One Day in Cozumel: What to Do on a Day Trip to Cozumel

Cozumel Mexico is a beautiful island off the coast of Cancun. It’s a popular cruise port and vacation destination. This guide to one day in Cozumel includes what to do, a guide to the port, where to stay, and other travel tips.

I recently visited Cozumel Mexico for one day on two different western Caribbean cruises. It was my first tropical destination in over a year, and it was so refreshing to see the lush greenery, bright blue waters, and experience island life again.

Since Cozumel is a relatively small island, it’s possible to see most of it in only one day! Whether you are craving an organized tour, time on the water, or an adventure, there is the perfect activity for you.

This guide includes general travel tips for Cozumel, a list of all the top activities, and the tours I highly recommend checking out. Keep reading to begin planning your Cozumel day trip!

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What to Do in One Day in Cozumel

Even though Cozumel is small, there are many great things to do. Since you only have one day in Cozumel, I recommend choosing your top one to two activities to hit during the day.

Alternatively, you can take a one-day tour that hits a lot of these highlights which I recommend in the following section.

1. Snorkel

Cozumel’s coast boarders the Mesoamerican reef, which is the second largest reef in the world. (The first is the Great Barrier reef).

This makes Cozumel the perfect destination for scuba or snorkeling. Since I’m not PADI certified and scuba terrifies me, snorkeling is my preference.

There are a couple options for snorkeling in Cozumel. The first is visiting a day club and snorkeling off the beach. The other option is booking a snorkeling tour.

When I say day club, I’m not referencing pool parties with DJ’s like you might find in Vegas. The beach clubs in Cozumel are private beaches that often have a bar, restaurant, lounge chairs for rent, snorkel equipment, and easy water access.

During my one day in Cozumel, I visited the SkyReef beach club to snorkel. The beach has snorkel equipment to rent, a white sand beach, and direct access to the ocean with lively reefs.

If snorkeling is the only activity you want to do during your day in Cozumel, I recommend taking a boat tour. This will give you access to better reefs and more fish.

If you are snorkeling anywhere, be sure to pack reef safe sunscreen to protect this fragile ecosystem.

2. Punta Del Sur National Park

A great site to see in Cozumel is the Punta Del Sur National Park. Located at the southern tip of the island, this national park has beautiful scenery and is a great way to experience the nature of the island without interruption .

If you are renting a car for your day in Cozumel, simply drive to the park and pay the entrance fee. If you are taking an island tour, this stop will likely be included.

At the Punta Del Sur National Park, be sure to see the following sights:

• Mangrove with lookout tower
• Lighthouse
• Museum (location next to the light house)

3. Island Loop Drive

The island of Cozumel is 40 miles long by 10 miles wide. Since it is a small island, its possible to drive the entire thing in one day.

The Cozumel Island loop road is 40 miles around and circles the entire southern part of the island. The northern part of the island is not reachable by car.

The island loop is also very easy to drive on your own. Simply rent a car, hop on the road, and stop whenever a destination stands out.

Some of the destinations along the road are scenic lookouts, bars, restaurants, and beach clubs. If don’t plan to stop a lot, budget 90 minutes to complete the loop. If you stop a lot, budget at least a half day.  

The best stops on a Cozumel road trip are as follows:

Money Bar – Upscale beach bar with a restaurant and snorkeling

Alberto’s – Laid-back beach bar with large drinks, great service, and palapas in the sand

Mr Sanchos – This is one of the most popular beach clubs in Cozumel. If you like crowds and a party atmosphere, this is the best place for you

Freedom in Paradise – Large reggae-themed bar with amazing panoramic ocean views

Welcome to Miami – The best mojito I’ve ever had! And they provide to-go cups

Punta Morena Beach – This bar has large palapas with tables and lounge chairs for each group. I loved the extra space.

There is easy beach access, great food, amazing service, and great drinks. This is an underrated, cant-miss stop.

4. Tequila Tasting

When in Mexico, you need to try some tequila! If tasting tequila gives you bad memories from college, don’t worry. The craft tequila on the island is a much better experience.

There are many different locations to try tequila, but I recommend El Jefe.

They will explain the different varieties of tequila and how to use them, whether in cocktails or for sipping.

Next, they explain the distilling process of tequila from harvesting the agave to aging the tequila itself. Finally, you can enjoy a tasting of the different aged tequila and some fun flavors.

The Best Tours to Take in Cozumel

If you only have one day in Cozumel, I highly recommend taking a tour. I think a local tour allows you to learn more about the culture and see more of the island than you can realistically tackle on your own in one day.

Top Three Tours for Exploring Cozumel in One Day:

What’s Included: The private buggy island tour is the best way to see all of Cozumel in only one day. It includes roundtrip transportation from the cruise port, your hotel, or the ferry terminal.

The full day tour will visit a snorkeling location, a beautiful beach, an authentic Mexican lunch, and a tequila tasting.

Since the tour is private, you can choose to add additional stops or extend your stay at any of the predetermined stops.

This is the tour I took on my recent trip to Cozumel and it was a highlight of my entire vacation. I loved seeing the entire island, trying some local customs, and getting to know our guide, Rene.

Snorkel by Catamaran

What’s Included: As mentioned above, if your only plan for Cozumel is to snorkel, a boat tour is the way to go.

This tour includes all your snorkeling equipment, entrance to a beach club and national park, multiple snorkeling locations, drinks, and a meal.

This tour all but guarantees you will see amazing reefs and marine life.

ATV Adventure

What’s Included: The north portion of Cozumel is not reachable by car. It is reachable by ATV though. An ATV tour is a great way to explore the jungle side of the island.

This tour includes an adventure around the island through paved paths, mud pits, and other off-road terrain.

What makes this ATV tour better than some other options on the island is that it includes a stop at a cenote for a swim.

Itinerary for a Day Trip to Cozumel

Above I describe all the best things to do and excursions in Cozumel Mexico. However, you may still be wondering what to do in Cozumel in one day.

This 1 day itinerary for Cozumel is perfect if you are visiting on a cruise ship or as a day trip from Cancun or Playa Del Carmen.

Morning: Start the day with a private tour of the island, to learn about the most popular sights from an expert local guide.

The tour will visit popular destinations such as a beach club, snorkeling beach, tequila factory, and local lunch.

Alternatively, you could rent a car and take a self-guided island tour. However, with only one day I recommend a guided tour for more efficiency and the local touch.

Afternoon: The private island tour concludes with a local lunch in the early afternoon. Spend the rest of the afternoon swimming in the clear Caribbean waters at a beach club.

My favorite beach club in Cozumel is Alberto’s, which is only a couple of miles from the cruise port. Here, you can swim, snorkel, or simply relax on the sandy beach.

Where to Stay in Cozumel

If you are planning to visit Cozumel for more than one day, the below hotels are great options! Since I visited on a cruise ship, I have not stayed in either of these hotels, but I want to go back and stay in both some day.

The Westin Cozumel – the Westin is a beautiful beachfront property with gorgeous swimming pools, a private white sand beach, a luxury spa, and 2 onsite restaurants and bars. The rooms at the Westin Cozumel have a fresh, clean, coastal style and look like the perfect oasis.

The Intercontinental Cozumel – the intercontinental is another great resort option in Cozumel. The rooms are a bit outdated compared to the Westin, but the property is fantastic. The Intercontinental Cozumel has 2 outdoor pools, a full-service spa, private beach access, 4 onsite restaurants and 2 bars.

Getting to Cozumel

Visitors to Cozumel are mostly cruise passengers or visitors from mainland Mexico. If you are arriving on a cruise, you will simply arrive in port and be in the heart of Cozumel.

There are two different cruise ports, one into downtown Cozumel and one that is a couple miles away. Both terminals are in a convenient location to start your day.

If you are visiting Cozumel from mainland Mexico, such as Cancun or the Riviera Maya, a ferry is your best option.

This Cozumel ferry leaves hourly between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen and costs $10.50 for adults and $6.25 for kids (as of 2021). The ferry trip is only 45 minutes and is usually a calm ride.

Transportation around the Island

Getting around Cozumel is easy. Depending on what you plan to do, I recommend using taxis or renting a car for the day.

If you’re planning to explore the entire island on your own, I recommend renting a car. This will give you the freedom to stop wherever you want and save you time calling multiple taxis throughout the day.

Instead of renting a car to explore, you may be temped to rent a scooter. While this looks super fun, there are some people who target tourists on scooters or even steal parked scooters.

For your safety, I recommend sticking to a car rental.

If you’re planning to visit only one site during your day in Cozumel, using a taxi is the way to go. They are plentiful all over the island and a safe option.

Before starting your ride, either negotiate the price for the trip or ensure they are using a fair meter.

Quick Facts about Cozumel

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Cozumel is from November to May when average daily temperatures are around 80 degrees. Avoid late summer and early fall, which is hurricane / rainy season in Cozumel.

How Long to Visit: Cozumel is a popular single day destination, whether as a cruise port or a day trip from Cancun. If you want to spend a bit more time, a long weekend is the perfect amount of time to explore the island and have extra time to relax.     

Currency: The official currency in Cozumel is the Mexican peso. However, American dollars are accepted everywhere. The exchange rate as of 2022 is roughly 20 pesos per 1 USD.

Language: The official language in Cozumel is Spanish, but English is widely spoken in the tourist areas.

Safety: Cozumel is a generally safe destination. As with any foreign country, keep minimal valuables on you, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid going out alone after dark.

FAQ – What to Do in Cozumel in One Day

Summary of One Day in Cozumel

Overall, your day in Cozumel is going to be incredible no matter what you decide to do. My number one recommendation is to take the island tour or do a DIY island tour. This is a great option because it hits all the best sites and allows you to see the entire island.

Whether you’re looking for a beach day or an adventure, this little Mexican island will give you just that, and so much more. From snorkeling to eating delicious Mexican food, the possibilities are truly endless!

If you ever find yourself in the Caribbean, I highly recommend making your way over to Cozumel for at least one day.

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