More About our Island. Currency: The Mexican currency is the peso. US dollars are widely accepted throughout the island. Most larger restaurants and hotels accept credit cards and travellers cheques. You can exchange money at hotels, money exchange booths downtown and at the banks downtown. Usually, best rates are at the banks and the worst rates at the hotels. Your very best rate will be when you use your credit card for purchases. Time Zone: Cozumel is in the Central time zone. We do recognize daylights savings time just like in the US. Telephone Internet Services: Many internet cafes have sprung up on Cozumel island. Access to email and the internet is easy and inexpensive. Public telephones are abundant around town. The Calling Station in town offers call to anywhere in the US for a small fee and might be your most economical option. Beware of credit card or collect calls made from public phones. You may come home to find a hefty surprise on your next statement. Sunscreen: Just like anywhere else that's tropical, the sun is very hot in Cozumel and sunscreen is recommended, especially for children. You can purchase sunscreen and sun tanning products in Cozumel. Be aware that national ecological parks do not allow lotions in the water. Other Things to do While Visiting Cozumel. Many divers like to take the last day of their trip to off-gas and tour our beautiful island. If you've never been around the island you can rent a car or jeep and circle the island in a day. There are many beaches and restaurants along the way, as well as parks that will require an entry fee. Chankanaab is the biggest of those parks. There is also mini-golf, jungle bike tours, horseback riding, sailing and catamaran trips, and shopping. The Museum of the Island of Cozumel is a wonderful place to spend some time if you want to learn more about the island's history. San Gervasio - Several miles outside of town near the middle of the island are the San Gervasio Mayan Ruins. You may choose to tour the ruins yourself, or hire a guide for a personalized tour. A self-guided tour brochure is available at the entrance. It is well written, informative and makes a great souvenir. As you walk through the ruins you will find at each point of interest, a stone plate that gives you a description of what it is you are looking at, and a brief history of its significance. Tumba de Caracol Mayan Ruin can be seen from the dirt road that leads to the lighthouse. There are many other ruins on the island of Cozumel, however they are difficult to get to. Chichen Itza - The ruins of Chichen-Itza are only an hour from Cozumel via AeroCozumel or AeroCaribe. You can make this trip in a day and be back in time for dinner, or you can take advantage of the accommodations nearby. Refreshments and souvenirs are available for sale on site. Chichen-Itza is the most famous of the ancient Mayan cities. The earliest buildings date back to A.D. 600. Tulum - About 15 miles south of Akmual is the popular archeological site called Tulum. The structure overlooks the ocean. This picturesque sandy beach is a welcomed sight on those hot muggy days. Bring your beach wear so you can take a refreshing swim. There are about 60 stone structures at Tulum. It was part of a series of coastal forts established between A.D. 700 and A.D. 1000. This ancient city probably functioned as a trade center for the Maya. The site is well restored and has visitor facilities that include accommodations, restaurants and gift shops. Bring your pesos! There are plenty of places to shop and to grab a bite to eat. Shopping - San Miguel's waterfront boulevard and the main plaza are the centers of Cozumel's shopping. Cozumel has stocked stores selling quality Mexican and imported items. Restaurants - Dining options in Cozumel range from simple (eating a traditional Mayan meal at a resident's home for pesos) to elegant fine dining. Seafood can be found everywhere. You will also find excellent Italian, American, traditional Mexican, French, and Japanese. For the fast food junkies, there are plenty of pizza shops, coffee houses, and even a Kentucky Fried Chicken. If you have the facilities to cook at home, there are several very large grocery stores with excellent quality produce, meat, seafood, bakery and wine options. Nightlife - Evening entertainment begins and ends early in Cozumel, compared to the rest of Mexico. Most discos, clubs larger bars can be found here, mainly in the hotel zone or in the marina. Cenotes - Just a short ferry ride away, the cenotes of the Yucatan offer an interesting diving option for advanced divers. Cenotes are underwater caves and caverns that have been carved out of the limestone by the underground rivers that have navigated their way through the Yucatan over many years. The area if full of them and many have been charted and cleared for divers. Cave certification is not required to dive the caverns, but advanced diving skills are recommended. We can help to arrange your trip to visit them.

Things to Do and Places to Visit. Many divers like to take one day of their trip to off-gas and tour our beautiful island. The island is 32 miles long and 12 miles wide. Only the town (west) side of the island is settled. To the north and south of town are the hotel zones. If you;ve never been around the island you can rent a car or a jeep and circle the island in half a day. There are many beaches and restaurants along the way, as well as some parks which charge an entry fee such as Chankanaab. There is also mini-golf, jungle tours, horseback riding, sailing and catamaran trips, and shopping. The Museum of Cozumel Island A wonderful place to spend some time if you want to learn more about the island;s history. There is a topographic map of the reef system, exhibits on the formation and natural history of the island, a photo gallery and a traditonal Mayan dwelling with demonstrations of daily life. There is a restaurant on the 2nd floor terrace for breakfast or lunch with a spectacular ocean view. Visit the Mayan Ruins. San Gervasio - outside of town near the middle of the island are the San Gervasio Mayan Ruins. You may choose to tour the ruins yourself or hire a guide for a personalized tour. A self-guided tour brochure is available at the entrance. As you walk through the ruins you will find a tile plate at each point of interest that gives you an explanation of its significance in English, Spanish Mayan. Trails follow the old Mayan road through the jungle which is alice with local wildlife such as birds, iguanas and butterflies. Best time to visit is in the morning when it is cooler. Bring a hat and water. The island is dotted with other small interesting remnants of Mayan culture. Chichen-Itza (off-island) The ruins of Chichen-Itza are only an hour from Cozumel by air or about 4 hours ferry / land. It can be done as a day trip or you can find accommodations nearby. Refreshments, souvenirs and guidebooks are available on-site. Chichen-Itza is the most famous of the ancient Mayan cities in Mexico and is very impressive. The earliest buildings Date to A.D. 600. Tulum (off-island) About one hour south of Playa del Carmen is the popular archealogical site called Tulum. The main structure is perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean sea. There is a picturesque sandy beach for swimming. There are about 60 stone structures at Tulum. It was part of a series of coastal forts established between A.D. 700 and A.D. 1000. and probably functioned as a trade center for the Maya. The site is well restored and as has visitor facilities. Beaches There are 2 different kinds of beaches on Cozumel. One type, on the west coast (the town / hotel side) offer stretches of white sand, usually calm waters, beach clubs and snorkeling. On the windward east coast (the;other side;), beautiful secluded beaches alternate with rocky ironshore along vast expanses of solitary coastline. The often roaring surf creates large breakers and sometimes treacherous undertows. There are thatched-roof (;palapa;) beachside restaurants with cold drinks and fresh seafood. Shopping San Miguel;s waterfront boulevard and the main plaza are the center of Cozumel;s shopping. The town market located at Rosado Salas and 25th Ave. is an interesting and non-touristy place to shop with everything from meat, fish produce to sandals and native clothing. Try the fresh-squeezed juices. Restaurants Dining options in Cozumel range from simple to elegant fine dining. Seafood can be found everywhere. You will find traditional Mexican, Mayan, Italian, French, Lebanese, Chinese and American. For fast food junkies there are pizza shops, burger joints and even a McDonald;s. If you have cooking facilities in your room or condo there are grocery stores with produce, meat, seafood, bakery and liquors. Nightlife Evening entertainment begins and ends early in Cozumel, compared to the rest of Mexico. Discos, clubs and bars can be found downtown and in the hotel zones. A local fiesta takes place in the town square most every Sunday with a live Cuban or jazz band in the gazebo and dancing. Carnaval Cozumel would not be Cozumel without Carnaval. Called Mardi Gras in some places, this huge party takes place every February, the week before Lent begins. The grand finale is on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. There are parties, parades, costumes, live music and dancing in the streets. Everyone is invited, and everyone goes! Visitors, residents, babies, grandparents and even pets all go, dresses in beads, masks and of course dancing shoes! Well worth a February visit to Cozumel. Cenotes Just a short ferry ride away, the cenotes of the Yucatan offer an interesting diving option for advanced divers. Cenotes are underwater caves and caverns that have been carved out of the limestone by the underground rivers that have navigated their way through the Yucatan over many years. The area if full of them and many have been charted and cleared for divers. Cave certification is not required to dive the caverns, but advanced diving skills are recommended. We can help to arrange your trip to visit them.

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Rent-a-car service
 Clothes dry cleaning
 Access to internet
 Ironing facilities
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Fully stocked mini bar
 Mixed dorms
 Parking lot
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Fridge
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Patio, summer terrace
 Cheques accepted