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COZUMEL Ancient Mayans considered the island a home for the goddess Ixchel, devoted to love and fertility, all the future wife's of that time made the venture from the mainland at least once in their life. Today the Cozumel has become a dream destination for nature lovers & divers all around the world. Cozumel is 10 miles wide and 28 miles long, and has only one town called San Miguel in the west side of the Island. Hotels & Resorts are located along this side. On the east side you will find the turquoise blue beaches of the atlantic ocean. Diving in this coral wonderland is just second best to Australia. All the many points of interest, things to do, are found in this site, we hope you will find this commercial directory useful for your next Caribbean Vacation. Cozumel Island is the largest island in the Republic of Mexico and is one the world's top diving destinations. The island is about 53 km long and 15 km wide with a land mass of 490 square km. A 3,000 foot deep channel and 19 km separates the island from the Yucatan Peninsula. With only 3% of the island developed, the rest of the island is inhabited by numerous birds, iguanas and other wildlife. National parks occupy much of the land and shore. The interior is covered by marshy lagoons, scrub, and dense jungle where Maya ruins hide. On the windward or eastern side of the island, development is nonexistent with the exception of a couple of small restaurants or bars scattered along the beach. The east shore has both rocky areas and long stretches of sand great for surfing and swimming. The leeward or west side faces the mainland and is where development is concentrated. The water is calm, ideal for snorkeling or scuba diving at one of the many reefs just off the coast. Flora and Fauna With majority of the island undeveloped and covered primarily with scrub and dense jungle, Cozumel Island has a diverse population of tropical birds, lizards, coati, deer and other wildlife. Bird watchers will not be disappointed with the flocks of multicolored parrots, blue warblers , white egrets and macas. Climate The climate on Cozumel Island is typical of the Caribbean. The average annual temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. From November to May, temperatures are slightly lower at about 25 degree Celsius. The weather is breezy with low humidity. Daily activities should not be hindered except during during heavy rains. For details on current weather conditions and forecasts, visit Cozumel's weather page from USA Today. For historical weather data, check out Wunderground.com History This island was first inhabited by the Mayas (explore the Mayas from Indigenous Peoples' Literature compiled by Glen Walker) . There is also a theory that the Maya were not the first inhabitants of Cozumel Island but distant cousins of the Maya who inhabited the continent of "Atlantis". The Mayans were responsible for the conversion of the island into a major trade center. During pre Hispanic times, Mesoamerican women traveled across the channel to the island to honor the goddess of fertility, Ix Chel. Folk tales claim every Mayan woman was required to make this trip. In 1517, the arrival of Spanish slave trader Juan De Grijalva was followed by Spaniard Hermán Cortés who used Cozumel Island as a base to attack the mainland. Not too long after, two missionaries arrived to convert the indigenous population. By 1570, the Spaniards were still not able to colonize the island but those who were not massacred were decimated by disease. Thereafter, the island was occupied by a small native and Spaniard population. During the 17th and 18th century, pirates used the island as a base and to hide their treasure. By 1843, the island was completely abandoned. With the turn of the 20th century, the chewing gum industry turned their attention to the large supply of zapote trees on the island which led to the uncovering of Maya ruins. Then during the 1950's, wealthy Mexicans used Cozumel island as a resort destination. By the 1960's, explorer Jacques Cousteau opened the island to divers around the world and today, Cozumel Island is one of the world's top diving and sun destinations. Visit Indigenous People Literature for excellent detailed information and resources on Mexico and other native peoples worldwide. This huge site is offered in several languages. Money Matters & Exchange Rates It's a good idea to exchange money at the airport when you arrive for the airport transport and tips. There is a money exchange booth at the airport but if you plan to arrive very early or late, it might be a good idea to exchange some money before you arrive. Most hotels also offer exchange but their rates are usually not as good as if you exchanged money at a bank or one of the many exchange houses downtown. Most restaurants and shops accept credit cards and traveler's cheque. For restaurants, buying goods, & taxi fares it is usually better to pay in pesos (Mexican currency). You will receive a better rate this way. Most of the tours and scuba diving fees are charged in US dollars. Beaches There are two very different kinds of beaches on Cozumel. One type, found on the west coast of the island facing the Mexican mainland, offers stretches of golden sand, often with all the amenities of a beach club. On the east side facing the Caribbean Sea, quiet beaches alternate with rocky shores along the vast expanses of the solitary coast. The waters on the more populous west side are generally calm, while the roaring surf on the east creates perilous breakers and undertows. The West Coast One of the choice strands on the island, about 10 miles south of San Miguel, is Playa San Francisco. The main part of the beach is only about 200 yards long, but along there are a number of dive shops, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. There are also public facilities for changing and showering. Many dive boats stop by on their way back from Colombia and Palancar reefs. The more isolated part of the beach extends another three miles to the south, becoming Playa Palancar. Between Playa San Francisco and San Miguel is Chankanaab Lagoon. The beach there is elevated above a sea wall that stretches along a picturesque cove. While snorkeling and diving are the most popular activities, the powdery sands are very appealing. Closer to San Miguel, just north of the International Pier, is a small public beach opposite the Fiesta Americana Sol Caribe Cozumel hotel. There, tourists can visit the nearby bar and sit in comfortable beach chairs while watching dive boats head for the offshore reefs. North of San Miguel is Playa San Juan, considered one of the best beaches on Cozumel for swimmers and water-sports enthusiasts. The East Coast Although the large breaking surf along the east coast is striking to observe, it creates strong undercurrents that are dangerous to swimmers. Visitors will find a good beach where Cross Island Road comes to a dead end on the east coast. Though unmarked, it is usually referred to by the locals as Playa Oriente. Farther south along the coast, there are three delightful, unpopulated beaches: Punta Morena, Punta Chiquero and Chen Río. Punta Morena is clearly marked and has a broad stretch of sand. Punta Chiquero is a large crescent-shaped beach. Chen Río can be identified only by a large outcropping of rocks that form a small, placid bay; it is an ideal area for swimming and snorkeling. At the south end of the coast where the road turns west, is El Mirador, a clean shore with few rocks. Farther south toward the Celarain Lighthouse are smaller stretches of beach interspersed with rock formations. Sand dunes between the beach and the lighthouse road can reach as high as 10 feet. SIGHTSEEING: No longer the Caribbean's best-kept secret, the island of Cozumel draws increasing numbers of visitors, particularly divers, each year. Cruise ships also stop in Playa del Carmen, a town of only 6,000 inhabitants located opposite Cozumel on the mainland. This port serves as a starting point for excursions on the Yucatán peninsula. Cozumel is Mexico's largest island, but its relatively small size and interesting sights make touring both manageable and enjoyable. And like many other islands in the Caribbean Sea, it has two very distinct sides. The western side of Cozumel is lined with classically perfect coves. The eastern side presents a very different landscape, a windswept coastline defined by jagged boulders and eerie rock formations that act as bulwarks against surprisingly turbulent waves. The best place to begin a tour is in San Miguel, the only town on the island. In the center of town, bordering the waterfront on Avenida Rafael Melgar, is the Plaza, where there are several memorials to Benito Juárez, the famed Mexican statesman and national hero. To the west is the Downtown Pier, where ferries depart for Playa del Carmen and the Mayan ruins on the mainland. While downtown in San Miguel, stop at the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel on the waterfront in the renovated Hotel Playa. In addition to a restaurant and a souvenir shop, the museum contains interesting displays of the island's natural history, with emphasis on the spectacular reefs lining the leeward coast. Located in the heart of San Miguel, the Plaza is a lively square in the center of town, with a variety of shops and restaurants to explore. A tour of the rest of the island by rental car or moped can easily be accomplished in a day, even with a stop at the island's most impressive ruins and a quick dip at an isolated beach. The Maya considered Cozumel a sacred shrine, referring to it as Ah-Cuzamil-Peten, or Island of the Swallows. The Mayan ruins at San Gervasio, situated on 10 acres in the interior of the island, have been restored by the National Institute of Anthropology and History. Once inside, you can wander through the four districts, the first dating from the Early Classic Period (A.D. 300-600) and the last from the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1250-1500). The majority of the structures at San Gervasio were used as altars and shrines and for governmental gatherings. While the buildings are not of the scale of other Mayan sites on the Yucatán peninsula, they impart a certain mystique as one walks on the altars where ceremonies were once held in honor of Ixchel, the fertility goddess. English-speaking guides are available. Cross Island Road ends in the center of the eastern coast of the island. Driving along the southeastern coast, visitors will see a more rugged side of Cozumel. The area is virtually uninhabited except for iguanas and birds that make their home in the mangrove trees and scrub jungle. The coastline varies from golden beaches to limestone formations. Farther south, where the road turns dramatically west, is El Mirador Beach; an unmarked dirt road there leads to the Celarain Lighthouse, from which a panoramic view can be enjoyed. Along the way is a small ruin called Tumba del Caracol, or "Shell Tomb." Traveling the main road west, visitors will come upon signs for Palancar and El Cedral. El Cedral is a small Mayan ruin. The dirt road at the Palancar sign leads to Playa Palancar. After passing the turnoff for Playa San Francisco, there is a sign for Chankanaab Lagoon. Located just 10 kilometers south of San Miguel, the park charges a modest entry fee but is well worth a visit. The lagoon itself is a natural aquarium that is home to more than 60 species of tropical fish, crustaceans and corals; there is also a botanical garden around the lagoon with hundreds of species of tropical plants. The snorkeling and diving in the lagoon are excellent, and four dive shops provide everything needed: equipment rentals, guides and instruction, including certification courses. In the park's Mayan Zone are reproductions of Mayan housing, where visitors can learn more about the ancient culture's building and farming practices.
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