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 typically ignored 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 in case you’re itching to sit back, take in the sunshine, and let the nice occasions 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 decide 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 loads calmer as compared.
It’s additionally considered one of solely 3 locations within the Mexican Caribbean, alongside Cancun (CUN) and Tulum (TQO), that Americans can fly to nonstop. In truth, 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 supplied by Google flights
Why Visit Cozumel This Winter
If you have by no means been to Cozumel your self earlier than, you are most likely questioning if it is value all of the hype, or in case you ought to certainly swap one other yr in a well-recognized 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 probably the most 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 also be crowded, significantly throughout the day, however there are fewer motels 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 a lot 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 all the fundamental swimming spots and vacationer points of interest on the island, so if combating for a spot within the solar in Playa Mia Grand does not sound like an excessive amount of enjoyable, this is the place you’ll be able to 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 timber, 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 improvement 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 after all, Cozumel sits proper within the heart of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, considered one of Mexico’s hottest dive and snorkeling hotspots:
The island belongs to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef on the planet, and in case you have no concept 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 traditional all-inclusive vacation spot: most vacationers who come are merely seeking to calm down for an extended weekend in a five-star resort by the beachfront, and there are many these to select 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 fundamental seashores.
If you’d favor just a little extra exclusivity, the Meliá Cozumel is a superb various, 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 does not characteristic on the nonstop flight chart, you’ll be able to naturally nonetheless get to Cozumel by flying to Cancun (CUN) as an alternative. This is what it appears 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 circumstances. If that is the route you take, be sure to plan and e-book properly prematurely as prices can simply add up in case you’re not cautious sufficient.
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