Beaches Playa Bonita This beach is situated on the windward, or eastern side of the island. The waves are quite big, and the white sand is the ideal place to spend a calm, peaceful day.
Isla de la Pasión It is located just north of the island of Cozumel. This island has small beaches where you can relax in almost complete privacy. The only sounds to disturb you are the waves breaking on the beach and the singing of the birds. You can only get there by boat.
Other beaches on the Island of Cozumel are; on the western side Playa San Juan, Playa San Francisco, Playa Palancar and Playa Escondida; on the eastern side Playa Chen Rio, Playa Chiquero and Balneario Municipal to name a few. |
Climate The Quintana Roo state is the hottest and most tropical part of Mexico and short afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon. The rainy season runs from May to mid-October.
Temperature in Celsius | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Maximum | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 27 | Minimum | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | Rainfall (mm) | 90 | 120 | 50 | 170 | 200 | 370 | 140 | 120 | 360 | 90 | 80 | 60 |
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Geography Quintana Roo is one of the youngest states in the country as well as the furthest east, meaning that it is the first Mexican state to see the sun come up every day. It is located in the Yucatán Peninsula, which it shares with Campeche and Yucatán, to the south it is separated from Belize and Guatemala by the Bay of Chetumal and Río Hondo, and to the east it is washed by the Caribbean.
The Island of Cozumel measures 48 km from north to south but only 16 from east to west. On either side of the island, beaches form a long, white sandy coast. Gentle waves and transparent waters wash the western side of the island, while huge waves crash against the eastern side. |
History Cozumel has a rich, prehispanic past, reflected in its nearly 25 archaeological zones. Before the arrival of the conquistadors, the island was a major Mayan commercial and ceremonial center. In fact first settlements date bck to 300 AD.
in 1528 the first Spaniards made their way to Cozumel. During the colonial era, it was largely uninhabited, except for sporadic stays by pirates and turtle hunters. In the mid-19th century, groups of Indian settlers arrived from the Yucatán Peninsula, fleeing the War of the Castes.
The following years saw the development of the chicle extraction business and Cozumel became a center for collecting and subsequently exporting this gum. Later an American named Henry Fleer had the idea to sugar-coat the natural gum and sold it under the name of Chiclets.
Jacques Cousteau’s declarations in 1960 about the richness of the coral reef surrounding the island made underwater enthusiasts aware of Cozumel’s existence. |
Nature The flora and fauna have a number of unusual features and include certain endemic species, such as the dwarf raccoon and the Cozumel wren. Cozumel’s greatest wealth, however, lies underwater.
Chankanaab Park Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park This lagoon is connected to the sea by means of narrow canals with underwater caves full of multicoloured tropical fish and some unique inland reefs. There is also a pleasant beach bordered by some dense tropical vegetation. The adjacent botanical garden contains a fascinating section on native flora. A great place to spend the day!
The Palancar Underwater National Park This submarine park consists of a barrier reef that stretches along the length of the west coast of the island of Cozumel. It is home to a vast number of marine species such as snails, globefish, sponges, crabs, lobsters, jellyfish, stingrays, moray eels, and thousands of colourful tropical fish.
Punta Sur is a beautiful ecological reserve and includes a 30 ft observation tower and a lighthouse. Just past it is the Laguna Columbia, a saltwater lagoon. |
Unique to Here Cozumel is encircled by over 25 reef formations, where divers of all ages and levels can explore a fascinating world: endless colonies of corals inhabited by enormous shoals of brightly colored fish. The possibilities are infinite, for novice and expert divers alike.
Chicle, a natural gum extracted on the island, was used for the first commecialy sold chewing gum under the name Chiclets. |
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