| The island of Cozumel is only 12 miles (19 km) off | | | | Most of the hotels and resorts are south of San |
| the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula's east coast and 44 | | | | Miguel and are not within walking distance. However, |
| miles (71 km) south of Cancun. For years, Cozumel | | | | there are numerous white taxicabs that are readily |
| was a quiet sleepy island that didn't get many visitors | | | | available. The larger and more luxurious resorts tend |
| until Jacques Cousteau did a documentary on it after | | | | to be even further south of town along the |
| discovering the world class scuba diving at the | | | | southwestern shores. This is actually not surprising |
| Palancar Reefs nearby. Since 1961, Cozumel has been | | | | since most of the best scuba diving sites are |
| known as one of the best scuba diving destinations in | | | | southwest of the island. An easy way to see the 33 |
| the world. In fact for decades since that time, the | | | | mile (53 km) by 9 mile (14 km) island is by renting a |
| only tourists visiting the island have been primarily | | | | scooter or a 4x4. I once rented a scooter and |
| scuba divers. Mainstream tourists went to the resort | | | | zigzagged along most of San Miguel's streets to see |
| intensive Cancun in the mainland instead. However, | | | | the neighborhoods. Then I went on the main road |
| Cozumel became a regular cruise ship port of call in | | | | leaving town and went south. After passing by the |
| recent years and today it is one of the busiest with | | | | larger resorts and going around the southern tip of |
| two separate terminals. It is common to have five or | | | | the island, I found the beaches along the |
| even six different cruise ships at port on any given | | | | southeastern shores. The shores near San Miguel |
| day. I've been to Cozumel twice, the first time | | | | along the crowded west coast are not known for |
| staying several days on a scuba diving vacation and | | | | beaches but the southeast part here have some |
| the second time for a day via cruise ship (also scuba | | | | really spectacular ones. Even better is that there is |
| dived during my second visit). | | | | very little traffic here so the beaches are pretty |
| As a result of the cruise ship boom, there has been | | | | quiet. Sometimes people can park their scooters and |
| lots of retail development along the main waterfront | | | | enjoy a beach all for themselves. There are a few |
| road of Avenida Rafael Melgar in the island's only | | | | stops with refreshments and more souvenirs at |
| town of San Miguel de Cozumel. There are countless | | | | prices even better than in San Miguel. After traveling |
| jewelry and t-shirt shops most with staff standing in | | | | north again, there is a road about halfway up the |
| the entrances enticing visitors to enter their stores. | | | | island that goes across and takes you back to San |
| Both silver and liquor can be good bargains here. | | | | Miguel entering the town's east side. My scooter tour |
| There are also some nice Mexican crafts shops too. | | | | of the island took just over 2 hours and cost $25 US |
| The one problem that we found was that after | | | | for the rental. Cozumel has several ancient Mayan |
| about 4 jewelry shops, they all started to look the | | | | ruins but they are not nearly as large or spectacular |
| same. It was almost a retail overload. For those who | | | | as the ones on the mainland. After seeing some |
| came for a wilder time, there are some bars such as | | | | photos of them in advance of my trip, I didn't even |
| Carlos 'n' Charlie. The town's main outdoor square, | | | | bother to see the ruins. |
| Plaza del Sol, is just opposite the main ferry dock to | | | | Cozumel is a nice port of call for cruise ships as there |
| the mainland. There are usually street vendors and | | | | are many shopping opportunities. Passengers who |
| artists in the Plaza as well local entertainment during | | | | scuba dive or snorkel can easily book directly with |
| some evenings. The artists do some amazing artwork | | | | the many dive shops in San Miguel without going |
| with spray paints and their prices are very | | | | through their cruise ships which will cost much more. |
| reasonable. San Miguel's main tourist area can be very | | | | For cruise ship tourists who do not intend to do any |
| busy during the day when the cruise ship passengers | | | | water sports and have some time after shopping, it |
| are in town but since most ships depart at | | | | is highly recommended to rent a scooter or 4x4 to |
| dinnertime, the evenings are actually very quiet. The | | | | tour the island. This is also a nice way to spend the |
| only tourists left at night tend to be the scuba divers | | | | last day of a scuba dive vacation in Cozumel. |
| staying in Cozumel. | | | | |