Cozumel - Mexico

Cozumel is one of Mexico’s largest islands at 29 miles long, and is located 22 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula. A modern beach playground, it is also one of Mexico’s most popular destinations among chilly northern residents seeking a brief escape from winter weather. Most of the hotels, shops, and restaurants are centred around San Miguel on the western shore, which is also where cruise ships dock at one of two terminals separated by about two miles.


Above: The coastal road that runs through San Miguel

The Mayans first settled the island in 300AD and it quickly became an important Mayan trading and ceremonial centre. Cozumel’s first visitor was the Spanish explorer Iuan de Grijalva who arrived in 1518 on a slave hunting expedition. A year later the conqueror Hernan Cortes arrived and attempted to convert the island to Christianity by destroying one of the 32 Mayan temples. Following the visit of Cortes, the island was mostly deserted and became a refuge for notorious pirates such as Jean Lafitte and Henry Morgan. In 1848 Indians fleeing the War of the Castes found their way to Cozumel and by the 20th century the island population grew, thanks in part to the emerging industry of chewing gum.


Above: The shore is dotted with many boats. You can just see the Ryndam behind the Norwegian Spirit.

During our cruises we come across many other ships of various different sizes but the biggest cruise ships tend to be the Royal Caribbean ones. I took this shot a few weeks ago and although the angle slightly favours the Allure of the Seas, the Ryndam really did look like a luxury yacht compared to this monster!


Above: Size matters not

The San Miguel beachfront is lined with shops, restaurants and boat jetties and it is a popular port with crew members particularly as we stay docked there until 7.30pm (we leave most other ports by about 5pm). This has given me the chance to take some night shots, one of which you saw in my last post (Ryndam at night). I also took a few pictures of the Cozumel coastline from the ship.


Above: Cozumel at night

Here are some more pictures I took on my travels around San Miguel:


Above: A ‘town square’. Concerts take place here in the evenings.


Above: Horse-drawn carriages are popular with tourists


Above: Behind the glossy shop-fronts many of Cozumel’s residents are quite poor


Above: Sepia sidestreet

I’ll leave you with this final shot of a pelican which was flying around the beach. I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of Cozumel. Speak soon!


Above: Pelican