FAQs about Cozumel… You´ll be Surprised!


There are several questions about Cozumel that I have found on the web and even some that have been asked to me personally, that deserve to be answered here, or even on independent articles.

Keeping in mind that there’s “no such thing as a stupid question”, and without further ado, let’s dive right into them.

Is Cozumel a Country?

Cozumel is not a country, Cozumel is a municipality in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Is Cozumel an Island?

Cozumel is an island located in the Caribbean Sea, about 17.5 miles from the mainland, concretely Playa del Carmen, in Mexico.

Cozumel is the third biggest and the second most populated island in Mexico.

Does Cozumel Have a Flag?

Being that Cozumel is not a country, it does not have a flag of its own.

The monumental flag that you can see waiving in Cozumel’s downtown is the Mexican flag.

Cozumel does, however, have its own municipal coat of arms (i.e., shield).

Cozumel’s Coat of Arms

Cozumel’s Shield Meaning

Cozumel’s shield has two basic colors: White, which symbolizes the spirituality of the Mayans, and Blue, symbolizing the sea.

Cozumel in Mayan means “Land of the Swallows”, hence the swallow in its shield.

The sword in its shield is a Spanish sword (let’s not forget that Cozumel, as well as the rest of Mexico, was conquered by the Spaniards since 1521 and was a Spanish colony until 1821).

Finally, the sun in its shield represents Cozumel’s status of being the most oriental region of Mexico.

What Does the Word Cozumel Mean?

The word Cozumel means Land of the Swallows. It derives from two words of the Mayan Language: Kosom and Lumil, which conjunct in Kosomil, or Land of the Swallows.

Does Cozumel Accept US Dollars?

Cozumel is a place that welcomes almost 7.5 million tourists every year, 4.2 million from cruises and the rest come from Mexico’s mainland via ferry or plane. a vast majority of Cozumel’s visitors are foreigners, and for or this reason US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Cozumel.

Does Cozumel Have an Airport?

Cozumel has its own international airport. It currently receives direct commercial flights from Mexico City and charter private flights from all over the world.

Vintage Plane at the Entrance to Cozumel´s International Airport

In 2020, Cozumel will start receiving direct commercial flights from Houston, Texas.

Does Cozumel Have Nice Beaches?

Cozumel has many warm clean beaches with beautiful white sands and turquoise clear waters. Also, it has some of the most beautiful and largest coral reefs in the world. So yes, Cozumel has some of the nicest beaches in the world.

A Catamaran on the Beach of Passion Island, Cozumel

Check out this picture-filled article I wrote on the subject!:

10 Awesome Beaches with Crystal Clear Water in Cozumel

Is Cozumel Safe?

Cozumel’s safety is one of the most common recurring subjects that some up with almost everybody, so I have a complete in-depth article addressing this important subject:

Is Cozumel Safe for Tourists? The Answer With Data.

Does Cozumel Have Casinos?

Cozumel has one casino and sportsbook. It’s called Jackpot Cozumel, it’s located in the Royal Village Shopping Center, almost in front of the Puerta Maya Pier.

It really is a very small place with a few slot machines, a sportsbook, a couple of blackjack tables, one roulette table, and a poker table (which is rarely used).

It’s a place to hang out, but not at all an important casino if you have been to casinos elsewhere.

Does Cozumel Have Sargassum / Seaweed?

Unlike other beaches in the Mayan Riviera (Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, etc), Cozumel has very little or no seaweed/sargassum on its beaches, and the small amount that gets there, is cleaned every day, so there is very little chance that you will find some and hence be affected by it.

The Beach from the Secrets Aura Cozumel Resort

Seaweed is almost non-existent in Cozumel’s beaches, and because of this, they’re always a pleasure to visit.

Tourists that once where visiting places like Cancun, Tulum or Playa del Carmen for their beautiful beaches, have now opted to visit Cozumel, and are amazed by its beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.

How is Cozumel’s Weather in January, February, Etc?

Naturally, Cozumel’s year-round weather is one of the most common subjects people ask about. You want to know what kind of weather conditions you will face when visiting this paradise-like place.

The Beauty of Cozumel´s Water.

I have a complete article addressing Cozumel’s year-round weather: temperatures (month by month), that also includes the average water temperature, hurricane season and more, you should check it out:

Cozumel Year-Round Weather (In Detail)

Does Cozumel Have Daylight Savings Time?

Cozumel doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time, it observes Eastern Standard Time all year.

Clocks do not change in Cozumel.

Can I Take a Car to Cozumel?

I recommend that you read this article about taking a car to Cozumel, it has two charts about the companies that operate the ferries and their schedules.

Waiting to board the cargo ferry from Calica to Cozumel

These are some of the FAQs about Cozumel… With time, I will be answering more of them in this article and, depending on the depth of the subject, in other posts.

In the meantime, I recommend these articles about Cozumel and also about things to do on this incredible island:

Top Adventurous Things to Do in Cozumel!

What is Cozumel Better Known For?

10 Unique Things to Do in Cozumel

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I will very much appreciate you leaving a message here.

Carlos González

I spend my time between the city of Puebla and the paradise-like island of Cozumel, in Mexico. An entrepreneur at heart, I own a construction company that has built more than 3,500 schools all over Mexico since 1998. I'm a partner in an online news organization that has a presence in 11 Spanish speaking countries. I'm also enthusiastically involved with several organizations that have to do with education, sustainable living, and the environment. Cozumel Day is my way of sharing my own experiences, tips and more online, about this wonderful place. I hope the information I share with you here is useful and entertaining.

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