Cozumel
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Cozumel - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Cozumel - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Chankanaab, translated as "small sea," consists of a saltwater lagoon, an archaeological park, and a botanical garden, with reproductions of a Maya village and Olmec, Toltec, Aztec, and Maya stone carvings scattered throughout. You can swim at the beach, and there's plenty for snorkelers and divers to see beneath the surface—picture underwater caverns, a sunken ship, crusty old cannons and anchors, and a sculpture of the Virgen del Mar (Virgin of the Sea), all populated by parrotfish and sergeant majors galore. The seal show is included in your admission. To preserve the ecosystem, rules forbid touching the reef or feeding the fish. You'll find dive shops, restaurants, gift shops, a snack stand, and dressing rooms with lockers and showers right on the sand. Chankanaab also has a Dolphin Discovery facility where visitors can swim with the much-loved marine mammals.
Want to see all of Mexico while staying on the island? This theme park purports to show you the country's archaeological sites, important architectural landmarks, and cultures, without leaving Cozumel. The scale models of temples, pyramids, monasteries, and more have kitsch value, but a slickly produced film about the country and high-quality folk art exhibits begin to touch on the real thing. An outdoor café serves tasty fruit sorbets and light meals; you can also reserve in advance for the daily tequila tasting. The gift shop has an array of beautiful Mexican folk art for sale.
Spanish explorers discovered this site—once the hub of Mayan life on Cozumel—in 1518, and in 1847 it became the island's first official city. Today it's a residential community with small, well-tended houses and gardens. Conquistadores tore down much of the Mayan temple, so there's little in the way of actual ruins apart from one small stone arch; if you're in the market for souvenirs, however, vendors around the main plaza display embroidered blouses and hammocks. Kun Che Park, just past the village, offers an interactive tour of the Mayan lifestyle.
Filling two floors of a former hotel, Cozumel's museum has displays on natural history—the island's origins, endangered species, topography, and coral-reef ecology—as well as human history during the pre-Columbian and colonial periods. The photos of the island's transformation over the 20th and 21st centuries are especially fascinating, as is the exhibit of a typical Maya home. Guided tours are available.
The lighthouse at Cozumel's northernmost point is a solitary, beautiful sight. The rutted road to Punta Molas is accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles, dirt bikes, and ATVs only, but the scenery is awe-inspiring no matter how far you're able to go. Some tour operators travel out this way when the oceans are calm, providing a photo op from the top of the lighthouse. If making the trip, the small military garrison based there always appreciates a few snacks and soft drinks if you have some to spare.
This 247-acre national preserve is a protected habitat for numerous birds and animals, including crocodiles, flamingos, egrets, and herons. At the park's (and Cozumel's) southernmost point stands the Faro de Celarain, a lighthouse that's now a museum of navigation. Climb the 134 steps to the top for the best view of the island. Spot birds from observation towers near Laguna Colombia or Laguna Chunchacab, or visit the ancient Mayan lighthouse El Caracol, which was designed to whistle when the wind blows in a certain direction. Beaches here are wide and deserted, and there's great snorkeling offshore; snorkeling equipment is available for rent, as are kayaks. Leave your car at the Faro and take a park shuttle or rental bike to either of the two beach bars. Admission price includes a pontoon-boat ride in the crocodile-infested lagoon. If you're coming by cab, expect to pay about MX$400 for a round-trip ride from San Miguel.
Rising from the jungle, these temples make up Cozumel's largest remaining Maya and Toltec site. San Gervasio was the island's capital and ceremonial center, dedicated to the fertility goddess Ixchel. The classic- and postclassic-style buildings and temples were continuously occupied from AD 300 to 1500. Typical architectural features include limestone plazas and arches atop stepped platforms, as well as stelae and bas-reliefs. Don't miss the temple Las Manitas, with red handprints all over its altar. Water and light snacks are available to purchase, and bug spray is recommended—and be sure to wear your walking shoes for this adventure. Plaques in Mayan, Spanish, and English clearly describe each structure, but it's worth hiring a guide to fully appreciate the site.
Easily accessible by cab from downtown or the cruise piers, this spot at Playa San Francisco is a rowdy affair with a restaurant and bar where waiters break into song and draw customers into line dances. The food is typical of the chain—burgers, barbecued ribs, tacos—and the alcohol flows generously. While there's a wide array of water sports offered, the water is shallow, not always clear, and congested with Jet Skis and water toys. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers.
{{ item.review }}
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Sights in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions: