Cozumel is the largest island of Mexico. Surrounded of a turquoise sea and a spectacular chain of coral reefs, it remains a paradise for the plungers. Since the documentary one realized by the explora­tor and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau in 1961, Cozumel became a place of predilection visited by thousands of plungers each year. Hundreds of steamers of cruising make stopover there. The sea which bathes the island abounds with innom­bra­bles marine species, coloured reefs and wrecks of Spanish galleons. In fact, more than 20% of the visitors of Cozumel are plungers, or want to become it! The others can observe an astonishing variety of migratory birds which remain there during a part of the year, visit Parks it Laguna Chankanaab, make storing, go to fish or, quite simply, rest on one of the splendid beaches which surround the island.
Cozumel

GEOGRAPHICAL OVERFLIGHT
Located at 19 km of the coast, this island punt in the shape of lobster grip is approximately 48 km long on 16 km broad. The center of Cozumel is invaded by the vegetation. Around, however, the island is girdled beaches of white sand and limestone. As the East coast of the island is beaten by the winds, it is on the West coast that one finds the tourist installations and the hotels. It is also western side which San Miguel is, the only town of all the island, which counts some 65 000 inhabitants.

ATTRACTIONS

San Miguel
The small town of San Miguel is the heart of the island. Its streets which intersect with right angle make it possible to be found there very easily. The activity concen­tre on Plaza San Miguel, the principal park of the city. Sunday evening, you will have happiness to hear mariachis there, between 20h and 22h approximately. At this time, all the inhabitants are with go to have fun the festival. One finds in San Miguel the usual choice of shops, but this city kept its Mexican heart. The majority of the restaurants of the island are in the surroundings. Many shops skirt the malecón (walk of the edge of sea) which is called Avenida Rafael E Melgar.

Museo of Isla de Cozumel, located at the north of Plaza San Miguel, was arranged in a smart hotel builds in 1936. This museum includes/understands four large rooms out of two levels. The visit of the museum, which lasts hardly an hour, will give you an outline of the history of Cozumel. It will enrich your stay in the island even if it is only one day. The restaurant of the museum, located on the higher floor, offers a panoramic sight on the strait which separates the island from the continent.

South of the island
At the southern end of the island, Carretera Costera On emerges with the km 27 on Parks Punta On, an ecological reserve of some 100 ha which was recently the object of an important development and a development of the point. The park wants to be the promotion of the vestige and nature conservation, which becomes the terminals of the various times of occupa­tion. Thus, the large headlight of Celarain, built in 1901, côtoie Tumba del Caracol, a small Maya monument which was used as bench mark to the navigators of antan.

The museum of the headlight of Celarain, devoted to the his­toire of navigation, is a recent construction. One preserved and emphasized the house of the guard of the headlight which was occupied by Felix García Aguilar during more than 50 years.

The park includes/understands also Laguna Colombia, where you can rent bicycle or kayak, to bathe you, or quite simply to traverse the pedestrian paths. Laguna Colombia, of an astonishing diversity, is a privileged place. Turns of observation were built with the great joy of most sedentary which, without too many efforts, can appreciate the environment.

To 10 km in the south of San Miguel one of most beautiful sites of the island is the, Parks it Chankanaab which includes/understands a large botanical garden. The lagoon of Chankanaab is a natural aquarium supplied with sea water by underground tunnels. One can observe there around fifty of fish species, shellfish and corals, but the diving is prohibited there. A path curves in this botanical garden furnished with 350 species of plants and tropical trees coming from 22 country. An interesting museum describes the life of the Mayas. Once arrived at the close beach, one can swim in the quiet lagoon. The caves and tunnels dug in limestone are enthralling to explore in diving-tuba.

To 320 m with broad, the coral reef of Chankanaab attracts crowd of plon­geurs with its thousand and a espè­ces coloured. Under water, it is necessary to plunge between 2 m and 18 m of depth to examine the coral, a statue out of bronze of Christ and a statue of the Virgin, guns and anchors secular, as well as a boat which ran.

The north of the island
The headlight of Punta Molas, at the northern end of the island, is worth the turning even if it is difficult to reach. It is a withdrawn place where the beach is very beautiful.

Archeological sites
The 25 archeological sites of the island testify to the im­portance of Cozumel as a ceremonial center and a hinged plate of the trade. The majority of the vestiges are small édi­fices squares low height. Of the eight major sites, only quel­ques-ones are accessible.

Since the quasi-destruction of El Cedral (see low), San Gervasio became the most important group of buildings of the island. It is believed that San Gervasio was inhabited by the Mayas of year 300 at the year about 1500. It was surely at that time the capital of the island. One finds there a group of small sanctuaries and temples set up in the hon­nor of Ix­chel, Maya goddess of the Fertility. Each building of the site is accompanied by panels by Spanish and English, Maya inter­préta­tion.

To the south of the San Francisco beach, a road 3,5 km length revê­tue carries out to the small village of El Cedral. It was founded in the middle of the XIXe century by Mongrels come from Valla­do­lid which fled the Mayas in revolt. The village shelters inter alia a small church built beside the only Maya temple of épo­que prehispanic which remains after a fashion. The other structures ancien­nes were dismantled for construction of the houses of the village. If you are in trimmings of El Cedral between 1st and May 3, do not miss Fiestas of Santa Cruz, an annual festival with dances, bullfights and horse-gears. The village takes an insular form of village fair then.

At the southern end of the island, the vestiges of Tumba del Caracol draw their name from a temple whose square base is overcome by a cupola in form of escar­got (caracol), today to destroyed half. It is believed that this site was used com­me headlight. The shells encrusted in the walls whistle in tone different according to the wind. You will be able to see, on the western side of the temple, above the door, of the traces of red painting.

On the north-eastern coast of the island, four temples whose Cas­tillo Real mark out the side is road. This square temple is fissured in the medium and is built on a platform. One still distinguishes, with the inte­rior, of the traces of frescos.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Formalities of entry
Before leaving, take care to bring all the documents necessary for en­trer and to leave the country. Quoi­que these formalities are not very demanding, without the required documents, one cannot travel to Mexico. Thus keep carefully these official documents.

At once after the customs checks with your arrival in Mexico (or on the aircraft), one will make you fill a chart with tourism (tarjeta turística) to obtain various information on you. This chart will be your “permission written” to visit Mexico during 60 days. You must preserve your blue specimen and give it to the customs to the end of your stay. A council: note the number of your chart of tourism and join it to your documents of voyage. This number will be very useful if you lose it.

Passport and Visa
The French, Belgian and Swiss travellers must always have in their possession a valid passport. The Canadian citizens, for their part, even if they can enter to Mexico with a simple official certificate of birth or a chart of citizenship, should nevertheless have their passport in their possession. In the event of problems with the authorities, the document of identification attesting most officially your identity demeu­re your passport. It may be also that one it exi­ge for financial or legal transactions.

Customs
Mexico is equipped with a system of customs control to European, but with some differences. One will initially make you fill a form with declaration, then it will be asked to you whether you have something to declare. If so, your luggage will be excavated. If you do not have anything to declare, you will have to actuate a “fire of random circulation”. If it is green, you will pass without excavations, but, if it is red, you will have right to an inspection.

It is of course interdict of impor­ter drug and weapons with fire. If you put yourselves questions about what is allowed or not, you can call the customs with the airport of Cancún with: (998) 848-7200.

Climate
Like the majority of the tropical countries, Mexico knows two prevalent seasons, rainy and dry. In a general way, precipitations increase with the temperature, from June to October, whereas, from November to May, the weather is less hot and it rains less. It is the dry season.

Vaccines
It is recommended, before leaving, to consult a doctor (or to return to you in a private clinic of the travellers) who will advise you on the precautions to be taken