Known as the “Island of the Swallows” in Ancient Mayan, Cozumel has quickly become one of the most popular tourist destinations for scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and a variety of other outdoor leisure activities. Cozumel houses some of the largest coral reefs in the world, home to hundreds of different species of sea life, and contains some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. Most of the island remains generally untouched by humanity, save a few ancient ruins by the Mayan civilizations of old.

Geography

Cozumel sits just east of Mexico, approximately 12 miles from the mainland. It is the third largest island in Mexico, branching as many as 30 miles from north to south and 10 miles from east to west. Within Cozumel is a town known as San Miguel, a town with a population of just 75,000 on the western shore of the big island.

Outside of San Miguel the land is quite different. Most of Cozumel is not yet developed, with dense vegetation, low flatlands and a variety of greenery and animals. Around Cozumel are also a variety of Mayan ruins, as the island was home to a generations of Mayan civilization. The entire island is approximately 185 square miles.

Geology

Cozumel is unique in that the entire island is based on limestone, with a highest point that sits a surprisingly low 15 meters above sea level. The rest of the island is generally very flat. There are also several sinkholes (known as Cenotes) that built up over a period of several thousand years from water that slowly rose to the surface through the limestone base. These Cenotes are also very popular amongst travelers, as they contain their own freshwater species, as well as some of the largest underwater caves in the world.

The terrain of Cozumel is still very much intact, allowing tourists and locals a variety of places to explore across the island.