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.
12/01/2025 - Numbers remain the same this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 36 ships registered to dock as we welcome the final month of the year. This is the same number of ships as last week and 16 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 28 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 126,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 13.5 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 16 ships docking there, 9 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 11 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in. 5 On Monday 5 ships will dock, 6 ships will dock on Tuesday, 6 ships on Wednesday, 7 ships on Thursday, 7 ships on Friday, 4 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 Cruise Arrivals To Surge In 2026
The island of Cozumel is projected to conclude the year 2025 with approximately 1,285 cruise ship arrivals, a figure that narrowly surpasses the 2024 total by just four vessels. According to forecasts from the Administration Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo (APIQROO), a significant increase in these numbers is anticipated for 2026, driven by growing demand from cruise tourists.
Miguel Alonso Marrufo, the APIQROO representative on the island, provided the data. He stated that last year, 2024, saw 1,281 arrivals with 4.623 million passengers. This represented a substantial increase compared to 2023, when the port received only 1,156 cruise ships carrying 4.086 million passengers, signaling significant growth in the destination's popularity. Based on these figures and the arrival schedules communicated by cruise lines, the year 2026 could see a considerable rise in the number of arriving ships. This is expected to push passenger numbers beyond 4.6 million, though it remains uncertain whether the 5-million-passenger mark will be reached, which would set a new arrival record for Cozumel. Carnival Corporation, a major cruise line, is projecting a significant increase in maritime tourist arrivals, further solidifying the island's status as one of the most important ports in the Caribbean. According to the company's plans, it aims to reach 2.2 million passengers in 2026, after having contributed 1.7 million passengers last year.
Alonso Marrufo indicated that the peak season for cruise ship arrivals will have begun in the last two weeks of November. The numbers are expected to grow through December and January, which are projected to be the strongest months for vessel arrivals, accompanied by a corresponding increase in passenger disembarkation.
Lobster Catch Struggles In María Elena Due To Sargassum
Five months after the start of the lobster fishing season on María Elena Island, fishermen are slowly recovering from the impacts of sargassum.
Pablo Catzin Pech, Secretary of the Cozumel cooperative in the María Elena settlement, indicated that they have not managed to boost the catch of the crustacean, and with two months left until the season ends, the outlook appears difficult. “We remain the same, this downturn is due to the same reasons: the water is murky and now there is rainwater. The sargassum no longer washes ashore as before, but we are keeping up with the catch; it does not rebound, and there is also a lot of small lobster that does not reach commercial size. We need to select, and little is available for commercialization,” he stated via telephone. However, in another area of Cozumel, there is good production, which is cushioning the finances of the cooperative, he noted. A fisherman, with over 26 years of experience, mentioned that production has been low since the start due to sargassum, in which 50 fishermen face the onslaught of sargassum, which was the cause of the low lobster catch production. The lobster fishing season began on July 1, 2025, and concludes on February 28, 2026.
Rare Nurse Shark Mating Caught On Film In Cozumel
Two nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) were recently observed in the Punta Sur ecotourism park during a marine wildlife monitoring effort conducted by the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation in collaboration with videographer and documentarian Sean Rowan. The recording captured a rare mating behavior of the species, marking a significant discovery for researchers in the area. Biologists at the site emphasized that nurse sharks, listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and protected under Mexican regulations, play a critical role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region. As apex predators in reef and coastal ecosystems, their presence serves as a natural bioindicator, reflecting the health of the southern island’s marine environment.
Specialists noted that such non-invasive observations help assess the quality of the marine habitat. Continuous monitoring in the reserve is part of broader conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding keystone species like the nurse shark and preserving the equilibrium of Cozumel’s coastal ecosystems. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing research and protection measures to ensure the survival of these ecologically significant marine creatures.
Mexico’s Tidal Energy Discovery In Cozumel
Mexico is moving to change its long-standing dependence on polluting petroleum after discovering a treasure in the sea that is far more valuable and could provide vast amounts of clean energy.
The discovery is a hidden treasure located where it was least expected: in the sea. It is a source of clean and powerful energy with the potential to supply thousands of homes and leave behind the era of polluting fuels. The discovery is so promising that it could turn the region into one of the areas with the greatest energy potential in the world.The key lies in using the force of the sea to generate electricity reliably, something experts consider the 'holy grail' of the energy transition. The chosen location for this technological miracle is the Cozumel Channel, between the island and the Yucatán peninsula. While Pemex gives away its energy, Mexico is doing everything possible to find sources that are friendly to the planet and is now betting on tidal energy, which harnesses constant ocean currents. It is like wind energy, but it works on the seabed, using the force of water instead of wind.
Mexico is about to take a major leap with the launch of the first tidal energy project in Cozumel. The project is being developed in conjunction with the National Institute for Research in Electricity and Clean Energies. Four wind turbine generators will be installed at a depth of 82 meters. The turbines function like giant propellers that spin due to the speed of the water. This depth was chosen to maximize the powerful current while simultaneously minimizing any impact on marine fauna. It is a technology that seeks to be efficient and highly respectful of the environment.Unlike solar or wind power, which depends on whether the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, energy from the sea has a major advantage: it is constant. Ocean currents flow incessantly, making it a much safer and more reliable source of electricity for an electrical system.
Distant countries like South Korea, France, and Canada have already proven that this clean technology works very well, and the best part is that it does not pollute the planet. However, not everything is perfect and the project is not free of significant challenges.One of the biggest is the initial construction cost, as setting up all the infrastructure is quite expensive, especially when compared to the cost of installing solar panels. But the good news is that if sales increase, those prices should drop significantly over time.Another crucial challenge is the impact on nature. If not planned well, marine animals could be affected, or even the local climate of the area could be changed. Therefore, the Cozumel project demands a very serious commitment to protecting the ecosystem.Marine energy does not seek to replace other renewable sources, but to be a key piece that complements them. However, for this 'treasure' to be fully exploited, strong investment from the government and private companies is needed. Long-term planning is required and, above all, a complete awareness that the energy future must go hand in hand with ecological responsibility.
This is the moment to harness the inexhaustible force of the sea. Without a doubt, the discovery of the energy potential in the sea of Cozumel is great news for Mexico and the world, similar to the new advance with black energy. Tidal energy gives us the opportunity to obtain clean and constant electricity, something that seems impossible. The future of energy in the country is not underground, but at the bottom of the sea
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 - 2025 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.
12/01/2025 - Numbers remain the same this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 36 ships registered to dock as we welcome the final month of the year. This is the same number of ships as last week and 16 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 28 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 126,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 13.5 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
