Top 5 Things to Do in Isla Cozumel
Snorkelling the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, wandering San Miguel, the El Cielo starfish lagoon, Punta Sur nature reserve, and a beach club day on the Caribbean.
Isla Cozumel sits 20 kilometres off the coast of Playa del Carmen, a 45-minute ferry ride that transports you to one of the most celebrated dive and snorkel destinations on the planet. The island is small enough to explore in a day, diverse enough that you could spend a week and still want to come back.
These are my top 5 things to do on Cozumel.
1. Snorkelling & Diving the Reef
Cozumel sits directly above the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the second largest reef system on earth, and widely considered one of the best diving locations in the world. The coral formations here are extraordinary: towering walls, swim-throughs, and shallow gardens teeming with sea turtles, eagle rays, nurse sharks, and hundreds of species of reef fish.
The water off Cozumel is exceptionally clear — visibility often exceeds 30 metres. Even for non-divers, snorkelling the shallow reef gardens here beats most dive destinations elsewhere.
Top reef sites:
- Palancar Gardens — spectacular coral formations, suitable for all levels
- El Cielo — shallow sandy floor carpeted in starfish (see section 3)
- Cardona — colourful shallow reef, perfect for snorkelling
- Columbia Shallows — gentle drift snorkel over brilliant coral
For a guided reef and El Cielo tour, I book through David Riviera Maya Tours — a trusted operator who has been taking Tranquilo guests out for years.
Book with David on WhatsApp
2. Walk Around San Miguel
San Miguel de Cozumel is the island's only town and its beating heart. It is the kind of place where you can arrive with no plan and end up having one of the best afternoons of your trip.
The waterfront malecón is a natural starting point — a wide promenade running along the western coast where you can watch boats come and go, pick up fresh coconut water, or grab a table at one of the open-air restaurants that spill out toward the sea.
Wander a few blocks inland and you hit the town square (zócalo) — the true centre of local life. Families, musicians, street food vendors. On weekend evenings it turns into an informal street market with live music. There is an authenticity to it that the resort zones on the mainland cannot replicate.
What to explore in San Miguel:
- Boutique shops selling local textiles, jewellery, and artisan crafts
- Cozumel Museum (Museo de la Isla de Cozumel) — affordable and genuinely interesting
- Fresh ice cream parlours along the main streets
- Local taquerias away from the waterfront where the food is better and cheaper
- Cafés with strong local coffee and views of the square
San Miguel is best explored on foot. The town is compact, the streets are flat, and you will stumble across things that no guide book lists. Budget at least 2–3 hours.
3. El Cielo Tour
El Cielo — "the sky" or "heaven" in Spanish — is one of those places that earns its name completely.
A short boat ride from the main pier, El Cielo is a shallow, calm lagoon with a sandy white floor. Beneath the surface, hundreds of golden starfish rest across the seabed — a sight that genuinely does not look real. The water is so clear and so calm that even non-swimmers feel at ease floating above them.
The captain who runs this particular route has become something of a local legend. Guests have taken to calling him "Antonio Banderas" — apparently the resemblance is notable enough that it's now his unofficial nickname on the water.
What to know before you go:
- No fins allowed — you do not want to kick the starfish
- The crossing takes 10–15 minutes by boat each way
- Usually combined with snorkelling at Palancar and Cardona reefs
- A shallow reef just off El Cielo (El Cielito) is also excellent for snorkelling
- Marine tax of 100 pesos per person applies
This is consistently one of the highest-rated experiences our guests have on the island. Book it through David to get the right captain.
4. Punta Sur Tour
Punta Sur Eco Beach Park occupies the entire southern tip of Cozumel — a protected nature reserve covering over 1,000 hectares of beaches, mangroves, lagoons, and jungle. It is as far from a resort experience as you can get while still being on the island.
The beaches at Punta Sur are wild and dramatic: no beach clubs, no vendors, no crowds — just white sand, crashing Caribbean surf, and the occasional iguana. The reserve is also home to saltwater crocodiles in the mangrove lagoons, a lighthouse you can climb for panoramic views of the island, and a small Mayan archaeological site.
Highlights:
- Faro Celerain lighthouse — climb to the top for the best views on the island
- El Caracol — a small Mayan temple used as a wind instrument to alert fishermen
- Saltwater crocodiles visible in the mangrove lagoons (safely, from the observation deck)
- Protected sea turtle nesting beaches (May–October)
- ATV and buggy tours through the jungle trails inside the reserve
Practical tips:
- Get there early — the park gets busier through the day and the beaches feel more remote in the morning
- Entrance fee applies (around 180 pesos per person)
- Rent a car, scooter, or bicycle from San Miguel — it is about 20 km from town
- Bring sunscreen, water, and snacks; facilities are limited inside the park
Punta Sur is worth half a day on its own. Pair it with a morning snorkel tour for a full island day.
5. Day at a Beach Club
Cozumel's west coast is lined with beach clubs sitting directly above the reef — which means you can snorkel off the dock, swim in the Caribbean, and be back at your sun lounger with a cold drink in minutes. This is the easy version of reef access, and it is genuinely excellent.
Most of the beach clubs are concentrated on the southwest coast between San Miguel and Punta Sur. The water on this side of the island is calm, crystal-clear, and protected from the open Atlantic.
What to expect:
- Entry fees range from $10 to $65 USD depending on the club
- Many clubs work on a food-and-drinks minimum rather than a flat entry fee
- Some clubs offer all-inclusive packages including unlimited food and open bar
- Most have pools for when you want a break from the saltwater
- Restaurants on-site — fresh ceviche, grilled fish, and cold Cervezas are the standard
A few clubs worth knowing:
- Mr Sancho's — large, lively, all-inclusive option popular with families
- Playa Mia Grand Beach Park — watersports, pools, buffet, good for groups
- Money Bar Beach Club — more laid-back, right above the reef, smaller crowds
- Paradise Beach — mid-sized, good snorkelling access, strong food
The beach club day works best as a complement to a morning tour — snorkel the deep reefs with David in the morning, then head to a beach club for the afternoon.
Getting to Cozumel
The ferry from Playa del Carmen runs regularly throughout the day. The crossing takes approximately 45 minutes and departs from the ferry dock on 1st Avenue, a short walk from the 5th Avenue pedestrian zone.
Ferry tips:
- Ferries run approximately every 1–2 hours (check Ultramar or Winjet schedules)
- Book your return ticket when you arrive on the island — ferries fill up in high season
- The last ferry back to Playa is typically around 10pm
- A day trip is very doable; arriving early gives you the most time
My Advice
Cozumel rewards early starts. The first ferries leave around 6am, and arriving on the island before 9am means you beat the cruise ship crowds that descend mid-morning — and the reef is calmer in the early hours.
My recommended day: morning reef tour with David → lunch in San Miguel → beach club for the afternoon → last ferry back at sunset.
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Staying in Playa del Carmen? Browse our properties and book direct — our guests have access to local recommendations and connections that make every trip better.
Written by
Rudy Lim
Founder of Tranquilo Vacation Rentals. Living in Playa del Carmen for over 5 years, exploring the Yucatán Peninsula from Holbox to Bacalar — and sharing what he finds along the way.
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