedboat or from shore, depending on your preference
You will find a great and intact coral reef and ecosystem on the south side of Cozumel. Since the discovery in the 60s, diving enthusiasts from all over the world have traveled far to see this beautiful and unique coral reef, Arrecife Palancar, which covers 5 kilometers of the most beautiful corals filled with fish in all of the rainbow colors. Among other species, you will see a beautiful and special “Splendid Toadfish / Toadfish”, which is endangered as a species, hardly because of its unusual looks, it does not look much like food, but it is a little charming fellow, and only found at Cozumel. There are more than 500 species of fish living near the reef. This part of Cozumel has rated a top diving spot for advanced divers as well, including tech diving.
There is no shortage of interesting and colorful fish species.
Previously, it was just a small island living off fishing, only half an hour sailing from Playa del Carmen.
Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park
Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park is off the coast of the province of Quintana Roo. Cozumel’s coral reef is part of “The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System” and, as mentioned, the world’s second largest coral reef system. Nearly all of Cozumel is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, but the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park covers only the area around the southern part of the island at Punta Sur and continues slightly east. You can snorkel or scuba dive, totally up to you.
Who discovered Cozumel
More than 500 years ago, the island was an important place for the Mayan Indians who came here to worship their fertility goddess Ixchel. In 1519, the Spanish explorer Cortés came to the island heading for the conquest of the mainland. Since then, it became a haven for pirates and later on the production of chewing gum was lucrative. The island is a mecca for divers, and there is a beach for every taste.
Playa-San-Fransisco-Cozumel
The best beaches are Playa San Francisca 14 km from town and Playa Palancar a few km further south. In the May-September period, the large sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs. An incredibly important contribution to the survival of generally threatened turtles. There are plenty of opportunities to see turtles during your diving holiday.
Where to stay in Mexico?
1o resorts you will love as long as you stay
Here are 10 top resorts in Mexico server on a silver platter:
Book Mexico tours with top travel agencies with best competitive prices
A Taste of Mexico City, City Break
Much more Mexico for you, with or without tacos?
- Intro to traveling in Mexico here at www.traveltalk.travel
- More info from Visit Mexico.
- Biggest Spanish speaking country in the world, see the rest?
- Mexican food one of the oldest food cultures in the world
- Cancun, Mexico: Beaches that make you long for sun and heat
- How about a trip to and a few days in nearby Cuba?
- The Panamericana race in Mexico
A really fantastic story that tells a little about Mexico in the good old days when driving the world’s most dangerous car race through large parts of Mexico so the chickens jumped for life in Porsche, Mercedes, and American Studebakers. Panamericana race. An iconic car race. You could even drive the route and see Mexico on a road trip?
Panamericana in Mexico, one of the most iconic car races ever
Diving vacations from around the world
Do come back from time to time. Diving as a travel interest is growing here at www.traveltalk.travel from week to week.
Map overview
