Cozumel’s Punta Langosta Pier: What It’s Like Docking in Town

 

After several visits to Cozumel, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect when arriving on the island. Most of my previous visits had been through the larger cruise terminals outside downtown, so this cruise was a little different.

For the first time, our ship docked at Punta Langosta Pier, right in the heart of San Miguel.

I was curious to see how different the experience would be, and I quickly realized that where your ship docks can make a surprisingly big difference in how you experience Cozumel.

Instead of arriving at a cruise terminal that feels somewhat removed from town, Punta Langosta puts you right in the middle of the action. Step off the ship, walk through the terminal, and you're essentially downtown.

A Return Visit to Iberostar Cozumel

 

After several visits to Cozumel, we already knew that booking a cruise excursion wasn’t the experience we were looking for. Instead, we chose to return to a place we had previously loved—the Iberostar Cozumel Resort. This visit confirmed why it remains one of our favorite ways to spend a port day on the island.

Docking in Cozumel and heading out on our own allowed us to move at a relaxed pace, enjoy familiar surroundings, and truly unwind.

Puerta Maya Cruise Terminal in Cozumel: What to Know Before You Go

One of the first things you’ll notice when arriving in Cozumel on a cruise is just how busy the cruise port can be. If you’re sailing with Royal Caribbean, there’s a good chance you’ll arrive at Puerta Maya Cruise Terminal, where you can easily spend some time looking around before heading off to explore the island.

Puerta Maya has shops, restaurants, bars, places to grab a drink, and plenty of colorful spots that make it feel like you’ve already stepped into vacation mode. It’s also a convenient place to arrange transportation if you’re heading somewhere else on Cozumel.

For me, the port is more of a place to get your bearings, take a few pictures, do a little shopping, and decide what you want to do with your day rather than somewhere I would spend an entire day.

COSTA MAYA CRUISE PORT - NO SPEND EXCURSION

I am currently sitting in the port of Costa Maya, Mexico and wanted to share my experience of visiting the port without spending a single penny.

Cozumel Cruise Port: What to Know Before You Go

Cozumel is Mexico's largest Caribbean island and a popular cruise port, welcoming thousands of cruise passengers throughout the year. For many people, Cozumel is an easy port to explore on your own, whether you want to shop, relax on the beach, or arrange your own excursion.

This was my second visit to Cozumel, and it was just as beautiful as I remembered. On my first visit, we walked to a nearby town and spent some time around the port. This time, we decided to do something different and took a taxi to the Iberostar Resort.

IBEROSTAR RESORT ~ COZUMEL, MEXICO

I just got back from an amazing Caribbean cruise, and I can’t wait to share all the details! 

8 PLACES OUTSIDE OF THE US YOU CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO TRAVEL TO IN 2017

I have said this many times....Travel doesn't have to be expensive.  If it was, I would never leave my house.  I live in Arkansas where the minimum wage is $8.50, so many of us have to work extra jobs to earn travel money.  Some work three jobs!

The good news is that there are some places where you can consistently find cheap flights and lodging.  Places like Spain, Italy, France, Ireland,  many Caribbean islands, and almost all of Mexico.

One of your biggest expenses is airfare so be sure to check out my post on Finding Cheap Airfare HERE.

My travel companions and I have put a list of some of our favorite budget places to travel.

#1 ROME   I don't remember ever seeing Rome and a list for budget travel.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe because flying directly into Rome can be expensive.  If you fly to a cheaper destination like Barcelona, you can fly on to Rome for around $25.  Once you are in Rome, there are tons of things to see for free.  We paid to get into the Colosseum but you can walk to the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, and many more places for free. 

The public bus cost €1.50 for 100 minutes or €24 for a week so you can travel around Rome cheap.  There are tons of places to eat in Rome but if you are looking for someplace inexpensive, pop into one of the pizza shops where you can get a huge slice of pizza and soda for around €5.

#2 BARCELONA I never realized how popular Barcelona was as a travel destination until I traveled there the first time.  Barcelona is fairly easy to get around and there is always something to do.  Buses to and from the airport are very affordable (I think we paid ­€7) and if you stay in a hotel (or use Airbnb like we did) near the Placa CAntalunya, it's just a short walk to everywhere.  If you really want to eat cheap, find a tapas bar where you can pick up a tapas for €1 each. 

CAYMAN ISLANDS & COZUMEL SCRAPBOOK

Here is my finished scrapbook of the Cayman Islands & Cozumel.  You can check out the entire book HERE and you can read about my to the Cayman Islands HERE and my visit to Cozumel HERE.

Cozumel Cruise Port: My First Impression and Tips for Visiting

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!

Christmas in Puerto Vallarta

One of my favorite things about Puerto Vallarta is walking along the Malecón—strolling, shopping, people-watching, and stopping for a drink along the way. And what better way to spend Christmas?