San
Miguel
This small city is the heart of the island,
and the grid system of streets makes it easy to find your way around. The action centres
around the Plaza San Miguel which is the main park of the city.
The Museo de la Isla de Cozumel, located north of Plaza San Miguel,
was moved into a stylish hotel built in 1936. This museum comprises four exhibition
halls spread over two floors. At the entrance to the first is a small-scale model of the
island that spotlights its natural areas and indicates the location of interesting
features such as lighthouses and archaeological sites. The genesis, formation and
diversity of coral reefs are the themes of the second exhibition hall, while the history
of Mayan civilization and the local Maya are the subject of the third hall. On display
here are artifacts excavated from local archaeological sites. The gallery devoted to the
history of Cozumel introduces visitors to the Spanish castaways who preceded the first
Spaniard to set foot on the island, Juan de Grijalva and the conquistadors. The museum's
restaurant, located upstairs, offers a panoramic view of the strait that separates the
island of Cozumel from the mainland.
South of the island
At the
southernmost tip of the island, Carretera Costera Sur runs into the Parque Punta Sur at
Km 27. This park is an ecological reserve of about 100 hectares that includes Celarain
Point, all of which has recently been carefully planned. The park is designed to promote
the conservation of nature and the vestiges of the past, which delineate the different
periods of occupation. As such, the great Faro Celarain (lighthouse), built in 1901,
borders the Tumba del Caracol, a small Mayan monument that once served as a navigational
guide.
North of the
island
Although the Faro Punta Molas at the north
end of the island is difficult to reach, it's worth the trip. A lovely beach awaits
those who venture to this secluded spot.
Archaeological sites
The
island's 25 archaeological sites illustrate Cozumel's importance as a ceremonial site
and centre of commerce. Most of the remains are small, low square buildings. Only a few
of the eight major sites are accessible.
Since the
semi-destruction of El Cedral, San Gervasio has become the most important group of
buildings on the island. It is thought that San Gervasio was inhabited by Mayans from
the year AD 300 to approximately 1500. It was, at that time, the capital of the island.
A group of small sanctuaries and temples were erected here to honour Ix-Chel, the Mayan
goddess of fertility.
South of San Francisco beach,
a 3.5-km-long paved road leads inland to the small village of El Cedral. This village
was founded in the mid-19th century by Mestizo people from Valladolid who were fleeing
the Mayan rebel soldiers. The village comprises, among other things, a small church
built next to the only remaining pre-Hispanic - and somewhat poorly preserved - Mayan
temple. The stones of other Mayan buildings were used for the construction of the
present village houses. Not so long ago, this place was home to three groups of
buildings erected around large plazas. Only one structure, whose two rooms were used as
a jail for some 20 to 30 years from 1935 on, was spared from demolition. In fact, locals
call this building la cárcel (the prison). The archaeological site dates from the early
Post-classic period, that is to say from the time when the great city of Chichén Itzá
was the capital of the northern Yucatán.
The
vestiges of Tumba del Caracol, at the south end of the island, get their name from a
temple that has a square base with a snail-shaped (in Spanish: caracol) dome on it, half
of which has been destroyed. It is thought that this site was used as a lighthouse. The
shells encrusted in the walls whistle in different tones according to the wind. On the
west side of the temple, over the door, traces of red paint can still be
seen.
On the northeast coast of the island there are
four temples, including Castillo Real, lining the east side of the road. The Castillo is
a square temple that is cracked in the middle and built on a platform. You can still see
traces of frescoes on the inside.
Parque Chankanaab
Ten kilometres south of San Miguel
you will find Parque Chankanaab which is one of the most attractive sites on the island
and features a large botanical garden. A winding path leads you through the botanical
garden with its 350 species of plants and tropical trees from 22 different countries.
The Chankanaab lagoon is a natural aquarium supplied with sea water from underground
tunnels. Approximately 50 species of fish, crustaceans and corals can be observed here,
but scuba diving is not permitted. An interesting museum describes the life of the
Mayas.
Coral
Reefs
Cozumel is renowned for the great quantity and
tremendous beauty of its coral reefs. Rumour has it that 1,500 scuba divers visit the
island every day.
The Palancar reef, easily the most
spectacular for its size and fabulous schools of fish, alone draws thousands of swimmers
every year.
The Yucab reef, reserved for
intermediate divers, is perfect for underwater photography of species that stay immobile
to avoid the current.
The Santa Rosa and Colombia
reefs, famous for their immense size, merit more than a single visit.
The DC-3 airplane that rests at the bottom of the Ceiba reef attracts
not only scuba divers... but also filmmakers! Sea horses have chosen it as their
home.
Finally, the El Paso del Cedral reef allows
novices to visit a cavern and meet big fish.