The Caribbean island of Cozumel is surrounded by the second-largest reef system in the world. It\u2019s a great location to go snorkeling because the oceans are usually calm and clear, and the reefs start shallow and close to the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While\nsnorkeling in Cozumel you can expect to see an abundance of tropical life,\nincluding angelfish, stingrays, moray eels, pufferfish, crabs, lobsters and\nshrimps. If you\u2019re lucky you might spot turtles, eagle rays, nurse sharks, or\neven dolphins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reef itself is made up of numerous different types of coral which vary greatly in their beautiful forms and colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those with a really sharp eye might even be able to find a seahorse, frogfish, or splendid toadfish hiding amongst the reef. Cozumel is actually the only place in the world where the splendid toadfish is found so it\u2019s very special to be able to see one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course,\nsnorkeling and diving aren\u2019t the only reasons people come to Cozumel. The\nisland has a lot more to offer, including Mayan ruins, a historic lighthouse, several\nmuseums, sailing excursions, a golf course, and world-class shopping and\ndining.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCozumel Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Those who\nwant to venture into the jungle can try a horseback, jeep, ATV or dune buggy tour.\nAnd if that\u2019s not adventurous enough there\u2019s also the possibility to try\nzip-lining, surfing or parasailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the\nweather disappoints, there are plenty of different tequila tasting venues, as\nwell as souvenir and duty-free shopping malls and even a movie theatre with\nshowings in English. At night, there\u2019s a huge variety of bars and restaurants\nto choose from and also a planetarium for budding astronomers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if all\nyou want to do is relax in a beautiful setting, there are a plethora of beach\nclubs and resorts to choose from where you can enjoy a massage or cocktail\nwhile gazing out to sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Places to Snorkel in Cozumel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are many\ndifferent places to snorkel in Cozumel but the following suggestions come\nhighly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the organized boat trips mentioned, you\u2019ll need to bring swimwear, a towel, reef-friendly sunscreen, and a bit of extra cash to pay for the Marine Park fee and tip the captain and guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the\nbeach club locations, you\u2019ll be expected to buy some kind of refreshment in return\nfor using the facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. \nAlberto\u2019s Beach Club <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are\nthree different locations around the island, all of which offer snorkeling\ntours in glass bottom boats. This is great if you have any members of your\ngroup who don\u2019t want to get in the water as it means they won\u2019t miss out on\nseeing the underwater world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tours\nusually last for about two hours and cost around $30 per person. Snorkel equipment,\nlife vests, soft drinks and beer are all included, as well as a bilingual\nguide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boat\nusually makes three stops for snorkeling, at Paraiso, Villa Blanca and Dzul-Ha\nalthough this is subject to change due to conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The captain\nand guide will make sure the reefs chosen on the day are suitable and that the\ncurrent isn\u2019t too strong. They also brief everyone about the what the plan is\nfor the trip, how to use the snorkel equipment, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safe Tours Cozumel <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This company\noffers lots of different options for snorkeling tours, including glass bottom\nboats and sunset tours, departing at several different times and a few locations\naround the island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their luxury\nsnorkel tour is six hours long and includes a stop at one of the most famous\nspots in the Marine Park, Colombia Reef. Here you have a good chance of seeing\nturtles, rays and huge lobsters as well as many colorful reef fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cost of\naround $65 includes a guide, snorkeling equipment, soft drinks, snacks and a\nfree bar (beer and cocktails) after the snorkeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tour\nfinishes off at the stunning area of El Cielo at the southern tip of the island\nwhere you\u2019ll be able to admire the many starfish that reside there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fury Catamarans <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This company\noffer similar trips to the above in their fleet of catamarans with two or three\nsnorkeling stops at reefs such as Colombia and Palancar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on\nwhich option you choose the price starts from around $50 per person and might\nalso include sunset on the ocean or an afternoon stop at a beach club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trips\nlast between five and six hours and usually leave around lunchtime. As with\nmost boat tours, all snorkel equipment is included along with a knowledgeable\nlocal guide, refreshments and life vests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chichi Charters <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a\ngreat choice for groups as they offer private charters so not only can you\nchoose your departure time but you can also have a bespoke tour, depending on\nthe reefs you would like to visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are\nbased in the Fonatur Marina which is easy to find, between town and the cruise\nship ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hiring a\nboat for four hours with a captain, guide, snorkeling equipment, snacks, soft\ndrinks and beer starts at $350.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tikila Bar <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a\ngreat choice for those who don\u2019t fancy getting on a boat or sticking to a\nschedule. There is snorkel equipment to rent and the possibility to go out with\na guide or on your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are\nsteps leading into the ocean, lockers, a shower to rinse off afterwards, and reasonably-priced\nfood and drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can\nexpect to see small areas of coral reef surrounded by sand, plenty of small\ntropical fish, lobsters, sea urchins, yellow sting rays, flounders and lots of\ncrabs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Money Bar <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Another\ngreat location for snorkeling from the shore, on the doorstep of Dzul-Ha reef.\nThis is a larger venue which often has live music at the weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nfacilities are similar to Tikila bar however a little more upmarket and you can\nalso choose to pay extra and go snorkeling from a boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are\npaddleboards and kayaks to rent as well. It\u2019s a great place to enjoy the beautiful\nsunset with a happy hour cocktail after snorkeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sky Bar <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is\nanother beach bar which caters for snorkelers and claims to have the best shore\nsnorkeling in Cozumel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reef is\nreally pretty with plenty of life and colors, and the access is easy from their\nwooden decking area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their\nwelcome package includes snorkel gear, a drink, a 5-minute massage, and a group\nphoto for $18. Or you can pay $65 if you want all of that as well as unlimited\nfood and drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Reefs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The island\nof Cozumel is surrounded by beautiful reefs but there are some areas in\nparticular that are especially of interest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palancar Reef <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To visit\nthis reef you can either go on a snorkel tour that stops here, or get a taxi to\nPlaya Palancar where there is a beach club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here you can\nrent snorkeling equipment as well as book a guided boat excursion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This reef starts\nat around 30 feet deep and is known for its stunning coral formations and\ncolors, for instance huge orange and purple sponges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fish are\njust as colorful and you will see lots of parrotfish, angelfish, damselfish and\nbutterflyfish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paradise Reef <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is\nlocated near to where the cruise ships dock and is a shallow reef popular with\nsnorkelers and divers alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most\nvisitors get here by boat but it\u2019s also possible to swim out from the shore,\nhowever be careful to stay well away from the cruise ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll get\nto see chunks of healthy coral surrounded by areas of sand. Schools of fish,\nsuch as snapper, grunts, angel fish and sergeant major are common to see around\nthis reef which is about 30 feet deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sky Reef <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a\npopular reef accessed from the beach bar of the same name mentioned above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reef is\nvery shallow, starting at a depth of around 10 feet, and you can expect to see plenty\nof small tropical reef fish, crabs, lobsters and yellow stingrays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Santa Rosa <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll need\nto be on a boat to visit this reef which starts at around 45 feet and can have\na strong current so is best for more advanced snorkelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll have\nthe chance to see lots of sea life including turtles, eagle rays, large\ngroupers and nurse sharks. The reef is known as a wall reef as it drops off\nsharply into the deep which is fantastic to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Las Palmas <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Starting at\naround 40 feet deep, this reef is a great place to spot turtles, cowfish,\nparrotfish and angelfish. There will also likely be a huge lobster or two poking\nout from one of the impressive brain corals or huge sponges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Columbia <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A lot of snorkel tours stop here due to the\nbeautiful shallow section where huge coral structures can be seen, along with\nthe odd turtle, plenty of fish and maybe even a reef shark although they tend\nto hang out a little deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El Cielo <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There isn\u2019t\nmuch in the way of coral here, just pristine white sand and turquoise waters.\nYou won\u2019t be able to miss the brightly-colored starfish dotted all over, and\nyou\u2019re also likely to see stingrays gliding along the bottom. It\u2019s a great last\nstop after snorkeling deeper reefs where you can relax in the water with a\ndrink after the day\u2019s exertions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Beaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The island is known for its beautiful golden sand beaches and here are some of the favorites, as well as some lesser-known spots:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Casitas <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This\nstretch of beach is north of town, just before the airport. It\u2019s a good place\nto go for those who want a more rustic beach experience and it\u2019s one of the\nlocal\u2019s favorites at the weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\nare a couple of bars but also plenty of space to throw your towel on the sand\nand there\u2019s a store nearby where you can buy soda, beer, sunscreen, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Azul <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you venture even further north, past a few\nbig hotels, almost as far as the golf course, you\u2019ll reach Playa Azul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This\nbeach has wonderful soft golden sand, sun loungers, a shower, and two\nrestaurants to choose from. There\u2019s also a wooden pier you can jump off into\nthe water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Chen Rio <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On\nthe east side of the island the beaches are more rugged and the waves are\nsometimes big enough to surf. There is a scattering of bars along the coastal\nroad but this is one of the nicest spots with a wide sandy beach to laze on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Uvas <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a great option for cruise ship\npassengers as it\u2019s only a five-minute taxi ride away from the main dock and\nthere are great facilities and a large sandy beach with plenty of loungers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The beauty\nof Cozumel is that there are great places to snorkel from shore all down the\nWest side of the island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the\nEast side is a little more rugged and the waves are bigger so it\u2019s not great spot\nto go snorkeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you rent a car for the day and some snorkel\nequipment there are no ends to the possibilities as you can pop in and take a\nlook wherever you fancy stopping along the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tikila Bar<\/strong>, Money Bar<\/strong> and Sky Bar<\/strong>\nhave already been mentioned above as great places to shore dive, but here are a\nfew more great suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
La Monina <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Not only\ndoes this beach bar do great food and cocktails, it\u2019s also got a lovely sandy\nbeach and is a short walk north of town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are\nplenty of fish to look at and if you\u2019re a good swimmer there are also two\nshipwrecks located about 1200 feet from the shore and 30 feet deep. From here\nit\u2019s possible to see groupers, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Azul <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At the north\nend of the island, near the golf club is a lovely stretch of beach called Playa\nAzul. There\u2019s a nice hotel of the same name on one side and a cheaper beach bar\non the other. There\u2019s also a dive shop where you can rent snorkeling equipment\nand book a boat tour if you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s\nimportant to be aware of the current as it can get pretty strong at this part\nof the island. You can expect to see schools of sergeant majors and other\ntropical fish as well as the odd barracuda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Corona <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For\nno-frills facilities but fantastic snorkeling, head to Playa Corona, on the\nwest strip of the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s a\nrustic beach bar with a simple menu. This makes a great choice for those on a\nbudget who are more interested in what they can see underwater than going to a\nfancy beach club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Hotels\/Resorts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If luxury is\nwhat you\u2019re after as well as snorkeling you might want to consider one of the\nfollowing hotels\/resorts where you can purchase a pass and enjoy the facilities\nall day long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palace Resort <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a\nconvenient place to base yourself for the day because not only is it a short\nwalk to town, it\u2019s also close to the cruise docks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day pass\nis one of the more expensive, at \u00a3100 for adults and $50 for kids but it\nincludes a lot of free activities, food and drink and also Wi-Fi. The\nsnorkeling is top notch as the famous reefs of Palancar are right on this\nhotel\u2019s doorstop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allegro Resort <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a beautiful\nhotel and beach on the south end of the island. A day pass will set you back\n$60 (or $30 for kids) and includes all sorts of activities such as kayaking,\nsailing and windsurfing, snorkeling equipment, three swimming pools, steam and\nsauna room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also\nincludes buffet meals and snack and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hotel B <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
More of a boutique resort, Hotel B is a great\nplace to escape the crowds. Their day packages start from as little as $40 per\nperson which includes snorkeling, swimming pools, and access to all other hotel\namenities. Packages from $50 include food and drink options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hotel Cozumele\u00f1o <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Situated at\nthe north of the island, this sprawling hotel has a huge oceanfront pool,\nexcellent snorkeling, a mini-golf course, and a fitness center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day passes\ncost around $70 ($40 for kids) which includes brunch, lunch, snacks, and\nwhatever you choose to drink at the swim-up pool bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Snorkeling in Cozumel near the Cruise Ports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are\ntwo cruise ship docks on the island. Punta Langosta is a few minutes walking\ndistance south of town, and Puerto Maya is a ten-minute taxi ride south of\nthat. If you arrive to Cozumel on a cruise and are looking for somewhere\nconvenient to go snorkeling, the following spots are your best bet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hotel Barracuda <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned above, this hotel has a sheltered\nbay for snorkeling which means it\u2019s great for beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also has\nsun loungers, a pool and a restaurant so it\u2019s a perfect location for an\nafternoon off the cruise ship and you\u2019ll only have to walk about seven minutes\nfrom the Punta Langosta cruise ship terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El Cid La Ceiba <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is\nanother hotel with good facilities and steps leading down into the ocean for\neasy snorkeling access. It\u2019s only a seven-minute walk from the Puerto Maya\ncruise ship terminal. You can also choose an all-inclusive package for around\n$65 which includes all food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeannies <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With a menu\nbursting with tasty treats for all tastes, you certainly won\u2019t go hungry at\nJeannies. Located within a few minutes\u2019 walk from Punta Langosta, this\nrestaurant and bar has direct access to the water and also offers free lockers,\nshowers and Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though\nthe two locations mentioned above are probably the closest, Cozumel isn\u2019t a big\nisland so any of the snorkeling spots mentioned in this article are at most a 20-minute\ntaxi ride away from either of the two cruise ports. This is another reason why\nCozumel is such a great place to go snorkeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cozumel vs Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Isla Mujeres<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cancun and\nthe Riviera Maya are known for pristine turquoise waters and the impressive\nreefs beneath. But how do the different locations compare when it comes to\nsnorkeling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although\nCancun, Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres all have fantastic snorkeling,\nCozumel really can\u2019t be beaten due to the number of fantastic different options\navailable for both shore and boat snorkeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cancun <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are\nseveral options in Cancun for snorkeling from the shore around the hotel zone.\nSwim out from the beaches of Club Med and you will find beautiful clear waters\nfull of fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa Lagarto\nbehind Coco Bongo is another good place to see bigger species such as turtles,\nsting rays and barracuda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the south\nend of the hotel zone, Punta Nizuc is another great place to go snorkeling from\nthe shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boat snorkel\ntrips will often stop at the underwater museum which had hundreds of statues\nwith coral starting to grow over them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playa del Carmen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here the options for snorkeling from shore are\nlimited but the beach next to Punta Esmerelda is a good option on a day when\nthe sea is calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boat trips\nwill often take you to Chunzumbul reef which although a little too far to swim\nout to for most people, is only 10 to 15 feet deep in places so is a great\nchance to get close to the corals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are\nalso many cenotes (limestone sinkholes filled with fresh water) around Playa\ndel Carmen. Snorkeling in these is refreshing and beautiful as many open into\ncaves with beautiful formations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isla Mujeres <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This tiny\nisland near to Cancun offers some beautiful shore snorkeling from Garrafon Park\non the east of the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boats will\noften take you to Manchones reef, only a ten-minute journey away where the reef\nstarts at about 40 feet and the coral formations and variety of fish are\nexceptional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Between\nthe months of July and September it\u2019s also possible to snorkel with whale\nsharks which frequent the waters during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cozumel <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s difficult to beat the quality of the\nsnorkeling in Cozumel so even if you\u2019re not staying here it\u2019s worth booking a\ndaytrip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can\nusually expect to pay around $100 per person which will include all transport,\nfood and drinks for the day as well as three snorkeling stops by boat and some\nfree time to explore the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to\nCozumel are rarely disappointed with the snorkeling that\u2019s on offer. Any\nnegative reviews are usually due to circumstances or disappointing tour\noperators which is why it\u2019s important to always go with a reputable company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately,\nthere\u2019s nothing to be done about weather or sea conditions! Seven of the\ntop-rated things to do in Cozumel are different reefs and beach clubs which\nshows how popular the underwater activities are here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Santa Rosa, Palancar, Colombia and El Cielo are all featured as some of the best things to see and do in Cozumel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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