What Are The Top 20 Best Things To Do In Cozumel, Mexico?

Very few people know that Cozumel is one of the largest islands of Mexico. It is located near the famous Mayan Riviera resorts. The island offers more than just gorgeous beaches with crystal clear water and vibrant coral sand. Although nothing more is required! Cozumel also has dense green forests and incredible diving opportunities. So what are the 20 best things to do in Cozumel?

Did you know that the island was an important pilgrimage destination for sun god worshippers? Yes, that’s true. In the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, the Land of the Swallows also served as the hiding place for many smugglers and pirates.

But now, the smugglers, pirates, and pilgrims have all been replaced by divers and sunbathers. You will find no one but tourists down there enjoying the sun, water, and the many resorts that have now sprung up out of nowhere.

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So let’s find out how to make the most of the beautiful island!

20 Best Things to Do In Cozumel

#1 Indulge in Shopping at Plaza Del Sol

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Shopping in Cozumel is one of the best ways to take some of the cultures back home. The Punta Langosta pier located on the island leads to its main shopping area. This is known as Plaza del Sol.

What you will find here is local as well as duty-free shops selling all kinds of souvenirs. These include embroidered Mayan-style blouses, carved wood, leather goods, silver jewelry, and ceramics. And of course, there’s more!

#2 Visit the Punta Sur Park Ecological Reserve

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Only a few tourists realize that the island they’re on has one of the largest ecological reserves in the world. There are many things to look forward to when you’re at the Punta Sur Eco Park. The Faro Celarain lighthouse is the most popular tourist attraction out there.

Other exciting activities include going to the navigation museum, watching crocodiles, sunbathing at the La Playa Mas Hermosa beach, going for a boat ride, or snorkeling.

#3 Snorkeling

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If you’re at Cozumel, you have to snorkel. It’s a part of every “20 best things to do in Cozumel” list on the web. And that’s because the island has clear waters. In fact, it has a 100-foot visibility. Isn’t that impressive?

So there’s nothing better that you can do on that island than snorkeling and scuba diving. You can go to a private beach that offers the opportunity to snorkel off shore. Here, the chances of coming across many squids swimming together are pretty high.

When you don’t want to snorkel, you can just chill on the beach and take in the magical setting.

#4 Go for a Jeep Tour

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The jeep tour of the island is a 5-hour long excursion. And trust me, there’s no chance that you might get bored for even a single second. Cozumel has plenty of awe-inspiring views to offer. If you’re into indulging in a broad range of activities, then you should opt for a jeep tour.

The adventure takes you to all the right places that you can come back to again to make the most of it. But for now, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

#5 Dive at the Palancar Reef

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Cozumel’s marine life is what attracts most tourists to the island. Thanks to the conservation efforts put in by the people in charge there. They prefer observing the fish found in their waters rather than eating them.

If you ask any passionate scuba diver or snorkeler, they’ll tell you all about Cozumel. And that’s because the beautiful island offers lovely reefs where you can not only dive but explore too. And the Palancar Reef is the best among them. When in there, don’t forget to look for a large Christ bronze figure once you hit 17 meters.

Other popular diving destinations include Santa Rosa Wall and Maracaibo, Columbia, Paraiso, and San Francisco reefs.

Cozumel Palancar Reef Snorkeling

#6 Spend the Day at San Miguel de Cozumel

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The northwestern part of Cozumel is the capital of the island. It’s called San Miguel de Cozumel. And it offers plenty of entertaining distractions, thus constituting as one of the most popular tourist hubs.

The capital is the busiest port on the island. Hundreds of ferries depart from here and travel to the mainland every single day. It also hosts large cruise ships that ply the crystal-clear waters of the gorgeous Caribbean Sea.

The Island Museum located in San Miguel de Cozumel is another interesting spot for many tourists. It exhibits the rich marine life, history, and local geography of the Land of the Swallows.

Just taking a stroll in this city is one of the best free things to do in Cozumel Mexico.

#7 Experience the Mayan Ruins

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Out of the 20 best things to do in Cozumel, visiting the Mayan ruins is the best way to come close to the culture of the island. Did you know that Cozumel has as many as 30 Mayan civilization sites? And some of the ruined Mayan monuments are located in dense jungles or erected above the island’s pristine beaches.

The most ancient and famous one among them is San Gervasio. It came into existence in AD 800. And if you want to visit the more religious wrecks of the Mayan empire, then head to the Temple of Ixchel.

Other impressive ruins include Castillo Real, Santa Pilar, and Santa Rita.

Mayan Ruins, Arrival of Spaniards, Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Mexico

#8 Head to the Stingray Beach

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When it comes to wildlife encounters, there’s nothing better than Cozumel for that purpose. Thanks to the sparkling waters and coral reefs of the island. Stingray Beach is considered to be one of the most attractive beaches in the region. It contains plenty of mysterious marine creatures, including passive beasts known as the stingray.

You get the opportunity to touch and feed them. Even swimming with them is something you can indulge in. And here’s an even better opportunity if you happen to be scared of stingrays. You can swim with dolphins instead, at the Dolphinaris Cozumel.

#9 Drop by the Island Museum

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When in San Miguel de Cozumel, don’t forget to check out the Island Museum. It shows you everything you need to about the people and history of Cozumel. The museum also houses ancient artifacts and artwork from renowned local and international artists

#10 Get to the Celarain Lighthouse

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There are many great lighthouses located around the globe. And Celarain ranks among the top ones on the list. It was constructed back in 1901 on the southernmost edge of the gorgeous island. There are as many as 134 steps to reach to the top and soak in the view of the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

#11 Visit the Discover Mexico Cozumel Park

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Even though this tourist destination is a new addition to the list, it has taken many people by surprise. So it seems quite normal to come across the Discover Mexico Cozumel Park in many “20 best things to do in Cozumel” articles.

The park offers small archeological reconstruction sites, historical attractions, and other diverse cultural views. Here, you will get the opportunity to explore food, traditional dances, art, and music. The heart of every vacation, isn’t it?

#12 Take your Kids to Cozumel’s National Marine Park

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When traveling with children, you have to spend the day at the National Marine Park of Cozumel. And when in there, you need to head to the Laguna Chankanaab. It is a small yet magical freshwater lake. Separated from the large sea, it contains bright-colored tropical fish in sparkling waters.

You can feel free to scuba dive, snorkel, and swim in here too. The experience is truly enchanting!

#13 Opt for a Submarine Tour

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I keep talking about snorkeling and scuba diving. But what if you can’t or don’t want to indulge in those activities? How do you witness the spectacular marine life then? You have another option too. It’s called a submarine tour. Once you’re 100 feet under the water, you will be able to spot all the creatures of the ocean.

#14 Head to the Playa San de Martin Beach

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White sand beaches sound as fictional as Harry Potter, don’t they? But that’s what real like looks like when you’re in Cozumel. Imagine a white sand beach with electric blue-colored water and not many people. Sounds more dreamlike, doesn’t it? This is what you get when you visit the Playa San de Martin Beach.

#15 Take a Selfie with World War II Fighter Planes

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When you love history or fighter planes, you can’t help but take that picture. Towards the north side of San Miguel, many WWII fighters are spreading their wings in all their glory. You can take a selfie as proof that you were alive to witness the remains of WWII fighter planes.

#16 Have a Fun Day at the Playa Mia Beach Club

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Waterparks do sound like an excellent idea when you’re in Cozumel with kids. And the Playa Mia Beach Club is one of those parks that succeed in keeping you and the kids occupied. There are plenty of water slides and water toys that your children won’t get enough of. Plus, there’s kayaking too!

#17 Stopover at the Cozumel Pearl Farm

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There’s nothing more memorable and unique to do on the island than visit the Cozumel Pearl Farm. And here’s why! The excursion lasts for around six hours. It consists of looking at how precious pearls come into existence.

Apart from that, you can also chill on the private beach, have a delicious lunch, and spend some magical time in the sparkling water.

#18 Drive Around on Your Own

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You’re on vacation, right? So you have plenty of time on your hands, don’t you? This means renting a car and start wheeling around. It’s one of the most liberating Cozumel things to do on your own. And trust me, once you do this, you won’t feel like reading anymore “20 best things to do in Cozumel” articles.

#19 Day Hike to Tulum

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When you’re done spending an awful lot of time at the Mayan empire ruins, you can head to Tulum. The ancient, ruined monument rests on the edge of the vast, beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Don’t forget to spend some time at its beach as well. And to make things even better, the food out here is considered to be the best on the island.

#20 See a Cenote

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You’ll know a cenote when you see one. But what is a cenote? It’s a freshwater, natural, bright limestone pool. And where do you find these? Near Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

You will be glad to know Mexico has some of the world’s most beautiful cenotes. Every single time you visit Cozumel, you will want to spend a day at one of its cenotes.

The End

So this is the complete list of the 20 best things to do in Cozumel, Mexico. This means you have many reasons to plan your next vacation there, don’t you?

The destinations discussed in the article are all popular tourist spots. They include both crowded and not-so-crowded places on the beautiful island.

So tell me, have you ever visited the Land of the Swallows? What’s your favorite destination?

If you have any useful tips or exciting adventures to share with us here, then please do so. The more information we have, the more life-changing the experience will be.

Thank you for reading the article.

I hope your vacations rocks!

Sources:

1. 10 top-rated tourist attractions in Cozumel.

2. 7 fun cheap (or free) things to do in Cozumel.

3. The Ultimate list of family things to do in Cozumel.