My first visit to Cozumel, Mexico, was a little different than I expected. The island was beautiful, but compared to some of my favorite Caribbean ports like Jamaica and Grand Cayman, it didn’t immediately steal my heart. Looking back, I think part of that was because we chose not to do an excursion and spent most of our day exploring on foot near the port. Of course, the fact that we decided to walk into town probably didn't help my first impression either!
Since this first visit, I have had the chance to return to Cozumel several times, and my experience has changed. Some visits we have explored the island, while other times we have simply enjoyed the area around the port. Like many cruise destinations, Cozumel can be completely different depending on how you spend your day.
Since we didn’t book an excursion, we decided to explore the port area and walk toward town. While we didn’t see the famous beaches or Mayan ruins on this visit, we found plenty of colorful shops, restaurants, and places to take photos.
While many visitors head straight for the beaches, snorkeling, or island tours, Cozumel's cruise port area is actually a destination of its own.
One of the fun surprises about cruising during the holidays is seeing Christmas decorations in tropical destinations. There is something surreal about looking at Christmas displays while wearing shorts and enjoying warm Caribbean weather.
My daughter and my "adopted daughter" posing in the beautiful landscaping around the port.
Now this is the life…I could have stayed here forever
Yep, this is the way to spend Christmas vacation.
That's me :)
My daughter enjoyed posing with this "statue."
There are plenty of shopping opportunities, restaurants, and photo ops.
Even though the walk into town was long and hot, there was some beautiful scenery.
Hanging out in Margaritaville
TIPS
One thing I quickly learned on that first visit: when people say something is “a short walk” in a cruise port, that description can vary greatly! The walk into town was around 2.5 miles, and while it was scenic, it was not exactly the quick stroll we expected.
It's easy to get a taxi from the port. They will carry you anywhere you want to go and it will be much cheaper than taking an excursion. The cost of a taxi into town is around $8 and it was well worth it not to have to walk back to the pier.
At the taxi stop, you will see a list of places to visit and the cost of the taxi. Unlike other places I have visited, you know up front how much the cost will be.
There are several shops around the port so if you want to save money (like we did) you can hang out there. There are high end items along with cheaper souvenirs and we had a blast exploring the area.
RETURNING TO COZUMEL
My first visit to Cozumel was not my favorite Caribbean stop, but returning several times changed my perspective. I learned that Cozumel is one of those ports where your experience depends completely on your plans for the day. A beach day, snorkeling excursion, visit to the ruins, or even a relaxing day near the port can create a completely different experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment