Visitors can fly directly to the International Airport of Cozumel from the United States or from Cancun on Maya Air. Alternatively, Cozumel is a 40-minute passenger ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, while a vehicle ferry is available at the Calica facility south of Playa del Carmen (note: this ferry will not transport rental cars). Buses to Playa del Carmen are also available from destinations throughout Mexico. Once on the island, car and moped rentals, taxis, bicycles and tours are available when traveling outside the main town of San Miguel, but most attractions in the downtown area are accessible on foot. Cozumel is also a popular port of call for cruise ship passengers.
The Mesoamerica Reef, the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere, is off the coast of Cozumel and attracts divers from around the world. Many resorts on the island offer scuba classes for beginners or dive packages for regular divers, but strong currents around the reefs mean visitors should be comfortable with diving. Dive shops on the island also allow more experienced divers to rent equipment as long as the diver has the proper documentation, including a dive card, dive log and any doctor's notes about medical conditions. Other beach activities, waterside sports, snorkeling and boat trips can also be found at Cozumel. On land, visitors can golf, explore the island on horseback, Jeep or ATV tours, visit an ecological reserve or tour the island's Mayan ruins.
The average temperature in Cozumel is 81 degrees Fahrenheit with summer months bringing humidity and rain but also many tourists in August. Visitors also come in high numbers from Christmas to Easter when temperatures drop to approximately 77 degrees from November to May.
American citizens need a passport to enter Mexico on a private or commercial airplane departing from the U.S. A U.S. passport or passport card can be used to enter Mexico via land or sea, though cruise passengers do not necessarily need one. According to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative from the Department of Homeland Security, "U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents."
