General Desription
Facts (Area Information)
Getting There:
Direct flights to Cozumel and Cancun from the US are offered by American Airlines, (800) 733-4300, Continental, United, Northwest, Mexicana and Aero Mexico. There are additional domestic flights from Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Merida, Monterey, and Veracruz. The easiest and least expensive way to come from Cancum to Cozumel is to take the airport vans into the Cancun main bus terminal and from there board the bus to Playa Del Carmen. Airport to Cancun Bus Terminal: $9 US one way. These buses leave every 15 min. and cost only 20 pesos ($2.50US). Allow one hour for reaching Playa Del Carmen. You can also take a taxi from Cancun-Playa Del Carmen fro about $60 US for 2 people. There you will board the water jet ferry which takes about 45 min. to reach the island of Cozumel. There are 'Island Hopper' flights from Cancun to Cozumel. These flights can be arranged there in the Cancun airport. Flight's from Cancun to Cozumel cost about $70 US one-way . Usually these flights leave every two hours or less, but the schedules can change without notice. Usually the latest 'Island Hopper' flight is at 8:00 p.m. and the last ferry leaves at 11:00 p.m. Rates as of March 2000. Please note that rates may have changed.
From Playa Del Carmen: Ferry Shedules (All days)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN TO COZUMEL.
5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 A.M.; 1:00 P.M., 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 9:00 P.M.
COZUMEL TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN.
4:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 A.M. 12:00 P.M. 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 8:00 P.M.
The ferry costs about $65 Pesos or about $7 US per adult, children under 12 are half price. Schedules may change without notice. For more information call (91-987) 2-15-08 & 2-15-88.
Cruise ships from Miami:
Norwegian Caribbean Lines, Holland America, Carnival. Cozumel island also can be reached by bus ferry, car ferry and hydrofoil from Cancun. Isla Mujeres is reached by bus ferry, car ferry and air taxi from Cancun. AeroCozumel and Aerocaribe fly between the islands. Cozumel is a 40- to 60-minute boat trip from Cancun.
Island Transportation:
Taxi service is inexpensive and readily available. Mopeds, cars and Jeeps may be rented in town or at the airport. Book rental cars in advance of your trip.
Transit from the airport to your hotel - by law, taxis cannot pick people up at the airport. Instead, once you walk through the glass doors of the arrival area, you'll see a booth near the exit doors. Here, you can purchase transit to any area of the island - the cost depends on where you're going - by telling the attendant the name of your hotel. Give the coupon to the man with the clipboard outside near the curb, and he'll direct you to the appropriate vehicle. Going home, to get back to the airport from your hotel, grab any taxi.
Driving: On the right.
Documents:
US and Canadian citizens need a tourist card. To obtain one, you must show a valid passport or birth certificate with raised seal. Citizens of other countries should contact their nearest Mexican consulate for regulations. The tourist card is necessary to leave the country as well and may be obtained from the Mexican consulate or your airline prior to departure.
Customs:
Plants, flowers and fruits may not be brought into Cozumel. Persons carrying illegal drugs will be jailed. You may bring three bottles of liquor and one carton of cigarettes. Dogs and cats should have a current vaccination certificate. Divers carrying a lot of electronic or camera gear, especially video equipment, should register it with US Customs in advance of the trip.
Water:
Drink only bottled or filtered water to avoid diarrheal intestinal ailment. Also avoid raw vegetables and the skin of fruit and foods that sit out for any length of time.
Currency:
The exchange rate of the Mexican peso fluctuates a great deal. At this writing US $1=5.5 nuevos pesos. Banks are open weekday mornings. Major credit cards and traveler's checks are widely accepted in Akumal, Cancun and Cozumel.
Climate:
Temperatures range from the low 70's in winter to the high 90's in summer, with an average of about 80° F. Winter months bring cooler weather; summer and fall, chance of heavy rain.
Clothing:
Lightweight, casual. Wetsuits are not needed, but lightweight (1/8') short suits or wetskins are comfortable on deep wall dives.
Electricity: 110 volts; 60 cycles (same as US).
Time: Central Standard Time.
Language: Spanish; English widely spoken.
Helpful Phone Numbers: Police (Cozumel), 20092; hospital (Cozumel), 20140.
Nearest Recompression Chamber:
On the mainland there is a recompression chamber run by doctors trained in hyperbaric medicine in Playa del Carmen. In Cozumel there is a chamber in San Miguel, 22387.
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