For those recommending using a cab for a tour of the other side how does that work? Does the cabbie just wait for us until we're ready to go to our next spot? How do you find a cab driver willing to do that, or will most? How much does it cost? Say we finish our morning dives by 1:00 PM and want to go to the other side for maybe 5 hours till 6:00 PM - a stop for lunch and drinks, maybe a stop at a deserted beach, a look at some of the ruins, a later stop at another beach club for more drinks, etc. - how much might that cost? Any info appreciated from those who have done this.
Yes, from what I understand, you can go to any cab driver and negotiate a price for a long term fair. I thing what most people do is offer to by him/her soft drinks for the day and maybe even throw in lunch...good will goes far.
The driver will wait for you at each stop, even if you wanted to spend some beach time, beach clubs, restaurants or visit San Gervasio (the "major" ruins on Coz), that's what you are paying him for.
Gordon's price is probably dead on, might be less for only 2 people because you could hire a car rather than a van. I think I have heard a price of $50-60 for a 2 person fair before, but don't quote me on that.
Pionts of interest going around the island, headed south out of town:
Have the cabbie get off the highway and drive the "old beach road" it follows the ocean as far south as the Wyndam then re-joins the highway. Stop at Playa Corona for a cold one, one of our long-time hang outs.
1.) El Cedral, Cozumel's original 100 year old town, located inland a couple miles, about 1/2 way down to Punta Sur on the highway. Not a whole lot to see, some minor ruins and some very nice haciendas tucked back in there, if I moved to Coz, I would want to live there.
2.) "Tree", the massive Ceiba tree just about 1-2 miles before getting to Punta Sur (south point). Can't miss it, it's HUGE!
3.) At Punta Sur it's self is Rasta's and Bob Marley's, restaurant, bar & gift shops as well as Punta Sur Park & Bioreserve.
4.) just up the road El Moridor (sp?), with the blow holes on the beach and more cheap gift shopping.
5.) Chien Rio for lunch? Cozumel's favorite Mexican style whole fried fish, eat inside to avoid the flys.
6.) Coconuts, (my Margaritaville), sits on Coz's highest elevation, good food, (best fish burger EVER!), GREAT margaritas, awsome view overlooking the Caribbean sea...as to see the "family albums"
7.) Mescalito's, (sp? again), another popular beach bar, with more gift shops (Mexican Target, almost free!) and the nude beach "just up the way"
8.) then headed back to town, on the trans-island highway, San Gervasio ruins, Cozumel's largest and most excavated site. Not nearly as impressive as the sites on the Yucatan, the buildings are small buy comparison, but an important archeological site nonetheless, and a nice place to get a jump start on Mayan culture.
You can easily spend 1 1/2 to 2 hours there.
not to mention the miles of beach, most of it uninhabited, if it isn't Sunday when the locals flood them to have thier day on the beach. Sunday is also not the best day to go to Chein Rio for the same reason, it is a very popular local hangout on Sundays.
Just be careful getting into the water, there is a VERY bad rip current over there and even for the strongest swimmer it can be very difficult to get back to shore if you venture very far out at all.
A non-drive thing to do is to go to the museum for breakfast on a non-dive day or lunch at the second story patio restaurant and then spend time at the museum, losts of history of the island, local and regional art and on the first level to the rear is a man in a mayan hut that will run you through the every day life of the maya, very interesting...drop my friend a good tip
Short list, but it will give you some places to look for and reasearch.
