There are many things to do in Cozumel – Mexico’s top Caribbean Island. When we mention Cozumel to other travellers, their eyes glaze over and they imagine silvery white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and an azure blue ocean. Cozumel certainly offers all of that, and much more.
When travelling Mexico, you may decide you just want to chill out on this Caribbean island, and I understand completely. But, after visiting here, I recommend you leave the beach behind and experience the many other things to do in Cozumel.
Would you be able to fit in a submarine tour, snorkelling the 2nd largest coral reef in the world, visiting a Mayan archaeological site or trying an ancient Mayan chocolate recipe in just a few days?
Probably not! This is one of the top places to visit in Mexico, so give yourself some time here.
I highly recommend that you plan a minimum of 5 days to see all the things to do in Cozumel, you may even want to plan longer. With numerous incredible things to do in Mexico, make sure Cozumel is on your list.
Where is Cozumel?
The Island of Cozumel or “Isla Cozumel” as it’s known in Spanish is located 12 miles off the coast opposite Playa del Carmen in the Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun, known as “Mexico’s top party destination” is 45 miles to the north of Cozumel.
Cozumel is the quieter alternative to Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Actually, one of the best things to do in Playa del Carmen is to take a ferry across to tranquil Cozumel.
In Playa del Carmen, the terminal is located downtown near the main square. In just 30 – 45 minutes, you’ll cross the sea and arrive in Cozumel. Click here for the Cozumel Ferry schedule, which includes costs.
Update: Ultramar Ferry runs on “odd” days, while the Winjet Ferry runs on “even” days of the week. The latest times can be found on their respective Facebook accounts. Having experienced both, I can say that the Ultramar ferry to Cozumel was nicer, faster and had more amenities on board.
When is The Best Time to Visit Cozumel?
You can visit Mexico year-round, but the best time to visit Cozumel is during the months from March to June, before the hurricane season commences.
The hottest months are July and August which coincides with the hurricane season that lasts until November. Winter is Cozumel’s busiest period and it runs from December through to March.
Getting to and From Cozumel
Before you can enjoy all the fun things to do in Cozumel, you need to get there.
While there are direct flights to Cozumel, most people will arrive at the Cancun airport. From here, you have a few options to get to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen (to take the boat over to Cozumel).
You can either take the bus, hire a taxi, or opt for a private shuttle from Cancun to Playa del Carmen. This is the fastest, safest and most comfortable to get to the Cozumel ferry. Click here for details about airport transfers.
Note: if you’re on a budget and don’t mind sharing, there is a quick, safe and easy $25 shuttle you can take from the Cancun airport to the ferry port in Playa del Carmen. Learn more here.
Once you’ve arrived at the ferry port, you’ll need to take the 30-minute boat across.
21 Best Things To Do in Cozumel
Now that you know when to visit and how to get there, here’s my list of the best things to do in Cozumel that you don’t want to miss!
1. Visit Punta Sur Ecological Park
Punta Sur Eco Beach is the best beach on the Island, and a visit to this eco-park is definitely one of the top things to do in Cozumel. This isn’t a “Disneyland” type place, it’s a natural gem and a must visit. This area is located on the south of the island and covers an area of 2,500 acres.
Punta Sur Activities
Here you’ll find exotic birds, crocodiles, sea turtles, beautiful flowers and beautiful beaches – the perfect place for nature lovers.
If you don’t feel like snorkelling the reef or visiting the lighthouse, you can just hang out on hammocks and enjoy the sun.
There’s an entrance fee for this park ($19 USD for adults and $13 for children), but in my opinion, it’s worth it. Click here to find this top Cozumel day trip on the map.
Visit The Lighthouse: Within the Punta Sur Eco Park is the Celarain Lighthouse, which was constructed to warn sailors at night of the dangers of running aground off the southern coast of Cozumel. The Lighthouse is now part of a maritime museum.
For 360-degree views of the Island, you can climb the 133 steps to the top. On a clear day, you can even see the coast of Cuba, but unfortunately for us, that was not the case.
Entrance fees to the Punta Sur Eco Park include the Celerain Lighthouse.
Marshlands Boat Ride: A 40-minute tour of the Marshlands of Punta Sur Ecological Park is also available. They can’t guarantee that you will see any crocodiles on the day of the tour (we were lucky and saw a couple!), but you will see many species of birds, especially the roseate spoonbill.
These short boat tours are currently departing at 1:00 and 2:00 pm. Confirm the times at the entrance to the park when you arrive.
Visit the Mayan Ruin: The Punta Sur Ecological Park has so much to see and do, there’s even a Mayan Ruin here. El Caracol ruin – also called Tumba del Caracol because of its small size – dates back to 1200-1500 AD.
Caracol means snail in Spanish and the ruins were named this because of the snails that decorate the small dome on the top of the temple.
The structure was built as an early hurricane warning system for the Mayan people. The roof was constructed in a way that the strong breeze gave a humming noise alerting the Mayans of the impending danger.
2. Playa Mia Grand Beach Park
If you’re looking to visit a beach park during your trip to Cozumel, consider Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, an ethical adventure park. While there are many “marine parks” that may sound great, we don’t recommend visiting them due to the captivity of wild animals.
Check out Playa Mia Grand Beach Park instead.
Here, you’ll have use of snorkels, waterslides, pools, kayaks, Hobie cats, paddle boats, volleyball courts and more. This park doesn’t have any animals in captivity, which is why we recommend it. Entrance fees start from $30 USD.
Another option is to take a tour on a catamaran boat, including the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park for snorkelling, and a visit to Playa Mia Grand Beach Park (with food and drinks). Click here to learn about that fun day tour in Cozumel.
*Note that Goats On The Road does not condone any tourism activities that involve cruelty to animals, or promote their captivity. We’ve been advised that the Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park and many places to visit in Mexico offer tours such as swimming with dolphins.
Please be a responsible traveller and consider where you want to spend your tourism dollars, and avoid any animal shows or activities. It’s way more fun to see the animals in the wild anyways! Go snorkelling on a boat tour and have a more authentic experience with the wildlife.
3. Try Seatrek
A unique way of experiencing the underwater world is by trying helmet diving with Seatrek. The fully enclosed helmet sits neatly on your shoulders and a steady stream of air assists you in breathing.
If you wear prescription glasses, no problem, you can still wear them in the helmet as you walk along the bottom of the ocean at around 20 – 25 feet. Bookings for this tour can be made here.
4. Try Atlantis Submarines
In Barbados, we had the opportunity to experience a night dive with Atlantis Submarines. In Cozumel, they offer 3 daytime departures at 10:00am, 12 noon and 1:00pm.
During the dive, you will visit the Felipe Xicotencatl wreck that sank in the year 2000 plus colourful schools of fish, sharks, turtles, stingrays and lobsters. For more information and the latest prices click here.
5. Private Jeep Tour With Lunch and Snorkelling
One of the best activities to do in Cozumel is a private Jeep Tour with lunch and the opportunity to go snorkelling. The tour comes with your own private guide which means that he knows the best-secluded beaches to go snorkelling and swimming without the crowds.
The best part about this Cozumel excursion is that it’s completely customizable. Let your guide know ahead of time what you’re interested in seeing in Cozumel and he’ll put together an itinerary to suit your needs.
Apart from private transportation, snorkelling, tequila tasting, Mexican lunch, and a margarita (or two) are included in the trip. For more information click here.
6. Sail The Waters Off Cozumel in a Catamaran
This is definitely one of the best things to do in Cozumel! There are many things to see around the island and hopping aboard a catamaran is the best way to do so.
You can either relax on board enjoying drinks and snacks or you can snorkel the reef and check out the abundant sea life. When you’re snorkelling you’ll have the chance to spot some sea turtles, stingrays and maybe a shark.
The waters around Cozumel are abundant with marine life and are safe for swimming and snorkelling. Click here to learn more about catamaran tours in Cozumel, and click here for glass-bottom boat trips with snorkelling.
7. Visit The Mayan Ruins
Did you know that there are Mayan ruins on Cozumel?! To be honest, we didn’t until our recent visit.
Located on the northern part of Cozumel, tucked away in t