In addition to our annual CANUSUKair get-together at Hotel Cozumel & Resort, we'll be embarking on an exploratory this winter.
We hope to locate an affordable casa or condominium for a winter stay of 2 to 3 months.
We hope to locate an affordable casa or condominium for a winter stay of 2 to 3 months.
This is our 7th trip to the island. Our good friends Heather and Randy initially recommended the island for the superb diving and snorkelling available on the nearby Meso-american Reef. We have come to enjoy the friendliness and sincerity of the locals, we've made some new Mexican friends, there is wonderful authentic, (UNESCO recognized) Mexican Cuisine available along some of the back streets and if you venture away from the western coast you can still find quiet beaches on the eastern side of the island.
We have a goal of finding an affordable, long-term stay rental on the island for a number of years. Unfortunately we left it too late this winter to arrange for accommodations in a local casa. Instead we've arranged to stay at 2 different hotels at the north and south parts of the east coast. And we'll spend our time in the central part at our regular spot; Hotel Cozumel. We've rented a car for some of our stay and will be gone for slightly more than 8 weeks. We hope the island has enough to keep us interested but if not we intend on venturing over to the mainland where we can complete some day or long weekend adventures.
This post (and 2 others to follow) are reviews of our impressions at different locations on Cozumel., that we have not spent any significant time at.
We are more concerned with available activities at a location than we are with types of accommodation ... casas or condos, doesn't matter - as long as they are affordable.
We have a goal of finding an affordable, long-term stay rental on the island for a number of years. Unfortunately we left it too late this winter to arrange for accommodations in a local casa. Instead we've arranged to stay at 2 different hotels at the north and south parts of the east coast. And we'll spend our time in the central part at our regular spot; Hotel Cozumel. We've rented a car for some of our stay and will be gone for slightly more than 8 weeks. We hope the island has enough to keep us interested but if not we intend on venturing over to the mainland where we can complete some day or long weekend adventures.
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The NORTH End
At the quiet end of the island, need transportation for dive access , 8 kms to the International Pier.; just south of San Miguel.
The NORTH End
At the quiet end of the island, need transportation for dive access , 8 kms to the International Pier.; just south of San Miguel.
ACCOMODATION: Melia Cozumel Beach & Golf Resort
About ... the pros and cons
There are advantages to staying at the north end of the island, but it's not for everyone. It's much quieter, some beaches are great for walking, the clientele are usually a bit older and not as interested in partying. There are 147 rooms at the Melia. Arranging for diving at many locations is difficult and could be more costly, it's a nearly 5 km distance into San Miguel. I was told that a dive shuttle to the southern end was $25 one way; that's in addition to an average $90 / 2-tank dive. You can arrange to dive with some of the nearby dive shops, leave gear with them and taxi back and forth.
RESTAURANTS
There are several restaurant options. International cuisine is served at La Paraiso; it features meat and fish dishes. They have a list of premium wines but prices were well outside our budget. Food was well prepared but the sides were nothing special, guests are moved through quickly. Mexican dishes are served at La Iguana. It's sometimes not open due to high winds on the beach. The kitchen does a good job with traditional and authentic dishes; our best dinners were here. The Italian La Veranda is a separate section set aside in the regular La Isla buffet restaurant. The food was well prepared but nothing stood out.
AT THE MELIA
Beach Walks
We got our fitbit walking steps in most days.
Ocean currents cause the western coast of Isla Cozumel to collect some sargassum seaweed; however the eastern coast of the Yucatan collects much more.
Sargassum Weed
In total, sargassum mats are home to more than 11 phyla and over 100 different species. There is also a total of 81 fish species (36 families represented) that reside in the sargassum or utilize it for parts of their life cycles. Beach walkers think of sargassum as a problem but the plant (actually considered a 'sea') is much more beneficial to ecosystems and animal species than it is annoying to humans.
Below ... huge sargassum mats floating in the ocean (left) and washed up on shore (right).
Green Iguana
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| Stock photo |
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There are advantages to staying at the north end of the island, but it's not for everyone. It's much quieter, some beaches are great for walking, the clientele are usually a bit older and not as interested in partying. There are 147 rooms at the Melia. Arranging for diving at many locations is difficult and could be more costly, it's a nearly 5 km distance into San Miguel. I was told that a dive shuttle to the southern end was $25 one way; that's in addition to an average $90 / 2-tank dive. You can arrange to dive with some of the nearby dive shops, leave gear with them and taxi back and forth.
RESTAURANTS
There are several restaurant options. International cuisine is served at La Paraiso; it features meat and fish dishes. They have a list of premium wines but prices were well outside our budget. Food was well prepared but the sides were nothing special, guests are moved through quickly. Mexican dishes are served at La Iguana. It's sometimes not open due to high winds on the beach. The kitchen does a good job with traditional and authentic dishes; our best dinners were here. The Italian La Veranda is a separate section set aside in the regular La Isla buffet restaurant. The food was well prepared but nothing stood out.
AT THE MELIA
We got our fitbit walking steps in most days.
Ocean currents cause the western coast of Isla Cozumel to collect some sargassum seaweed; however the eastern coast of the Yucatan collects much more.
Sargassum Weed
In total, sargassum mats are home to more than 11 phyla and over 100 different species. There is also a total of 81 fish species (36 families represented) that reside in the sargassum or utilize it for parts of their life cycles. Beach walkers think of sargassum as a problem but the plant (actually considered a 'sea') is much more beneficial to ecosystems and animal species than it is annoying to humans.
Below ... huge sargassum mats floating in the ocean (left) and washed up on shore (right).
This fellow wandered the grounds at the Melia; about 2.5 feet long (snout to tail). We saw several other females but he was the only male we saw. Saw him on the grass, the pathways, in the trees and on the peak of grass covered roofs.
Iguanas bob their heads slowly up and down at each other to acknowledge each other's presence. Faster head bobbing, either up and down or side to side, is a sign that the iguana is upset or feeling aggressive. Finally, iguanas whip their tails to protect themselves when they feel threatened.
Iguanas bob their heads slowly up and down at each other to acknowledge each other's presence. Faster head bobbing, either up and down or side to side, is a sign that the iguana is upset or feeling aggressive. Finally, iguanas whip their tails to protect themselves when they feel threatened.
He's also known as the American iguana. A large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area; it is native from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico and the Caribbean islands, and have been introduced from South America to Puerto Rico and are very common throughout the island.
Unfortunately for them, their primary predators are humans ... they are colloquially known as gallina de palo ("bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the trees").
Entertainment
Mi Amor
There's a show every night, fire-shows, casino night, magic show, musical duos, dance styles ... we attended a couple. It's taken decades and an unnamed photographer on a cell phone to finally provide photographic evidence that I can actually dance, although not well ... Helen may have sang too, but neither of us wants to remember and thankfully there is no official record!
Mi Amor
There's a show every night, fire-shows, casino night, magic show, musical duos, dance styles ... we attended a couple. It's taken decades and an unnamed photographer on a cell phone to finally provide photographic evidence that I can actually dance, although not well ... Helen may have sang too, but neither of us wants to remember and thankfully there is no official record!
And of course, some wonderful time spent with our Mexican friends ... Paulina, son Leon and PADI dive master/instructor extraordinairia Israel.
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All photography is by LOAFin Around, unless otherwise noted.
And finally, here's a link to our complete Trip 150 Cozumel MEXICO photo gallery.
And finally, here's a link to our complete Trip 150 Cozumel MEXICO photo gallery.
Wry and Crusty ...
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