Once known mainly for its great scuba diving, Cozumel has flowered into a popular destination for duty-free bargain hunters, sun lovers and those just in search of the quiet life.

Cozumel was once the exclusive haunt of divers following in the footsteps of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, who filmed a documentary here in 1961. 

Hacienda Maria Bonita  Hotel Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Located forty-eight km (30 miles) east for Cancun, today Mexico's largest island is also a tropical treat for cruise ship passengers, island hoppers and vacationer from Cancun. At sixteen kilometers (9.6 miles) wide and 45 kilometers (28) miles long, it boasts a rich Maya heritage and miles of accessible virgin coastline washed by the jade waters of the Caribbean.

Sun worshippers can take to the placid waters of the leeward (west) side of the island for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, windsurfing, diving and water-skiling. San Miguel, Cozumel's only town, is located in front of the town docks and has most of the island's hotels. 

Luxury resorts catering to all tastes are located on the coast road to the north and south of town, but more economical accommodations can be found within San Miguel itself.

Get Flash !

Paamul Caribbean Paradise, Riviera Maya Q. Roo México

There is one paved road-the Transversal-which traverses the island. It begins at the waterfront, cuts trough the island 's interior and skirts its south end. A few miles outside San Miguel the jungles seems to take over, with nothing but tangled vegetation in every direction. 

The east side of the island has a fresh, rugged beauty with jagged outcroppings of black, porous rock interspersed with small coves and white sandy inlets.

San Francisco Beach and Chankanaab lagoon Park are both popular tourist attractions. There is party atmosphere at this busy beach, with its open-air restaurants and bar.

 Chankanaab also rates as a must-see on tourist agendas. Aside from an attractive crescent-shaped beach, a small museum and botanical garden, Chankanaab boasts a wonderful natural lagoon connected to the Caribbean by a series of underwater tunnels and caves. 

Offshore waters are ideal for snorkeling and a gear rental shop is located on the beach.

In town

Back in San Miguel, passenger feries from the mainland drop visitors off at a pier located on the Malecon (boardwalk), the official name is which is the Avenida Rafael Melgar. San Miguel runs 14 blocks along the shore and a bit inland.

The town is arranged in a grid pattern, with even-numbered calles (streets) to the north and odd-numbered calles to the south. At the center of town there's an attractive town square called Plaza del Sol (sun plaza), with plentiful restaurants.

San Miguel boasts a proliferation of restaurants geared to all tastes and budgets. From streets-side cafes to sophisticated gourmet dining, this town had it all. 

Seafood, always fresh, is a popular choice and is served up in every style imaginable. Mexican specialties, Italian, Yucateca, Caribbean and American cuisine are available to temp both timid and adventurous palates.

Scuba diving

It's often said that more than half the people who visit Cozumel come for the diving. Declarated a National Underwater Nature Reserve in 1972, the clear Caribbean water around the island is home to not less than 13 km (eight miles) of live reefs, caves, tunnels and coral overhangs - all boasting an incredible variety of marine life. 

There are more than 40 dive shops in Cozumel catering to everyone from snorkelers and first-time divers to those more at home underwater than on land.

One of the most visited reefs on the island is the famous Palancar: one look at this Reef 's dazzling array of coral surrounded by an endless variety of marine life is enough to inspire any diver. 

Other popular reefs include the Paradise, Colombia, Tormentos and the Santa Rosa Wall-all accessible by boat. The average underwater visibility ranges from 120 to more than 160 feet, and you'll see it all here: silver bait fish, eels, and four-eyed butterfly fish, all close enough to touch.

Not all reefs are for all divers. Novices can make resort dives (accompanied by the trained instructors) from the shore, and there are a lot of snorkeling sites from which to choose. The shallow areas of the Palancar and Colombia reefs are excellent, as is Chankanaab beach.

 Riviera Maya
Dive Centers List

Ancient Maya

For a break from discovering the wonders of the underwater world, visitors can explore the island's several archeological sites. Cozumel was a ceremonial center for Mayans who traveled from the mainland to workship at shrines of Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. San Gervasio, located inland off the Transversal, is the most restored.