Cozumel  island was originally a Mayan enclave for oceanic trade either between parts of the Mayan empire or with other powers in South and Central America. There seems to be some variations in the origins of the name but the one I like the best is Ah-Cuzamil-Paten or "Land of the Swallows." I would imagine because there were a lot of the aforementioned bird residing there. Although trade was important it seems secondary to the main function of the island; it was a temple to Ixchel , the moon goddess of fertility and childbirth. It seems that pregnant women, women about to give birth, or women wanting to conceive generally made a kind of Hajj to the shrine on the island. The irony of course is that women going to see a fertility goddess during a full moon are a little more likely to give birth on the spot.  

Cozumel island is a wonderful vacation destination for a number of reasons. There's the great, affordable food -- both at restaurants and at the island's numerous markets. Attractive accommodation options are available to fit just about anyone's pocketbook. And let's not forget the excellent snorkeling and the undisputed fact that Cozumel boasts some of the very best diving in the world!. 

  We have all the major conveniences here like a modern airport and high-speed internet access. Yet the island has retained the charm of its Mayan/Mexican roots.And unlike some caribbean islands and Mexican resort towns Cozumel is an extraordinarily safe place to visit. This makes it a perfect place to dip into a fascinating foreign culture without having to watching your back every second.

This section of the site is for folks who aren't already familiar with vacationing on the island. We've provided a bit of background information about Cozumel and it's interesting little city of San Miguel which may interest you. Also check out our Frequently Asked Questions. And if you still don't see an answer to your question, check our Discussion Forums which are a font of current information.

NEW: Lana Tolman, world-traveler, shares her in-depth analysis of cellphones that will work on Cozumel. Check it Out Here.

Also updated recently, Taxi Charts that will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect to pay as you toodle around the island on your own.