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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02/16/2026 - Numbers go up by 1 this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 36 ships registered to dock as we celebrate Mardi Gras. This is 1 more ship than last week and 16 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 33 ships in port during the same week of 2025. 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 11 ships docking there, 11 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 14 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 5 ships will dock, 7 ships will dock on Tuesday, 6 ships on Wednesday, 6 ships on Thursday, 5 ships on Friday, 5 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
Temporary Reef Closures In Cozumel Aim To Support Coral Recovery
Environmental authorities have temporarily closed three popular coral reefs in Cozumel during February and March as part of an ongoing conservation strategy to help stressed ecosystems recover. The measure, announced by Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), affects El Cedral, Pared de El Cedral, and Punta Francesa, all located within the Cozumel Reefs National Park.
During the closure period, snorkeling and diving are prohibited at these sites. CONANP officials say the goal is to reduce human pressure on reefs showing signs of coral bleaching and White Syndrome, a disease that causes tissue loss and can lead to coral death if stressors persist. According to the agency, some areas have already shown early signs of regeneration, though recovery is gradual and difficult to measure in the short term. “These temporary closures seek to give the reefs a break and favor natural recovery processes,” CONANP stated, emphasizing that bleaching remains a broader regional challenge linked to rising sea temperatures and climate change. Seasonal or rotating reef closures are not new in Cozumel. The Cozumel Reefs National Park, established in 1996, has long used adaptive management, including temporary site closures, limits on diver numbers, and mandatory use of certified guides. These measures are widely supported by marine scientists as effective tools to reduce physical damage, stress, and disease transmission while allowing coral to regenerate.
The current restrictions are temporary, limited to February and March, and form part of a broader conservation framework that includes continuous monitoring and collaboration with academic institutions, according to CONANP. Some tourism operators have questioned the effectiveness of the closures, citing a lack of publicly available studies demonstrating measurable recovery. Others worry about the short-term economic impact, as the closed reefs are among the island’s most requested dive sites. Conservation specialists counter that protecting coral health is essential to the island’s long-term viability as a world-class dive destination. The Cozumel Reefs National Park contains 34 reefs and is part of the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Without intervention, disease, bleaching, and overuse could cause far greater and more permanent losses. Importantly, the majority of Cozumel’s reefs remain open. Dive operators are redirecting visitors to healthy sites such as Palancar Gardens, Colombia Shallows, Santa Rosa Wall, Paradise Reef, and Yucab, which continue to offer excellent visibility and biodiversity. Many of these reefs benefit indirectly from reduced pressure when other sites are temporarily closed.
For visitors, the closures may require flexibility, but they do not mean an end to diving or snorkeling in Cozumel, only a shift in locations. CONANP has reiterated that the closures are part of a comprehensive, rotating conservation strategy, not a permanent shutdown. The underlying objective is to ensure that Cozumel’s reefs remain resilient in the face of climate change, disease, and growing tourism demand. As marine scientists increasingly stress, short-term inconvenience is often the trade-off for long-term survival, not only of coral ecosystems, but of the tourism economy that depends on them.
Cozumel Coatis Killed By Speeding Drivers On Beach Road, Biologist Warns
The biodiversity of Cozumel Island faces a growing threat from speeding drivers along its perimeter road, where multiple coatis have been killed in recent incidents.
Biologist and environmentalist Rafael Chacón raised the alarm through social media, denouncing the constant roadkill of coatis and other animals in the island’s eastern beach zone. He posted images of dead animals on the asphalt, arguing these are not isolated accidents but the direct result of excessive speed and lack of caution. “It’s heartbreaking to keep seeing these scenes. The lack of traffic awareness and zero respect for local wildlife are wiping out our species,” Chacón said, urgently calling on authorities and the public to act. The Cozumel coati plays a key role in the region’s ecological balance. However, as the area serves as a frequent crossing point for animals seeking food or water, they become vulnerable to vehicles ignoring speed limits.
Mexican Caribbean Promoted As World Capital Of Vacations With Culture And History
Tourism officials from Quintana Roo are promoting the state in Madrid, Spain. The state’s vacation destinations are being hailed as the world capital of vacations.
During the current 2026 International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, the Quintana Roo delegation presented a new tourism promotion campaign “Mexican Caribbean, the World Capital of Vacations”. The goal of the campaign, reported Governor Mara Lezama, is to consolidate the Mexican Caribbean’s leadership as the main destination in Mexico and the Caribbean, strengthening its international projection and triggering new investment opportunities and strategic alliances with key markets in Europe and the world. During the presentation, Andrés Martínez Reynoso the Director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ), highlighted that Quintana Roo, in the New Era of the Mexican Caribbean, is advancing steadily toward a new stage of international consolidation. That consolidation is aligned with major global events including the 2026 World Cup, for which the state is prepared in terms of infrastructure, air connectivity, tourist services and organizational capacity.
This presentation highlighted that for the first time, a campaign of this type and level will have music and five key points that include leading international destination, 12 interconnected destinations, new infrastructure, new brand architecture and a new governance model. During the initial presentation, Governor Lezama cited destinations such as Cancun, Costa Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Tulum, Costa Maya, Bacalar, Mahahual, Cozumel and Chetumal.“We are launching this working campaign with many people behind us, confident that we can continue to deliver this powerful and important message about the Mexican Caribbean to the rest of the world, working on different applications,” Governor Lezama said Monday. She said this year, a song has been written and included in the state’s promotion. “This has never been done before. We’ve created campaigns for radio, television, magazines and newspapers, but we’ve never had a song.” The new campaign invites visitors for “Everything you can imagine in a holiday except for the snow (and we plan to keep it that way).
At the campaign launch, State Tourism Secretary Bernardo Cueto added that the new campaign aims to increase Quintana Roo’s international positioning as a strategic destination in 2026. The new campaign will strengthen the destination brand in priority European markets and generate alliances with tour operators, airlines, investors, and international organizations, promoting the arrival of new tourism investments focused on infrastructure, sustainability and high-value experiences. “I am very proud to know that at FITUR we are democratizing tourism, that we come not only to meet with the business owners who are a fundamental part and with whom we have great synergy, but also with the large tour operators, with the airlines, with the airports. “And also, to tell the world that we are culture, that we are history, that we have to show them how Melipona honey is made or what these trails are like, or how a traditional cooks use ancient crafts.”
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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02/16/2026 - Numbers go up by 1 this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 36 ships registered to dock as we celebrate Mardi Gras. This is 1 more ship than last week and 16 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 33 ships in port during the same week of 2025. 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. 
