Meagan Drillinger, a writer, spends several months every year traveling throughout Mexico.
One of Mexico's most stunning islands is located right off the coast of Playa del Carmen. A large number of tours and excursions are available in Cozumel, one of the world's most popular cruise destinations, to suit the incoming guests.
Cozumel Island has played a significant role in Mexican history. It first served as a Mayan sacred site. Its vibrant capital city of San Miguel and the stunning beaches drew cruise ships, honeymooners, and day trippers from Playa del Carmen as it expanded and thrived throughout the ages.
It is now a veritable paradise island alive with various on-land and offshore thrills and activities.
Here are the top tours and excursions from Cozumel, including snorkeling in the clear seas of the protected marine park, driving a buggy along the shore, and even going under the sea.
1.Swim With the Fishes
One of the best diving locations in the world is sunny Cozumel. Unbelievably, it is on par with Australia's Great Barrier Reef in terms of importance. The Mesoamerican Reef, which runs along the Caribbean Sea and touches Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, has its northernmost point at Cozumel.
The Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, which is home to 26 different coral varieties and more than 500 different fish species, is all around Cozumel. Yet even if you're not a trained diver, you may still have a captivating experience by using just a snorkel mask. This Cozumel Snorkeling Tour, which travels to the nearby Palancar, Colombia, and Cielo Reefs, is ideal for snorkelers who want to get the most out of their trip to Cozumel.
The four-hour journey begins on a glass-bottom boat, which departs from the dock. El Cielo, one of the most breathtaking locations not just in Cozumel but across all of Mexico, will be the first stop. El Cielo, which translates to "Heaven," will soon make it clear why: a quick glance into the shallow water reveals a white, sandy floor covered with hundreds of lovely starfish.
The excursion departs from El Cielo and travels to Colombia Reef, which is renowned for its visibility, sea turtles, barracudas, eagle rays, and a wide variety of multicolored fish. Next, take a trip to Palancar Reef to see a variety of sea life, including moray eels, lobsters, and nurse sharks.
Snorkelers board the boat again for refreshments after four hours of playing in the crystal-clear waters, then set sail towards Cozumel's port.
2. Ride a horse down the beach
A ride on a horse down the seashore is the definition of romance. Of course, a horseback ride along the shoreline in Cozumel. With a setting as picturesque as these sugary sands and Instagram-worthy ocean, a horseback ride is about the only thing lacking.
What's required is this 30-minute Beach Horseback Riding Tour. Get in the saddle for the horseback ride through the powder-soft sand. All riding levels are welcomed and catered to since riders are first paired with a horse that matches their level of experience.
Starting at Mr. Sancho's Beach Club, the trip begins. From here, motorcyclists follow the guide past the island's lush vegetation and open farmland and into the jungle and mangrove areas. The excursion finally arrives to Cozumel's stunning coastline, which features limitless shades of blue and bleached sand.
Bring your bathing suit so you may cool off in Mr. Sancho's warm, shallow waters, which are included with your admission. Cyclists can select either a morning or an afternoon departure.
3. Go for Adventure
On Cozumel, did you realize that more than half of the land is under protection? That indicates that the island's rainforest cover still covers more than half of the land. The area of the island that can be developed is surrounded by a single road that transports travelers from the island's tourist-heavy west coast to its more untamed, rocky eastern coast. The ideal method of transportation? Obviously, behind the wheel of a jeep.
The finest of what Cozumel has to offer may be experienced in one trip with our Jeep and snorkel tour. Get behind the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler and explore Cozumel's roads to get a feel for the area.
The tour picks you up at Punta Sur Eco Beach Park so you can go snorkeling and enjoy the picture-perfect beaches that are as soft as powder. It also includes lunch, a trip to an archaeological site, and other things. Swim along Playa el Cielito's coastline, which is a part of the El Cielo Biosphere. Moreover, snorkeling gear is available for exploring the Chankanaab Reef. Near the cruise port, guests are picked up and dropped off.
4. Go on a Submarine Adventure
The bulk of trips and excursions departing from Cozumel typically involve the ocean, which is not surprising. It's difficult to avoid being in, on, or beneath the water at all times when it looks this beautiful and is filled with such lovely wildlife.
Speaking of underwater, taking a submarine trip from Cozumel is one of the best ways to experience the ocean's depths. Visitors on this Atlantis Submarine Expedition descend up to 100 feet beneath the surface of the water to learn more about the aquatic life that inhabits the Chankanaab Protected Park.
The tour starts with a brief journey down Cozumel's coast to the diving location, where participants board the submarine that is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard and descend underwater. As it travels over the ocean floor, the submarine reveals portions of the reef that are generally only visible by scuba divers. Watch out for grouper fish, grunts, and parrotfish.
5. Go on a Cozumel Buggy Tour.
Are you up for a unique kind of adventure? Consider driving an adventurous buggy equipped to manage the island's challenging, winding terrain while you explore Cozumel.
The four passengers in this half-day self-drive buggy tour of Cozumel are in charge as they navigate the island. When you meet your tour guide and receive the keys to your buggy near the cruise port, the journey officially begins. You'll ride in a caravan-style train with the group to the island's El Cedral, a Mayan ruin site, for the first stop. You will spend an hour at this archaeological site learning about the history and influence of the Mayans on Cozumel. (Interesting fact: In Mayan, Cozumel means "Island of Swallows.")
The buggy tour continues around the island after the ruins to take in the several stunning vantage spots. Before donning your snorkeling gear and entering the ocean at SkyReef and the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, take a break for a healthy, tasty meal.
This 4.5-hour excursion includes lunch, snorkeling gear, and beverages.
6. Take a Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Lacking time yet still wanting to explore Cozumel's underwater mysteries? The ideal solution might be a stress-free boat cruise in a glass-bottom boat.
At Punta Sur #Cozumel #excursions #tours #mexico #caribbean #carnival #royalcaribbean pic.twitter.com/MUPGkF7U07
— CozumelFunExcursions (@cozumel_fun) November 22, 2019
This Cozumel Coral Reef Snorkeling by Glass Bottom Boat excursion travels to three shallow reefs within Cozumel's Marine Park, making it ideal for first-timers with limited time. See the colorful fish, starfish, coral, and other species that call the warm, clear seas around Cozumel home through the clear bottom of the boat.
There is plenty of time for those who wish to dive in to go snorkeling to have a quick dip. This enables guests to interact with sea turtles, stingrays, and other wildlife even closer.
One of the more adaptable activities to do on the island, the full experience lasts about two hours, and visitors can select from a number of departure schedules.
7. Do a Four-Wheeled Jungle Tour
Cozumel may boast some of the nicest beaches in Mexico, so it may be difficult to drag yourself away from its sugary coastlines, but an ATV tour through the jungle can be just as thrilling.
Cozumel's ATV trips are quite well-liked, especially the ones that include a variety of activities. The five-hour ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern trip provides visitors with a variety of Cozumel experiences all in one.
The tour starts on a maze of pathways winding through the jungle that lead to a cenote nestled away inside the island's caves. Plunge right in for a revitalizing swim while admiring the amazing stalactites above.
Following a swim, the tour continues on an ATV to a stunning coral cave where your guide will inform you about the Mayan community that formerly resided in this area of Cozumel.
Remember that this is an adventure excursion, so dress for some dirt. Bring your bathing suit and close-toed shoes if you wish to visit the cenote.
8. Take a cruise at dusk.
It would be a serious mistake to go to a beach resort in Mexico and forego a sunset cruise. Seeing a stunning tropical sunset while at sea is just lovely. Fortunately, Cozumel delivers when it comes to catamaran trips at sunset.
While each sunset cruise may differ slightly from the others, most depart from San Miguel de Cozumel, the capital of the island. There are varying sizes of cruises, and each has an own atmosphere. They all typically feature delicious cuisine and fantastic music.
If you're looking for more than just snacks, think about signing up for a special dinner cruise, which will serve complete meals. Also, every voyage features stunning sunsets that paint the sky in vivid bands of pink, orange, and purple.
9. Explore Tulum's Ruins
Even if you are vacationing on the island of Cozumel, you are close to the breathtaking locations and historic ruins of the mainland. If you're staying in Cozumel, Tulum must be on your agenda.
A 12-meter-high cliff overlooks one of Mexico's most stunning beaches from the ancient city of Tulum. It is the only coastal Mayan village that is fortified, and the main tower is an internationally recognizable symbol. The city was founded in 1200, although many of its structures weren't built until the 15th century.
It requires some preparation, but it is totally possible to travel independently from Cozumel to Tulum. Use one of the numerous ferries that run throughout the day to travel to Playa del Carmen in just 30 minutes. The ADO bus terminal, where you can purchase a cheap bus ticket to the Tulum ruins, is close to the main dock. It takes the bus around an hour to travel.
10. Appreciate the regional food
Learning about the local food is one of the highlights of a trip to Cozumel. Just in this particular region of Mexico is traditional Yucatan cuisine available, and particularly on Cozumel, it is some of the freshest and most genuine food you can get. A great way to discover the diverse flavors that have converged in the Yucatan is through a culinary tour. It's almost like you get two tours in one because it may also serve as a city tour.
Food tours typically transport tourists to off-the-beaten-path restaurants and food stands where they may sample anything from tacos to empanadas and everything in between. Consider signing up for a Cozumel cooking lesson if you want something more hands-on. These are frequently intimate seminars that concentrate on regional cuisine and ingredients from Yucatán. Some even include market visits where your tour guide will demonstrate how to choose the most seasonal ingredients for these delicious, age-old dishes.
This Cozumel cooking class offers more hands-on experience if that's what you'd like. Join Josefina in her Cozumel home, where she will lead you on a tour of the regional cuisine of this region of Mexico. The maximum enrollment in Josefina's classes is eight students.
The trip includes a stop at the neighborhood market to select supplies and a peek inside Josefina's personal cookbook, which features more than 60 of her own recipes. Discover how to prepare guacamole, salsa, and tortillas. After the lesson, guests are given the opportunity to take a copy of the recipe book home.
The tour includes pickup and drop-off from hotels as well as lunch following the cooking lesson. To satisfy any dietary requirements, keep in mind that meal substations are an option.