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