Cozumel, Mexico

... More

operates from Cancún.

45km/28mi long and 18km/11mi across at its widest, Cozumel, one of the largest Mexican islands, lies 20km/13mi off the north-east coast of the Yucatán peninsula. The flat terrain is covered for the most part with dense green scrub, while around the shores magnificent white sand beaches contrast vividly with the blue-green sea. Because the seabed consists of very fine white coral sand, the water is crystal clear.

The island, an excellent diving ground, was first opened up to tourism in the late 1950s.

History

Cozumel, known to the Maya as Ah-cuzamil (''land of the swallows"), was apparently a site of major significance during the Mayan post-Classic period, particularly between ad 1000 and 1200. As the most easterly of all the Mayan sites, the island was almost certainly a sanctuary associated with worship of the rising sun. Old records also suggest that it was from Cozumel that several Mayan tribes set off on their migrations across the mainland. In addition the island was undoubtedly an important place of pilgrimage dedicated to the goddess of fertility Ix-chel and patroness of birth. As Moon goddess and wife of the Sun god Itzamná (the supreme deity), Ix-chel occupied a central place in Yucatán Mayan mythology. Mayan women were especially fervent in their veneration of such sites.

The first Spaniard to discover the island was Juan de Grijalva in 1518, followed in 1519 by Hernán Cortés and in 1527 by Francisco de Montejo. The latter aimed to use it as a base from which to take control of the entire Yucatán. When Cortés landed, there were some 40,000 people living on the island.

In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Cozumel served primarily as a refuge for pirates and smugglers, including Henry Morgan, Laurent de Graff, Long John Silver and Jean Lafitte. In the second half of the 19th c. many refugees from the "Caste Wars" fled the mainland to Cozumel. During the Second World War the old town of San Miguel was bulldozed to make way for a U.S. airforce base.

In September 1988 hurricane "Gilbert" swept over Cozumel at 370 k.p.h (230 m.p.h.), causing severe damage to everything in its path.

In 1997, in spite of protests from environmental protectionists, plans were provisionally agreed for a large pier to be built near Paradise Reef as part of the Puerta Maya Project.