Cozumel - Island feeling shortly before departure

7th-11th August Cozumel

At about half past 5 in the evening, our ferry docks in the port of Cozumel. We quickly check into our bed & breakfast 'Casa Isabella', which is very centrally located in the town. It used to be a kind of villa, the interior decoration is a colorful mix and in some stylistic choices it reminds one of a Disney castle. We get a whole bunch of keys to our room: gate, entrance door, room door, parking gate. The owners are very friendly and we are taken care of for the next 4 nights. We quickly start looking for a dive center because we really want to go diving in the Palancar Caves. This dive site was highly recommended to us in Mahahual. Soon we realize that in Cozumel there are more dive shops than small grocery stores, so it's more a matter of choice or luckily finding a good provider.... Since it is already late and many shops closed, we choose 'Dive with George'. George is a native Mexican, a bit stocky and older, but sharp and he says we're lucky, he will organize a tour to Palancar Caves tomorrow. We are happy and agree. After that, we stroll through Cozumel, a town with a Caribbean flair and many gringos (that's what they call the Americans). We discover a pharmacy that offers Covid certificates for $100 without having to take the PCR test... hmm. That's quite curious, as the actual test also costs about $100 and is then valid! Some shops sell jewelry made of black coral, which is actually protected. We already saw it while diving in Mahahual and were advised not to buy anything so that their stock can be preserved. After a Chelada and fresh Churros at the square, we dine at 'la Choza', a really good restaurant, and are entertained by a trio with guitars and a giant kalimba right at our table. 1 song, 20 pesos.

The next day, diving and an island tour are on the program. George and his crew don't agree on everything and the standards don't correspond to what we are used to from dive schools. Nevertheless, both dives are really great and very varied. Diving through canyons and caves is a unique and new experience for both of us. The second dive offers plenty of fish and corals. We dive with a French physicist who is doing his doctorate at Berkeley. We spend the afternoon with delicious food (grilled shrimp) on the north coast. Then there is a tequila tasting. We have to try 7 different varieties of the same brand and the tequila that we like the most would cost $175 if we were to buy it. We decline politely and spend the rest of the time in the hammock with fruit juice and a book. After the return trip to Cozumel, we enjoy ourselves in a Cerveceria. The beer is homemade and tastes great. After the rich afternoon meal, we can skip dinner.

After breakfast at the accommodation, we spend eternity deciding how we want to spend the last few days in Mexico. The options are Isla Mujeres, Turtle Beach, Cenotes, Valladolid, diving, or Mayan ruins. In the end, we organize the ferry, Covid test, and our last dives because we realize that diving will not be possible for the next six months. This also takes some time (just paying for the ferry takes 1 hour) and we only start our actual day program at 3:00 p.m. We go snorkeling at one of the many beaches on the west coast. Almost all beach clubs charge entrance fees, some with all-inclusive offers, just to get to the beach. We find a restaurant without entrance fees and snorkel for two hours in the blue-green water. Although only concrete weights attract the underwater fauna, it is surprisingly diverse and we see a lionfish, lobster, angelfish, barracudas, and large shoals of fish that are almost transparent. Many people seem to be afraid of the animals and therefore hesitate to get into the water. For dinner, we have pizza at the Cerveceria from yesterday, the beer there is just too delicious ;)

We do our last dives with Studio Blue. Especially the last dive remains very positive in our memories because we can dive a bit more freely, as our guide is focused on the three beginners.

The two huge cruise ships in the harbor evoke mixed feelings in us. We learn that almost no one on the island profits from the 5000 tourists per ship, as all activities are booked directly 'on board' through large providers. Up to eight of these monsters dock in Cozumel during the high season, some of them with a roller coaster or climbing park on the top of the approximately 15 floors.

In the early evening, we have the opportunity to buy a souvenir. We browse a few shops but in the end, we don't buy anything. It somehow doesn't feel right. In Cozumel, we find a somewhat hidden gastropark, the perfect way to enjoy the culinary delights of Mexico again. This time, the portions are not too big and we manage to have dessert: a single churro filled with dulce de leche. Yumm! The gastropark is great and deserves much more attention. Besides 3 other parties, we are the only guests here, which is a shame for the many small food stalls and too little income for the people.

The next morning we have a leisurely breakfast, pack up, and then take the ferry back to the mainland. As always, we drive straight to Cancun.

We think we have found our hostel for the night, but there is no sign on the outside. Finally, we find a doorbell and immediately two aggressive dogs start barking.

It turns out that our accommodation is a villa that is inhabited by (we suspect) a few students who sublet the surplus rooms. Our room is a bit outdated, has a few defects, but the TV is equipped with Netflix. Since it is already late afternoon and we don't want to see anything else in Cancun, we go out to buy some snacks and drinks, bring our laundry to the laundromat, and watch the last season of the series 'Atypical', which we both love. ;)

After a last delicious dinner at a neighborhood taqueria, our month in Mexico is coming to an end.

With joy, we take home so many beautiful experiences and say from the bottom of our hearts - muchas gracias Yucatan - it was very kind, rich, and wonderful!