Selecting Best Cozumel Excursions in Cruising to Mexico

You will cruise to Mexico. Then it is important for you to plan Cozumel excursions in advance. But then, why that matters? And, importantly, what are the best excursions in Cozumel?

Cozumel is one of the most visited cruise destinations in the Caribbean. There are plenty of choices in things to do on the island. This is one of the reasons why Cozumel is so popular among the cruisers.

The problem is that you are not able to cover everything you want to do while you stay in Cozumel. Most of the major cruise lines dock at Cozumel, Mexico. And yet, your stay in Cozumel is limited. It’s usually 8 to 12 hours if it is not overnight. This is the very reason why you need to take some time and plan Cozumel shore excursions in advance.

Plenty of information on Cozumel excursions is out there. The more you try to get information, the more you become confused and may feel lost.

So you may ask what are the best Cozumel excursions?

Here is the deal.

In this article, we will break down what makes great Cozumel excursions. So that you can target what is important in selecting shore excursions. Get information, plan ahead and book the best cruise excursion for your next cruise to Mexico.

This article will help you find and decide which excursions are the best. Make your day out at Cozumel something incredible. Find out the choices of Cozumel excursions and pick up the best for your vacation!

Cozumel Excursions

You can find so many options in selecting the best cruise excursions. Cozumel is an undeveloped Mexican island. It takes only about one hour to go round this island by car. And yet Cozumel is an incredible island more than you ever imagined.

Why is that?

• The world standard beach clubs can be reached within 10 minutes by taxi from the Cozumel cruise port.
• The island can offer one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
• The world-class snorkelling and scuba diving experiences can be possible just off the beach without a boat.

Not only watersports activities, but there are plentiful things to do:

• Cozumel is mostly covered by mangroves. Mayan ruins were hidden and have just discovered. Find out historic sites of Mayan ruins.

• Cozumel is the paradise for the shoppers. You can expect world-class Duty-Free shopping in Cozumel. Plentiful jewellery, silvers and authentic Mayan crafts can be expected.

• Punta Sur Eco Beach Park and Chankanaab National Park offer various activities and attractions. You can make unforgettable memories with your loved ones and families.

Cozumel offers a variety of excursion options. These are the very reasons why nearly 4 million tourists visit annually. Find out more information everything about Cozumel.

This article is divided into three parts. This is meant for your convenience in reading and planning Cozumel excursions. Pick up the best and plan your own shore excursion for your next cruising to Mexico!

1. Best Excursions in Cozumel

Excursions in Cozumel varies from the beach breaks and water sports activities. The Mayan historical sites and adventure attractions at marine theme parks are popular.

So how can you decide the best excursions in Cozumel for your next cruise vacation?

To begin with, have a clear idea about your cruise style. Do you cruise with a loved one or family members? Or do you cruise as a solo traveller?

If you cruise with loved ones, you may need to get out of the crowd and visit some romantic places or activities. Hire a jeep and customise the tour. Stop the beaches for swimming and snorkeling whenever you want to be together. Or underwater river swimming is truly amazing. It can be an unforgettable experience together.

If you have kids, you need to choose sandy beaches with calm waters. Beach clubs are excellent because all the necessary facilities are well equipped. The marine theme parks are also recommended. Make some wonderful memories through activities together.

So what are the best excursions in Cozumel? Customise and create the best Cozumel excursions. Get more information on Cozumel shore excursions. Keep reading!

Cozumel Excursions on Your Own

Different cruise lines offer different services and shore excursion options. You can save money by planning cruise excursions by yourself. It’s no secret that these cruise lines offer fantastic shore excursion programs but are costly. The average prices are around or over $100 for each person. You can save money by simply planning and organising Cozumel excursions by yourself.

Cozumel excursons can be grouped as:
1) Cozumel Attractions
2) Cozumel Activities
3) Cozumel Beach Excursions
4) Cozumel Tours

1) Cozumel Attractions

Take Fun at Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park

Take your loved ones or family to Chankanaab National Park. You can expect plentiful marine attractions. Meet sea lions and manatee. Or swim with dolphins. Have some relaxing time at Chankanaab Beach or enjoy snorkeling at Chankanaab Reef. Enjoy some marine activities. Then celebrate your stay in Cozumel with some drinks and meals at Mexican buffet. All-inclusive Ultimate package is just about $40 USD.

Explore the Coral with Atlantis Submarine

Cozumel has one of the most beautiful and transparent waters in the world. You can explore the underwater world with no scuba diving gear. Atlantis is Mexico’s only submarine for tourists. The submarine can go deeper than 100 feet (over 30 meters) underwater. You can go underwater with your family or loved one.

Get Wet and Wild at Xcaret

Spend a day at a marine theme park Xcaret. There are more than 50 natural and cultural attractions. Find out the Coral Reef Aquarium, the Butterfly Pavillion and the Mayan ruins. Or play with dolphins and swim the underground river. The main concept of Xcaret is the all-inclusive resort. After enjoying activities, treat yourself with drinks and Mexican cuisine or relax at the luxury of premium accommodations.

Make Your Chocolate Bar at Kaokao

Take a chocolate factory tour and make your own chocolate bar. Chocolate was indispensable among the Mayans. It was not only consumed as nutrition but used for ritual ceremonies. Learn the history of cacao and its cultural significance in the ancient Mayan time. Adults and kids can enjoy together. Visiting Kakao chocolate factory is one of the popular tours in Cozumel.

2) Cozumel Activities

Customize Your Day with a Jeep Tour

Charter a jeep and customise your day out. A jeep tour is one of the most popular excursions in Cozumel.

Drive your own jeep around the island. Stop at beaches for snorkelling.

Visit the Mayan ruins. Get out of the commercialised area and cross the island’s central road. Find out spectacular landscapes and stunning beaches on the East Coast.

Unwind with Parasailing

You may often find parasailing led by a boat while you rest on the white sandy Cozumel beaches. Parasailing is a lot of fun. You will be thrilled by flying over 600 ft above clear blue waters of Cozumel. Of course, you can choose the lower level.

ATV Jungle and Snorkel Beach Adventure

Take a 4-hour shore excursion in Cozumel. The tour includes an off-road tracking on an ATV, visiting Mayan ruins and sparkling in the crystal-clear water of the sea. The ATV Jungle and Snorkel Beach Adventure tour is one of the best excursions in Cozumel. After your adrenaline with the ATV, relax at a beach club and enjoy some meals and drinks.

Explore Underwater with Seatreck

You can walk and explore underwater without a scuba diving licence. But then how? You will simply wear a special helmet on your shoulder. The continuous flow of air is coming into inside the helmet. No need a heavy water tank or scuba diving gear. You can breathe with ease. Meet colourful tropical fish and explore the underwater world!

Have Fun at Catamaran Sail and Snorkeling

Enjoy snorkelling at some of the Cozumel’s greatest coral reefs. Enjoy some music on a catamaran. Then grab cocktails and beers at the bar after some swimming. This is the best way to spend your day at sea in Cozumel.

Taste Local Flavours

Mexican cooking class workshop is one of the most popular tours in Cozumel. All the adults and kids both can join and taste the cooking class. It’s a lot of fun! Many cruisers combine a Cozumel food tour into marine activities.

Explore Coral Reef with Scuba Diving

Scuba diving in Cozumel is truly incredible.

I have done more than 300 diving sites around the world.

I tell you Cozumel is one of the best I ever experienced.

One of the great things is not only its crystal clear waters and the amount of fish. You can enjoy scuba diving just off the beach without a boat. The Cozumel reefs are very close to the shore. This is because Cozumel itself is a limestone island.

3) Cozumel Beach Excursions

Cozumel excursions at Mr Sanchos

Mr Sanchos is probably the most popular beach club among the cruisers in Cozumel. If you purchase a day pass, you can use all their facilities. Meals and drinks are also included.

This Cozumel’s famous beach blub offers marine activities including kayaking and snorkelling. Kids will love the aquatic park floating on clear waters. Mr Sanchos is one of the beach clubs which offers beach horseback ride.

Paradise Beach Club

This Cozumel’s premier beach offer the huge white sandy beach with the island’s largest heated pool, lounge and pool bars. Paradise Beach is best recommended for the family cruisers. The highlight for kids is the famous water park with slides. They can also play with trampolines, climbing ice-berg and beach floats.

An all-inclusive day pass includes the entry fee, the use of facilities, alcoholic beverages, runch at the restaurant. the use of the facilities, meals and drinks.

Playa Maya Beach Club

Find out an underwater Mayan city at Cozumel’s Playa Mia Grand Beach and Water Park. Playa Maya is a beautiful beach club. You will love this white sand beach with clear waters. It is not huge but is just right in size.

An all-inclusive day pass includes the use of facilities, lunch at buffets and beverages at bars. Non-motorized water toys like kayaks, paddleboats and small sailing catamarans are included.

Snorkeling in Cozumel Mexico

Snorkelling is one of the best things to do in Cozumel. The Snorkeling tours are in fact very popular. You can enjoy snorkelling off the beach without a boat on your own.

But then you may look for not only one but some of Cozumel’s world-class reefs to visit at once. If so, joining the tour is the best. The tour usually includes lunch and drinks. You do not need to find the places for them on your way.

4) Cozumel Tours

Discover Ancient Mayan Ruins

It’s said the Mayan had settled in Cozumel more than 2000 years ago. (source) The island is largely covered by mangrove forests. The Mayan ruins were hidden for many years. San Gervasio Mayan ruins are one of Cozumel’s largest archaeological sites.

The goodness of love and fertility, Ixchel, was worshipped in this secret historic site. Explore the gardens and temples. San Gervasio is an important site if you are interested in ancient culture and history. The island tour usually includes San Gervasio Mayan ruins.

Punta Sur Eco Beach Park Dune Buggy Tour

Explore the island and visit its important landmarks. Driving a self-drive dune buggy is really fun. Cozumel is mostly covered by largely mangrove forests. Many endangered animals inhabit on this beautiful island.

Find out Cozumel’s rich natural reserve from the top of the Lighthouse Museum. Enjoy snorkelling in clear waters. Then pop into a local restaurant for lunch. Punta Sur Eco Beach Park fees, snorkelling rental and lunch are usually included.

2. Cozumel Cruise Excursions

Cruise lines offer you multiple cruise excursion options. You can make a booking online before you embark on the ship. Or simply visit the excursion counter once you get on the ship.

Popular shore excursion programs can be full shortly soon. It is a good idea to visit the tour desk and talk with onboard shore excursion staffs as soon as possible. They will show you the best excursion options. Find out the best which meets your needs and expectations.

You may have no idea for what to expect in Cozumel. Or you may not have enough time to do some research on things to do in Cozumel before you get on the ship. Then the best thing to do is simply join Cozumel shore excursions of your cruise line.

Pros of cruise lines’ shore excursions
You can pick up the best out of various Cozumel shore excursion options. You also do not need to make big lines for disembarkation. Tour groups can get out the ship before other passengers and crews disembark. If the group cannot return to the ship before the disembarkation time, the ship will wait for your group’s return.

Cons of cruise lines’ shore excursions
Cruise lines’ shore excursions are pricy. It costs about $100 to $200 USD for one person. The premium excursions can be about $300 to $500 for per person.

Cozumel Shore Excursions

Cozumel shore excursions offer you multiple choices. In fact, it is hard to decide one or a few out of more than one hundred of options. The best way of selecting the one is to be clear about your interests. Shore excursions in Cozumel can be either water sports activities, Mayan historical site-seeing, adventure activities or shopping. Pick up the best shore excursions in Cozumel for you from one of the themes.

There is also a place only shore excursions or a tour can access to a particular place. Passion Island is one of the popular destinations among the cruisers. It’s a private island and is located on the north of Cozumel. Only a boat can access. You need to join the tour.

Carnival Cozumel Excursions

Explore off the ship. Carnival cruise offers a various Cozumel cruise shore excursion options. New Cozumel excursions are recently added. You can go to the beach, enjoy some snorkelling or join theme park attractions by yourself. But if you look for something more than that and unique, join Carnival cruise in Cozumel.

What’s new at Carnival shore excursions in Cozumel (source):

• Visiting three private islands for snorkelling and beaches at once.
• Spend all day at the most beautiful beach of Cozumel on Passion Island.
• Visiting Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site from Cozumel
• A Custom Cozumel Tour by Private Vehicle
• Experience a bit different things of Cozumel in activities at different places

Royal Caribbean Cozumel excursions

If you have no idea about shore excursions, join one of the most popular Royal Caribbean Cozumel excursions. Royal Caribbean offers exclusive shore excursion options. You may need an instructor for snorkeling. Or you need to hire a guide for Mayan ruin exploration. Cruise line’s shore excursions are well organised and put a priority on safety.

What Royal Caribbean excursions in Cozumel offer:

• Cozumel private boat charters for snorkeling
• Cozumel dune buggy tour
• Play with stingrays at a Cozumel beach
• Chichen Itza Mexico and many more..!

Princess Cozumel Excursions

Princess Cruises has a good reputation for excursions. Their excursions are tied up and carefully planned with local travel agents. So Princess offers deeper and more localised experiences through shore excursions.

What Princess Cruises offer shore excursions in Cozumel (source):

• Elite Champagne Catamaran Sail & Snorkel With Lunch
• Chankanaab National Park Tour
• Dolphone swim, manatee encounter, sea lion show and lunch
• Discovery family Passion Island beach break and lunch

3. Cozumel Mexico Excursions

Mexico has a deep history and culture. The Aztec and Maya ancient ruins are still well preserved. You can visit such world’s premier historic sites from Cozumel.

If you join Mexico mainland excursions at cruise lines, it costs normally $300 to $500 USD per person. It’s expensive indeed. This is understandable because the logistics to the historic sites are complicated. You can save money if you arranging the excursions by yourself.

So what are the best excursions in Mexico?

Chichen Itza

Chichen-Itza is now included as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. If you arrived in this Mayan ruin, you directly feel its history. Chichen Itza is located about two and a half to three hours drive from Playa del Carmen and Cancun.

Chicken Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These Mayan ruins are composed of a complex of temples, pyramids and carvings of the 7th and 8th centries. El Castillo (the Temple of Kukulkan) is the main pyramid which dominates the site of Chichen Itza. There is a wide and long magnificent road towards this famous pyramid.

Tulum

Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan Ruins sites. It features a complex of temples and government buildings. This historic site is located 35 miles south of Playa del Carmen. It takes about 2 hours by car via ferry from Cozumel. Tulum is the second most visited of all the Mayan ruins sites in Mexico.

The significance of Tulum is the only Mayan structures built along the coastline. Imagine such an ancient Mayan civilisation once flourished in such a scenic landscape. The white sandy beaches are located just below the ancient ruins.

Underground River

Discover an amazing secret river. Rio Secreto had been covered by jungles but has recently discovered by the landowner. This incredible underground river is once in a lifetime expedition. It’s stunning.

Clear waters are streaming under the limestone cave. You can walk through these magnificent landscapes. This is truly a spectacular experience you ever have in Cozumel. Rio Secreto is located in Playa del Carmen.

Conclusion

Cozumel shore excursions have been reviewed. You can see that Cozumel excursions vary. And yet, if you are clear about your cruise style, it is not difficult to pick up the best one.

You can choose shore excursions out of what cruise lines offer. If you would like to save money, you can customise and plan by yourself. Pick up your favourite Cozumel excursions. That will change your cruise experience in the Caribbean. Book the best for your next cruise to Mexico!

You may be interested in more reading on Cozumel:

Next reading >> 68 Best Things to do in Cozumel

>> Selected Hotels Near Miami Cruise Port with Free Shuttles

>> Cozumel Port [Everything You Need to Know]

>> Best Cozumel Beaches

>> More on Cozumel

What are the Best Cozumel Excursions in Cruising to Mexico