Cozumel is a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea, off the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Its name translates to Island of the Swallows (Isla de las Golondrinas in Spanish) and is derived from ancient Mayan terminology. Cozumel stretches...more
Cozumel is a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea, off the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Its name translates to Island of the Swallows (Isla de las Golondrinas in Spanish) and is derived from ancient Mayan terminology. Cozumel stretches for nearly 50 kilometres in length and over 15 kilometres in width, covering a total land area of nearly 500 square kilometres. It is the third largest island of Mexico, behind the Tiburón Island and Isla Ángel de la Guarda.
Thick lush vegetation and greenery cover most of the island, which is home to an abundance of flora and fauna - including a number of endemic species. A tropical savanna climate can be witnessed throughout the island, with a short dry season and lengthy wet seasons. The dry season lasts during the months of February to April and the rest of the year is generally the wet season, with September and October being the wettest months.
It is a major tourist destination in Mexico and offers a number of key attractions and places-of-interest for visitors. The main attractions of Cozumel are its underwater reefs and marine life. Scuba diving is a popular activity and numerous diving schools as well as equipment shops are available on the island.
The main airport serving Cozumel is the Cozumel International Airport which is located about 5 kilometres away from the city centre. The airport was renovated a few years ago and is a fairly busy airport in Mexico, handling numerous airlines and hundreds of thousands of passengers every year.
There are no prominent Halal restaurants in Cozumel and therefore finding access to Halal food in Cozumel will be quite difficult. Muslim travellers should be wary when opting for vegetarian cuisine available at Mexican restaurants since most dishes require the usage of animal fat - usually pork fat - during preparation.
Access to prayer facilities in Cozumel will be quite limited since there are no known mosques in Cozumel. It is best that Muslim travellers use the privacy of their room or accommodation option during prayer times or ask locals for a private area that can be used when travelling outdoors.