Cozumel Island
The origin of the name Cozumel is Maya, from the words Kozom which means “swallow” and Lumil which means “land of”, composing the word Kozomil: land of swallows. Throughout the years, the Maya word changed to its current name of Cozumel.
It is the largest inhabited island in Mexico. In its wonderful biodiversity, it possesses more than 250 species of fish, out of which the queen angelfish and the toadfish stand out and can only be found in the island. Among its endemic land species, you can find the pigmy raccoon and the coati. A variety of reptiles also exists on the island, such as the iguana and the crocodile, as well as a great variety of amphibians such as the colorful tree toads. Migratory birds such as the magnificent frigate, the dun pelican and cormorants also visit the island.
Cozumel is rich in history, beginning with the indigenous nomadic Caribbean tribes who first inhabited the island and were later displaced by the Maya, who were one of the most advanced civilizations in the world.
When the frogmen were coming to Cozumel to explore its submarine beauties, they took back stories about the wonderful visits, and thanks to these stories, in 1960, Jacques Cousteau arrived in Cozumel and made statements about the richness of the coral reefs that surround the island. Since then, Cozumel, which is part of the second largest reef barrier in the world, is considered nowadays as The Capital of Scuba Diving in Latin America. In 1996, the area found between the Paradise Reef and Punta Chiqueros, was decreed a Natural Protected Area called Cozumel’s Reefs National Park. The reefs of Palancar, Santa Rosa, Torments,Chankanaab, Yucab and San Francisco, are located in this area and are a mandatory visit for divers.
The island’s natural beauties, along with the hospitality of its people of Cozumel have turned it into one of the world’s favorite destinations. It receives an estimated 2.6 million cruise ship passengers every year.
Among the island’s attractions you can find the Natural Park of Chankanaab, which is located around a lagoon that connects with the sea; the Ecological Reserve of the Celarain Lighthouse, where nature offers a diversity of elements such lagoon, swamps, birds, reptiles, fish and jungle; and San Gervasio, the largest archaeological site on the island, which was a strategic place for trade and political activity of this Mesoamerican area as well as a ceremonial center of the Maya who would visit the sanctuary of the Goddess Ixchel.
