Cozumel Beaches

Cozumel's warm, clear, turquoise waters hold the world's second largest reef network, filled with limestone caves, tunnels, and rare black coral. Its vivid sea life attract scuba divers from around the world. Cozumel Reefs National Park, a protected 30,000 acre national area at the southern section of Cozumel, encompasses 85 percent of the island's dive sites.

Snorkeling is the second most popular sport on the island. For novice snorkelers, there is no need to swim far distances or take a boat trip to take advantage of the reefs. Great snorkeling opportunities await even at hotel beaches.



Other watersports visitors can engage in include swimming, fishing, windsurfing, and parasailing. The west coast of Cozumel boasts long stretches of golden-sand beaches beside calm waters. Popular spots include Playa San Francisco, Chankanaab Lagoon, and Playa San Juan. For landlubbers, there's horseback riding, tennis and hiking.

Playa Maya is a quiet, sandy beach backed by jungle. This is beaten in the popularity stakes by the seemingly endless Playa San Francisco, where Palapa restaurants, bars and pleasures seeking sun lovers set the tone. You can reach Playa Escondida via a rough turn-off from the main road about 19km south of San Miguel. At the southern tip are a lighthouse, a Mayan temple named El Caracol and a restaurant. Cozumel's east coast beaches include Punta Chiqueros, a beautiful and calm beach; the small cove of Chen Rio, and Punta Morena, a rocky beach with beach-cabins to rent and a restaurant.