Love it or hate it, Cancun is the most popular destination for Americans going abroad this winter: for some, it just can’t be beat on the hospitality front, what with the numerous luxury resorts, bustling shopping scene, and of course, beautiful beachfront.
That being said, a growing number of visitors seem to have had enough of Cancun–or, to be more specific, its surging crowds–and are now banking on this paradisiacal island lying just off the Yucatanese coast.
It has unspoiled beaches running along crystal-clear oceans for several long miles, it feels far more peaceful and offbeat, and it offers something Cancun can’t: ancient culture.
Welcome To Cozumel
The largest island off the coast of Mexico, Cozumel is experiencing a well-deserved tourism revival at the minute, as vacationers swap the jam-packed Riviera Maya for less-busy alternatives––and it doesn’t get more laid-back than an island getaway.
According to a new report by Expedia, it is particularly popular among young travelers right now, who do not have children, are flying to Mexico primarily for relaxation and some much-needed quality time in the sun, and no longer feel Cancun’s mega resorts meet their needs.
All you got to do is look at the figures for both: while Cancun is home to a whopping 189 properties, as listed on Booking.com, Cozumel has 45; Cancun is a coastal metropolis over 800,000 people call home, whereas the entire population of Cozumel is 88,626.
Last but not least, Cancun hosts over 10 million international guests yearly, so it never feels exactly idyllic, even when you’re lounging by a private beach––Cozumel, on the other hand, receives an average 2 million visitors per year.
Cozumel Is Perfect For Beating The Riviera Crowds
Expedia’s report is particularly timely, seeing Cancun is gearing up for another record-breaking season, with occupation within the Hotel Zone already 90%, and it’s not even December: great news for the local tourism industry… not-so-great news for crowd-wary vacationers.
Lucky for them, Cozumel offers a plethora of unspoiled playas and tourist attractions that are not as crowded:
Think Playa Palancar, with its vibrant-colored reefs and soft, white sands, the snorkeling hotspot that is Playa Corona, or the well-frequented Paradise Beach, a beach club playing uptempo beats and serving food and drinks all day.
For families, Playa Mia Grand Beach Park is the place to go, offering a wide range of amenities, including oceanfront pools, restaurants and water slides for the kids, and if you’re a nature enthusiast, Chankanaab National Park has verdant areas, jungle trails, and secluded beaches.
Costing $29 to enter, it is one of the largest protected reserves in the Mexican Caribbean, and it’s also a popular port of call for cruise ships, so if you want to experience it in all its glory, without the day-trippers, we suggest going early or later in the day.
Cozumel Has The Culture Cancun Doesn’t
Another advantage Cozumel has over Cancun is it wasn’t built in the 70s to accommodate American tourists:
It’s an island that’s been inhabited for thousands of years, and it has the cultural wealth to back it up, with Mayan ruins scattered around its 184.5 square miles, some as old as 800 AD, like El Cedral, a group of Mayan dwellings lying in ruins near the namesake town.
Cozumel’s most relevant historical site is San Gervasio, an ensemble of monuments and temples attributed to a cult to Mayan jaguar goddess Ixchel––some of the main structures include Las Manitas, where local leader Lord Itzá de Cozumel lived, Casa Alta and the Central Plaza.
Even in Chankanaab there are Mayan landmarks, or should we say, replicas of them: if you’re visiting the park, make sure you stop by its collection of reconstructed Mayan temples, the famous reclining Chacmool statue, and the colossal Olmec heads.
Looking For Unique Experiences?
Expedia has noted there is an increasing preference for more unique experiences among visitors to the Mexican Caribbean.
In other words, lying by the poolside all day sipping mimosas no longer satisfies their wanderlust, and they’re craving more… well, it’s not like Cozumel is lacking in cultural attractions, with its historic sites, authentic villages and thrilling tours:
Tourists can, for instance, opt to visit San Gervasio with a jeep tour, passing by unforgettable landscapes and undeveloped jungle on their way to the abandoned Mayan settlement, for $95.34 per person on GetYourGuide.
Small-group buggy tours starting at $143 are also offered in Punta Sur, where some of the most pristine beaches on the island are found, and if you’re a water baby, you’ll love this guided excursion of Cozumel’s Mayan treasures, topped with free time in the exclusive Playa Uvas.
Cozumel is one of the top trendiest destinations for the upcoming year-–again, according to Expedia––and it’s not hard to see why.
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