First Cozumel Trip - Suggestions/Tips Welcome

[editmojo]

You'll be walking distance to town. And yes the more interesting restaurants are deeper in town. "La Perougia" (probably misspelled) was one of our favorites. Last summer we rented a small car for $65 US for the day. A cocktail and fish taco at Coconuts, on the "wild side" (east side) is recommended if you get out that way. Casa Denis was good also.

There are some Mayan ruins on Cozumel but they are off the beaten path. Ask around. I'm sure someone coudl guide you there.


But Mostly, enjoy the diving. Santa Rosa Wall, Palancar Caves, Pasa del Cedro, were some of my favorites.

 

[deborahdelamar]

On the rental car - you may want to take one for a day and do the "drive around" that may include the San Gervasio ruins or Tequila Museum (along the northern road, the Transversal), the east shore, Parque Punta Sur and the southern beach clubs like Playa Palancar. If you drive a stick, Rentadora Isis on Ave 5 bet. Calles 2 & 4 offers VW's at $35-40 including the insurance. Closer to you, Less Pay near the Hotel Barracuda has reasonably-priced beater jeeps. Your Mastercard policy doesn't cover as much as the Mexican plan, so always buy the extra insurance which comes with Spanish-speaking personnel to help if you have an accident.

Food runs the full spectrum of prices and most is very good. You should try a tacqueria -- El Pique (across from the San Francisco market on Av. 30), El Foco (Ave. 5 near Suites Colonial at the square), Los Otates (much more than tacos - Ave 15 between Calle 3 & Salas.)

For arrachara or carne asada, there's HC Monterrey on Ave. 5 behind the mall and Parilla Mission on Ave. 30 between Calles 2 & 4. The last is an institution in Coz & also has really good Chiles Relleno and other dishes. Al Pie de Carbon is a small place that grills meat outdoors and is very good - corner of Ave. 5 & Calle 6.

Great seafood in town may be found at La Conchita del Caribe on Ave. 65 between 13 & 15 -- but it closes at around 4pm. But there are tons of other places. La Parroquia is in limbo -- it's been moving around due to construction -- last known address was in a wood shack near the clocktower in the square.

Others: Plaza Leeza, Mosiacoz & Casa Denis in the square; Guido's on Melgar Norte (upscale/Italian); La Cocay (upscale/continental) on Calle 8 bet. Aves 10 & 15; Kinta (upscale/continental) on Ave. 5 Norte between Calles 2 & 4; Tony Rome's Embassy (excellent margs) on Ave. 5 between Calles 3 & Salas. Le Chef at the corner of Ave. 5 & Calle 5; El Moro on Ave. 75 Bis (take a cab.)

Everyone does take out & doggie bags.

Have fun!

 

[judydivescoz]

We always rent a car in Cozumel. We like to stay in town and like the freedom a car gives us. If you decide to rent make sure you get the Mexician insurance, I would get the 0 deductable. Last trip in May, my husband had an accident that was his fault and it injured a local as well as damaged his scooter. The rental car also had damage. The insurance made a very difficult situation much easier to take care of. We rented the car from Rentadora Isis. It was nice to have Margarita, the owner help us sort things out.
I would spent the entire time on the island. Its your first trip and there is lots to see and do in Cozumel. I would dive as much as posssible. Diving in Cozumel is a treat compared to the Jersey shore and Dutch Springs.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[mitchsea]

It's about a 30 minute ferry ride to Playa, then about 45 minutes by shuttle/car to Tulum. The ferry leaves every hour so you can use your time more efficiently if you get to the ferry right before it leaves. Miss it and you'll have to wait for the big hand to be on the twelve again!
We combined Tulum with a Cenote trip so it was a really full day, about 3 hours at the Cenote site and about 2 hours at the ruins. We didn't want to compromise another diving day going to the mainland, and we saved $$ by not doing the cab + ferry + collectivo another day.

 

[agilulfo]

I highly recommend a day trip to the mainland to dive the cenotes.

We are both Rescue divers with over 100 dives. I would love to dive the cenotes but I need to work of my wife a little bit. She has no interest in cave diving...

 

[agilulfo]

I'm not sure what you mean by "MCC coverage"

I meant major credit card. This is good to know. I've always thought it better to waive the local insurance because it's more of a hassle in case of a legal dispute once back in the US. For example, I've always declined the local insurance and opted for the Amex coverage while in Bonaire. While it is true that I've never had to deal with a claim this, so far, has saved me a little bit of money.

So far, are not planning to rent a car during our stay. Maybe for half a day here and there but not for the entire stay. It seems like the Caribe Blu is within walking distance from town. We don't mind a little exercise. When we stayed in in Negril, Jamaica, a couple of years ago, we used to walk from the furthest edge of West End all the way to the beach. That's a 2-3 mile walk and we could always hop on a cab along the way whenever we didn't feel like walking all the way.

 

[agilulfo]

I would spent the entire time on the island. Its your first trip and there is lots to see and do in Cozumel. I would dive as much as posssible. Diving in Cozumel is a treat compared to the Jersey shore and Dutch Springs.

I am tempted to do just that but with so many places to dive, who knows when we'll be back. We did the same when we went to Roatan last year and so far we haven't gone back. I guess we'll see once we get there. Having the afternoons off will give us some time to tour the island but I'm not sure if it's enough time to go to the mainland and tour the mayan ruins.

Believe it or not, we never dove the shore nor Dutch Springs. My wife doesn't like cold water. I am planning to dive Dutch Springs this year with a friend and I am actually in the process of buying my first 7mm suit for that purpose. I also need to buy a hood, gloves, and boots, since all my equipment is geared toward tropical diving. Any suggestions about the thickness of hood, gloves, and boots I should get to dive Dutch Springs?

 

[agilulfo]

We combined Tulum with a Cenote trip so it was a really full day, about 3 hours at the Cenote site and about 2 hours at the ruins. We didn't want to compromise another diving day going to the mainland, and we saved $$ by not doing the cab + ferry + collectivo another day.

This sounds like a very good plan. Did you feel like you had enough time to do both or was it a rush? At what time did you leave/return? Which Cenote site did you dive?

 

[okiraku_diver]

On the way back to Cancun though we rode the bus...$6.00. Much better! It was anice ride, AC, restroom, videos, comfy seats. Sorry I can't recall the name of the bus but it's the major bus line...they are orange in color. You can catch them from Cancun airport and it will take you to downtown Playa del Carmen where the big bus station is.Hope this helps!

rivierabus?
Now I think oneway ticket costs $8.

 

[deborahdelamar]

The problem with Dutch Springs is that it's easy to get overheated topside while you're getting ready -- which makes the water seem even colder at the start. If you can afford it, layering a 5ml full + 5 jacket may be a better way to go -- it's more "adjustable" than a 7ml full and you can get more utility from the 5ml for winter Caribbean diving or the cenotes, which are cool at about 76 degrees.

If you don't think you'll return to the area, a visit to the Tulum ruins is highly recommended. Two hours there is more than enough. Wear a bathing suit & take a towel as you may need to pop into the ocean below the ruins for a cool down.

For cenote diving, Hidden Worlds cenote park is just north of the ruins on the opposite side of the highway -- makes for an easy combination. Hidden Worlds has several cavern-diving cenotes, including Dos Ojos which has two lines (routes) and is one of the most beautiful caverns in the area. Your wife may have no interest now but once she gets there and sees it, she might be very tempted to take the plunge.

The PDC-Aeropuerto Cancun autobus line is ADO. The Playa bus terminal is on Ave. 5 at Benito Juarez, opposite the NW corner of the Square. The ferry from Coz arrives just off the SE corner of the Square.