Cozumel Holidays

Mayan ruins, sun, sea and an unforgettable underwater world come together on Mexico’s most famous tropical island.

Cozumel is an island of two halves: the fun-in-the-sun west coast which faces the mainland’s famed Mayan Riviera and is home to most of the resorts and main tourist attractions, and the wild east coast where untouched and remote beaches are washed by cerulean seas. In one day, you can go from wonderfully windswept bays, eco-rich nature parks or Mayan runs to beach clubs, bars and restaurants.

What sets Cozumel apart from the holiday spot crowd is the surrounding underwater world: this is one of the world’s top scuba destinations with walls cloaked with coral, caves that are waiting to be explored and drift dive sites where the current transports you. For non-divers, the snorkelling is pretty epic too and you don’t have to go too far from the shore to see the kaleidoscopic sea life this part of the world is famous for.

Cozumel Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Cozumel

Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa

This fresh retreat brings the popular family focused Dreams brand to Cozumel’s picture-postcard s...

from £1,685 p/p

Melia Cozumel

This modern all-inclusive hotel is set on creamy sands and comes with a raft of activities and fa...

from £1,511 p/p

Holidays in Cozumel

Hotel

Cozumel
4 Star

Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa

This fresh retreat brings the popular family focused Dreams brand to Cozumel’s picture-postcard shore.

From £1,685 p/p

Hotel

Cozumel
4 Star

Melia Cozumel

This modern all-inclusive hotel is set on creamy sands and comes with a raft of activities and facilities to ensure you’ll never get bored.

From £1,511 p/p

Snorkel El Cielo Reef

In Cozumel

Get ready to explore the underwater treasures and marine variety of the Caribbean Sea and the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park on a half-day snorkelling trip. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Cozumel and taken to a section of the Mesoamerican Reef, second only in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. In warm and clear waters, you’ll visit El Cielo Reef to snorkel among starfish, turtles, angelfish, and clownfish, before heading to the sandbar El Cielito. The next stop, after some drinks back on board, stop off at Cozumel's uber-fun Playa Mia Grand Beach Park where you'll find a beach, waterslides and pools. For an additional fee you could enjoy a massage, a try on the wave runner or a go at parasailing.

• Duration: half day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs Monday to Saturday from Cozumel
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Get to know Cozumel and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital Mérida (capital of the Yucatan state)

TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT -6 hours

CURRENCY

Mexican Peso

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

11 hours

RELIGION

No official religion but the majority of the population are Roman Catholic

LANGUAGE

Spanish

Where is Cozumel?
The island of Cozumel sits in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 10 miles off the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and almost opposite Playa del Carmen.

Diving & snorkelling
Cozumel’s year-round warm waters are the perfect playground for everyone from beginner snorkellers to seasoned divers. Healthy reefs, colourful coral and visibility reaching up to 60 metres are a few of the reasons why oceanographer Jacques Cousteau names Cozumel one of his top ten dive sites in the world. Among the sites are Paradise Reef and Santa Rosa, which offer cuts, channels and swim-throughs teeming with angelfish, blue chromis, eagle rays and turtles. Snorkelling is just as spectacular thanks to shallow reefs and crystal-clear waters. You can snorkel straight from the shore, explore sandy beds covered in thousands of starfish and swim around a replica Mayan City.

Beaches
Cozumel’s coastline shimmers with soft white sands and electric blue waters. From family-friendly west coast spots with waterslides, kayak rental and parasailing to the deserted island appeal of the east coast sands, Cozumel has a beach for everyone. The west coast beaches are a slice of paradise for those seeking sunbathing spots and watersports. Among the attractions are Playa Mia’s adventure-filled beachfront waterpark and Playa Palancar’s eye-popping coral reef which can be explored straight from the shore. The east coast beaches are where the locals go. From Playa Chen Rio to Playa Bonita, you’ll find wild waves, rugged scenery, tide pools for swimming and blissful seclusion.

Mayan ruins
Spend a morning in jungle set ancient civilization at the San Gervasio Mayan ruins and explore centuries old fortifications, some dating back from between 900 to 1200 A.D. Dedicated to the goddess Ixchel, the San Gervasio archaeological site has a set of nine intriguing ruins and some isolated temples all joined together by a network of white roads. Head to the village of El Cedral and you’ll find the tiniest Mayan ruin on the island, a small fertility temple dating back to 800 A.D. and discovered by Spanish explorers in 1518.

On-island nature
On the southern tip of the island Eden-esque Punta Sur Ecological Park seduces visitors with over 2,500 acres of protected wildlife habitat, dreamy white sand beaches, deep blue lagoons and lush mangroves. The beaches are a nesting site for turtles and the wetlands are home to migratory birds. From observation towers and boardwalks inside the park you can spot flamingos, crocodiles, herons and spoonbills. Snorkel from the shore, head to the top of the lighthouse for sparkling sea views and kayak over the Columbian lagoon. Punta Sur Eco Park is a natural paradise and a spectacular place to spend a day.

Food & drink
Cozumel has a tempting mix of Mexican, Mayan and Caribbean cuisine. Get your morning coffee with added spices and your scrambled eggs with regional Maya spinach. Try traditional tamales and enchiladas, the freshest of ceviche and hot stuffed peppers from street food stands. There’s a great selection of beachfront restaurants, open-air dining under thatched palapas and lots of bohemian cafes and bars. One of the island’s favourite Yucatán dishes is cochinita pibil, a slow-cooked pork marinated in lime juice and served in a banana leaf. Sunset brings shots of mezcal, dark Yucatán beers and cocktails infused with seasonal fruits.

Cozumel Weather

Best time to go

Nov - Apr

January

23°c

February

24°c

March

25°c

April

26°c

May

27°c

June

27°c

July

28°c

August

28°c

September

27°c

October

26°c

November

25°c

December

24°c

Cozumel Weather by Month

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