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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05/18/2026 - Numbers remain the same this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 21 ships registered to dock as we head closer to the end of May. This is the same amount of ships as last week and 1 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 14 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 73,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 7.8 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, 6 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 4 ships will dock, 4 ships will dock on Tuesday, 4 ships on Wednesday, 2 ships on Thursday, 4 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
Margaritaville At Sea Paradise Makes First Call In Cozumel With Over 1,300 Passengers
The cruise ship Margaritaville at Sea Paradise made its inaugural call in Cozumel last week, carrying more than 1,300 passengers and crew members. The vessel docked at the SSA Mexico International Cruise Terminal, where local officials and company representatives held a traditional plaque exchange ceremony.
According to federal data recently released by the Tourism Department, Mexican ports received 3.6 million cruise passengers in the first quarter of 2026, a 9.9% increase compared to the same period last year. During their stay, passengers and crew visited various tourist attractions on the island, including beaches, shopping areas, and natural sites.
The arrival of the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise adds to Cozumel’s steady stream of cruise traffic throughout the year. The island maintains one of the largest cruise operations in Latin America, driven by its strategic Caribbean location and port infrastructure. After its stop in Cozumel, the ship continued its itinerary to West Palm Beach, Florida, according to the cruise line’s schedule.
Favorable Conditions Created For Development Of New Coral Colonies
The Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) says “favorable conditions” continue for coral development. The FPMC says in coordination with community volunteers, they have created favorable conditions for the development of new coral colonies. The new colonies reflect encouraging progress in the restoration of this important ecosystem.
Rafael Chacón Díaz, the Director of Conservation and Environmental Education (CEA), said that the Chankanaab Lagoon is considered a unique place in the world, primarily because it is a coastal saltwater cenote that harbors reef formations within it. This “small sea” the meaning of Chankanaab in the Mayan language, combines unique ecosystems with immense marine biodiversity, making it a large, protected natural aquarium. The reduction of sediments, organic matter and waste has allowed for better light penetration and higher water quality, essential factors for the photosynthesis of zooxanthellae, symbiotic organisms that live in the tissues of the coral and are key to its growth and survival. As a result of this sustained effort, juvenile colonies show healthier development, demonstrating that active ecosystem management not only contributes to their protection but also boosts their natural recovery processes.
Juanita Alonso Marrufo, the FPMC General Director, highlighted that these actions are in relation to the conservation of nature, which promotes the responsible care of resources and social participation in the protection of the environment. “Restoration also involves caring for the environment that gives life to the coral ecosystem,” she emphasized, concluding that they continue working with the community to preserve Cozumel’s natural wealth for future generations.
Government Environmental Sector Meets With Greenpeace Mexico To Discuss Yucatan Peninsula
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) met with Greenpeace to discuss the rainforest. The two sides met to talk about the conservation of the Mayan rainforest and land use planning in the Yucatan Peninsula. The Yucatan Peninsula rainforest is being illegally cleared for agriculture and real estate development.
Semarnat (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) reported that a meeting was held with the management team of Greenpeace Mexico in which the environmental organization’s concerns about the environmental impacts in the Mayan rainforest and the need for better land management on the Yucatan Peninsula were addressed. Semarnat public officials explained that the land use planning process in Tulum is being updated and that significant progress has been made with the land use planning in Bacalar, Benito Juárez, Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos. They emphasized the importance of working in coordination with the states to identify irregular settlements and shared that the level of scrutiny of environmental impact permits has been increased with a preventive approach. Regarding wildlife, Semarnat reported on a project with the Global Environment Facility that is underway and seeks to promote the coexistence of three emblematic animal species in Mexico, particularly the jaguar in the Yucatan Peninsula. Also participating was the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), who stated that it maintains ongoing inspection and surveillance efforts in the Yucatan Peninsula. From inspections, the following, they reported, include 64 illegal real estate developments closed of which 31 are in Yucatan, two in Campeche and 31 in Quintana Roo.
An inter-institutional roundtable against illegal logging in Quintana Roo to curb deforestation caused by agro-industrial expansion has been created and the total and definitive closure of the Peninsular Livestock Pig Farm. Inspection visits to pig farms in 20 municipalities in the state of Yucatan led to eight criminal cases against the farms. Profepa says they are working on the design and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address the socio-environmental problems generated by the swine industry. Permanent inspection and surveillance actions to curb illegal occupations and changes in land use in forested areas of the Yucatan Peninsula, among others.
Similarly, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) reported that there are 39 Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) on the Yucatan Peninsula, which are constantly monitored and followed up. Additionally, as part of long-term efforts, a historic agreement was signed between Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize for the creation of the Great Mayan Forest Biocultural Corridor (CBGSM), which protects 5.7 million hectares for the benefit of more than 7,000 species, 200 at risk, 50 priority species and 250 endemic to Mexico. The National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC) highlighted the community surveillance work they are doing in the area and the assessments they are preparing on the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Likewise, the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) stated that funding has been provided for forest management in the Campeche and Quintana Roo regions, and that they recently began working with municipalities in the region on fire management. The National Water Commission (Conagua) also stated that it will strengthen monitoring of water quality from pig farms. In response, Greenpeace recognized the institutional openness and proposed the creation of thematic working groups with the participation of authorities from all three levels of government, academia, local communities, and social organizations, not only as consultees but also as active agents in the design and implementation of solutions.
A second meeting is planned to consolidate concrete agreements. The Mexican government’s environmental sector reaffirms its commitment to the conservation of the Mayan Rainforest and its full openness to dialogue with communities and social organizations.
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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05/18/2026 - Numbers remain the same this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 21 ships registered to dock as we head closer to the end of May. This is the same amount of ships as last week and 1 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 14 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 73,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 7.8 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
