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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04/20/2026 - Numbers go down again this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 22 ships registered to dock as it seems that we are reaching the end of high season. This is 4 fewer ships than last week and 2 more 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 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 ships will dock, 3 ships will dock on Tuesday, 4 ships on Wednesday, 3 ships on Thursday, 3 ships on Friday, 3 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 2 ships in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Xcaret Cancels Sacred Mayan Journey For 2026 After Court Ruling
Grupo Xcaret has announced the cancellation of the upcoming Travesía Sagrada Maya (Sacred Mayan Journey) following a recent ruling by Mexico’s Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación. The decision comes after the court ordered the company to stop using Mayan symbolism in its promotional materials. According to Xcaret, moving forward with the event under those conditions could be interpreted as noncompliance with the court’s mandate. Rather than risk that, the company has opted to cancel the 2026 edition entirely. Whether the event will return in the future remains unclear. The cancellation affects 333 canoeros who had already been preparing for the annual crossing.
For nearly two decades, the Travesía Sagrada Maya has recreated a pre-Hispanic pilgrimage believed to have been carried out by ancient Maya communities. Participants paddle traditional-style canoes from the mainland, historically from the port of Polé, near present-day Xcaret, to the island of Cozumel. The journey honors Ixchel, a central figure in Maya cosmology, and has become a visually striking spectacle that draws both locals and visitors each year. But despite its popularity, the event has long walked a fine line between cultural celebration and commercial production. This cancellation highlights a growing and often uncomfortable conversation happening across Mexico: who has the right to represent Indigenous culture and who profits from it.
In recent years, Indigenous communities and legal advocates have pushed back against the commercial use of traditional symbols, ceremonies, and identity, especially when those representations are controlled by private companies rather than the communities themselves. While full details of the Supreme Court’s ruling have yet to be widely clarified, the message is clear. The use of Mayan imagery, particularly in large-scale, ticketed tourism experiences, is facing increased scrutiny. The loss of the Travesía Sagrada Maya leaves a noticeable gap in the region’s cultural calendar. The event has been more than just a performance. It has served as a major promotional centerpiece for Xcaret and a seasonal draw for visitors.
Looking ahead, several questions remain: Will Xcaret adapt the event to comply with the ruling? Could Indigenous communities take a more active or leading role in future versions? And might this decision ripple out to affect other cultural experiences across the Riviera Maya? For now, one thing is certain. A tradition that blended history, performance, and tourism has been paused, caught at the intersection of culture, commerce, and the law.
Migratory Terns Begin Arrival And Nesting At Cozumel’s Punta Sur Ecotourism Park
With the arrival of spring, migratory terns have started nesting on the beaches of Punta Sur Ecotourism Park, where the first colonies are establishing themselves to continue their reproductive cycle in a favorable environment.
Among the species that have begun to arrive are the Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), the Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), and the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), with the latter being the only one that nests in the area, according to Rafael Chacón Díaz, director of Conservation and Environmental Education at the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC). He explained that these birds choose specific sites like Punta Sur because they find the necessary conditions for nesting, including extensive sandy stretches, low vegetation, and proximity to food-rich areas. The Least Tern lays its eggs directly on the sand, relying on natural camouflage and the tranquility of the environment to protect its young.
The presence of these birds not only represents a natural spectacle that enriches the experience for visitors and the community but also serves as an indicator of the good health of coastal ecosystems. In this sense, Punta Sur is consolidating as a space where conservation and environmental balance allow these species to find a safe refuge for reproduction year after year. However, the success of nesting largely depends on respect for their habitat. Human presence, as well as the proximity of wild animals, can endanger the nests. Therefore, during this season, the FPMC is calling on the public and visitors to strengthen environmental awareness, respect signage, and avoid approaching the colonies by maintaining a prudent distance. “The arrival of the terns is a reminder that Punta Sur is much more than a tourist destination: it is a natural sanctuary where biodiversity is safeguarded and where the cycle of life renews each season,” said Juanita Alonso Marrufo, general director of the FPMC.
Mexican Swimmer Completes 80-Kilometer Open Water Crossing from Cozumel to Cancún
Mexican endurance swimmer David Olvera, nicknamed “The FreezeWiz,” completed an 80-kilometer open water crossing from Cozumel to Cancún recently, marking a significant feat in his career. The swim began at sunrise and ended after dark, with Olvera reaching shore to cheers from supporters. This achievement follows his Guinness World Record set in June 2025 for circling Manhattan Island in 5 hours and 34 minutes.
Olvera is known for his ability to withstand extreme cold, but this challenge involved tropical heat and strong currents in the Yucatán Channel. He faced physical fatigue and psychological demands, including swimming in total darkness during the final stretch. “The body reaches a point where it wants to stop, but the mind and commitment to Mexico keep you going,” team members said after his arrival. Olvera has built a reputation as a boundary-pushing athlete, combining yoga, meditation, and mental discipline to prepare for ultra-distance swims. His transformation from viewing his mind as his “worst enemy” to his greatest tool has inspired younger athletes.
Key Details of the Swim Swimmer: David Olvera, alias “The FreezeWiz” Distance: 80 kilometers (Cozumel to Cancún) Recent Milestone: Guinness World Record holder in 2025 Profile: Specialist in extreme endurance and mental control under critical conditions This crossing highlights the potential of Mexican athletes on the international stage, with Olvera already looking ahead to new challenges.
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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04/20/2026 - Numbers go down again this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 22 ships registered to dock as it seems that we are reaching the end of high season. This is 4 fewer ships than last week and 2 more 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 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. 
