There are so many things to do in Cozumel you can’t do them all in one vacation. Fortunately that just gives you an excuse to come back again, and again, and again, rinse and repeat.
Feeling lazy and just want someone to map out 5 perfect days for you? Boy, do I have some good news for you. Just wander over here.
Cozumel is a beautiful island just off the tip of the Yucatan of Mexico. You can fly directly into their international airport or make your way to Playa Del Carmen and take a short ferry ride over. Of course if you’re on a cruise, you’ll have 8+ hours to spend there, which is still plenty of time to do something awesome.
Cheat Sheet
Beaches
It’s an Island, it’s ringed with beaches, so of course you’re going to find a beach that you like. Cozumel has beach club beaches, secluded beaches, crowded beaches, even adventure beaches, take your pick. Some of the more popular ones with things to do in Cozumel are:
Punta Sur Eco Beach Park
Located at the southern end of the island, Punta Sur is always a fun thing to do in Cozumel. They have Crocodiles, a lighthouse and unbelievable snorkeling (the reef is a 300 meter swim so be prepared). This is one of our favorite beaches, it’s on a beautiful stretch of clear water and fine white sand.
Chankanaab Adventure Beach Park
Dolphins, Manatees, Sea Lions, Crocodiles! Holy crap! Is this a beach or a zoo? There’s even snorkeling and scuba diving, not to mention the Eco Archaeological tour.
Mr. Sanchos Beach Club
Horseback riding, massages, a pool with a swim up bar, are you sure that this is a beach? Yes, it is. There’s great snorkeling here too as well as a play area with huge inflatables. Spring for one of the all inclusive packages and you can drink all day and not pay a dime, just don’t forget to tip your bartenders and waiters.
The East Side Beaches
Drive along the undeveloped East side of the island and the whole coast is lined with beautiful sandy beaches meeting spectacular turquoise water. The east side beaches are directly on the Caribbean Sea and they’re a little rougher so bring your surfboard (see below). You can stop at any of the many restaurants next to the beach and have mouthwatering fresh seafood. If you have a chance to get to the east side, do it.
Go Topless on a Jeep Tour
One of the most popular things to do in Cozumel is the take a Jeep tour. Jump in your topless Jeep. What? What else would I mean when I say topless? Anyway, jump in your topless Jeep and tour the island, you can do food tasting tours, tequila tasting tours, off road driving tours to cenotes. This list goes on. Or you can just rent a Jeep or dune buggy and explore by yourself.
Cozumel is a small island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico in the Riviera Maya. Check out our guide to the Riviera Maya.
Snorkeling
Yes, you can practically put yourself into the water anywhere in Cozumel and you will find tremendous snorkeling. You can also sign up for one of the snorkeling tours offered by catamaran or boat. They will take you out to one of the many reefs that are located around the island. Once you get there you can be amazed at how buoyant you are in the Caribbean Sea. The coral and marine life is amazing, and there is always the chance for turtles and shark sightings. They supply the snorkel gear and the drinks, and you supply the energy, so what are you waiting for?
Scuba Diving
Where to start with this? First off, this is the perfect spot for scuba diving and it should be number one on your list of things to do in Cozumel. Santa Rosa Wall, Palancar, Columbia and San Francisco Reefs are just a few of the popular reefs in the area.
Diving around the island of Cozumel is an exhilarating experience, the water is clear, warm and refreshing, (can you say no wet suit?) the visibility is perfect, the marine life is abundant, and the coral is breathtaking. Do a two or three tank dive and experience the best dive of your life.
You’ve never dived before? There’s an easy fix for that, find a PADI certified dive shop and tell them you want to do a “discover scuba” dive. They’ll go over the basics that you need to know and take you down, usually to about 30′. After you’ve gone down just once, you’ll wonder what took you so long to try Scuba Diving.
San Gervaiso Mayan Ruins
San Gervasio is the most populated collection of Mayan ruins on the island. The site is dedicated to the Goddess of Fertility, Ixchel. Supposedly all Mayan women journeyed to the island to be blessed by Ixchel. While it’s not as big as some of the other Mayan sites on the mainland of Mexico it still offers some nice ruins.
Tour the place by yourself with a self guided tour or spring for a guide. Either way you’ll find yourself in a very tranquil spot surrounded by the jungle. It’s not a huge area so when your done there you can go explore the island.
Jade Caverns
You can get to Jade Caverns by x-rail dune buggy, ATV, and Jeep. Your guide will take you on an adventure off road through the jungle. Once you get to the caverns you will learn about Cenotes and the Mayans. Taking a dip in the water feels fantastic after the ride through the jungle. While you’re there, be a thrill seeker and climb to the top and jump in.
Cozumel Pearl Farm
The farm is located in crystal clear water, you get to snorkel among the oysters that make the pearls. It’s a great way to unwind and relax as you will be the only people around as you learn about what it takes to keep a pearl farm going.
Playa El Cielo
A sandbar loaded with starfish in the clearest water that you’ve ever seen. It’s a nice couple of hours hanging out and snorkeling. It’s not a beach as you’ll be in waist deep water the whole time. Pro tip – Take one of the smaller boats so you’re not fighting with a crowd the whole time.
Sport Fishing
Charter one of the many sport fishing boats and spend a day on the water catching fish. Cozumel is a sport fisher’s paradise due to the warm tropical waters and being near the second largest reef in the world. Depending on the time of year you can catch barracuda, grouper, marlin, and mahi mahi. If you’re lucky you can land that coveted sailfish and hang it on the wall in your living room until your wife makes you move it to the mancave.
Atlantis Submarine Expedition
Do you want to experience getting up close and personal with the fishes of the reef, but you don’t like that whole getting wet thing? Then this is the tour for you. Get yourself into one of the subs that prowl the reefs. They’re air conditioned for that cool feeling while hanging out on the seafloor, and it has guides who will tell you about the reef and marine life that inhabits it.
Hang Ten
Cruise on over to Cozumel Surfing and hook up with Nacho Gutierrez (yes, that’s his name) and learn how to surf or improve your skills. He’s been in business for over 20 years. Nacho has surfed all over the world and has taught thousands of people to surf.
