Mexico: Cozumel Culture & History

Culture and History of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cozumel is an island off the Mexican coast and t is renown for its dazzling white beaches and the blue ocean on which it rests. It is subtropical and the native people are of Mayan descent. Prior to 1961, Cozumel was a sleepy little fishing village before Jacques Cousteau was able to show the world the beauty of the island. There are numerous beaches in Cozumel with great snorkeling and crystal clear water. San Francisco Beach is easily reached by taxi and is very popular. There are some other excellent beaches around for snorkeling and Mayan ruins such as San Gervasio provide visitors with the opportunity to visit and learn of the Mayan civilization. All equipment and instruction if needed is provided if you are interested in snorkeling. There are also other interests on the island for visitors to enjoy. Things such as snorkeling and scuba packages, sailing charters, horseback riding, para sailing, surfing and ferry trips to the mainland are things that are available to be enjoyed.

Cozumel has become an underwater marine park to protect the delicate balance of its beautiful coral reefs and abundant variety of tropical fish. The water is azure and beautifully spectacular and at times the clearness of the water can vary between 100 to 200 feet deep. There are also a number of cave and caverns, some of the most beautiful in the world. There are pristine and each cave has its own particular marine life, a very much needed cave environment. There are many ways to get to get to the island, as it can be reached by ferry from the Mexican mainland or by small aircrafts. Cozumel is one of the best deep-sea fishing sites in the Caribbean as it has many different varieties of fish such as Barracuda, Wahoo, Maji, Tuna, Blue Marlin, Dorado and the Grouper.

The island can be toured on horseback, which can be a tour and can be accompanied by both soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. There is a museum on the island from which visitors can learn a great deal about the island and its history.

Cozumel was almost unknown to the people outside of Mexico until 1961. Nevertheless, the Mayan peoples knew it many centuries ago. The Mayan culture ruled from Campeche to Guatemala 2000 years before the arrival of the Spanish explorers. They inhabited Cozumel from 300 A.D. to 1500 A.D. and remnants of the Mayan civilization are evident at San Gervacio, which was probably a capital city during ancient times.

Cozumel is the largest inhabited island in the Mexican Republic and one of the oldest in the Caribbean area. It is located 12 miles off the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The island of Cozumel is about three hundred square miles and the most of the island is still in a jungle place. The subtropical climate, with temperatures that range between 70-85 degrees, that creates a perfect environment for all kinds of sea life. Cozumel has a great number of classes of coral reefs and it provides excellent snorkeling.

This is a home for migratory birds and there are great marine lives in that area. The people there are very interested in environmental conditions and also interested that the ecological balance is not disturbed.