Thinking of taking an impromptu winter journey to Mexico, however the likes of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum do not precisely float your boat?
Though it is usually neglected as a mere cruise stopover with not rather more than duty-free procuring and a fast dip on the seashore, Cozumel is the proper island getaway for those who’re itching to chill, absorb the sunshine, and let the nice instances roll.
Even better: getting to Cozumel has never been easier. You can fly nonstop to Mexico’s trendiest vacation island from as many as 8 U.S. hubs this winter:
How To Get To Cozumel This Season
A paradisiacal island within the Caribbean, Cozumel has been the primary choose for Cancun escapees for many years. It has the identical postcard-ready seashores, comparable nice climate, equally excessive security ranges, and most significantly, it feels lots calmer compared.
It’s additionally certainly one of solely 3 locations within the Mexican Caribbean, alongside Cancun (CUN) and Tulum (TQO), that Americans can fly to nonstop. In reality, after Cancun, Cozumel Airport (CZM) is the best-connected hub within the area.
As reported by the Cancun Sun, this winter, Americans can fly nonstop to CZM from 8 airports:
Fly To Cozumel From The U.S. This Winter
| Departure | Airlines | Frequency | Flight time | Average roundtrip fare* |
| Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) | American Airlines | Multiple weekly | 3h03 | $500 |
| Houston (IAH) | United | Daily | 3h21 | $450 |
| Miami (MIA) | American Airlines | Several weekly | 1h50 | $400 |
| Charlotte (CLT) | American Airlines | Weekly | 3h30 | $550 |
| Denver (DEN) | Frontier, United | Weekly | 4h25 | $600 |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta Air Lines | Daily | 3h00 | $480 |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | Delta Air Lines | 2x per week | 4h30 | $520 |
| Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) | American Airlines, United | 2x per week | 4h00 | $470 |
*Average fares offered by Google flights
Why Visit Cozumel This Winter
If you’ve got by no means been to Cozumel your self earlier than, you are in all probability questioning if it is price all of the hype, or for those who ought to certainly swap one other yr in a well-known Cancun for this sun-drenched island.
For starters, it is an island, so it can’t get more tropical and Caribbean-esque than this: whereas Cancun is undoubtedly one of the crucial epic locations within the turquoise sea, with its luxurious resorts and vibrant leisure district, it sits on the mainland and might really feel a tad too crowded.
Cozumel can be crowded, significantly throughout the day, however there are fewer lodges and lodging suppliers on the island in comparison with Cancun, so it by no means feels precisely jam-packed.
Most cruise arrivals make landfall both close to San Francisco Beach or Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, and barely transfer an inch from these spots, so many of the seashores alongside Cozumel’s 65 mile-coastline really feel surprisingly quiet.
Beautiful Unspoiled Beaches A Short Taxi Ride Away
There are taxis connecting San Miguel de Cozumel to the entire essential swimming spots and vacationer sights on the island, so if combating for a spot within the solar in Playa Mia Grand would not sound like an excessive amount of enjoyable, here is the place you possibly can go as an alternative:
Playa Palacar, a brief 22-minute drive from city, is your typical Caribbean seashore, with pristine white sands backed by tall palm bushes, and waters of the turquoise-blue.
Chen Rio, on the quieter jap a part of Cozumel, is an equally accessible, peaceable swimming spot with little or no growth and solely a handful of seashore bars to get you thru the day with out ruining the ‘unspoiled island’ vibe.
Punta Sur, within the very south, is simply as gorgeous, with its landmark historic lighthouse and trails resulting in secret, unmarked seashores. Then in fact, Cozumel sits proper within the middle of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, certainly one of Mexico’s hottest dive and snorkeling hotspots:
The island belongs to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef on the earth, and if in case you have no thought what meaning, let’s simply put it this manner: informal snorkeler or skilled diver, you will be mind-blown by the colourful marine life on Cozumel’s ocean flooring.
How To Get To Cozumel’s Top Hidden Beaches
| Beach | Distance | Time | Average taxi fare (MXN) | Approx. USD conversion |
| Playa Palancar | 12.4 miles | 22 min | 300 pesos | $15-18 |
| Chen Rio (east) | 9.3 miles | 25-30 min | 240 pesos | $12-15 |
| Punta Morena (east) | 11 miles | 30 min | 294 pesos | $15-18 |
| Punta Sur (south) | 24.8 miles | 40-45 min | 400-500 pesos | $20-25 |
| Corona Beach (south) | 7.4 miles | 15-20 min | 155 pesos | $8-10 |
Where To Stay In Cozumel
Cozumel is your basic all-inclusive vacation spot: most vacationers who come are merely seeking to loosen up for an extended weekend in a five-star resort by the beachfront, and there are many these to choose from in and round San Miguel de Cozumel, the ‘downtown’ a part of the island.
Right on the principle waterfront avenue, Cozumel Palace has oceanfront suites, a number of swimming pools, gourmand eating, and nightly leisure from $450-a-night. It’s situated proper within the coronary heart of San Miguel, inside strolling distance of the city and its essential seashores.
If you’d favor a little bit extra exclusivity, the Meliá Cozumel is a superb different, simply 5-10 minutes north of downtown: with a family-friendly setting, ocean-view rooms, eight eating places, and personal dive entry, it prices from as little as $300 per grownup to e book.
Arriving To Cancun? This Is How You Get To Cozumel
Oh, by the way in which, even when your metropolis would not function on the nonstop flight chart, you possibly can naturally nonetheless get to Cozumel by flying to Cancun (CUN) as an alternative. This is what it seems to be like:
- Landing in Cancun Airport → arranging a switch or getting an ADO bus to Playa Del Carmen ($70-100 for personal transfers / $10-18 for the bus)→ ferry to Cozumel ($12-20)
Once in Playa, the crossing takes about 35-45 min, relying on the ferry firm and sea situations. If that is the route you are taking, be sure to plan and e book properly prematurely as prices can simply add up for those who’re not cautious sufficient.
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