Best Things to Do in Cozumel, Mexico

When you're looking for a destination that has mangrove forests full of birds and mammals, deep water filled sinkholes just waiting to be explored, and a tropical climate that never dips below 18°C/64°F every month of the year, then Cozumel is the island for you!

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo, Cozumel is Mexico's largest Caribbean island. This cruise port is famous for its stunning beaches, historic adventure tours, and an abundance of both family-friendly and adult activities.

You'll be able to walk or take a horseback ride to discover beautiful parks and sandy beaches on the island. Or you could take the ferry from San Miguel to Playa del Carmen on the mainland, hire a car or scooter, and visit Riviera Maya for the day.

Our Cozumel travel guide will give you the essentials for planning your trip. Just remember to bring your camera – you’ll come home with some spectacular photos!

Tip: Between May and October every year, there can sometimes be a seaweed problem in Cancun and Riviera Maya. While swimming in it does not create a health hazard, you may wish to plan more land-based activities if it's especially bad.

How to spend a day in Cozumel (or more!)

Cozumel is a popular cruise port and vacation spot, and a lot of visitors spend their time on silvery white sandy beaches, enjoying swaying palm trees and an azure blue ocean. Others spend their days at all inclusive resorts and easily fill two weeks with activities. However long you’re spending here, you can find plenty of things to see and do, for all ages and interests. (Hint: One of them is scuba diving!)

Tip: If you only have one day in Cozumel, many of these activities can be done on your own or by booking a private guide. DIY tours are less crowded and often cheaper than cruise ship shore excursions.

1. Visit the Punta Sur Eco Beach Park (Faro Celerain Eco Park)

Want to see crocodiles and exotic birds, explore the El Caracol Mayan ruins or simply relax in a hammock on a stunning white sand beach? If you’re a nature lover, then 2500-acre Punta Sur ecological reserve is a must, with crystal clear water and a reef that is perfect for drift snorkeling. Or perhaps you’d like to visit the Faro Celerain Lighthouse, which contains a small maritime museum – you can climb to the top to admire the view!

Punta Sur Eco Park is one of four parks on Cozumel (the others are Chankanaab, San Gervasio, and Museo de la Isla).

Tip: This private jeep tour takes you to two of the most famous eco parks on all of the island, Punta Sur & Chankanaab. It includes tequila, snorkeling, lunch, and much more.

2. Spend a day at the beach

Most beaches offer sand and surf, and some even offer a beach bar, which is basically food and drinks with a view. Cozumel beach clubs kick the beach experience up a notch with a ton of additional amenities.

Although features vary by club, a day pass will give you access to such things as free WiFi, food, and drinks, aquatic sports and tours. Imagine snorkeling to your heart’s delight, or having an expert guide teach you how to paddleboard and then take you on an underwater adventure before you relax with a book at the pool or chill out at the beach bar.

For adventure lovers traveling with beach bums, there's even a beach club at Chankanaab National Park.

Tip: Playa Mia Grand Beach Park offers a day pass. For one low price, you can not only relax on the beach and swim in the sea for the entire day, you can brave the thrilling water slides, floating park and more.

3. Zipline through the jungle

Many theme parks have zip lines where you can get an adrenalin rush as you fly through the air. Shelved platforms and thousands of feet of lines make this experience a blast.The one at Chankanaab offers a variety of lines and you can challenge yourself to fly over the jungle and the lagoon on a zip line and walk on the suspended crocodile bridges.

4. Explore ancient Mayan ruins

You can either visit on your own or arrange a guided tour through the historic remains and learn all about the ancient culture. Professional guides know all about the authentic Mayan world and will take small groups for a personal experience.

Three of the best Mayan ruins in the Yucatan are:

• Chichen-Itza – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of the Yucatán
• Tulum – perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean
• Coba – one of the few Mayan sites that allow visitors to climb the ruins

Tip: You can easily find day trips from Cancun and Cozumel to these sites. Find them here.

5. Join the turtle conservation program

Cozumel is blessed to be the nesting site for thousands of sea turtles each year, and even Cozumel’s Municipal Department of Ecology has a Turtle Program. Depending on the time of year, you'll be able to watch turtles making nests and laying eggs or guide the baby sea turtles to the sea after hatching.

Tip: Some private Jeep tours offer customizable itineraries. You can add additional activities, such as the San Gervacio archaeological site, a tequila tasting or the above, a chance to release a turtle into the wild.

6. Take part in the Amazing Cozumel Race

The Amazing Cozumel Race is a unique, self-guided tour of San Miguel – part obstacle course and part scavenger hunt. The aim is to be the winner as you follow clues to solve mysteries as you run through San Miguel streets onto the beach.

Each new clue will lead you to a new location. You’ll need your wits, energy, and spirit of fun as you race against the clock and other competitors. The fun doesn't stop when the clues run out, either. The race ends at a local cantina – complete with prizes – and everyone is treated to snacks and beverages.

If you don't want to race, you can just walk – and shamelessly ask the locals for help!

7. Go scuba diving

In Cozumel scuba diving is really popular. That's due to the Yucatan Peninsula’s crystal clear waters and unrivaled coral reefs, all teeming with diverse marine life.

Five favored Cozumel dive sites are:

• Santa Rosa Wall – providing divers with caves and tunnels to swim through with an array of marine life on the descent deep into the Caribbean sea
• Columbia Wall – this is over 30 meters tall with coral pillars as high as 20 meters. Sea turtles, barracudas, and eagle rays can be spotted on the dive
• Palancar Reef – this reef located in a calm sea is ideal for beginners and offers views of multi-colored corals and sponges
• Barracuda Reef – only for experienced divers as the currents can be dangerous, but the marine life sightings of sharks, rays, and barracudas make this a truly memorable experience
• Punta Tunich – is renowned for its white sandy dunes with ridges of coral rising up to 18 meters, where grunt and snapper fish reside.

Prices start from about £120 for a single dive. This normally includes transportation to and from the dive site plus the equipment rental – your wetsuit, boots and flashlights (torches). Cenote entrance fees and certified guides are also often included. Here is a good dive company to go with.

On the other hand, if the open water doesn't appeal, maybe another unique activity would be more to your liking: scuba diving in a cenote. These are water-filled caves, and you have a whole range of diving locations to choose from.

8. Become a certified scuba diver

A scuba diving certificate confirms that you know all about the risks involved in diving – and know how to stay safe underwater. Open water classes will teach you the basic skills at beginner level, then you can progress onto more advanced courses. Here is one you may like.

Once you've got all the required skills, you'll be able to take part in tours exploring mysterious underwater caverns. Why not go on a crocodile night dive, or a whale shark tour? Bull shark diving and lionfish hunts are another two adventures you could go on. SCUBA will give you some of the best experiences in a lifetime.

9. Take a food tour

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