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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Note: All translated articles are the property of Cozumel Insider and cannot be used, displayed or reproduced without express written permission from Cozumel Insider.
08/03/2026 - Numbers drop just a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 19 ships registered to dock as we head into August. This is 2 fewer ships than last week and 1 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 20 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 66,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 7.1 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 6 ships docking there, 6 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 ships will dock, 3 ships will dock on Tuesday, 2 ships on Wednesday, 4 ships on Thursday, 3 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
Mangroves In Cozumel At Risk: Up To 25% Damaged By Pollution And Invasive Species
Up to a quarter of Cozumel’s mangroves have been damaged or severely degraded by urban expansion, pollution, and invasive species, according to local environmentalists. Although more than 70% of the island falls under some form of protection, data from the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) indicates that between 15% and 25% of the original mangrove area already shows deterioration.
Lupita Martín, a representative of the environmental group Conservación, Investigación y Manejo Ambiental de Cozumel, said real estate and tourism development are among the main pressures on these ecosystems, particularly when construction alters vegetation, dunes, wetlands, or natural water flows. “The mangrove needs to maintain its natural dynamics and connection with other ecosystems. When land is filled, terrain is altered, or contaminants arrive, the damage begins,” she said. Martín also pointed to wastewater discharges and filtration into the subsoil as a growing concern. Given Cozumel’s porous limestone terrain, contaminants can reach the aquifer and eventually coastal ecosystems, she warned.Environmentalist Jenni Chan noted that wetlands serve multiple ecological functions, including providing refuge and breeding grounds for various species, trapping sediment, and reducing wave and storm impacts along certain coastal areas. “There is a connection between the aquifer, mangroves, seagrasses, and reefs. Changes in one of these environments can affect the others, so conservation must be approached comprehensively,” Chan said.
Restoration efforts are underway in zones such as Laguna Colombia, located within the Punta Sur park. These include rehabilitating hydrological flows and other interventions aimed at encouraging natural regeneration. Manuel Sánchez, a volunteer in environmental activities, stressed that rehabilitation must be paired with prevention. “Restoring an area takes time; that is why it is also necessary to prevent new damage and keep wetlands under surveillance,” he said. The activists added that preservation will depend on both restoration programs and enforcement of environmental regulations governing new developments and activities in coastal zones.
Turtle Rescue In Cozumel: Green Sea Turtle Saved Thanks To Citizen Report
A green sea turtle that became stranded on Playa San Martin was rescued and returned to the ocean last week thanks to a swift citizen report, municipal officials said.
The turtle, a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), had come ashore to nest but flipped onto its back due to natural causes, leaving it unable to return to the water. Specialists from the Subdirectorate of Ecology’s turtle team arrived at the scene and carefully moved the reptile to the shoreline, where they performed reanimation and hydration procedures for about five hours. The turtle recovered fully and made its way back to the sea in good condition. Authorities credited the rescue to a timely report from a member of the public, emphasizing that such alerts allow for immediate intervention to protect protected species.
So far this nesting season, the turtle team, in coordination with firefighters and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA), has rescued seven sea turtles: four loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and three green (Chelonia mydas).
Quintana Roo First State In Mexico To Register Bull Shark Through Geographical Indication
The state of Quintana Roo has started the process for the environmental conservation of the bull shark. Quintana Roo began the official registration process to protect the bull shark through a geographical indication before the IMPI (Mexican Institute of Industrial Property).
Governor Mara Lezama says the process will protect the bull shark and promote its responsible use through sightings in its natural habitat. She reported that the application has already been published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, making Quintana Roo the first state in Mexico and the first in the world to promote a geographical indication of this nature. She explained that traditionally, geographical indications are granted to products derived from animals or foods, such as dairy and meat products. However, in this case, the proposal has a different focus, which is to protect the bull shark as a living species and turn it into an element of sustainable development. “The most important thing is to take care of the species, protect it so that it does not become extinct, and generate an economic activity based on its conservation,” she said.
The initiative aims to shift the economic value of the bull shark from the primary sector to the tertiary sector, promoting tourism activities focused on observing the marine life, allowing tourists to appreciate them off the Quintana Roo coast. Every year between November and March, bull sharks arrive in the waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Governor Lezama pointed out that the proposal will contribute to environmental balance, strengthen the conservation of marine biodiversity, and generate local development opportunities for communities linked to tourism. She said the procedure must comply with various legal stages including a period of consultation and review by interested third parties before the official recognition of the geographical indication can be finalized. If obtained, this distinction would join other emblematic products of the region that have protection and recognition of origin, such as Quintana Roo honey, Mayan octopus, Mayan chewing gum and the designation of origin of the habanero chili.
The head of the state executive branch affirmed that this initiative represents a great step forward for the protection of the bull shark and for strengthening the tourism offering of the Mexican Caribbean.
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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08/03/2026 - Numbers drop just a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 19 ships registered to dock as we head into August. This is 2 fewer ships than last week and 1 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 20 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 66,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 7.1 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
