Things to Do in Cozumel

Cozumel is a 30-by-10-mile island off the Riviera Maya coast, reachable by a 45-minute ferry from Playa del Carmen. The west side faces the Mesoamerican Reef and is calm, sheltered, perfect for snorkeling and diving — the east side faces the open Caribbean and is wild, surfable, dotted with empty beaches. San Miguel is the only real town, a small grid right at the ferry pier. Cruise ships dock here too, but the island is big enough that even on a five-ship day, twenty minutes from town you’re alone.