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.
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10/20/2025 - Numbers go up quite a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 22 ships registered to dock as we head towards the end of October. This is 6 more ships than last week and 2 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 25 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 77,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 8.2 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 8 ships docking there, 7 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 7 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 4 ship will dock, 6 ships will dock on Tuesday, 3 ships on Wednesday, 3 ships on Thursday, 2 ships on Friday, 3 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 1 ship in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Cozumel Welcomed The Norwegian Aqua Cruise Ship For The First Time
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Aqua cruise ship arrived for the first time at Cozumel's Punta Langosta dock last Friday, bringing with it more than 5,000 passengers and crew, in a stopover that represents a new boost for the island's tourism industry. The arrival ceremony was led by state and municipal authorities, who welcomed the visitors. "This is a brand-new, state-of-the-art cruise ship, and in some ways these arrivals benefit Cozumel because they strengthen its economic impact and consolidate its position as a leading port in the Caribbean," said Pablo Aguilar Torres, representative of the Cozumel Tourism Board.
The ship, which sails from ports like Orlando, calls at Cozumel on routes that also include Great Stirrup Cay, Falmouth (Jamaica), and George Town (Grand Cayman). Launched in April 2025, the Norwegian Aqua is the first ship in Norwegian Cruise Line's Prima Plus class, an evolution of the Prima class that includes the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. Larger than its predecessors, it features expanded outdoor spaces, expansive open decks, water slides, new dining options, and unprecedented attractions, such as the Aqua Slidecoaster, the first combination roller coaster and slide at sea. It has capacity for 3,571 passengers and 1,597 crew members, for a total of 5,168 people on board. Its sister ship is the Norwegian Luna.
The event featured the ship's captain and his team of officers, as well as local and state authorities, who warmly welcomed the gigantic ship, which can accommodate more than 6,000 passengers, while live mariachi music played on the SSA pier.
Cozumel Reef Rest Periods Boost Coral Recovery
The strategy of implementing rest periods for reefs within the Cozumel Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, or PNAC) has functioned effectively, leading to a greater presence of marine fauna in impacted zones and a reduction in the severity of diseases such as White Syndrome and Bleaching. This is according to data from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, or CONANP). The program involves closing specific reef areas to tourism for two-month periods to reduce the presence of boats and tourist activities.
Blanca Alicia Quiroga García, director of CONANP Cozumel, stated that the rest periods for the park's coral reefs have been maintained. A recent closure was applied to the Colombia Reef encompassing its shallow, intermediate, and deep sections as well as Palancar, Caves, and Bricks (Palancar, cuevas y ladrillos). During these two months, access for divers and snorkelers is prohibited, and the general entry of boats is avoided. Quiroga García said the application of these rest periods has allowed for the presence of more marine fauna, including species that had previously left the reef areas but have now returned. Furthermore, the reefs are no longer experiencing diseases like coral bleaching or White Syndrome. However, these initial findings are yet to be fully corroborated. The reefs are currently in a monitoring phase. More conclusive results on the state of the coral reefs within the PNAC are expected in 2026, or potentially by the end of 2025.
In the meantime, campaigns to promote care for the protected marine zones continue. Visitors are strongly recommended to avoid using sunscreen or tanning lotions before entering the water to reduce the introduction of foreign substances. The campaigns also aim to prevent poor diving practices, such as cutting pieces of coral, damaging them with fins, or disturbing the sandy seabed.
Possible New Crocodile Species Found in Cozumel’s Punta Sur
The Punta Sur Ecological Reserve served as the backdrop for a scientific documentation effort as part of an audiovisual report. The journalistic project, set to be published by the environmental news outlet Mongabay LATAM, was led by environmental reporter Patricio Medina and videographer Miguel Ángel Guillermo. The team captured footage and testimonies in the "Laguna Colombia" area, a natural habitat for crocodiles with unique characteristics that may classify them as a new species.
The visit was part of a series of international segments titled Scientific Expeditions, produced by Mongabay LATAM, which has a broad reach across Latin America and the world. During their stay in Cozumel, the documentary team was accompanied by biologist Héctor González Cortés, deputy director of the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park, a division of the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC). The team expressed gratitude for the access and key information provided for the filming. The expedition is linked to over a decade of research conducted by Dr. José Ávila and Dr. Pierre Charruau, members of the Crocodile Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. According to the experts, the crocodiles inhabiting Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro exhibit genetic, morphological, and ecological differences compared to other known species, which could lead to their recognition as new scientific species. If confirmed, this discovery would increase Mexico’s officially recognized crocodile species from three to five, solidifying the country’s position as one of the most biodiverse in terms of these reptiles. During filming, the crocodiles were observed in their natural habitat, yielding valuable material for scientific outreach. The filmmakers also highlighted the FPMC’s efforts in ecosystem conservation, restoration, and environmental education; key factors in protecting endemic and at-risk species.
FPMC Director General Juanita Alonso Marrufo emphasized that this collaboration aligns with the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, which prioritizes the protection of the state’s natural heritage.“Opening Punta Sur as a living laboratory reinforces our vision that scientific knowledge should be shared to raise environmental awareness and contribute to the common good. This documentary is an opportunity to showcase Cozumel’s ecological significance and the efforts to preserve its biodiversity”, she stated. Through such initiatives, the FPMC continues to advance scientific research, conservation, and the promotion of Cozumel as a model for balancing nature and sustainable development.
Municipal Inspectors Put A Stop To Illegal Puerto Morelos Land Clearing
A company illegally clearing a plot of Puerto Morelos land has been shut down. Authorities have said the illegal clearing was stopped earlier this year when the clearing crew were unable to provide permits. The Puerto Morelos City Council reported through the Municipal Secretariat of Environment, the shutting down of clearing after inspectors paid a visit to the land.
The area cleared is a 60 meter by 32-meter section of what was treed land located off the federal 307 highway. According the City Council inspectors, the land is located close to main entrance of the town of Puerto Morelos. Personnel from the agency, accompanied by the municipal Secretaries of Urban Development and Territorial Planning and Citizen Security, went to site to request their permits to clear the land, however, they failed to provide any municipal, state or federal vegetation clearing permits for the property. City inspectors proceeded to shut down the machinery and the site from further clearing. Inspectors did not say why the land was being cleared or who was clearing it.
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?!
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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.
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10/20/2025 - Numbers go up quite a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 22 ships registered to dock as we head towards the end of October. This is 6 more ships than last week and 2 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 25 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 77,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 8.2 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
