Cozumel itinerary: 15 top things to do in Cozumel, Mexico
Let’s explore the best things to do in Cozumel, Mexico! Cozumel, Mexico’s third-largest island, greeted us with its white sand beaches, lush palm trees, wild nature, delicious food, and Mayan ruins hidden deep in the jungle.
We spent a full week in Cozumel exploring everything this laid-back island had to offer! We loved everything from touring the Mayan chocolate factory to eating marquesitas in the park and snorkeling in the turquoise waters at the Great Mayan Reef.
In this post, you will find the best things to do in Cozumel with descriptions, photos, and locations on Google Maps. Coming from someone who has actually been there and done that! Enjoy your travels!
Read more » 13 best Instagram spots in Cozumel, Mexico
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1. Take a photo at Cozumel letters & the iconic Cozumel Clock Tower!
Start your trip at one of the central places of Cozumel Island – Benito Juarez Park! Located at the waterfront right next to the ferry terminal in San Miguel de Cozumel downtown it is one of the most visited places on the island!
One of the first things to do in Cozumel is to take a photo in front of the colorful Cozumel letters – one of the most popular Instagram spots in Cozumel. You can find them in one of the corners of Benito Juarez Park.
Located in the same emblematic Benito Juarez Park is another landmark place in Cozumel – the iconic clock tower of Cozumel. The yellow clock tower resembles a lighthouse and is a symbol of the island.
Cozumel Clock Tower is more than 100 years old as it was constructed back in 1910 to celebrate the centenary of Mexico’s 1810 War of Independence. In the evening, the clock is illuminated in different colors.
In case you are looking to go shopping, this is the best place for that – the adjacent streets of the central park are filled with street vendors and souvenir shops – especially the 5A Avenida Sur and the 5A Avenida Norte streets.
Location: Letras Cozumel – Cozumel Clock Tower
2. Stop by iconic landmarks along Cozumel promenade!
Cozumel promenade along the sea in San Miguel de Cozumel town was one of my favorite places on the island. There’s just something about taking a walk along a palm-lined seaside promenade, right?
I recommend starting somewhere at the ferry terminal in the center of the town and continuing up North along the promenade to spot some of the most iconic landmarks in Cozumel along the way. Here are three landmarks that you will see there!
1. Coral Reefs Monument
One of my absolute favorite places to visit in Cozumel was the ornate Coral Reefs Monument next to the promenade just one block from the ferry terminal. We happened to be there during a lovely sunset which turned the view into a gorgeous ‘painting’!
The monument is a tribute to the coral reef ecosystem that surrounds the island. The most unique part about it is that it comes alive at night – there is a fountain with water falling from the arch and the monument is illuminated in beautiful colors.
Location: Coral Reefs Monument
2. Monumento Al Mestizaje
Next up you will stumble upon another emblematic place in Cozumel – Monumento Al Mestizaje that commemorates the beginning of miscegenation in Mexico – a mix of cultures and races between the Europeans and the indigenous Mayans.
The monument depicts Gonzalo Guerrero with his Mayan family, his wife and three kids. He was a Spanish sailor who was captured by the Maya and later on, married a Mayan woman. He is considered the father of mestizaje or miscegenation in Mexico.
Location: Monumento Al Mestizaje
3. Monumento a la Hispanidad
And finally – Monumento a la Hispanidad that celebrates two cultures and was built in front of the beach where the Spanish arrived at Cozumel for the first time. It features a replica of an ancient Mayan temple, a statue of a missionary, and a Mayan family.
This square is also the place where the first mass was held on Cozumel Island after the arrival of the Spaniards. By no means does this compare to the real archaeological sites but it is definitely a symbolic place and of historical significance!
Location: Monumento a la Hispanidad
3. Go snorkeling at the Great Mayan Reef!
Did you know that Cozumel is the most famous snorkeling destination in Mexico? Its shallow turquoise beaches and the proximity to the second-largest barrier reef in the world – the Mesoamerican Reef – make it the perfect place for this activity!
The Mesoamerican Reef is also known as the Great Mayan Reef and stretches along Cozumel. We could not resist the temptation and went on a snorkeling tour to the many parts of the barrier reef – Palancar Reef, Colombia Reef as well as El Cielo sandbar.
To be completely honest this was our first try at snorkeling and quickly became one of the top highlights of our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. They gave us all the equipment and we got to see the reef, saw many fish like manta rays, as well as starfish.
We ended the tour at Playa El Cielo – the most beautiful beach in Cozumel with shallow turquoise waters. We walked around, had drinks and snacks (included in the price), and watched large manta rays pass us by in the water. It was unforgettable!
A snorkeling tour is also a great opportunity to take some unique photos. If you want cool photos then a GoPro with a floating hand grip will come in handy. However, our guide also had it and took photos of us (photos cost 500 pesos).
Location: Cozumel Snorkeling Tour – El Cielo Beach
4. Go on a hunt for the best tacos in Cozumel!
Lucky for us, we spent a whole week in Cozumel so we got to explore many places and try many foods while staying in San Miguel de Cozumel. One of my favorite things to do in Cozumel was hunting down the best taco spots!
The first taco spot we went to was actually the best one – Taquería El Mexicano. Located in the very center of San Miguel de Cozumel this authentic taco restaurant will give you the freshest, most delicious, juiciest tacos ever. Don’t walk, but run there!
Another unique taco spot with tasty tacos was – Guisados. The word ‘guisado’ means stew and they prepare their taco filling by stewing. As you enter the establishment there are pots and bowls full of different taco filling. I highly recommend them!
They also had unique blue tortillas made on the spot. I chose different types of tacos and can’t say that I liked them all but that just depends on my taste. Having rice mixed in with vegetables and meat inside your taco was definitely unique!
Another popular taco restaurant just outside the historic center of San Miguel de Cozumel is Mister Taco. We walked there but you can also take a taxi. They are a popular spot amongst locals and serve authentic style tacos (we got al pastor).
Lastly, we also visited Los Tacotales taco spot. Overall tacos tasted very good, but in my books, the best authentic tacos are served in hand-made double tortillas and this place didn’t have that. It makes such a difference! But overall they were good!
Location: Taquería El Mexicano – Guisados – Mister Taco – Los Tacotales
5. Visit the San Gervasio Archaeological Zone!
San Gervasio Archaeological Zone is one of the must-visit places in Cozumel, Mexico. Although these Mayan ruins are on a smaller scale compared to many other ruins on the mainland, they are still the largest ones on Cozumel Island.
San Gervasio Archaeological Zone is pretty much scattered around the jungle so you will have to walk a bit to see the most impressive places. It features a couple of temples, arches, columns, and other important structures.
San Gervacio site was dedicated to the goddess Ixchel – the deity of midwifery and fertility – which ensured that many women from the island, as well as other Mayan settlements on the mainland, traveled to this site to make offerings.
One of the most impressive and best-preserved buildings in the San Gervasio Archaeological Zone is Nohoch Nah or the Big House (first photo). It is a temple that was dedicated to Kukulkan, the Mayan feathered serpent god.
If you climb the stairs and take a look inside the Nohoch Nah temple you can still see the signs of a colorful mural on the walls of the temple. Most of the structures here date back to the period between the 11th and 16th centuries.
I also loved the Arch of San Gervasio which is situated on the main religious pathway called a ‘sacbe’ in Mayan and the cool Los Murcielagos building which was the residence of the Mayan ruler of Cozumel.
Location: San Gervasio Archaeological Zone
6. Watch the sunset at Cozumel promenade!
Watching the sun go down in the Caribbean Sea was one of my favorite things to do in Cozumel and we went for a sunset walk along the beautiful seaside promenade many times during our stay on the island.
Cozumel has a unique privilege in terms of sunset as most of the popular destinations around Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula don’t have this luxury – such popular places like Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun all face the sea to the East.
So watching the sunset in the sea can only be done in a few places around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. That’s why the promenade around sunset hours will be filled with people. But there’s plenty of space for everyone!
I recommend walking around and finding a nice spot to watch the sunset at least once during your stay in Cozumel. Luckily you don’t have to walk too far – just wander around the ferry terminal and choose a spot!
Location: Sunset at the promenade
7. Grab a marquesita or churros at Benito Juarez Park!
Another thing that we did multiple times during our stay in Cozumel was going to Benito Juarez Park in the evening to grab a freshly made marquesita or churros from food stands in the park. And then we went to the promenade to watch the sunset.
In the evening the park is filled with street food vendors but we mostly saw papas (chips), churros, and marquesitas – a thin rolled crunchy crepe filled with sweet fillings like strawberry, banana, chocolate cream, or dulce de leche (condensed milk).
Marquesita is one of the must-try foods when visiting the Yucatan Peninsula as it is one of the most popular sweet street foods in Mexico that originated in the Yucatan Peninsula nearly 100 years ago. Look for them in any of the park’s corners.
Location: Benito Juarez Park
8. Rent a car and drive around Cozumel!
One of the must-do things to do in Cozumel is renting a car and driving around the island. To be precise, you can only drive around half of the island but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you can easily do it in a single day!
You don’t need to book anything well in advance. We actually went to the car rental in the morning to get a car for the same exact day. However, only one was left so I recommend booking it at least 1-2 days prior so that you have some options.
There are many car rentals in San Miguel de Cozumel – people will constantly approach you on the street to offer their services, tours, rentals, etc. We simply opened Google Maps and searched for a place with at least decent reviews and went for it.
A regular car might be something around 50 to 100 USD per day but a single day is all you need to drive around the island. There are only a couple of spots to visit. If you plan it right, you won’t need more time!
9. Gems of the East Coast: Playa Mezcalito, Playa Chen Rio, El Mirador
So we rented a car in San Miguel de Cozumel and started our journey around the island. After stopping by the San Gervasio Archaeological Zone we continued to the East Coast of Cozumel.
The East Coast is Cozumel’s wild side. It is not populated and there are only a couple of shops and restaurants to stop by along the way. The three most popular stops are – Playa Mezcalito, Playa Chen Rio, and El Mirador.
The first stop once we reached the East Coast was Playa Mezcalito – basically the first place you see once you reach the sea. We stopped there for a couple of minutes to take photos of the swings as well as the calm sea and our cute yellow car.
The next place we stopped was Playa Chen Rio – one of the most popular beaches on the East Coast of Cozumel. Many people come here to swim and sunbathe. We enjoyed some time here and took some photos of the pretty blue boats and palm trees.
Finally, we stopped at one of the most popular viewpoints on the East Coast – El Mirador. The coastline at El Mirador is filled with sharp porous rocks with fossil marks on them. There is a sea arch stretching into the sea – a popular photo spot.
El Mirador is lined with palapas and souvenir vendors. If you are looking for a keepsake from this island then this is a great spot to purchase some. If not, you better be ready to fight off some very passionate (but friendly) vendors, haha!
Location: Playa Mezcalitos – Playa Chen Rio – El Mirador
10. Spot crocodiles in the Punta Sur Eco Park!
One of my favorite things to do in Cozumel was to visit the Punta Sur Eco Park. The ecological park spreads across the southern tip of the island and features a crocodile lagoon, an archaeological site, a museum, a lighthouse, a nature trail, and more.
First of all, the park is a closed area, you can visit this place during their working hours and there is an entrance fee – we paid 300 pesos per person. Worth it because you get to spend a couple of hours full of adventures and amazing nature!
Punta Sur Eco Park is one of the must-visit stops to make during your road trip around the island! As you drive inside the park beware of animals crossing the road! We did see some of them!
The first stop inside the park is at the Crocodile Watchtower next to the Colombia Lagoon. It is a beautiful wooden tower where you can climb up and enjoy the views over the lagoon and try to spot some crocodiles who live there (no luck for us!).
Later on inside the park, you can also join a boat tour through the lagoon to see some wildlife and give another try to spot those crocs (boat trips happen at certain hours)! Boat tours are included in the price you paid for the entry.
Before continuing further inside the park, stop by El Caracol Archaeological Zone just a few meters from the watchtower. The Mayan ruins feature a small Mayan temple El Caracol (the snail) dating back to the 13th-16th centuries.
Another cool spot to visit within the Punta Sur Eco Park is the iconic white Lighthouse of Punta Celarayn. Here’s the best part – you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and see Cozumel from above!
The bottom part of the lighthouse features a Navigation Museum with artifacts and illustrations about marine life as well as the history of the lighthouse and the life of Mayans for the past centuries. Entry to the museum is included in the tickets.
Another attraction included in the tickets is climbing to the top of the Lighthouse of Punta Celarayn. I have to mention that the stairs get very narrow closer to the top and at the very end you have to really bend over and crawl outside on the terrace.
However, the view from the lighthouse is worth it! You get to see 360-degree views of the nearby lagoon, the Caribbean Sea, the white sand beaches, and the whole ecological park. The iconic lighthouse was constructed in the early 20th century.
The top of the 133-foot (40.5-meter) lighthouse makes for beautiful views overlooking the wilderness of Cozumel. From the top, you can also see some of the beaches that are closed to the public to allow hatching for sea turtles.
At the bottom of the lighthouse, there was a bar for drinks as well as swings and a relaxation area. You can also go for a walk along a 3-mile Nature Trail or take a boat tour to the crocodile lagoon (also included in the entrance ticket).
Location: Ticket Office – Crocodile watchtower – El Caracol Archaeological Zone – Lighthouse of Punta Celarayn
11. Indulge in the Mexican and Mayan food!
Trying different local foods has to be one of my favorite things to do when traveling. We visited many popular local restaurants for a delicious taste of Mexican and also Mayan cuisine. Here are my favorite spots to eat in Cozumel!
Casa Mission was definitely one of my top places to go for Mexican and Mayan food. It is a charming hacienda building with a lush garden. Portions here are not only large and very delicious but they gave us a complementary sopa de lima soup too!
My next favorite place was La Choza Cozumel. We tried their quesadillas, guacamole, and Aztec soup (yum!) and everything was delicious. Plus they had a full house of people but our dishes came very fast.
Another place we went for Mexican food was Pancho’s Backyard. It was a bit strange to access (through a store) but the main thing was great – the food was super tasty. They are popular amongst cruise ship visitors but we managed to skip those crowds.
Located about a 15-minute drive from the center of San Miguel de Cozumel is a place you have to visit if you want to explore the Mayan cuisine – Ix Kool. It is one of those nicer restaurants serving Mexican, Yucatecan, and Mayan dishes.
We ordered agua de chaya for drinks (Mayan drink), guacamole, empanadas, and a typical Yucatecan dish – salbutes de cochinita pibil which are a type of tortillas and pork marinated in red orange marinade and cooked in a pit overnight. Super tasty!
Location: Casa Mission – La Choza Cozumel – Pancho’s Backyard – Ix Kool
12. Take a tour through a Mayan chocolate factory!
One of my favorite experiences on the island was at The Mayan Cacao Company. It is one of two places you can tour to explore the ins and outs of the traditional way Mayans used cacao beans as well as the very beginnings of making chocolate!
You can do a similar tour at Chocolates Kaokao chocolate factory in San Miguel de Cozumel city but for us, it was easier to do it at The Mayan Cacao Company while on our road trip around the island. And we really loved it!
General admission was 15 USD per person. We were assigned a private guide who led the way through different areas on their premises. We started the tour in the garden and listened to his stories while a large scarlet macaw parrot made loud noises next to us.
Then we moved into a gallery where we heard more about the cacao bean and how Mayans used it as currency and made drinks that were only reserved for Mayan nobility like priests, rulers, and chosen warriors.
After that, we went to a life-size traditional Mayan hut and explored how they lived back then. They also gave us to taste a small tortilla with pumpkin seed spread – one of the main protein sources for Mayans.
We then walked to the auditorium to see the traditional Mayan way of making chocolate and saw one made. They also gave it to us to taste. Surprisingly delicious! We finished the tour in the chocolate shop.
They had sooo many different chocolates and we were allowed to taste as many of them as we liked. We ended up buying two to take home (they also had lots of other different products). Overall I really liked this tour!
Location: The Mayan Cacao Company
13. Enjoy the palm-lined Cozumel beaches!
Cozumel is well-known for its gorgeous tropical beaches with white sand, turquoise water, and palm trees lined along the shore. However, visiting beaches comes with a challenge.
On the West side beaches around San Miguel de Cozumel are not suitable for swimming – there is a rocky port area with ferries, cruise ships, and boats. The best way to enjoy the beach is to go to a beach club further South of the capital.
Some of the best and most popular beach clubs in Cozumel are Paradise Beach Cozumel, Mr Sanchos Beach Club, Skyreef Beach Club Cozumel, The Money Bar Beach Club, and Playa Palancar Cozumel Beach Club.
Overall, Cozumel’s beaches are not easily accessible. Beach clubs and businesses occupy the territory and roads but we found a free spot to access the beautiful Playa San Francisco next to The Mayan Cacao Company. Small beach but free access!
Some people rent a car or scooter and drive to the East Coast beaches – they are for free but also wild, have strong currents, and often are windy – really it depends on the weather. We saw some people enjoying water in a small cove at Playa Chen Rio beach.
However, the most beautiful beach in Cozumel is Playa El Cielo which translates as Heaven’s Beach. You can get to the shallow turquoise waters of Heaven’s Beach during a snorkeling tour like we did or during a boat trip. We say many manta rays there!
Location: Paradise Beach – Playa El Cielo – Playa San Francisco – Playa Chen Rio
14. Hunt down the coolest Cozumel street art murals!
One of my favorite things to do in Cozumel was to go on a hunt for the coolest street art murals. There are so many of them in the streets of San Miguel de Cozumel! I highly recommend wandering around downtown to find the most colorful murals!
Most of the street art murals we found around Benito Juarez Park and its adjacent streets. One of my favorite ones was the mural of Cozumel’s angel wings at the very beginning of the Avenida Benito Juarez avenue.
Then we found multiple murals on 5A Avenida Sur-5A Avenida Norte street. If you walk to 5A Avenida Sur and 5A Avenida Norte a couple of blocks in both directions from the Benito Juarez Park you will likely find many street art murals.
We also saw some on Calle 2 Norte (the turtle mural) and on Calle 4 Norte as well (the leopard). I am very aware that the paint will fade, the murals will be gone and new ones will appear so keep your eyes open around these areas!
Location: Angel Wings Street Art
15. Explore the Cozumel Musem!
I am not usually one of those who love to go to museums, however, we had a free afternoon so I decided to give this Cozumel Musem a try!
Besides the museum is located in the heart of the city of San Miguel de Cozumel so it was just a short walk from our apartment.
Visiting the Cozumel Museum was like uncovering the island’s history in one short hour. The exhibitions follow Cozumel’s evolution from ancient Mayan settlements to nowadays when Cozumel is a bustling Caribbean destination.
It is filled with captivating artifacts from the Mayan times to Spanish colonization to modern days. My favorites were stone statues from Mayan temples as well as a replica of a Mayan house.
However, the interactive room dedicated to marine life was a star. Here you can ‘play’ with fish, and learn about the island’s vibrant coral reefs and diverse underwater ecosystems.
Cozumel Musem is a beautiful mix of interactive rooms dedicated to nature, history, the Mayan era, the Spanish conquest, and everything after that. It was a bit pricey (we paid 10 USD each) but worth it if you really interact and learn something.
Location: Cozumel Musem
Happy exploring!
We stayed in Cozumel Island for 7 days so that we could explore the capital as well as the rest of the island to the fullest – from wild white sand beaches and turquoise water to Mayan ruins in the jungle and tasty street food in San Miguel de Cozumel.
Besides our stay in Cozumel, we also spent a couple of months traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, including the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and exploring everything this beautiful peninsula had to offer.
From white-sand beaches to dark underground cenotes, and ancient pyramids – there’s just so much to see! I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did and I hope you get some travel inspiration from this blog post for your travels! Happy travels!
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