Cozumel cruise port guide: what to do in your hours ashore
Cozumel has three cruise piers on the island's sheltered west coast. Punta Langosta is right in downtown San Miguel. The International Pier (run by SSA Mexico) and Puerta Maya sit side by side about 4 km south of town, a short taxi ride from the centre and close to the beach clubs and reefs of the southwest coast. Your ship's schedule tells you which one you are at. With five or six ships in on the same day, this is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
See which ships are in Cozumel today →
Plan by time ashore
Under 4 hours
San Miguel waterfront and island museum, San Gervasio Maya site, Discover Mexico park
4 to 6 hours
Chankanaab beach park, Paradise Beach and the southwest beach clubs, Snorkel boat to El Cielo and Palancar, Diving Palancar Reef, The wild east coast
6 hours or more
Punta Sur eco park and Celarain lighthouse
Getting around from the pier
- Which pier: From Punta Langosta you walk straight onto the waterfront in San Miguel. From the International Pier or Puerta Maya, downtown is about 10 minutes by taxi; there is a shopping area at the pier gates of both.
- Taxi: Taxis are run by the island's taxi union and charge fixed fares, posted on a board at each pier exit. Prices are per car for up to four people, quoted in US dollars, cash only. Chankanaab is about $15 one way from the southern piers. being verified
- Scooter, jeep or rental car: Rentals are offered at all three piers. The coastal road loop round the south of the island is easy to follow, but traffic in town is busy and scooter accidents are common. Leave a wide margin before all aboard.
- Ferry to Playa del Carmen: Passenger ferries cross from the downtown ferry pier to Playa del Carmen on the mainland in roughly 45 minutes. Possible on a long port day, but a delayed return ferry is not your ship's problem. being verified
Money and language
Money: Mexican peso (MXN). US dollars are accepted almost everywhere near the piers and taxi fares are posted in dollars; you usually get a better deal paying in pesos in town.
Language: Spanish. English is spoken at the piers, in shops and by tour operators.
Opening hours
Shops along the waterfront and at the piers are open daily from morning to early evening; jewellery and souvenir stores keep longer hours on ship days.
On Sundays the pier shopping areas and most tourist shops on the waterfront are open as long as ships are in. Some local businesses inland close.
Weather
Daytime highs of 29–33°C all year. Hot all year and humid in summer. Hurricane season runs June to November; September and October are the wettest months, and northerly winds in winter can occasionally close the piers.
Things to do
Town
San Miguel waterfront and island museum
The seafront promenade, the main square (Parque Benito Juárez) and the small Museo de la Isla de Cozumel on the waterfront, with displays on the reef and Maya history. Walkable from Punta Langosta; a short taxi ride from the southern piers.
Town
Discover Mexico parkbeing verified
An open-air park close to the southern piers with scale models of Mexican landmarks, a small museum and tequila tasting. Easy to fit in if you only have a couple of hours.
Tour
San Gervasio Maya site
The largest Maya site on the island, once a pilgrimage place for the goddess Ixchel. The ruins are small compared with the mainland but shaded by forest. Entry fee; guides wait at the entrance.
Nature
Chankanaab beach park
A national park just south of the piers with a natural lagoon, a botanical garden and snorkelling straight off the shore. Entry fee; sea lion and dolphin shows cost extra.
Water
Snorkel boat to El Cielo and Palancar
A boat trip to the shallow sandbar of El Cielo, known for starfish, plus one or two reef stops. Many boats pick up at or near the southern piers. Do not touch or lift the starfish.
Beach
Paradise Beach and the southwest beach clubsbeing verified
Most of the beach time on Cozumel is spent at beach clubs on the calm west coast, such as Paradise Beach and Playa Mia. Expect an entry or minimum-spend fee in return for loungers, pools and calm, clear water.
Water
Diving Palancar Reef
Cozumel is one of the best-known dive destinations in the Caribbean, with drift dives along the walls of the protected marine park. Certified divers can book two-tank boat dives that fit a port day; bring your certification card.
Beach
The wild east coast
The windward side is almost undeveloped: rocky coves, surf and a few simple beach bars. Strong currents make most of it unsafe for swimming; Chen Río has a sheltered cove. Best combined with Punta Sur in a rental car or on a taxi tour.
Nature
Punta Sur eco park and Celarain lighthousebeing verified
The southern tip of the island: a lighthouse you can climb, a lagoon with crocodiles and birds, and quiet beaches with shore snorkelling. Entry fee; there is little shade.
Frequently asked questions
Which pier will my ship use in Cozumel?
There are three: Punta Langosta in downtown San Miguel, and the International Pier (SSA) and Puerta Maya next to each other about 4 km south of town. The port schedule lists which pier each ship uses; your cruise line confirms it in the daily programme.
How far is the beach from the Cozumel cruise piers?
The beach clubs of the southwest coast are 10 to 25 minutes by taxi from the International Pier and Puerta Maya. Chankanaab is about 10 minutes away. From Punta Langosta add another 10 minutes.
Do I need pesos in Cozumel?
No. Dollars are accepted at the piers, on taxis and in most shops and restaurants. Pesos often get you a slightly better price in town, and ATMs at the piers dispense both.
How early should I head back to the pier in Cozumel?
Leave the beach clubs or the east coast at least 90 minutes before all aboard. On a five-ship day the coastal road and the taxi drop-off at the southern piers back up in the afternoon, and a taxi to the wrong pier costs you time.
Cozumel cruise traffic: 4.73 million cruise passengers in 2025.
Labels saying being verified mark local tips we have not confirmed yet.