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Come to Cozumel, an Island that Suits Your Style
beaches
By Eve Carr
I'm always leery when someone says there's "something for everyone" at any given destination. But after visiting Isla Cozumel, I have changed my mind about such claims. This little island just off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula is only 30 miles long and about 10 miles wide, but it offers an incredibly diverse array of vacation excitement that's sure to please any traveler.
Activities
Cozumel offers a wide range of activities that will delight the jock as well as the couch—or, hammock—potato. In addition to world-renowned scuba diving and snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, and parasailing are also options. If you're not into water sports, then you can play tennis (both tabletop and regular), go hiking, ride horseback, or play a round of golf at the Cozumel Country Club. Even if you don't golf, it's fun to dine at the club while basking in its luxuriant natural surroundings.
The west coast of the island is filled with beaches. Get used to the word playa (Spanish for beach) because you'll see it everywhere. There are so many beaches, but so little time. What fun it would be to visit them all and see which ones are best! With a climate that's kept temperate by balmy breezes off the Caribbean Ocean, it's especially nice to be outside, and, better yet, to enjoy the island's dramatic sunrises and sunsets.
For other outdoor activities, you can get back to nature by visiting Cozumel's many natural preserves, such as the Cozumel Marine Reef National Park, Chankanaab Park and Lagoon, and Punta Sur, a new ecological park that showcases the island's native flora and fauna. These preserves have everything from mangrove jungles and silky white-sand beaches to dramatic reef formations and exotic fish. For example, at Chankanaab Park you'll see 350 types of tropical plants from more than 20 countries. And if you make reservations, you'll even get to swim with dolphins.
Many hotels offer excellent children's packages for
these preserves, too.
If you're into history, step back in time by exploring the Mayan ruins at San Gervasio. Make sure to drop by the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel, too, to learn about this tiny island's history.
Shopaholics can take advantage of Cozumel's duty-free designation, which means great prices on goodies such as sterling silver, gold, precious and semi-precious stones, and brand-name watches. Quaint village shops also offer a variety of handcrafted Mexican items that make excellent souvenirs and gifts. And, after a long day of shopping, you can dine at nearby Pancho's Backyard, a veritable island institution.
Dining
With more than 90 restaurants and cafés, you'll also find a wide range of dining options in Cozumel. You could eat three meals a day and still not dine in the same place twice, even over an extended stay.
If you're in the mood for tastes from back home, you'll find many favorites here, including the Hard Rock Cafe (the smallest one in the world) and TGI Fridays. I'm not much of a fan of chain restaurants though, so I prefer to zero in on local establishments that give me a taste of flavors I can't have every day.
One such restaurant is Ambientes Cozumel, which is two blocks from Main Square at 10th Avenue. It offers a relaxing setting and serves dishes such as appetizing crab rolls with bacon, tangy chicken breast in tomatillo sauce, and a good variety of innovative sandwiches, many of them served in pita bread. If you want to enjoy an elegant, romantic dinner on the beach, make reservations at the Presidente Inter-Continental Hotel Cozumel, where the setting is so romantic that you'll want to pop that important question here.
If you haven't eaten at Casa Denis, you haven't been to Cozumel! This restaurant has been here since 1945, and affords you the chance to dine in an authentic Yucatán setting and savor local foods such as scrambled eggs with challah bread. Come here and linger over breakfast as you dine with the locals, and don't miss the historic photos on the wall: among the many family pictures, you'll also see some famous people, including a young Fidel Castro!
Dining outdoors at Mr. Sancho's is about as relaxing as it gets, especially if you sit in one of their swinging bar chairs with a tequila in hand. You can come for lunch, dinner, or just snacks. It's also possible to spend the entire day here because this informal beach resort offers a variety of activities for tourists and locals alike. Whether it's tanning on the beach, relaxing your muscles with a beachside massage, or taking a tequila-tasting seminar, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
Getting There and Around
Getting to Cozumel is easy because there are a number of daily domestic and international flights to the island. From the United States, major gateways include Charlotte, Newark, and Houston. If you're already in Mexico, you can take the Mexico Water Jet, which ferries passengers back and forth between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. It only takes about 45 minutes, and the ferry operates hourly throughout the day. If you want to take your car from the mainland to the island, catch the ferry at Puerto Morelos (near Cancún), but note that it only leaves once a day.
Once there, you'll see that Cozumel is filled with original Volkswagen Beetles. It's a good thing, too, because their size is just right for whizzing yourself around the island. Other rental options include four-wheel-drive vehicles, mopeds for two, and bicycles. You can also get around by taxi, but they're unmetered—ask your hotel concierge what a reasonable fare would be for the destination you want, and negotiate with the driver in advance.
Accommodation
Is it stylish yet unpretentious elegance you want? Try the five-star, four-diamond Presidente Inter-Continental Hotel Cozumel, where you'll be pampered with professional service that's delivered in a warm, gracious manner. From the Paul Bunyan–sized towels to the assortment of fresh flowers brought to your room every day, you'll feel treated like royalty—and a close friend.
There are also budget accommodations like the Days Inn Villas Iguanas. For more suggestions, email the Cozumel Hotel Association (at ahoteles@cozumel.com) for details on 22 other hotels to choose from that suit your style and budget.
A Great Vacation Spot
The true test of a destination is whether you'd recommend it to your friends—and whether you'd come back yourself. For me, the answer to both is an emphatic 'yes' because Cozumel has more to offer travelers than they could possibly see in just one trip. I guess that's why the Texan woman seated next to me on the plane said that she had been coming here for 12 years!
For more information about Cozumel, check out www.islacozumel.com.mx.
