See Maya Site
San Gervasio Maya Site
Island interior, 4 miles from downtown
This was a sanctuary of Ixchel, the Maya goddess of fertility. Walk jungle paths between its plazas and temples.
Read About San Gervasio (opens a new tab)
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page.
Quintana Roo · Mexico
Cozumel
Coral reefs, a Maya sanctuary and calm beaches, all on one Caribbean island.
Cozumel is a reef island, and its west coast is made for snorkelling. Visit the Maya sanctuary of San Gervasio, relax at Playa Palancar, eat lionfish in San Miguel and climb the lighthouse at Punta Sur.
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page.
Four Ways to Spend a Day in Cozumel
Unwind Beach
Playa Palancar
Southwest coast
The west coast is sheltered, with calm, clear water. Palancar has palapas and a restaurant, and the reef lies a few metres offshore.
Read About Cozumel’s Beaches (opens a new tab)
Taste Local Food
Lionfish and the Local Table
San Miguel de Cozumel
The tourism board calls lionfish, an invasive species that is fished and cooked here, the island’s dish. It also names fish tacos, ceviche and cochinita pibil.
Read About Cozumel (opens a new tab)
Explore Nature Park
Punta Sur Park
Southern tip of the island
Climb the Celarain lighthouse for views and see its small museum. Take a boat tour through the mangroves of Laguna Colombia.
Read About Punta Sur (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Tours & Tickets in Cozumel
Which Pier Does My Ship Use?
Cozumel has three cruise piers. Punta Langosta is in town; Puerta Maya and the International Pier (SSA México) are about 2.7–2.9 miles south. The table counts 1,386 arrived calls from October 2025 to September 2026. Lines with fewer than four calls are not listed. Distances are to the main square, in miles; under ¾ mile we say “In town”.
| Cruise line | Ships | Pier | Distance to town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | All ships | Puerta Maya | 2.9 mi |
| Royal Caribbean | Icon, Star, Symphony, Harmony, Oasis, Allure, Freedom, Independence and Explorer of the Seas | International Pier (SSA México) | 2.7 mi |
| Royal Caribbean | Mariner and Radiance of the Seas | Punta Langosta | In town |
| Royal Caribbean | Enchantment of the Seas | Punta Langosta or International Pier (SSA México) | In town or 2.7 mi |
| Royal Caribbean | Rhapsody and Grandeur of the Seas | International Pier (SSA México) (sometimes Punta Langosta) | 2.7 mi or in town |
| Norwegian | Prima, Viva, Pearl and Aqua | Punta Langosta | In town |
| Norwegian | Escape, Dawn, Encore, Joy, Getaway and Luna | International Pier (SSA México) or Puerta Maya | 2.7–2.9 mi |
| Norwegian | Jewel and Star | Punta Langosta (sometimes International Pier) | In town or 2.7 mi |
| MSC | Seascape, Seashore, World America and Seaside | Punta Langosta | In town |
| MSC | Divina and Grandiosa | International Pier (SSA México) or Punta Langosta | 2.7 mi or in town |
| Celebrity | All ships except Apex | International Pier (SSA México) (sometimes Punta Langosta) | 2.7 mi |
| Celebrity | Apex | Punta Langosta (sometimes Puerta Maya) | In town |
| Disney | All ships | Punta Langosta (sometimes International Pier) | In town |
| Margaritaville at Sea | All ships | International Pier (SSA México) | 2.7 mi |
| Princess | All ships | Puerta Maya | 2.9 mi |
| Virgin Voyages | All ships | Punta Langosta | In town |
| Oceania | All ships | Punta Langosta (sometimes Puerta Maya) | In town |
| Holland America | All ships | Puerta Maya | 2.9 mi |
| Viking | All ships | Punta Langosta | In town |
| TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff) | Mein Schiff 1 | Puerta Maya (sometimes Punta Langosta) | 2.9 mi |
| Cunard | Queen Elizabeth | Puerta Maya | 2.9 mi |
| Regent Seven Seas | Seven Seas Grandeur, Mariner and Splendor | Punta Langosta | In town |
Piers can change; your cruise line's app or daily planner shows yours. Source: APIQROO cruise arrivals, October 2025 to September 2026.
Getting Around Cozumel
Where you dock decides how you get into town. Punta Langosta is in town. Puerta Maya and the International Pier are about 2.7–2.9 miles south, so take a taxi.
If you do one thing here
Snorkel Cozumel’s Reefs
Forty dive sites ring the island, and coral walls off the west coast drop for tens of metres. The reefs are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and sit inside a national park, Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel.
The park fee is MX$225 a day. Use authorised boats and guides, wear no sunscreen and keep 5 feet from the reef. Chankanaab and the southern reefs can be seen with just a mask and fins.
Safety and Weather
No crime figure is published for Cozumel alone. The best official data is for the state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cozumel.
- CrimeA 2025 national survey (INEGI ENVIPE) counts about 12% more crimes per 100,000 adults in Quintana Roo than in Mexico as a whole: 38,478 against 34,442. It finds about 4% more victims: 24,494 against 23,473. These are state figures, and no Cozumel-only figure is published. Fraud is about a third of the state count.
- Walking to townFrom Punta Langosta, yes: it opens onto the waterfront in town, less than half a mile from the main square. From Puerta Maya and the International Pier, no. They are about 2.7–2.9 miles out, and taxis wait at the exits.
- The beachThe west coast is sheltered, with calm, clear water. The east coast is open sea with wind and waves. At Chen Río the water is calm inside the rocks, but currents outside the rocks can be strong.
- WeatherJuly and August are the hottest months, with highs averaging about 35°C (95°F). February is the driest month and October the wettest. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Crime figures: INEGI, National Survey of Victimisation and Perception of Public Safety (ENVIPE) 2026, covering 2025, state and national rates per 100,000 adults; the percentages are our maths. Weather: our averages of monthly data, 1994 to 2020, from the Cozumel station of Mexico’s national weather service (SMN); hurricane dates from the US National Hurricane Center.
Make it part of your voyage
Cruises Visiting Cozumel
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC and more call at Cozumel. Find cruises that visit.
Cozumel FAQ
Where do cruise ships dock in Cozumel?
Ships use three piers on the island’s west coast. Punta Langosta is in town. Puerta Maya and the International Pier (SSA México) are about 2.7–2.9 miles south of the main square.
Which pier does Carnival use in Cozumel?
Puerta Maya. All 401 Carnival calls on the port authority’s schedule from October 2025 to September 2026 arrived there. Puerta Maya is about 2.9 miles south of the main square.
Can you walk to town from the Cozumel cruise port?
From Punta Langosta, yes: it opens onto the waterfront in town, less than half a mile from the main square. From Puerta Maya and the International Pier, no. They are about 2.9 and 2.7 miles away, and taxis wait at the exits.
How much is a taxi from the Cozumel cruise port to town?
No official fare is published, so agree the price before you get in. Union taxis wait at the pier exits. Puerta Maya refers guests to the taxi union at (987) 872-1130 and (987) 872-1167.
How do I get from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen?
Take a ferry. The crossing takes about 45 minutes. Winjet’s adult fare is MX$310 one way from Cozumel. On its timetable for 21 October 2026, the first sailing leaves Cozumel at 7:00 am and the last at 7:00 pm. Times change.
What is there to do in Cozumel for a day?
Snorkel the reefs off the west coast, visit the Maya site of San Gervasio, relax at Playa Palancar, or climb the Celarain lighthouse at Punta Sur. In San Miguel, try lionfish, fish tacos or ceviche.
What are the best beaches near the Cozumel cruise port?
The west coast is sheltered, with calm, clear water and most of the beach clubs. Playa Palancar has palapas and a restaurant, with the reef a few metres offshore. Playa Corona, at km 10 of the south coast road, has a reef a few metres from shore. Playa Mia has water slides, kayaks and snorkel hire.
Is Cozumel safe?
No Cozumel-only crime figure is published. For Quintana Roo, which includes Cozumel, a 2025 national survey counts about 12% more crimes per 100,000 adults than in Mexico as a whole, and about 4% more victims.
Where can I eat local food in Cozumel?
In San Miguel. The tourism board calls lionfish, an invasive species that is fished and cooked here, the island’s dish. It also names fish tacos, ceviche, panuchos, salbutes and cochinita pibil.
What time do cruise ships arrive and leave Cozumel?
Most arrive between 6 and 9 am and sail between 4 and 7 pm. In the port authority’s records for October 2025 to September 2026, 85% of 1,386 calls arrived in that morning window and 77% left in that afternoon window. Your ship’s daily planner gives the all-aboard time.
What is the weather like in Cozumel?
July and August are the hottest months, with highs averaging about 35°C (95°F). February is the driest month and October the wettest. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Photos: Cozumel: Thank You (24 Millions ) views (CC BY 2.0) · San Gervasio: Puchku (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Palancar Beach: Dronepicr (CC BY 3.0) · Ceviche and tacos: Lou Stejskal (CC BY 2.0) · Celarain lighthouse: Saúl Peláez S. (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Cozumel reef: Sand Dollar Sports (CC BY 4.0) · Cruise ship in port: Ed Uthman (CC BY 2.0). Cropped for display.