Cozumel Attractions

Aboard the Atlantis Submarine, you get a diver's-eye view without having to get wet or learn to scuba. The recreational sub cruises the outer Chankanaab Reef, descending to depths of 100 feet. You'll gaze out your porthole at colorful coral, schools of tropical fish and maybe even a sea turtle floating by. A ferry transports you to the submarine. The sub bobs for several minutes as passengers board -- the only part of the journey that got us a bit queasy. Take precautions with kids (and adults) prone to sea sickness. Children must be at least 36 inches tall to board. Reserve ahead, as this outing is popular with cruisers.

Before Hurricane Wilma, Chankanaab was one of the best places for off-shore snorkeling and diving, as groves of purple sea fans, large coral heads and schools of tropical fish were within a yards of land. The snorkeling's not what it used to be, although the sea fans and other formations are slowly regenerating, and the number of fish is increasing. Because of the strong current, it's best to go snorkeling with a guide. A better reason to visit the park is to mingle with the dolphins. Dolphin Discovery offers three dolphin encounter programs, ranging from kiss and hand shake encounters to Dolphin Swims that add belly rides to the Royal Swim, which includes a foot push - as you float face down, dolphins propel you through the water by pushing you along by the soles of your feet. Reserve ahead. Also, to avoid crowds, try to visit when the cruise ships are not in port.

Shoppers, especially 'tweens and teens, will enjoy bargaining hard at the stores in San Miguel, Cozumel's main town. Many front the waterfront strip, El Malecon, officially the Avenida Rafael E. Melgar. Even if you're not buying, the seaside stroll is fun, especially if you stay on the less crowded waterside, whose walkway features intermittent sculptures. The stores sell more silver jewelry than you ever thought possible, as well as pottery, papier-mache, wood carvings, hammocks and T-shirts. When we want to treat ourselves to a take-home trinket that goes way beyond "souvenir" quality, we visit one of Tanya Moss' three area shops. The Mexican designer mixes rough-cut stones, gold and silver in unusual combinations.

This 2,700-acre park, formerly called "Punta Sur," is a 30-minute drive from the traffic of San Miguel, Cozumel's main town. The refuge contains secluded beaches -- only some of which are safe for swimming because of currents -- snorkeling sites, mangrove lagoons, shrub thickets and wind-blown dunes. To explore the park, board one of the trams that bump along, past dense thickets of sea grapes and palm trees, to the 19th century Celarain lighthouse. The reward for climbing 133 stairs is a panoramic view. You can also kayak or go on a catamaran sailing through the Colombia lagoon. Since the park is situated at the tip of the island, it's generally less expensive to rent a car in downtown Cozumel than it is to take taxis, which may be scarce when you wish to return.

Formerly called "Punta Sur," Faro Celarain Eco Park is a 2,700-acre refuge. Typically from July through mid-August, the park offers "turtle workshops," which provide a chance to watch turtles lumber ashore to lay eggs, cover their nests and lumber back to the sea -- an awe-inspiring ritual. Reserve these and other tours ahead of time, as participation is limited.

If your family has never seen Mayan ruins, these will do, especially if taking the ferry to the mainland and driving south along the Riviera Maya to Tulum is just too complicated and too long of a day-trip for your family. The Maya inhabited San Gervasi from about 200 A.D. to the late 16th century, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived. San Gervasi's structures -- crudely fashioned, compared to those at Tulum or at other Maya sites -- still might awe children who've only read about the Maya culture and not seen any actual buildings. The Maya created the site, in part, to honor the Goddess Ixchel, considered the mother of the gods with powers related to fertility and childbirth. The central square and its surrounding temples and buildings reign as the highlights.

Cozumel offers some of Mexico's best snorkeling and diving with visibility near 100 feet in places. Although some close-in sites are still recovering from Hurricane Wilma, the less damaged reefs further out have mostly regenerated. At Palancar Reef, a Cozumel legend that stretches more than three miles, you can view large coral heads, big barrel sponges and sea fans swaying in the current. Along with schools of rainbow-colored fish, Paradise Reef features star coral and brain coral. Other good sites include Colombia Shallows and El Cielo, a sandbar whose surrounding seas harbor abundant starfish. While coral flourishes in Cozumel's richly oxygenated swift currents -- two to eight knots -- swimmers and snorkelers can flounder. Always go with a buddy, and book through a reputable outfitter.