Cozumel is much more than a day at quiet the beach (which is wonderful, don’t get me wrong!). There are people with adventure running through their veins that would like to get an adrenaline rush in this paradise-like island. Being an adventure seeker myself, I believe I got those people covered with this article!
As I embark on more adventures in Cozumel, I will be adding to this list. In the meantime, I present you with these:
The Top Adventurous Things to Do in Cozumel:
- Swimming with Stingrays and Sharks
- Swimming with Dolphins
- Flyboard Cozumel
- Secret River Expedition
- Cozumel Bar Hopping & Cantina
- ATV Excursions in Cozumel
- Cozumel Race! (Scavenger Hunt)
- Jet Boat Ride
- Escape Room Cozumel
- The High Experience Cozumel
- Submarine Expedition!
- Off-Road Mayan Adventure
1. Swimming With Stingrays and Sharks at Stingray Beach, Cozumel
Location: Minutes from Cozumel’s downtown (MAP).
Price: $64 USD Per Person.
Duration: 2 hours.
Operating Hours: Mon – Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sun: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
You will be able to say that you swam with both stingrays and sharks!
This 2-hour experience includes everything you need: a professional guide, snorkeling gear, water shoes, a place to store your personal items, and facilities to shower at the beach club.
After a brief presentation (by professional certified guides) on gear safety and how to feed and touch the rays, you will interact with, hold, and feed stingrays, and you’ll swim with nurse sharks and plenty of much colorful fish in a controlled one-acre area that’s 4 to 18 feet deep in a coral reef.
Also enjoy the beach club that includes Ray’s Sand Bar, (a snack bar), photo and souvenir shop, macaws, parrots, a green gecko, and iguanas posing for pictures, hermit crab races, a massage tent, and a water trampoline.
Stingray Beach Website.
Other advantages of this experience are its closeness to the cruise ship piers, and that it includes access to the beach club.
This experience has the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (“TripAdvisor gives a Certificate of Excellence to accommodations, attractions, and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers.”).
This is an unforgettable experience that’s family-friendly and safe to do. The minimum age for admission to this adventure is 4 years old. I highly recommend this experience that will leave a life-lasting memory! If you are interested in more information, as well as booking this wonderful experience, (it sells out quickly) you can do so HERE.
2. Swimming With Dolphins at Chankanaab Park
Location: Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab Park Cozumel
Price: Ranging from $69 to $111 USD (depending on the package)
Duration: 40 minutes. (could be more because it includes entrance to other areas within the Chankanaab Park).
Operating Hours: Mon – Sat: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dolphin Discovery is the most sought after experience in Cozumel. Every day more than 850 people from all over the world come here to enjoy a day of adventure and fun with the dolphins, and also, to have a great meal, relax at the beach, and explore the rest of what Chankanaab Park has to offer.
Second visit and loved it even more!
We paid for the kids to experience the Royal Swim as it was their first time. They loved it! The dolphins are well cared for, playful and a joy to watch.
Leanne & Gary (TripAdvisor level 4 critics from Canada).
What can be better than swimming with one of the earth’s most intelligent and friendly animals in a paradise-like place like Cozumel?
Dolphin Discovery Cozumel is the only habitat in the Island where all dolphins were born under human care. This is possible thanks to our successful and worldwide recognized breeding program Miracle.
Dolphin Discovery website.
If you’d like more information about the Dolphin Discovery adventure in Cozumel, as well as packages and prices, you can get it HERE.
3. Flyboard Cozumel
Location: Varies depending on the option booked.
Price: from $82 USD per person.
Duration: 15 to 30 minutes.
Operating Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For an adventure seeker, this is an experience you can’t miss. You will soar over the clear warm turquoise water of Cozumel on a board boosted by water streams.
It’s a totally different kind of watersport that will make you feel like a superhero flying in the air!
This experience consists of a 10-minute instruction session by a certified Flyboard pilot, followed by a 15 to 20-minute flight by yourself, that will make you feel free as a bird.
This adventure is for people over 12 years of age, it’s not for you if you have back problems, a mobility impairment, heart problems, or if you weigh more than 260 pounds (120 kg).
The adventure includes the following:
- Life jacket and helmet
- Certificated pilot instructor
- Bathrooms
- Shower area
It does not include:
- An additional surcharge of $12 USD for the dock fee will be collected upon arrival
- Transportation
- Towels
- Tips
- Photos and videos
- Drinks and food
It’s definitely one for Instagram!
One of the advantages of this great adventure is that it’s a relatively brief experience. If you are on a tight schedule or want to do several things in one day, this is certainly a great option! If you’d like to get more information about this exciting experience and book a flight, you can to it HERE.
4. Secret River Expedition
Location: The pickup point is the swallows’ sculpture next to the Cozumel Ferry pier (MAP).
Price: $95 USD per person
Duration: 6 hours.
Operating Hours: Daily at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
The Secret River (Río Secreto in Spanish), is an expedition through the jungle and into a cenote in Playa del Carmen (one of the best-preserved in the Mayan Riviera), and from there, into an underground river.
You will get to enjoy a real natural spectacle of thousands of stalactites that took millions of years to form!, in one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Mayan Riviera, and to swim through an underground river. An amazing adventure!
Your meeting point (30 minutes before the tour start time) with the tour guides will be Swallows Sculpture near the Cozumel Ferry pier in downtown Cozumel. From there, you will be taken on a ferry boat ride (45 minutes) to Playa del Carmen, where you will be taken in a van to the heart of the jungle, where the Sac-Actun cave system is located, and you will be equipped with everything necessary for your adventure:
- A helmet
- A flashlight
- A life vest (its use is mandatory without exception)
- Bottled water and other beverages
- Snacks
- Snorkeling gear
- Neoprene wetsuit
- Water shoes
Once geared up, you will hike into a beautiful cenote, where you will be explained about its magnificence by your English/Spanish speaking guide.
You will be amazed by the thousands of stalactites inside the cenote, which took millions of years to form. Then, you will go through a passage, following some rock formations, into chest-deep waters where you will swim through the clear underground secret river. It will be an unforgettable experience.
You will be returned to Cozumel and your adventure will end at the same swallows’ sculpture where it began.
Minimum requirements to go on this adventure:
- Be a proficient swimmer
- Be in good health
- Be self-sufficient
- Your weigh must be between 75 and 250 pounds
- The minimum age is 8 years old, and the maximum age is 70 years old.
People under any of the following illnesses/medical conditions that are not allowed to participate: pregnancy, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory conditions, blood pressure conditions, back/neck injuries, medicated/taking antidepressants, lithium, beta-blockers or base (vein) constrictors.
We recommend to bring:
- Sunglasses
- Swimwear
- Change of clothes
- Towel
- Camera
- Comfortable clothes
- Cash
This is a truly unforgettable experience for the whole family to enjoy! I recommend you check availability and book it quickly because places are limited, you can do that HERE.
5. Cozumel Bar Hopping & Cantina
Location: Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
Price: $69 USD per person
Duration: 5 hours
Operating Hours: It starts at 9:00 a.m.
The premise is simple, you board a bus or van, that takes you to from the east side of Cozumel island heading south and returning from the west side, and tour several places which include a park, rustic bars on gorgeous beaches with breathtaking views, and local cantinas.
First, you will learn about the culture and traditions of Cozumel and Mexico while sightseeing and sharing some of the countries flavors, such as Chocolate, Tortilla, Mexican candy, and Tequila Flavors.
Then you will ride to the east side of the island and make several stops at its rustic beach bars.
Finally, this adventure will take you to some traditional “Cantinas” (normally only for locals), and you’ll be able to enjoy empanadas, ceviche, and more!
Beautiful spots for fun and cocktails!
This is definitely a tour to do again! This side of the island is beautiful and not so crowded. Our tour guide was so much fun – she was a great host. Be sure to sample the lobster quesadillas and peanut butter tequila.
Claire P (TripAdvisor)
As we mentioned in another article (The Legal Drinking Age in Cozumel), you must be 18 to be able to drink in Cozumel, and thus take the Bar Hop Tour.
This adventure includes:
- Snacks
- Driver/guide
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- Hop-on hop-off tour
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan or private vehicle
- Bottled water
- 2 beers on board the transfer
You must pay for the rest of the drinks or food you have at the bars you visit.
Don’t forget to bring:
- Cash
- This can’t be stressed enough. Other than the welcome shots at every bar you visit, you will have to pay for the rest of the food and drinks you get. Also, the east part of Cozumel island doesn’t have electricity, so they won’t be able to accept credit cards!
- USD and Mexican pesos are accepted.
- Sunscreen (biodegradable preferentially)
- A Camera
Insider tip: There’s another bar hop tour that has a webpage that claims to be the original in Cozumel. Although also nice, this one that I’m recommending is by far a more complete experience.
This is a different kind of adventure in Cozumel that is greatly reviewed and enjoyed by many people who look for something different and to socialize with, and meet other travelers. To check availability for this tour, do it HERE.
6. ATV Excursions in Cozumel
Location, price, duration, etc, vary depending on the adventure!
There are plenty of ATV (all-terrain vehicle) excursions in Cozumel. Some involve going into the jungle and others involve being close to the beach and snorkeling. Some will even include lunch. They are all quite fun adventures!
What is an ATV?
An ATV is an all-terrain vehicle. It’s an off-highway vehicle that you can take into the jungle or the beach. They could be for one, two or up to four people. They could also have two, three or four wheels. An ATV could be a motorcycle, a dune buggy, or even a jeep. Almost all ATVs in Cozumel for expeditions are 4 wheeled.
Courtesy of Luis Castro 
Courtesy of Paul Chambers
Because there are many ATV excursions in Cozumel, I curated the ones that will give you ATV options (being Jeep, Buggy, etc), and the most bang for your buck.
ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern
Location: The meeting point varies depending on the type of adventure you book.
Price: $85 USD per person
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
This experience gives you the chance of seeing Cozumel with and off-road adventure to the Jade Caverns (a cenote in which you will be able to swim if you’d like)!
It’s a hands-on adventure that will take you to narrow paths in the jungle, making it a wild ride!
It’s definitely a different kind of adventure in Cozumel!
This adventure will take you through El Cedral village in Cozumel (mentioned in this article), rocky trails, underground tunnels, and mud pits that will test your driving skills!
This adventure includes:
- Round trip transportation from the meeting point
- All entrance fees and admissions
- Bottled Water
- Safety gear (helmets, goggles, and bandanas)
- Bilingual guides
Insider tip: Bring bug spray!! I can’t stress this enough, you will go through the jungle and there will be mosquitoes! If you come armed with a good bug spray you will enjoy this experience much, much more!
In order to be able to book this great adventure, you must have a driver’s license.
The minimum age to go on this adventure is 10 years old, the minimum age to drive is 16 years old, and if you’re under 18, you must be accompanied by an adult (legal companion).
Great experience for those up to the adventure!
David – United States
I was hoping for something exciting, and I was not disappointed. The guides were very helpful and stressed safety at all times.
If you would like more information about this great adventure, you can get it HERE.
Adventure to Mezcalitos Beach & Snorkeling
Location: Departing from Royal Village Shopping Center (MAP)
Price: $90 USD per person
Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours
Operating Hours: Please check availability.
You’ll be transported from the meeting point to the east side of Cozumel island, where your guides will greet you.
Once there, you will be briefed on how to operate and ride your ATV (in this case a semi-automatic Honda TRX 250).
You will take a 2-hour scenic route to the Mayan archeological ruins of Castillo Real (Royal Castle), and then you’ll have time to relax at Ixpalbarco Beach.
Then, a thrilling ride along the west coast of Cozumel island that will end with a great chicken fajitas lunch and the possibility of a 30-minute snorkeling session at the Playa Uvas Beach Club (optional).
Amazing!!!
This excursion was amazing! The ATV’s are so much fun and the tour guides are helpful and funny! I would definitely recommend it!!!
Mrstravelplanner, Jun 2019 / 5 star review.
This adventure includes:
- Local taxes
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Local guide
- Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
- Use of helmet
- Optional snorkeling at Playa Uvas beach club
- Snorkeling equipment
You can get more information about this very enjoyable, very scenic and unforgettable adventure, HERE.
Dune Buggy and Snorkeling in Cozumel
Location: Depart from the El Cid Hotel Cozumel (MAP)
Price: $79 USD per person
Duration: 5.5 hours
Operating Hours: Please check availability.
You will be able to drive a dune buggy (for up to four passengers, manual shift) across Cozumel, hitting many landmarks (such as the Punta Sur Ecological Reserve), and having lunch in an authentic Mexican food restaurant.
The highlights of this adventure:
- Explore Cozumel highlights in a self-drive dune buggy (manual-shift)
- Ride through Punta Sur Ecological Reserve to see the local flora and fauna
- Stop at a local restaurant for traditional Mexican lunch
- National Park fees and use of snorkel equipment included
It’s worth mentioning that the Punta Sur Ecological Reserve part is an amazing experience by itself. There, you will be able to see a Mayan building called La Tumba del Caracol (Seashell Tomb), you’ll go to a lagoon where you will get to see a yellow crocodile and over 50 bird species.
Also in Punta Sur, you’ll find a french design lighthouse that dates from 1934, named Faro de Celarain, that you can explore and climb for breathtaking views and fantastic photo opportunities.
This is an adventure that includes a vast array of things:
- Sightseeing
- Archeological site visit
- National Park Fees
- Bottled Water
- Natural areas
- Snorkeling (gear included)
- A professional guide
- Lunch
- A beach break
- A city tour
- The dune buggy ride
- One way transfer
If you are interested in the above, for your money, this adventure is a smart option. You can get more info about this adventure HERE.
7. Cozumel Race! (Scavenger Hunt)
Location: The starting point is the food court in the Mercado Municipal (MAP)
Price: $79 USD Per Person
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
Operating Hours: From 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (check availability)
This a very unique type of adventure in Cozumel! Who hasn’t wanted to be a part of a scavenger hunt – race like the ones you watch on tv in very successful shows such as The Amazing Race!
It also gives you the opportunity to see and learn about a part of Cozumel that is rarely seen by tourists on the island. It’s a sightseeing tour on its own.
This is a very family-friendly adventure that is one of the highest-rated in terms of satisfaction from its participants.
Really good time! Highly recommend!
The Amazing Race in Cozumel was a really good time! I recommend it to anyone looking for something different- see parts of Cozumel you would not normally see! Well organized and a lot of fun. Price was reasonable and is appropriate for groups, families or couples. Best for those who have been to Cozumel before and don’t want to spend the day doing the typical tourist things.
Rebecca – Pickerington, United States / 5 Star Review
If you have a competitive spirit, this one’s for you!
This adventure combines action, adventure, competition, sightseeing, culture, teamwork, and has a fast pace!
It was a blast — met great people…
Walter L, TripAdvisor reviewer / 5 Star Review
The staff was fantastic — fun, fun, fun!!!
You will get a series of clues upon which you will have to explore and gather information, employ logic, crack codes and decipher riddles! All of this, racing against the clock in order to be the winner amongst other teams of competitors.
The race ends at a local cantina, where prices will be given to the first places.
This adventure includes:
- All clues and admission to game-related venues
- Snacks and beverages at the finish line
- 2 complimentary drinks at the awards ceremony
- Prizes for top finishers
- Local treats throughout the tour
We have cruised 8 different times…
We have cruised 8 different times to many different locations, and this excursion is by far and away the best we have had. As avid Amazing Race fans this local race was everything we thought it would be, and my wife and I came in second because of a blunder on our part. From start to finish well organized and very funny. You certainly get a workout if you are trying to be competitive. Good luck to all future racers!!!
Stacie B. TripAdvisor 5 star review
I highly recommend this adventure! It’s different, it’s fun, and it’s very highly praised by almost all who have lived it! You can find more information on this great adventure and book your place for it HERE.
8. Jet Boat Ride in Cozumel
Location: Varies depending on the option booked
Price: $50 USD Per Person
Duration: 1 hour (approx)
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This is a 500 horse powerboat for up to 12 passengers that will take you soaring over the water at speeds of up to 72 km/h, that with all the crazy maneuvers by the captain, will feel thrilling and will make your adrenaline rush!
You’ll be greeted by the boat’s captain, who will brief you on signals, safety measures, and what to look for during the adventure.
You will get drenched in this bumpy ride filled with 360 degree turns and sudden stops!
This adventure is not for the weak of stomach. If you easily get dizzy, avoid it!
You will not forget these speeds and thrills, over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea of Cozumel!
This is a fairly quick adventure (1 hour approx.) that’s definitely not for the meek.
If you’d like more information on operating hours, minimum requirements for this adventure and more, you can find it HERE.
9. Cozumel Escape Room (Mayan Mind Maze)
Location: Mayan Mind Maze Cozumel (MAP)
Price: $40 USD per person
Duration: 1-2 hours
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Escape rooms have been a trendy adventure for some time now.
So what is the Mayan Mind Maze Cozumel? The premise is simple: You are locked inside a room with a group of people (could be your friends, family, and/or other adventurers), a set of clues, and a certain time limit to solve and complete your mission: “escaping” the room.
In order to achieve your escape from the Mayan Mind Maze, you will need to resort to teamwork, creativity, puzzle-solving, imagination, communication, and patience.
This is an immersive interactive and fun experience that’s unique in the Mayan Riviera, and it’s located in Cozumel!
This adventure is available for teams from 4 to 10 players. According to the Mayan Mind Maze organizers, the optimal number of people for this adventure is between 4 to 7 people, although it’s possible to have a team of less or more.
An advantage of this particular escape room is that you aren’t required to speak either Spanish or English, this game doesn’t require specific language skills.
Really Amazing!
Sam Forsythe (Trip Advisor) (5 Star Review)
We got to sit down with the creator of the escape room and talk to him about our experience. He was so incredibly nice, and the game was as incredibly fun! The room had some really cool aspects to it I hadn’t yet experienced in other escape rooms I’ve done before. I highly recommend this!
This particular escape room is also unique because it incorporates Mayan history and mythology. “It will make you feel like a modern-day Indiana Jones!”
The minimum age to be able to enjoy this game is 7 years old, and adult supervision is required if you’re under 15 years old.
No special clothing is required to enjoy this adventure, the advice is to wear comfortable clothes.
Don’t forget your glasses if you need them!
Awesome Experience!
My family recently found escape rooms and have done some in our home town so were excited to see one in Cozumel while on vacation. The room had unusual traps and was challenging, but we escaped and had a lot of fun.
Trip Advisor Reviewer (5 Star Review)
This a different kind of adventure that’s more intellectual than physical, and it could be a lot of fun! So if you are interested in solving puzzles and escaping the Mayan Mind Maze, you can make your reservations for this fun activity HERE.
10. The High Experience Cozumel
Location: Chankanaab Park, Cozumel.
Price: Varies depending on whether you have brunch, lunch, snacks & drinks or dinner.
Duration: 1.5 Hours on average.
Operating Hours: From 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
I have gone on this experience and believe me, it’s an unforgettable one!
If you’re afraid of heights this is not for you.
The High Experience Cozumel is a restaurant that is elevated to 45 meters high! You will enjoy authentic gourmet quality Mexican cuisine and at the same time, you will have the chance to enjoy some unforgettable views!
I recently wrote a more in-depth article about The High Experience Cozumel that you can find it HERE. Also, I mentioned it in another article called: 10 Unique Things to Do in Cozumel.
The dinner and views are fantastic and the adventure part of it is too. How can being lifted to 45 meters high to have dinner can’t be considered an adventure?
The High Experience Cozumel has its own website, where you can make your reservations. I suggest you book this adventure as soon as possible because they only serve 22 people per elevation each day, so vacancies run out very quickly (people are booking with months in advance).
11. Submarine Expedition!
Location: Atlantis Submarine (MAP)
Price: Adults $105 USD Kids (3-12) $67 USD
Duration: 2 Hours.
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sun 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Only 1% of the people on the planet can tell you they have ridden inside a submarine!
Being that this is a very unique, fun, safe, family-friendly, eco-friendly, and exclusive kind of adventure that only exists in Cozumel and in no other part of Mexico, I have written more about it in 2 other articles on this website:
10 Unique Things to Do in Cozumel
Cozumel Activities for Seniors? There’s Plenty of Them!
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.
10 Unique Things to Do in Cozumel
Great Experience!!!!!
It was worth every penny. This expedition gives you the opportunity to see the ocean from a different perspective while staying dry. You have to take a quick boat ride to the submarine. I booked this for my birthday and it was the best decision and best experience! This is a MUST Thing to do!!
Tstorm 5 Star Review (Trip Advisor)
This is a Cozumel adventure that you definitely won’t regret! It is likely to sell out, so for more information, booking, and details, I encourage you to click HERE.
12. Off-Road Mayan Adventure (with Snorkeling and Lunch)
Location: There are several pick-up points depending on the option you book.
Price: $85 USD per person
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This is an adventure that I recommend as the most bang for your buck!
There are three stages of this adventure:
- You will get to tour the oldest and most famous Mayan Ruins in Cozumel: San Gervasio
- You will ride a dune buggy in some of the best off-road trails in Cozumel
- You will get to snorkel and have lunch (included) in one heck of a nice beach called Playa Uvas, which has one of the most beautiful and largest coral reefs in the world.
Any of these three adventures by themselves are worth doing in Cozumel. And for a reasonable price, you can live them all.
San Gervasio
San Gervasio is one of the oldest Mayan villages in Cozumel. It’s an archaeological site where you can admire the Mayan architecture, and where your highly knowledgeable guide will immerse you in its history and traditions.
This Mayan village is dedicated to the Mayan Goddess Ixchel, whom I mention and talk about with more depth in this article: What is Cozumel Better Known For?
Cozumel was a sacred place for the Maya, as well as a strategic site for commerce and politics. It was a sanctuary for the Goddess Ixchel, mainly known as the Goddess of the moon, but also related to love, fertility, and medicine. She is often depicted with a rabbit. The Maya were obligated to visit Cozumel at least once in their lifetime.
What is Cozumel Better Known For?
Dune Buggy Off-Road Ride
This is an adrenaline-filled off-road ride in which you will drive a dune buggy through muddy, dusty, bumpy, wet and beautiful trails.
Lunch at Playa Uvas Beach Club and Snorkeling at a Fantastic Coral Reef!
This is the relaxing portion of this adventure! You will have lunch at Playa Uvas, a beautiful beach club with amazing white sands and turquoise waters.
Also, you will be equipped with snorkeling gear so that you can get to see first hand, the world’s second-largest and one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world!
Something for Everyone!
Francisco was our guide who we thoroughly absolutely LOVED! Great to learn a little about the Mayan Ruins, wish we could of had a little more time there, the dune buggy was fun but due to weather there was no mud but it was still fun and the tequila tour was a nice pit stop. Enjoyed relaxing and snorkeling at the resort.
Many people come to Cozumel with tight schedules. This adventure will fill your day in Cozumel with several fun experiences! You can get more information about it and even book it HERE!
These are the first…..
Of many possible adventures, you can embark on in Cozumel.
As I experience more, I will be adding them to this article, so stay tuned!
I hope this information is useful to you on your visit to Cozumel and in your search for safe and fun adventures.
If you have any comments or suggestions for more adventures to be had in Cozumel, and for me to write about, please don’t be shy and leave a comment below. It will greatly appreciate it!
Have a great Cozumel Day!
Photo Credits
Cover Image courtesy of Jakob Owens via Unsplash
All images embedded from Instagram belong to their respective owners.