Best things to do in Cozumel, Mexico cruise port
Cozumel, Mexico is a single of the most well known ports of simply call in the Western Caribbean and one of the busiest cruise ports in the world by travellers. The island is situated about 12 miles off the coast of Mexico and is around 30 miles extensive and 10 miles broad.
By the conclude of 2022, Cozumel experienced virtually 3 million holidaymakers from about unique 1,200 cruise itineraries!
If Cozumel is on your impending cruise itinerary, you are probably thinking how to invest your working day on the Mexican island. Fortunately, there is a thing for every person! It does not issue if you want to locate a snug seashore lounger and spend the working day stress-free or do a thing that requires a very little far more activity, like snorkeling or wading by caves.
You can go scuba diving or zip lining, get an ATV tour all around the island, loosen up on the beach, eat delightful genuine Mexican foods, or even investigate cenotes and underground caves.
Study extra: Very best Caribbean shore excursions
Below are the greatest issues to do on your upcoming cruise to Cozumel.
What is the weather in Cozumel like?
If you are cruising to Cozumel, you must know that temperatures continue to be rather consistent all through the 12 months. In each individual time, the daytime highs are in the 80s (peaking closer to the 90s in the center of the summer months), whilst the nighttime lows will variety from the large 60s to mid-70s. Often, the island will confront a cold front, which usually normally takes put in December and January.
If you want the most temperate and comfy temperatures, you need to prepare on cruising concerning November and March. The rest of the year is subject matter to bigger temperatures and humidity temperatures, as perfectly as a increased opportunity for rainfall June via Oct thanks to hurricane period.
In which do cruise ships dock in Cozumel?
Cozumel, Mexico has a few primary cruise docks: the Langosta Pier, Puerta Maya, and the Intercontinental Cruise Terminal. The latter is the oldest pier in Cozumel and is found three miles south of downtown, even though the Langosta Pier is found in the coronary heart of downtown. It expenditures about $8 for a cab for up to 4 visitors to get from the Intercontinental Cruise Terminal or Puerta Maya to downtown.
The Intercontinental Cruise Terminal is generally utilized by Celeb Cruises and Royal Caribbean, with all other cruise lines docking at the Langosta Pier.
Puerta Maya is reserved just for Carnival’s Cruise Line and is located just south of the Worldwide Cruise Terminal. It can accommodate up to 3 ships for each day!
Check out Mayan ruins
Traveling to Mayan ruins is just one of the most common points to do whilst docked in Mexico. Numerous excursions, even so, demand you to board a ferry to Playa del Carmen, and this experience can generally be tough and choppy. After you disembark the ferry, you will have to sit on a bus for at least an additional hour.
If you do not want to devote the the greater part of your port day in transit, there are some Mayan ruins on the island of Cozumel! Though the San Gervasio Mayan Archaeological Web page is not as well known and well known as those in Tulum or Chichén Itzá, they emphasize the Maya beliefs of really like and fertility.
The entrance cost is only $12.50 for each person, with kids 3 and under finding in for no cost. Moreover, for all over $20, you can get a personal manual to direct you all around!
Of training course, this will not switch a excursion to the infamous Tulum ruins or Chichén Itzá. The ideal way to practical experience these web-sites is to e-book an tour by way of your cruise line, as you will want to ensure that you have appropriate transportation you do not want to miss out on your cruise ship!
Carnival Cruise Line gives an excursion to Tulum for $100 for every grownup and $90 for every baby. The tour lasts about 7 several hours and features a guided tour of Tulum, as perfectly as 1.5 hrs of absolutely free time to explore on your own!
Chichén Itzá is a minor little bit further more, so excursions are not often made available. It is dependent on how long your ship is docked in Cozumel for. If you are there extended plenty of, you can choose to consider Norwegian Cruise Line’s 9 hour “Chichén Itzá Mayan Ruins” tour for $185 for each adult and $149 per little one.
Read through extra: 11 typical cruise shore tour mistakes to keep away from
Scuba diving and snorkeling
Cozumel is regarded for their scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities. Right here, you will find around 500 species of fish, 60 species of coral, 350 mollusks and maritime mammals, algaes, and seagrasses.
If you are an inexperienced diver, you can guide a snuba tour that makes it possible for you to dive under the surface area of the ocean without the need of the hefty scuba devices or lengthy lessons. Carnival delivers one particular for only $80 for each individual, with a least participant age of eight-many years-previous.
And of study course, there is usually snorkeling. Based on which tour you ebook, you may be taken to as a lot of as a few various reef destinations about the island! Some even consist of some time for you to chill out on a seaside.
Do not limit oneself to what your cruise ship features. There are quite a few third social gathering operators in Cozumel that you can decide on from that are less expensive than cruise line excursions.
Browse much more: How to system your own shore excursion
Test authentic delicacies
Even even though Cozumel is ideal recognized for its wonderful seashores and diving, foodies may possibly want to contemplate utilizing their time in port to try out some scrumptious Mexican meals.
Cruise traces will offer you food items tours even so, to get the most genuine encounter, you are far better off doing investigation forward of time and heading on a self-guided tour or scheduling by using a third occasion. In most instances, you will have to venture outdoors of the principal vacationer regions.
If you are going to go off on your personal, you will want to make absolutely sure that you have pesos. If you forgot to go to your bank and get community currency just before your trip, there are several ATMs in downtown Cozumel that deposit pesos. This is the very best way to make certain that you’re having the ideal level, way too!
Soak up the sun on the beach
Many cruisers want to lounge on the beach front though in Cozumel and sip on a piña colada or some other tropical beverage.
I propose averting cruise line seashore excursions. They are generally overpriced and you can knowledge the exact same issue for significantly less if you go on your own! Moreover, you will not be relient on a shuttle back again to the ship, indicating that you can shell out as very long (or as small) on the beach front as you would like to– just be positive you do not miss out on the ship!
If you are on the lookout for an all-inclusive beach working day, two of the most popular options are Mr. Sanchos Beach front Club and Paradise Seaside Club. Prices for Mr. Sanchos commence at $40.00 for little ones ages 4 to 11, $45 for young children ages 12 to 17, and $68 for all guests 18+.
Cruise passengers likely to Paradise Beach Club can be expecting equivalent pricing: $41 for young children between the ages of 5 and 11, $47 for teens 12 to 17, and $60 for these who are 18+.
For individuals seeking to encounter fewer crowds, you can undertaking to the other aspect of the island, like Ixpalbarco Seashore, Punta Morena, Chen Rio, and El Mirador.
Go through more: 10 suggestions for having the ideal cruise shore tour values
ATV or dune buggy tour
If you are attention-grabbing in discovering the Jap shores of the island, the most effective way to do so is on an ATV or dune buggy tour. In contrast to the fast paced Western 50 %, the Eastern side of the island is almost uninhabited. You will get to watch some of the most attractive landscapes on the island, as very well as sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea.
If you are sailing on Carnival, you can opt to e book the “ATV Jungle Experience & Beach front” excursion instantly through the cruise line for $90 per man or woman. Observe, even so, that there is a minimal age of sixteen-decades-previous.
If you have youthful kids, a Jeep or dune buggy tour could possibly be a lot more appropriate. Norwegian Cruise Line gives a dune buggy tour that includes a snorkel prevent and absolutely free time at Explora Beach. This expenditures $129 for every grownup and $109 for every baby.
Underground river in Playa del Carmen
When docked in Cozumel, you are only a single forty-five minute ferry ride absent from Rio Secreto Pure Reserve, a collection of historical caverns that are connected by crystal-clear underground rivers, in Playa del Carmen. This ferry, having said that, has a standing of inducing sea sickness hence, you will want to make confident that you pack Bonine or Dramamine in your day bag!
Considering the fact that you will have to vacation off the island, this can be one particular of the a lot more highly-priced excursions provided, and you will most likely want to e book it as a result of your cruise line to remove any problems about generating it again to Cozumel on time.
Through Carnival Cruise Line, you can anticipate to pay about $115 for every adult and $100 per baby for their “Awesome Top secret River” tour.
Not only do you obtain transportation to and from the pure reserve, but you also get a buffet lunch finish with non-alcoholic beverages, all equipment needed for the tour (i.e., wetsuit, life jacket, helmet, drinking water sneakers, towels, and lockers), and no cost time in downtown Playa del Carmen depending on ferry departure instances.
If you can’t make your mind up…
If you can not decide how you want to shell out your working day in Cozumel, consider hiring a personal driver, as you will get to see and experience the island in accordance to your passions.
By reserving a personal driver, you will be take a look at several different attractions in a solitary working day without having working with a huge tour team.
You can start out by visiting the San Gervasio Mayan Archaeological Site, followed by a tour of the Japanese facet of the island in the afternoon and some procuring in downtown Cozumel prior to returning to the pier.
You can guide a driver via your cruise line or a 3rd celebration. A 50 %-working day (4 hour) non-public driver by Disney Cruise Line costs $679 for up to 8 friends, even though a complete-day (8 hour) expenditures $949.
If you have less attendees, it may make far more perception to book by way of an independent vendor. Cozumel Private Excursions, for instance, charges $78 for every adult and $64 per child for a 5 hour non-public tour, with a minimum amount of $312. If you are a family of four comprised of two adults and two little ones, this would only cost $312 versus Disney’s $679!
Frequently, there will even be motorists readily available close to the cruise port to retain the services of when you arrive. Just make sure they are from a dependable enterprise!
Go through extra: 12 cruise ship shore excursions you really should skip
