Beginning in December 2002, Insider was proudly the first website to provide readers the Cozumel News in English.
Articles are slected from local newspapers which we feel will be of interest to our diverse audience. These articles are then translated into English. We cannot always investigate the veracity of a particular article but offer these translations as a reflection of the Cozumel community news just as reporters write it for Por Esto, Diario de Quintana Roo, Novedades and El Seminario and many other sources.
We appreciate hearing from our readers and welcome your questions, suggestions and comments. Please send them to: questions@cozumelinsider.com
Note: All translated articles are the property of Cozumel Insider and cannot be used, displayed or reproduced without express written permission from Cozumel Insider.
07/13/2026 - Numbers go up by 1 this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 20 ships registered to dock as we enjoy the heat of Summer. This is 1 more ship than last week and the same as the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 19 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 70,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 7.5 million dollars behind in the local economy.
High season for cruise ship arrivals typically runs from November 15 - April 15 each year with the remaining 7 months of the year considered "low season." This week Puerta Maya pier will be host to 9 ships docking there, 5 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 6 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 3 ships will dock, 5 ships will dock on Tuesday, 4 ships on Wednesday, 4 ships on Thursday, 1 ships on Friday, 3 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 0 ships in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Cozumel’s Isla de la Pasión Named World’s Best Beach By TripAdvisor
Isla de la Pasión, a beach on the northern tip of Cozumel, has been named the world’s best beach in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards, beating out destinations in Greece, Aruba, Portugal, Thailand and the United States. The award recognizes the highest level of excellence in travel, given to destinations, hotels, tours and other attractions that receive a high volume of exceptional reviews from the TripAdvisor community over a 12-month period. Isla de la Pasión surpassed beaches such as Elafonisi and Balos Lagoon in Crete, Greece; Eagle Beach in Aruba; Falésia in Portugal; Banano Beach in Thailand; and La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. Other top contenders included La Pelosa Beach in Sardinia, Italy; Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia; Boulders Beach Penguin Colony in South Africa; Falassarna Beach in Crete; and Playa Muro in Mallorca, Spain.
Located about 25 minutes by boat from San Miguel de Cozumel, Isla de la Pasión combines white sand, shallow waters and a mangrove ecosystem that supports diverse flora and fauna. Although called an island, it is actually a small peninsula or islet connected by a natural sandbar formed by hurricanes and coastal dynamics over the years. The site also holds historical significance: in pre-Hispanic times, it was considered a sacred place by the Maya and was associated with the worship of the goddess Ixchel.
Today, Isla de la Pasión is a popular destination for tourists and cruise passengers, offering activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding and relaxation. Its calm waters make it ideal for swimming, while its mangrove ecosystem plays a key role in biodiversity conservation in northern Cozumel.
Quintana Roo Continues Work On Coastal Guidelines For Beach Zoning Plan
The state continues its efforts to develop guidelines in the coastal zoning plan of Quintana Roo. The guidelines are meant to deal with the state’s continued problem with mass beach erosion.
The head of the Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), Oscar Rébora Aguilera, reported that the state government is working on the development of guidelines that could become the first coastal zoning plan in the country. The goal he says is to speed up beach restoration and recovery projects in Quintana Roo. He explained that the guidelines will allow the definition of specific zones according to the natural characteristics of each coastline, such as geomorphology, type of sand and erosion conditions, thus facilitating the environmental processes necessary to develop coastal recovery projects. “We are working on guidelines that could lead to the first coastal management plan in the country. It is similar to POEL (Local Economic Development Plan), where we can define certain areas based on their geomorphology, the type of sediment, and the conditions of the beaches in the state,” he said. Rébora Aguilera indicated that this model would allow for more agile Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) since it would have prior studies that would simplify the technical and administrative processes. “Environmental impact assessments would be much simpler because this planning process would already have many of the necessary advancements. We would save a lot of time on that,” he explained.
The head of SEMA stressed that the erosion problem is not limited to Cancun or Riviera Maya but affects different areas of the Quintana Roo coast where some beaches lose sand more quickly than others. “It’s not just Cancun. We have an erosion problem throughout the entire state. There are places where we are losing much more beach than in others and we need to find a comprehensive solution,” he stated. He also stated that the goal is to move beyond temporary solutions such as simply filling with sand and instead focus on long-term ecological restoration strategies. “You can’t just grab the sand, dredge it, and repave the beaches. It’s a quick fix, but what we’re looking for today is to rebuild the coastal dunes, the seagrass beds, and even have a regenerative vision for the corals themselves,” he pointed out. Rébora Aguilera added that the project has required more than a year and a half of technical work together with academics, scientists and specialists, in order to build a solid model that allows for a sustainable approach to coastal erosion in Quintana Roo. “It involves a lot of technical work and also getting many specialists to agree in order to make joint decisions, but these guidelines will give us a roadmap for how the beaches should be restored,” he concluded.
Teotihuacán Overtakes Chichén Itzá As Mexico’s Most Visited Archaeological Site
Chichén Itzá has lost its position as Mexico’s most visited archaeological site, at least temporarily, as a dispute over a new visitor center drives a sharp decline in tourism. Teotihuacán, in the State of Mexico, surpassed the Maya wonder in May and November 2025, according to data from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Yucatán’s cultural tourism dropped 8.7% in the first half of 2026, with 1,392,656 visitors to its archaeological sites and museums from January to June, down from 1,526,027 in the same period last year. Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, saw 984,119 tourists in the semester, a 13.8% decline of 157,651 visitors year-on-year.
The crisis centers on the Catvi (Visitor Attention Center), opened by INAH on March 27, 2026. Vendors and artisans who previously operated at the old tourist stop and inside the archaeological zone refuse to relocate there, arguing the move cuts their sales. The conflict escalated in May when a group of merchants occupied the facilities, shutting the site for 11 days until INAH reopened it on June 1. The closure coincided with Chichén’s worst month: May saw a 34.5% monthly drop in visitors, with only 104,117 tourists compared to Teotihuacán’s 110,113 a margin of just 5,996. In November 2025, Teotihuacán had already overtaken Chichén by a larger margin of 64,934 visitors. Chichén Itzá had held the top spot since 2020, when it surpassed Teotihuacán during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its intermittent fall to second place signals that the vendor conflict is now measurably affecting its national standing.
The negative trend extends beyond Chichén. After a promising January (313,390 visitors, up 9.2% from 2025), Yucatán’s cultural tourism plunged 23.9% in February, rebounded 17.3% in March due to spring equinox events, then fell 17.2% in April, 28% in May, and 2.4% in June. Chichén lost visitors in four of the first six months of 2026 compared to 2025: down 22.4% in February, 28.1% in April, 26.4% in May, and 0.97% in June. Only January and March saw annual increases of 12.8% and 1.5%, respectively. However, June showed signs of recovery, with 161,011 visitors, up 17.3% from May and just 0.97% below June 2025. That was the smallest annual variation of the semester and the only one suggesting stabilization after the 11-day closure.
In June, the five most visited sites in Yucatán were: Chichén Itzá (122,165), Uxmal (11,542), Ek Balam (5,164), Dzibilchaltún (3,562), and Xcambó (3,121). Chichén remains dominant within the state, with a lead of over 110,000 visitors over second-place Uxmal. In Quintana Roo, which holds fourth place nationally, Tulum attracted 28,246 visitors in June, followed by Chacchoben with 17,716. In Campeche, which dropped from 11th to 12th in the national ranking, Edzná drew 2,579 visitors and Calakmul just 1,202, highlighting the state’s underdeveloped tourism potential. Yucatán remains the second most popular cultural destination in Mexico, behind Mexico City. Despite the overall decline, Chichén Itzá remains the top archaeological site for foreign visitors, with 70,591 paid foreign tickets in June 2026, ahead of the National Museum of Anthropology (36,315) and Teotihuacán (30,377). It is the preferred destination for international tourists and ranks fourth among Mexican visitors, with 51,574 nationals in June.
The numbers reflect a struggle between modernizing the site and preserving the livelihoods of generations of artisans. INAH insists on moving vendors to the Catvi to streamline access, while opponents argue the relocation threatens their income, a conflict that has already cost thousands of visitors and a once-uncontested national lead. The challenge for authorities is to resolve the dispute before Chichén’s advantage over Teotihuacán, now reduced to a few thousand tourists, disappears entirely. If the June recovery holds in the second half of the year, Yucatán could narrow the gap with 2025’s total of 2,925,988 visitors. But if the Catvi conflict drags on, the state risks falling below that threshold for the first time since the pandemic.
Need a LEGAL U.S. Notary Service? THIS is your solution!
It has happened to ALL of us U.S. Citizens who spend significant amounts of time living / working in Cozumel: reading the dreaded words on a document from back home: "Notarized Signature Required." It's such a simple thing and no one wants the added expense of travelling back to the U.S. just to have their signature notarized but there are many legal processes in the U.S.A. where nothing BUT a notarized signature will be accepted.
Some common documents that U.S. Citizens need notarized while living abroad are: Real Estate Deeds or Mortgages, executing Wills, Powers of Attorney, requests for Birth / Marriage / Death Certificates, Permission for a parent to get a minor’s US Passport, banking / insurance / bonding documents, permission for a minor to travel without parents or application for duplicate or replacement vehicle titles just to name a few.
In the past, the most common solution was for a U.S. Citizen to make their way to the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy where notaries are always available but the fees involved can be quite expensive. In addition there is the cost of actually travelling to the Consulate and who knows if appointments will even be available especially if the notarized signature is needed urgently. Plus from Cozumel that Consulate visit includes the cost of a ferry round trip to get to Playa del Carmen. All of these complicating factors just create more of a headache for something that is supposed to be relatively easy and inexpensive.
Another option frequently used has been that of a U.S. Notary operating outside of their country and jurisdiction. While this option is usually easy and cheap (often free or for a donation), it is one of those situations where "you get what you pay for" because technically these U.S. Notaries are operating ILLEGALLY as they are outside the legal jurisdiction for which they are authorized to notarize documents. In theory an illegal notarization could be attacked and challenged in the future and nullified causing legal issues with the documents signed. A fraud challenge to a Notary operating outside of the USA, simply involves a court asking the Notary to present their passport to the judge. Immigration stamps inside the passport will prove the Notary's whereabouts when documents were signed and if this was done inside the Notary's legal jurisdiction or illegally outside their authorized jurisdiction.
So do yourself a favor and avoid any future Signature Notary problems by utilizing an ON-LINE NOTARY SERVICE. Thanks to remote online notarization (RON), you can notarize a document from anywhere in the world, using your computer or mobile device and the internet. It takes only 10 minutes and is quite an easy process right from the comfort of your own home or office any hour of the day or night.
All you need to do is click this link 24/7 Online Notary Service To use this service, the fee is $25 USD and you must have a device with audio- visual capabilities (like a smart phone, tablet or PC) and proof of identity (a valid US Government-issued photo ID such as a Driver’s License or Passport). You can then access and meet with a licensed Notary Public who will notarize your papers in a matter of minutes. The process is easy, quick, efficient and AVAILABLE 24/7 online!! So WHY take a chance doing it any other way?!
If You Are Reading This .....
Then FOR SURE you will want to sign up for our Cozumel Travel Talk Bulletin!
With monthly or bi-monthly publication to a voluntary "opt in" mailing list already exceeding 10,000 subscribing Cozumel travelers, we never share your information and promise not to flood your mailbox! Just great stories and good information for Cozumel travelers who want to get the most out of their vacation time on the island! So scroll up to the menu bar at the top of this page and enter your email address to SUBSCRIBE and start receiving our Cozumel Travel Talk Bulletin!
September 6, 2024 (Most Recent) Comprehensive Mexico Travel Warning
U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Mexico Issued SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 shows the Mexican State of Quintana Roo (includes Cozumel, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, and Tulum) to be a LEVEL 2 Advisory - Exercise Increased Caution (Level 4 Advisory is Highest Risk):
There are "NO RESTRICTIONS" on U.S. government employees for travel to "ANY PARTS" of Quintana Roo state, which includes tourist areas such as: Cozumel, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum. However, U.S. government employees are advised to exercise increased situational awareness and caution after dark in the areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.
U.S. citizens should as always exercise increased caution and be aware that according to Government of Mexico statistics, criminal activities and violence, including homicide, remain a concern throughout the State. While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted, criminal organization assassinations and turf battles between criminal groups that have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Bystanders injuries, while rare, have occurred. While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have killed or injured innocent bystanders. Additionally, U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas.
The Mexico Travel Warning dated September 6, 2024 from the Department of State can also be viewed in its entirety on the Department of State website.
Copyright 2000 - 2026 Sherri Davis, All Rights Reserved. Contributors retain the copyright to their work. Please do not take art or written content without permission. Other graphics and reference materials are used and attributed as per the Fair Use Provision of The Copyright Act and individual terms of use.
07/13/2026 - Numbers go up by 1 this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 20 ships registered to dock as we enjoy the heat of Summer. This is 1 more ship than last week and the same as the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 19 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 70,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 7.5 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
