Hola Reader,
It's hard to believe January is coming to an end already but here we are! Last time I popped up in your inbox I was telling you all about my trip to Cozumel and I received some interesting reactions to that!
So this time, I'm going to share what some people thought and a few more details about my trip and then next week I'll share my interstate travel experience from Cozumel to Mérida including what happened when I hit a surprise federal police checkpoint on my way into Yucatán.
Strong Feelings
If you read my last email or the recent post I wrote about Cozumel you'll know that I actually liked it! I had low expectations but Cozumel was a laid back, friendly island experience that I'd happily do again.
But not everyone feels that way.
I had several replies from people saying they didn't like Cozumel at all. In fact one person even said they hated it so much they would never go back as long as they live!
Strong words for a place I found really chill and welcoming.
But all of these replies had one crucial thing in common... they visited by cruise.
Every person who replied to me about how much they hated Cozumel visited the island as a day stop from a cruise ship and that's why I made a point of calling out how different your experience can be depending on where on the island you are and how you get there.
For me, I stayed right in the centre of town which is a world away from the cruise terminal, even though its located only 1.5km/1 mile down the coast.
If you decide to visit Cozumel as part of a cruise I strongly recommend that you leave the cruise port. Book one of the many high quality excursions, visit a beach club, or head into town to wander and roam.
Cruise ports (not just Cozumel), are designed to capture your attention (and wallets) and make the most out of your being deposited in their little enclave. So yes, there will be salespeople and there will be tourist traps but once you leave that area you'll see a different side to the island.
Highlights of Cozumel
So I've said a few times that I really enjoyed Cozumel but here are some of my highlights.
As I said, I recommend staying somewhere central in the town. I stayed at Coralia Boutique Hotel which is located right smack in the centre of the town. It was super walkable, the staff were great but the highlight for me was definitely the rooftop pool.
If you're going to stay in Cozumel I highly, highly recommend that you stay somewhere with a pool. You'll thank me for it when you're cooling off in the water!
When it comes to food and drink, I had a few outstanding experiences. My favourite street food was the marquesita I had from Hach’Ki in the main plaza.
Marquesitas are a dessert street food that's basically like a toasted crepe filled with whatever you want and topped with edam cheese. I had mine with nutella and peanut butter with edam cheese and it was so good.
I'm a big coffee person and the best coffee I tried was at COZ Roasting Company. The service here is so friendly and they speak great English, in case your Spanish is a little rusty.
Anything you get here will be good but I recommend the flat white and I highly recommend trying their super unique Peanut Butter Coffee.
They don't use a syrup and it's not sweetened. They use roasted peanuts ground into a fine powder that is mixed into the coffee (you don't get powder mouth, don't worry!) and the flavour is out of this world.
My favourite casual meal was Burritos Gorditos, a family run spot specializing in burritos, with my favourite being the all day breakfast burritos. I highly recommend the chorizo but any of the fillings will be a hit.
I tried several places for dinner but the stand out for me was Olea. Now this officially an Italian restaurant but the flavours punch in Mexican fashion.
I know a lot of people who insist on only eating "authentic" Mexican food when they are in Mexico but in my opinion, if you do that you're robbing yourself of all the fusion and Mexican flare these chefs bring to other cuisines.
Olea was one of the best meals I had all year and they happen to do an excellent happy hour which covers half price beer, wine and appetizers. Don't miss the Cacio e Pepe Arancini with chili aioli 🌶️.
And finally, the best drinks I had were at Aqui + Ahora. If you like mezcal, I highly recommend the Tamarindo Mezcalita. The service is friendly, they have delicious food, deals on drinks, and a rooftop patio with incredible sunset views.
In terms of things to do and entertainment, Woody's is great for live music and the markets around the main square are the best places to find souvenirs and gifts.
The Cozumel Museum is an excellent place to learn about the Mayan history (did you know Abraham Lincoln tried to purchase Cozumel as a place to send the enslaved people after they were freed?) and for even more Maya, the Mayan Cacao Company is the best place to do a chocolate workshop.
My favourite excursion on the island is swimming with the turtles at the turtle sanctuary and if you're looking for a bit of an easier excursions then don't miss the crystal clear waters at El Cielito (Little Heaven).
There you have it! That's my trip to Cozumel in a nutshell. next week I'll share my interstate travel experience from Cozumel to Mérida, including getting stopped by federal police crossing the border into Yucatán.
Remember to hit reply and tell me what you think or if there's anything you'd like me to cover in the future.
Hasta luego,
-Ashlea
