Whether you come via cruise ship, plane, or ferry, Cozumel has a variety of activities for every kind of traveler. I have been to Cozumel more times than I can even count and I still haven’t done everything it seems. This island has so much variety that it is hard to narrow it down. However, I have come up with a list of the 5 best excursion ideas for Cozumel.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Book and Go
- Have cash on hand. Some venues on this island are cash only. I would recommend bringing smaller bills if possible. The USD is accepted everywhere.
- Some venues do not accept American Express. It is good to have a backup Visa/Mastercard.
- East Side of the Island has little to no cell reception.
- If you are renting a car, you are required by Mexico law to have Third Party Liability insurance. Most companies at the airport will also hold an additional $1000-$2500 hold on your credit for incidentals. I recommend checking out SolyMar Rentals if you are coming in via cruise ship. They even offered to deliver to our resort this last time. Ask for Mariel and tell her I sent you!
- Check the ferry schedules to Playa del Carmen. The times are reduced due to Covid currently. Get to the ferry early because the line can get long and it is first come first serve. I tried buying online and the tickets wouldn’t work at the ferry terminal.
Snorkeling and Diving
Cozumel has some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. There are quite a few dive specific hotels on the island because it is so popular. I recommend checking out chartering a private tour. This way you are not on a boat with 80 other people and their GoPros.
Charter a Boat
This is pretty much the only way that I’m doing excursions these days. This past trip I chartered a boat twice for a half-day with Cozumel Sea Charters. Tim provides a variety of boats and activities on board. You can either lounge on a catamaran net, go deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, diving, or just enjoy sailing. We enjoyed going up to Isla Passion and El Cielo with Tim. During pandemic traveling, there were some operators still filling their boats and not being as cautious. Tim and his crew were very concerned about our safety and made sure to take every precaution.
Day Trip to Playa del Carmen for Cenotes
If you are staying in Cozumel for a land trip or have an extremely long port day, take the ferry over to Playa del Carmen. Swimming in a cenote is a magical experience. They are cool and refreshing on a hot day. It is amazing how crystal clear the water is. I recommend checking out Casa Tortuga Tulum Cenotes. They have great excursion options as well as a variety of cenotes to swim in. After we went swimming, we worked up an appetite. We decided to eat at the venue at Casa Tortuga and it was actually one of the best meals we’ve had. The empanadas are fantastic! Remember to bring cash to tip your Cenote Guide and purchase food.
Bar Crawl
There are two versions of this. You do the official Cozumel Bar Hop to the east side of the island which is absolutely beautiful. You hop on a bus and they have your T-shirt ready to go for a wild day of drinking. If you are looking to walk around the centro area, hop a taxi over to Woody’s and try most of the bars from my most recent blog post! This is more of a DIY approach but some of the best cocktails are to be had in this area as well as food!
Beach Resort for a Day
If you are at a non-beachfront hotel or are stopping by cruise, check out a resort for a day. There are a lot of Beach Clubs that are all-inclusive, have floaty water parks, and nonmotorized water sports included in their rate. I recommend checking out Nachi Cocom or chartering a boat up to Isla Passion. Passion takes a little longer to go up to but it is a beautiful boat ride. Tim from Cozumel Tours & Yacht Charters can help you get there.
Have you been to Cozumel before? What are your favorite things to do on vacation?
Do you agree with my list of the 5 best excursion ideas for Cozumel?
Great post! Saving this for our next cruise!
I’m glad you liked it! Which activity was your favorite?