In this article, I offer you a list of 10 unique things to do in Cozumel. Some are available year-round, some are available in season and some, are only available on specific dates.
Here are the 10 unique things to do in Cozumel:
- The High Experience Cozumel
- El Pueblo del Maíz (Mayan Corn Village)
- The Cozumel Carnival
- El Cedral Festival
- Birdwatching
- Chocolate Factory
- The Cozumel Pearl Farm
- Mini Submarine Expedition
- Freeing Turtles in Cozumel
- Sacred Mayan Journey
A brief description of each of these 10 unique activities:
1- The High Experience Cozumel
Location: Chankanaab Park, Cozumel Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Website: thehighexperience.com Duration: 60 minutes. Price: From $89 to $166 USD (depending on if you book brunch, lunch, drinks, or dinner).
Have brunch, lunch, drinks, or dinner on a table that’s lifted to 45 meters (150 feet) high, and at the same time, enjoy the panoramic views of Chankanaab and the Caribbean Sea!
This is an unforgettable experience, to say the least. It’s a table for 22 people, that is lifted by a high capacity crane, in which you will delight in tasting authentic Mexican gourmet cuisine (declared “Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO).
Insider Tip: They also offer great vegan menu options!
Chankanaab sunset from The High Experience table. 
Dinning in The High Experience
This is the newest thing to do in Cozumel, and it’s a great success. People who have lived this experience are delighted by it and can’t stop talking about it and sharing their pictures of this on social media.
Although this experience is offered on a permanent basis on the island, the fact that only 22 people can enjoy it, also makes it one of the most exclusive things to do in Cozumel. You have to make your reservations quickly because this experience can easily be sold out.
| Time (be there 30 mins before) | Price (USD) | |
| Brunch | 11:30 a.m. | $89 |
| Lunch | 1:00 p.m. | $133 |
| Snacks & Drinks | 2:30 p.m. | $95 |
| Dinner | 5:45 p.m. | $166 |
In addition, another great advantage of this experience is that your fee includes entrance to Chankanaab Park, which includes: Eco-Archaeological tour, Sea Lion Show, Crocodiles and Manatee display, and access to the beach and open areas of the park.
A link to The High Experience’s webpage.
“Dare! Cross the barrier of the ordinary.” is The High Experience’s slogan.
2- El Pueblo del Maíz (Mayan Corn Village)
Location: El Pueblo del Maíz Cozumel Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Website: El Pueblo del Maíz (Facebook page) Duration: Around 3 Hours. Price: Prices start at around $20 USD
El Pueblo del Maíz, or Mayan Corn Village in English, is a unique and immersive experience that you can have only in Cozumel. It’s like traveling to the past, to a time where the Mayans ruled these lands and different rules applied. You will get to see how advanced the Mayan civilization was in its time.
Mayans were very respectful of Mother Earth (Akna in Mayan) because it gave them their sacred meals, so in order to show their gratitude, they offered Akna, rituals, and dances that you will be able to appreciate in El Pueblo del Maíz.
“We are an interactive pre-Hispanic park, that combines theater, culture, music, dance, and all the ingredients of ancestral heritage of the Mayan culture.”
El Pueblo del Maíz
El Pueblo del Maíz is located in the center part of Cozumel island, it’s in the jungle, so it’s advisable that you go prepared with the following:
- Bug repellent.
- Sunscreen.
- Comfortable clothes and shoes.
- A sun hat or at least a baseball cap.
- Camera (you will miss it if you don’t bring it with you!).
- Some cash (Mexican Pesos or USD).
Here you have a very informative video on El Pueblo del Maíz (be sure to activate English subtitles for this video):
3- The Cozumel Carnival
Location: All through the island, mainly in Cozumel's downtown and Malecón (pier or boardwalk) area. Season: February, in 2020 the carnival will be from February 16 to February 26. Website: Carnaval de Cozumel (Facebook) Price: Free
The Cozumel Carnival dates from 1873, the oldest in Mexico, it’s a celebration that takes place before the Christian lent.
The Cozumel Carnival takes place in February each year (exact days vary). In 2020, the carnival will take place from February 16 to February 26. The important, or biggest celebrations, including parades, will be on Saturday, Feb 22, Sunday, Feb 23, and Fat Tuesday, Feb 25.
This is a major Cozumel attraction that brings people from all over the world. In Cozumel for the carnival, seniors, adults, teenagers, and children gather and take part in this harmonic explosion of music and color!
The Cozumel Carnival is very family-friendly, and it’s the most authentic carnival in the Mexican Caribbean. It will give you the opportunity to enjoy several days of parades, traditional food, dance, and music everywhere.
If you want to be a part of this more than 145-year celebration, you have to book with enough time, because the 3,600 hotel rooms on the island sell out quickly.
4- El Cedral Festival
Location: El Cedral, Cozumel. Season: From April 28, and ending on May 3rd. Website: Feria El Cedral (Facebook) Price: Around $15 USD
El Cedral is a community within Cozumel island. It is where the oldest Mayan construction is located. It dates from the year 800 A.D. It was discovered by the Spanish conquistadores on May 3rd, 1518.
For the last 171 years, the Cozumeleños (as locals in Cozumel are called), have gathered for a festival in el Cedral, celebrating the Day of the Cross, which in Mexico is each May 3rd. This is probably the most beloved event for Cozumeleños, who are very religious and God-believing people.
The festival is a commemoration of the time 11 families (the founding families of Cozumel) crossed from the mainland in Mexico and settled on the island, running away from the Race Wars, in 1848.
They ran away, being expelled by natives, from a population called Sabán, in the Mexican mainland, in Yucatan. Casimiro Cárdenas, one of the survivors had a wooden cross, and when he woke up he believed the cross had saved his life.
El Cedral, the oldest Mayan site in Cozumel 
The famous El Cedral Cross
During this celebration, there are plenty of cultural and sporting events that take place. You will be able to eat traditional delicacies, dance, play games, and shop all week long. Cozumeleños wear traditional Mayan attires and perform traditional folkloric dances in the main plaza on May 3rd.
You can visit El Cedral any time of the year, in fact, there are 19 different year-round tours and activities (from jeep tours to lunches, or even horseback riding!) to experience El Cedral, that you can book HERE. You will get to know this picturesque community that once was an adoration site for the Mayan idols and Gods.
As in El Pueblo del Maíz and almost all of Cozumel’s activities, don’t forget:
- Bug repellent.
- Sunscreen.
- Comfortable clothes and shoes.
- A sun hat or at least a baseball cap.
- Camera.
- Some cash (Mexican Pesos preferably, although you may also use USD).
5- Birdwatching in Cozumel and the Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary
Location: Several spots on the island. Operating Hours: Year Round. Website: There are several mentioned in this article. Price: There are tours from $50 to up to $200 USD.
It’s in its name! Cozumel means “Land of the Swallows”. It’s been called a “birdwatchers paradise”.
There are 19 species and subspecies endemic to Cozumel, and this by itself makes it a unique place for birders!
There is a consensus that including endemic, resident, migratory (migratory birds come from North America in the winter), and vagrant types of birds, there are more than 300 species of birds to be found in Cozumel.
Birders from all over the world come to Cozumel because of its perfect conditions to enjoy this hobby.
You can find birders all over the island, but there are a couple of places in particular where specialized tours for birdwatchers will take you:
The Cozumel Country Club for Birdwatching
The Cozumel Country Club is the first golf course in all of Mexico to have been designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary from Audubon International. The birdwatching tour on this Club, last around 2 hours, and costs around $50 USD and includes breakfast.
Birdwatching in El Cedral
There’s a rather new birdwatching tour in the El Cedral Community, that includes binoculars, fruit, bottled water, a ham-and-cheese sandwich, and a pocket guide. The tour guides for El Cedral are SECTUR (Mexican Tourism Secretariat) certified. If you’d like more information about this tour, you can find it HERE.
There’s are more in-depth, professional kinds of birdwatching tours, that last around 5 to 6 hours. These cost anywhere from $100 to $200 USD.
6- Chocolate Factory, Cozumel
Location: Kaokao Chocolate Factory, Discover Mexico Park, and Mayan Cacao Company Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday. Website: Several mentioned in this article. Duration: 1.5, 2, and 3 hours (depending on the tour). Price: From $25 to $50 USD (depending on the tour).
This is another unique thing to do in Cozumel, visiting a chocolate factory, learning about its process and making chocolate of your own. First, a little history.
The Origin of Chocolate is Proudly Mexican
There’s evidence that chocolate was produced in Mexico since 1900 B.C. by pre-Olmec cultures. From the Cacao plant comes the chocolate, and its name in the Nahuatl language: Xocolatl.
The Mayans worshipped a God of cacao and reserved chocolate for rulers, warriors, priests and nobles at sacred ceremonies.
History.com
Aztecs, Mayans, and Olmecas believed chocolate to be invigorating and aphrodisiac. They gave Xocolatl to the Spanish conquistadores as a gift. Christopher Columbus was the first conquistador to taste chocolate. A while after that, they added sugar to it, and years later, milk, making it the beverage we know today.
Reviewing history books, you will find that the Cacao was used as currency by the prehispanic cultures. It was considered more valuable than gold, and it was a symbol of abundance. Legend has it, that the Mayan God Kukulkán handed chocolate to the Mayans.
Mayans believed that chocolate had medicinal properties when they prepared it in a certain way (even adding honey to it).
The Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés said that one cup of Xocolatl was enough for his men to withstand a whole day’s journey.
Nowadays, there isn’t a region on the planet where you can’t find chocolate.
Cozumel has embraced its chocolate-making tradition and offers the chance to learn about it and to interact in its making. There are several chocolate-making factories on the island were you can do this.
The Mayan Cacao Company
This tour lasts around 1 hour and 30 minutes. In this tour, you will make your own chocolate bar with the authentic recipe of the Mayans.
You will have to get your own form of transport to get there.
The price of this experience is around $40 USD, if you are interested in this, you can book your place HERE.
Kaokao Chocolate Factory
This is a very similar experience to the Mayan Cacao Company’s tour. It’s only around $25 USD per person and it also lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. You also have to arrange your own transport to get there.
This Factory is family-owned, and you will feel at home while making your own chocolate. You could book groups or individuals for this experience through HERE.
Chocolate Workshop At Discover Mexico Park
This, in my opinion, is a more complete experience. It’s a 3-hour experience for around $45 USD that includes:
- Admission ticket to Cozumel’s Discover Mexico Park and a chocolate workshop.
- Participate in a chocolate workshop and enjoy delicious tastings.
- A welcome cocktail made with chocolate (non-alcoholic for children).
- Chocolate tasting.
- Mole Tasting.
- Maya-style hot chocolate.
- Produce a chocolate bar of your own to take home.
- Learn about Mexico’s culture through the attractions of Discover Mexico Park.
- The Papantla Flyers Show is included
- Choose from a morning or afternoon time for the chocolate workshop.
- Upgrade to include a buffet lunch with your entry ticket.
- There are “Aquila” Certified bilingual guides during this tour.
Like the other tours, this one doesn’t include transport to the Park.
Couple enjoying Discover Mexico Park 
Papantla Flyers at Discover Mexico Park
This, in my opinion, is the best tour you can get for your money because of all that it includes. You can find out more about it, and make reservations HERE.
Alebrije and Chocolate Workshop!
This is a bonus for you I have just found, it combines three great experiences: not just everything to do with chocolate, but also Alebrije making and the possibility to enjoy the Discover Mexico Park.
This tour is also located at the Discover Mexico Park Cozumel, and it’s around 4 hours long, it’s around $84 USD and you would also have to get your own transport to the park.
Kids will love the opportunity to create their own “alebrije”, while adults will enjoy learning about the history of chocolate in Mexico before sampling several varieties.
Alebrije and Chocolate Workshop
Painting an Alebrije 
Alebrije
- Both kids and parents will be charmed by this half-day, hands-on workshop.
- Marvel at miniatures of important Mexican buildings at Discover Mexico Park.
- Take home your own handcrafted “alebrije” and chocolate bar.
- Learn to make chocolate from a chocolatier, an experience few get to enjoy.
I believe that it’s totally worth it for the price and that you will have a memorable experience with your loved ones. You can make reservations for this experience HERE.
7- The Cozumel Pearl Farm
Location: Cozumel Pearl Farm (North side of Cozumel). Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Website: cozumelpearlfarm.mx Duration: Minimum 3 hours, normally 6 hours. Price: Mentioned in this article.
The Cozumel Pearl Farm is the only active pearl farm in the Caribbean, they call themselves “the best-kept secret in Cozumel”. It’s a very exclusive and unique activity to do in Cozumel, being that the tour is for a maximum of 8 people (private group tours can be arranged).
It initiated in 2001, as a sustainable research project, by Mr. Francisco Caamaño. It was an oyster farm that in time produced pearls. Thanks to Mr. Caamaño’s son and daughter, the pearl farm is accessible for tourists.
The boat ride to get there is around 30 minutes. After that, you arrive at a beautiful beach, where you are explained all of what the pearl farming process conveys. After a while, you get to snorkel in the tranquil turquoise water, in the area where the oysters are farmed.
Getting a Pearl at the Farm 
Relaxing at the Pearl Farm
If you dive deep enough (5 meters) you will get to see a sunken statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which “guards” the oyster containers. It is a truly memorable experience!
Insider tip: They also have an Overnight Experience, where you will watch an incredible Cozumel sunset, have dinner (homemade grilled pizzas (also with vegetarian option) & wine), sit next to a fire and watch millions of stars!
“There is nothing more peaceful than waking up in the farm, no sounds but the waves and while you watch the sunrise you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Take a morning swim to refresh and start the day with the batteries charged.”
Cozumel Pearl Farm
Pearl Farm’s pricing chart:
| Adults | Children (6 to 12 years) | Infants (0 to 5 years) | |
| Regular Experience | $110 USD | $85 USD | Free |
| Overnight Experience | $225 USD | $175 USD | Free |
The Cozumel Pearl Farm is in a protected natural area, this guarantees that the place is untouched and pristine.
You can only access the Cozumel Pearl Farm by boat. Your fitness level has to be from low to medium, to be able to live this experience. The guides speak Spanish, English, and German.
The 6 hour day experience includes:
- Guide.
- Boat ride.
- Snorkel gear.
- Bottled water.
- Soft drinks, and beers.
- Lunch (vegetarian option available prior request).
It’s important for you to bring:
- A sun hat.
- Sunscreen (eco-friendly or biodegradable). Sunscreen can be purchased at the Pearl Farm also.
- Bug Repellent (it can also be purchased at the farm).
- Swimwear.
- Towel.
- Sunglasses.
If you want more information about the Cozumel Pearl Farm, and maybe book this beautiful exclusive experience, you will find it on their webpage.
8- Mini Submarine Expedition
Location: The Atlantis Submarine Location. Operating Hours: Mon to Sat 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sun 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Price: Adults $105 USD Kids (3-12) $67 USD Duration: 2 hours.
This is an adventure in a real submarine, visiting the second largest coral reef in the world! It’s one of the most unique things to do in Cozumel because it’s the only submarine designated for tourism in Mexico. Let’s face it, only 1% of the people in the world can tell you they traveled inside a submarine, and that’s unique by itself!
If you are older than 3 years old, and you can navigate a 7-step ladder, you’re in!
This ride will take you more than 100 feet (30 meters) below the water surface, you will see the second-largest coral reef in the world, a sunken ship and a 400-foot vertical drop that locals call The Wall.
Ride of a Lifetime
The Submarine Expedition was definitely the highlight of our time in Cozumel. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and marine life. We saw barracuda, stingray and more fish and coral than you can list. And then all of a sudden there is a shipwreck right out your port hole, The ride ended way to soon, could have stayed all day.
Robert Selzer (Trip Advisor reviewer)
The shipwreck vieved from inside the submarine. 
Only in Cozumel!
This amazing one of a kind experience costs $105 USD for adults and $67 USD for children from 3 to 12 years old (minimum height requirement is 3 feet). This tour includes:
- Submarine Tour.
- Complimentary Rum Punch or Fruit Punch.
- Dive Certificate.
For your information and ease: The submarine you will be traveling in, is outfitted with top-of-the-line battery-powered engines, thus minimizing the eco-footprint.
You have to get there by your own way of transport. There are tour guides that speak in Spanish and English every day, and for German and French, you’d have to check for availability. For more information on this unique, highly recommended Cozumel experience, and also to make reservations, click HERE.
9- Freeing Turtles in Cozumel
Location: Beaches of the island, from Playa Mezcalitos to Playa Box, but mainly at the San Martín Camp. Season: From August to November. Price: Free Webpage: N/A
The freeing of turtles in Cozumel is as unique and memorable as it can get!
Each year, around the month of May, turtles come to Cozumel’s beaches to nest, and from August to November the process of “freeing” or “rescuing” them, takes place.
This activity is mainly for Cozumeleños, who volunteer and are specially trained for this, but there is a chance for outsiders of witnessing this one of a kind event.
In the 2019 season, almost 5,000 turtle nests where recorded.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a couple of videos of this most memorable moment:
There is a special camp called San Martín, that is where people gather and organize for this task. This is their Facebook page.
If you’re in Cozumel from August to November, I suggest you contact your hotel concierge or go directly to the Cozumel Municipality or contact the San Martín camp, to find out where you can go witness this amazing and unforgettable event.
10- Sacred Mayan Journey
Location: From Xcaret (Riviera Maya) to Chankanaab Park Cozumel. Price: The cost of admission to Xcaret or Chankanaab Parks. Date: 2 days in the month of May each year. The 2020 exact days are yet to be announced. Webpage: Sacred Mayan Journey
History of the Sacred Mayan Journey
Since more than one thousand years ago, this journey began in Polé (that’s how Xcaret was known at that time), and it meant “commodity”. Mayans where great merchants and priests that used the seas as merchant routes.
Polé (now Xcaret) was also a boarding point for the “Messengers of the Moon” in their journey to Cozumel (called Kuzamil by the Mayans), to see the oracle, who received messages from the Goddess Ixchel.
For the ancient Maya, the Sea represented an important duality:
It represented a way of feeding themselves and a way of commerce. Also, it represented Xibalbá (the underworld), when entering the cenotes, a symbol of death and devastation, which made it a sacred place of maximum respect.
Sacred Mayan Journey Objectives
Keep the ancient Maya traditions through the recreation of this ritual where the former settlers of this region presented an offering to Ixchel, the goddess of fertility.
Sacred Mayan Journey Webpage
It’s also a significant way to promote sustainable tourism development and to strengthen the area’s original culture.
Spread the knowledge of the Mayan traditions, and growing an audience interested in this cultural heritage.
A video depicting the Sacred Mayan Journey as it was hundreds of years ago (you can activate English subtitles):
Sacred Mayan Journey Today
The Sacred Mayan Journey is a unique world-class event that takes place 2 days a year (in May) both in Xcaret, in the Riviera Maya, and in Cozumel, in Chankanaab Park.
It’s an homage to the ritual that was made year after year in honoring the Mayan Goddess Ixchel (in this article I talk more about Ixchel).
The Sacred Mayan Journey is a very serious thing for its participants. They train from September of the previous year until May in which the journey takes place. They go to paddling school, they have to be able to swim proficiently, and train for force-resistance, optimum flexibility and muscle coordination, and even elevating their oxygen volumes.
Today, there are more than 300 canoers that go on this journey that can only be achieved through discipline and hard work.
If your lucky to be in Cozumel in May, you can’t miss the opportunity to witness this unique event!
Here’s a video of the Sacred Mayan Journey, that will give you a small glimpse of how exciting and important an event this is for Cozumeleños:
Final Comments
Cozumel is a paradise-like place that offers plenty of activities for all ages and tastes. This was a list of just 10 unique things to do in this fantastic place, although there are many more that I will present to you in further articles.
Being that Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and due to its climate, natural and geographical conditions, and for your safety and greater enjoyment, it is my advice that during your stay in Cozumel, you always have the following items at hand (for almost any activity on the island), which I consider essentials:
- Bottled Water.
- Sunscreen.
- A sun hat or at least a baseball cap.
- Bug repellent.
- Comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Your Cellphone:
- Which may also have a camera.
- Just in case: the emergency number to dial in Cozumel is 911.
- Some cash (Mexican pesos or USD are fine).
- A camera:
- Your phone camera might be more than enough, although many people that are photography fans would very much miss a better camera in Cozumel, cause there are so many great photo opportunities.
Have a great Cozumel Day!