COZUMEL Island Part 2: SOUTH End

Continued from COZUMEL Island Part 1: NORTH End

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IBEROSTAR COZUMEL

Close to the southern reef dive sites, about 20 kms to San Miguel

Stock photo

Click on the backlinks for more information.

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ACCOMMODATION

293 rooms in total, most similar to this; one building with 4 separate units, there are some 2-unit bungalows. 

room 1211 is quiet, that's us top left, there's a water station nearby, away from most noise, the right size, good storage, close to WiFi tower, dip tanks and beach/pool, 5 minute walk to the buffet restaurant

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WILDLIFE 
There's a bunch of cats hanging around but they're not bothersome. Apparently, they can be adopted to other countries. The resident flamingos however are known to kick up a fuss. Other than them; peacocks, green iguana, scarlet macaws, coati and green parrots wander the resorts gardens freely. We only saw the one Tarantula, but I'm sure there are others around. The beach here is home to a healthy population of Hermit Crabs.

Pink Flamingos

Green Parrot

Peacock

Green Iguana

Scarlet Mackaw

Tarantula - about 3" diameter, on steps to our room

Hermit Crab - about 1.5" diameter

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RESTAURANTS
Cozumel Buffet: The 'best' we've ever seen at a resort; for breakfast/lunch/dinner featuring a different theme every night (Italian/Asian/Mexican/International etc).  One nice thing about buffets is that you can take as much food as you want whereas we've found, it's sometimes difficult to get smaller portions served in a la carte restaurants. Staff are helpful and friendly. A limited breakfast is available to divers at 6:30 am and the full restaurant opens at 7:00 am. 

La Cantina las Dos Marias (Mexican): (1) Between us we had, shrimp tacos, coconut shrimp, cheesecake. Everything was very good but the overall selection is better at the buffet restaurant and dishes are just as well prepared, if not better. (2) Second seating, tacos a vegitariano con oaxaca cueso, coconut shrimp and another botella a Casa Magoni 2018. 

La Pagoda (Asian): (1) Shared an appetizer of spicy tuna maki roll. Then, simply the best blackened salmon I believe I have ever had. Helen had a chicken dish that she found too large. Mexican wine was Casa Magoni 2018 Vino Blanco Manaz. It's unfortunate few Mexican wines are ever imported into Canada because there are some very good ones. (2) Second seating, shared another sushi appetizer, brochetas de atún teryaki, a shrimp noodle dish and a botella a Catina Alta Chardonnay Argentina 2017 Somellier Cesiah services all the restaurants.







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CULTURE

Singing duo in the main lobby.

- towel wars; get a chair early
- beach walking is extensive 
- the island's south end is isolated
- entertainers: musicians, a magician
- no separate kids pool
- hard working animacion staff 
- big resort; can get noisy at times




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Journeymaker 

' Journeymakers  are those people who elevate your travel experience with the passion and enthusiasm for the place they call home and for the interest and kindness they give you, the traveller. '

David (pron. Daveed) is one of the welcoming staff here at the Iberostar. He showed us around a bit a few days before our actual arrival. During several conversations with him, we told him of our appreciation for authentic Mexican cuisine.

He surprised us one day with a gift of blended Mayan spices ... Recado Rojo, recado blanco and recado negro.

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SCUBA / Snorkeling

Morning pickup.

I'm diving with Scuba Tony during this stay and I'll be doing the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Certification with instructor Israel Rivera. Because of Scuba Tony's close proximity location at the main harbour, divers here are some of the first to be picked up. That means sites south of here will usually be quiet when we arrive. Scuba Tony does not pick up at the Iberostar wharf. That's not necessarily a disadvantage; divers walk out a short distance past a short rocky shelf and are picked up from shallow water. 

I had some dives postponed. If conditions are rough, regardless of whether the harbour master closes the main pier due to a Nor-ester or not, Scuba Tony is unable to pick up in choppy conditions. I did not consider this to be a problem because I had the time to re-schedule. 

There's a small snorkelling area 'buoyed off' near the resorts wharf. The water there usually stays fairly murky and only contains the few fishes that are used to being fed by tourists; regardless of a sign asking to 'not feed the fish'. The best snorkelling from the Iberostar would be on any of the boat tours that take snorkelers to shallower reefs at Columbia, Palancar etc.

On the Boat with SCUBA Tony

Dive Master Israel                 Boat Captain Miguel

Personalized fresh water bottles, a variety of snacks and fresh fruit are provided. The crew wash masks, swap tanks and set up gear after each dive. Gear is removed in the water and the dive-master passes it up to the boat captain, if a diver wishes. This is a blessing for anyone struggling with bad knees; like me. All gear but neoprene is taken back to their shop, cleaned and readied for the next dive. My computer 'crapped out' on the first dive, Israel took it back to their shop and checked it out; bad battery. Divers picked up from the Iberostar are the first to be dropped off following the morning dives; consistently between 11:15 and 12:00.

Surface interval between dives

Dive Master Miguel

Diving from the south end of the island is quite convenient. All dives will be within the boundaries of Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park. It's off the coast of the island of Cozumel in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The Cozumel reef system is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest coral reef system in the world. Even though almost the entire island of Cozumel is surrounded by coral reefs , the park only encompasses the reefs on the south side of the island. It begins just south of the International Pier and continues down and around Punta Sur and up just a small portion of the east side of the island. The park contains both shallow and mesophotic coral reefs and extends to the 100 m depth isobar.

I was allowed access to the Iberostar dip tanks to rinse my neoprene.

Dive Sites: Palancar Bricks, Santa Rosa, Cedral Pass, La Francesca, Punta Delila, Palancar Horseshoe, Palancar Caves

No camera this trip but I did find some stock internet photos. They are a good representation of the underwater terrain and several of the animals that we encountered at these reefs.

Cedral Pass

Palancar Caves

Santa Rosa - Spotted Eagle Ray

La Francesca - Nurse Shark

Punta Delila - Black Grouper

Palancar Horseshoe

Palancar Bricks

Notable Wildlife Encountered
barracuda, green sea turtle, spotted eagle ray, moray eel, lobster, garden eels, nurse shark, black grouper, Christmas tree worm, rainbow parrot-fish, hawksbill turtle, splendid toadfish, remora, pufferfish, spotted drum, sting ray

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Somewhere in Newfoundland & Labrador CANADA

We're KANOE Tripping 

... follow along, if you like.

Our latest route is included on TRAVELMAP 2020.   

For all posts from this latest adventure click Trip 150. 

All photography is by LOAFin Around, unless otherwise noted. 

And finally, here's a link to our complete Trip 150 Cozumel MEXICO photo gallery. 

Wry and Crusty ... 

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