Before you go

Your trip to Cozumel.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Cozumel – Quintana Roo Destination Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen and Cozumel) about 330 km from Chetumal

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional de Cozumel (CZM) 3 km
Muelle Fiscal de San Miguel de Cozumel 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Boats depart from the Playa del Carmen pier several times a day and reach San Miguel in about 40 minutes. There is a car ferry from Calica, south of Playa del Carmen. Cozumel Airport (CZM) receives domestic flights and some international ones.

How many days

One day is enough for a dive or snorkel and to see the town. With two or three days you can fit in San Gervasio, Punta Sur and a drive along the east coast. Divers often stay four days or more.

When to go

The water is usually clearest from December to April, during the dry season. From May to October there is more rain. Hurricanes are more likely between August and October.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Practical info. The road that circles the island is about 65 km long and there is no public transport to San Gervasio or Punta Sur. Cars, jeeps, motorcycles or scooters can be rented in San Miguel; taxis also cover the routes.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Cozumel

Morning
Snorkel or diving
Leave in the morning on a dive or snorkel boat to the park's reefs on the southwest coast, such as Palancar or Colombia.
Afternoon
Punta Sur
In the afternoon, drive or scooter to Punta Sur park, climb the Celarain lighthouse and see the Colombia lagoon.
Late afternoon
East coast
Return along the east coast, with open sea and deserted beaches, stopping at the rocky viewpoints before crossing the island back to San Miguel.
Evening
San Miguel waterfront
Finish at the San Miguel waterfront, near the central square, with the sunset over the sea facing the mainland.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know how to dive to see Cozumel's reefs?

No. Many boats run snorkel trips at shallower reefs. For the deep sites, such as the walls of Palancar, you need a diving certification or to do an introductory (try) dive with an instructor.

How long does the boat from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel take?

About 40 minutes, with several departures a day from the Playa del Carmen pier.

How do you go around Cozumel?

By rented car, jeep, motorcycle or scooter from San Miguel, via the roughly 65 km coastal road, or by taxi. There is no bus to the island interior.

Does Cozumel receive cruise ships?

Yes. The island is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean, and on ship days the center of San Miguel fills up.

Back to Cozumel