Your Travel Guide to Cozumel Mexico
My hubby and I will be taking a cruise to Cozumel in October and we were interesting in seeing who might have the best snorkel trips for someone who is on a tight schedule. We don’t want to miss the boat! I am in the middle of doing research on this but thought I would ask for a few opinions.
I am going on a cruise in December. We have stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya. What should we see, nice beaches?
I’m going on a cruise soon to Cozumel, Mexico and Grand Cayman. I’m not really planning on getting anything special as a souvenir in Grand Cayman except maybe a little key chain, but I wanted to get something in Mexico but I don’t know the price range of their little hand made crafts and souvenirs along the pier by the cruise ships. Any advice on how much I should bring?
We are trying to decide if we want to use the people ferry, or take our rental car across using the car ferry. The car ferry I think is 55, plus 5$ a head-5 heads. We like this very secluded spot in Cozumel, so we will need a car. Is the car ferry difficult?
I come to Cozumel with a cruise line on 24th of august. I have a new Canon camera and i don’t know how to handle all the functions. I shoot photos all my life but i am not happy with the result. That’s why
i am looking for a person who can give some lessons in Camera handling.
Cozumel Mexico is one of the great dive spots in the world and only 6 hours from Seattle. I have vacationed in the Yucatan a few times, primarily Cancun, but had never taken the ferry from Playa Del Carmen across the bay to Cozumel Island, an east 40 minute trip. Cozumel is just off the east coast of the Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is Mexico’s largest island, around 300 square miles, but the town with less than 100,000 residents may receive as many as fourmillion visitors each year. Unlike Cancun, Cozumel is not a touristy location.
In recent years some tourist shops have sprung up to feed the hunger of the cruise ship guests, but two blocks from the town center and you’re in avery quaint and a wonderful old world area.
The beach is the main attraction in Cozumel. The clear warm waters of the Caribbean are perfect for a wide range of aquatic activities from swimming, to snorkeling, to sport fishing, and finally to diving. Cozumel is also home to the second largest coral reef in the world which attracts divers from all over the world, and with amazing beautiful blue rich water with 100
feet of visibility on an average day anyone will cherish diving in Cozumel.
Most of the dive sites are rocky teeming with plenty of rich, beautiful Coral. Large and small sea fans are present everywhere and the area is home to more than 200 species of tropical fish representing every color in the rainbow. It’s simply bursting alive with huge schools of fish; Turtles, large Surgeonfish, Barracuda, Blue and Gold Snapper, Triggerfish, Moorish Idols, bright blue butterflies, and huge Parrotfish. I was also fortunate enough to get a shot of
a Dolphin passing by on my first visit, but that is very rare. I have captured shots of morays; Green, Jewel and Stripped Morays.
A very appealing time to dive for me in Cozumel is twilight. Many of the nocturnal creatures begin to hunt and present themselves for great photographic splendor. I have taken many night shots of small to large octopus, lobster and varieties of crab.
Snorkeling is a popular activity and small underwater scooters are available for rent to
help you cover the miles of reef which make Cozumel famous. There are also numerous opportunities to swim with dolphins, manatees or sea lions.
The ungles of Cozumel can be a fun way to spend a day also. Whether guided tour by jeep or a rugged ATV on our own, there is much to see in the Jade Caverns. You will encounter dramatic waterfalls and ool lagoons for swimming as well as ruins from the Mayan civilization.
Cozumel s a great spot to charter a fishing boat too. The waters around the island are
an excellent spot to catch Sailfish and Blue Marlin. If fishing is not for you, there are glass bottom boats and submarines that will take you out to let you see the beauty of the area.
When I am in Cozumel I will only dive with Aldora Divers. This dive charter company
not only has the reputation of being the most professional and the most knowledgeable, but they also provide steel 120 tanks on each dive, much larger than a typical dive company. Everyone from Memo Aldora himself to Steve who manages the Villa, to the Dive Master’s like Javier, Raul and Liang who will take you to the best places to dive. Palencar Reef is the main attraction on the south west side of the island. But most other dive companies
will only dive a few of the more shallow areas repeatedly. Aldora DM’s are so familiar with the reef; they know where to dive, even if it’s a few hundred feet north or south. They want you to explore the less traveled, but more interesting areas. I cannot say enough about the Aldora, they are simply the best dive company providing wonderful professional service in a
beautiful place to dive.
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Part of the attraction of Cozumel real estate has been the combination of natural beauty, modern convenience and historical charm. The island has a rich history dating back to the Mayan times with an old Mexican city, and a strong cultural heritage. The cultural heritage may soon be recognized by the granting of an official UNESCO Intangible World Heritage.
The current mayor, Aurelio Joaquin, has started a request to declare the feast of “Santa Cruz de Saban,” celebrated annually in Cozumel, an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This year’s festivities were attended byt Katherine Grigsby as guest of honor, who is the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to learn more about the identification of these cultural values.
This kind of recognition has played an important role for Mexico real estate buyers, helping them to identify the country’s main cultural attractions when choosing an area to live in. Official recognitions also help to draw international attention to an area, drawing tourism investment and a larger resale market.
In addition to residents of Cozumel, those who buy Playa del Carmen beachfront for sale in the downtown area also enjoy walking access to the ferry dock to Cozumel, which is only a 45 minute ferry ride away; these residents can also enjoy the cultural heritage of the island, which is one of two communities in the whole Caribbean region of Mexico that have been continually inhabited since ancient Mayan times.
Katherine Grigsby has taken a special interest in the traditional festival of “Santa Cruz de Saban,” or, in English, “the Holy Cross of Saban,” in the neighbourhood known as El Cedral. The mayor of Cozumel also asked for representatives from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to attend the annual celebration and support his case to have it name an “Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
Similarly, said the municipal government is dedicated to promoting cultural values and sustainable development to help further develop cultural tourism on the island. This process will likewise benefit residents with more activities in which to participate and bring increased investment to the island, improving quality of life.
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Carnival Valor and Carnival Conquest by Jemingway
Mexico real estate on the island of Cozumel has been one of the most attractive regions for retirees and other expats; the downtown region of the island’s city (also called Cozumel) has just begun a processo f beautification in the boardwalk area.
In the project, which will give new urban image to this part of the island, the total investment will be 2.5 million pesos, (just over 220,000 USD) and will benefit the 90 000 inhabitants, including a large population of Americans and Canadians. Part of the plan is to strengthen the old-town charm and revitalize parts of the downtown area.
The project began on April 16, 2011. The historic pier of Cozumel welcomes about three million tourists via cruise ship and about 700 thousand visitors arriving by air every year. The project symbolizes the change of the urban image of the island.
The project will bring direct benefits to those who buy real estate on the island, especially to those who buy in town. The majority of Americans and Canadians who buy real estate in Cozumel appreciate the combination of the old charm in the town with the lush, green nature surrounding. The renovation of the boardwalk will help maintain and even improve the traditional Mexican charm that the town center offers residents.
The state government has also planned another 34 million pesos (about million USD) into various other infrastructure projects in Cozumel, during its first phase of investment. The government is working to expand this budget to between 100 and 150 million pesos (about – 13 million USD) for different items, such as the development of public spaces and parks on the island.
Similarly, the government has plans to continue promoting the growth in tourism on the island. Tourism growth likewise benefits residents, since increased tourism brings more revenue for government projects such as this one, as well as attracting more private investment into services, activities and amenities.
During the opening of the renovation work, the governor of the state specifically mentioned investment from hotel companies, providing more room capacity, and consequently, more tourist activities and services.
On the whole, Cozumel presents an options within Mexico real estate, which offers the calmness of a very natural island, the rich history of the area’s oldest Mayan community, Mexico’s varied traditions, and modern convenience from tourism investment.
One of the key factors benefiting Mexico real estate has been investment into tourist-oriented improvements, which likewise offer an improved lifestyle and more attractive buying options to those considering making Mexico their home. This point has recently been demonstrated by the investment put into creating the new pedestrian walkway area on the north end of Cozumel.
During recent years, the north of Cozumel has been developing as a favorite for Mexico beachfront for sale for expat buyers. This same area is the place to receive the “Tourist Corridor and North Pedestrian Zone of Cozumel.”
The benefits from investments such as this one include that it will help improve the image of the island, meaning more tourists will be attracted to the island, and more investment will continue to bring increased services, new activities, and, in general, a higher quality of life.
On the other hand, the new pedestrian area will also improve the lifestyle of this district of Cozumel. Those how buy beachfront real estate in the area will enjoy the pleasant relaxation of an outdoor lifestyle that is at the same time modern and comfortable.
The project is part of a larger series of tourism investments throughout the same state, named Quintana Roo. Cancun real estate, which is the main market within the state, and is the location with the most international tourism within Mexico, and even well beyond, has benefited from a good deal of investment from all levels of government.
The entire region, including locations such as Cozumel, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the newer Costa Maya area further to the south, has proven to be one of the greatest success stories in international tourism. A combination of government investment, working in coordination with very strong private initiatives has led the area to become the top area for international tourism in North and South America. The area is also expected to lead the way as Mexico heads towards becoming one of the top 5 countries world-wide for international tourism.
In all areas of this state, real estate buyers from Canada and the United States have benefited from these investments, gaining everything from upscale shopping and dining areas, such as Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue, to new golf courses, from new highway bridges to get around faster, to new international airports.
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Fireworks of colors. by LikeSpinningPlates
A very important factor what has made Mexico real estate attractive for American and Canadian buyers has been the improvements in transportation infrastructure over the past 2 decades; in Cozumel, an island just off the country’s Caribbean coast, this factor has been especially true.
One of the most important recent examples of this is the new, modernized ferry terminal providing access to Playa del Carmen. The project required a total investment of 170 million pesos (about million USD.) Besides offering residents improved and more comfortable access to the mainland, the project also helped improve supply of goods to the island, and new spaces for the docking of cruise ships. It has also played an important role in urban image.
Each of these is an important benefit for property owners on the island, adding both to convenience and to property value. Those interested in Mexico vacation rentals have likewise benefited from the convenience of being able to spend part of their vacation in Playa del Carmen, Cancun or other mainland locations easily and in modern comfort.
On the whole, the market of Mexico rentals, whether short term or long term, benefit from improved infrastructure and facility of transportation, making it easier for renters to arrive to locations, and travel within the given area.
In addition to the new, improved ferry terminal, Cozumel’s international airport continues to gain connectivity. New, affordable flights to Cancun and the nearby city of Merida make traveling and sight seeing in the area easier for residents. New discount direct flights to Chicago, among other locations, make travel easier to and from home.
Most recently, a direct flight from Cozumel to Mexico City has been anounced. The flight will be offered by the Mexican airline Interjet. Besides making travel around Mexico easier, it will offer further options for flight connections to further locations.
As time goes on, the island of Cozumel becomes more and more connected to a growing number of locations. This means real estate owners, renters and vacationers can enjoy the peace and tranquility of an island known as the “Island of Peace,” will still enjoying easy access back home and other nearby attractions.
Snorkeling at Palancar Reef – Cozumel – Mexico by Rob Inh00d
