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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12/29/2025 - Numbers go up just a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 36 ships registered to dock as we say Good-Bye to 2025 and wish everyone a "Happy New Year " 2026. This is 2 more ships than last week and 16 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 34 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 14 ships docking there, 11 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 10 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -1- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 6 ships will dock, 7 ships will dock on Tuesday, 6 ships on Wednesday, 7 ships on Thursday, 7 ships on Friday, 1 ship 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
Islanders Starts Petition Against Up-and-Coming Royal Caribbean Beach Club
More than 2,800 signatures have been collected on a petition against the up-and-coming Royal Caribbean Beach Club. The petition, spearheaded by activist María González, warns of the environmental and social impact that the beach club would have on the island. “Cozumel is a natural paradise famous for its spectacular beaches and rich biodiversity. However, the construction of Royal Caribbean’s new beach club threatens to destroy the balance of this pristine island. “This new facility will not only privatize the last public beach on the west side of Cozumel, but it will also severely impact local businesses, which are the lifeblood of our community,” part of the petition reads.
In her petition, she says “according to studies conducted in other locations where similar phenomena have occurred, there has been a decrease of up to 40% in the profits of small local businesses, leading many to close their doors.” She also expresses concern for the possible privatization of the beach and says “This beach club does not benefit the people of Cozumel in any way. The government should not allow this type of project. “We call on local authorities and the government of Quintana Roo to listen to the voices of their people and take a clear stand against the construction of this beach club. Cozumel already has enough infrastructure to welcome tourists while preserving its natural charms and supporting its community.”
Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean submitted its environmental impact study for approval to begin construction of its $75 million USD Royal Beach Club Cozumel project. According to the statement, the beach club will not include hotels, but rather pools, eating and shopping areas that will make up its recreational area to accommodate an anticipated 4,000 visitors per day and will be open to both cruise ship passengers and the general public. To date, more than 2,800 signatures have been collected on the Change.org petition.
Flamingos Signal Healthy Ecosystem In Cozumel’s Punta Sur
The consistent presence of the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) in the wetlands of the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park continues to serve as an indicator of the conservation status of this ecosystem, resulting from the protection, monitoring, and environmental management work carried out by the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC). The recurrent observation of this species in Laguna Colombia, a Protected Natural Area located within Punta Sur, responds to the shelter and feeding conditions offered by the site. According to specialists, the flamingo plays a relevant role in the ecological balance of wetlands, so its permanence is considered a positive signal about the environmental health of the area.
Since Punta Sur was declared a Protected Natural Area in 1996, sightings of flamingos began to be documented. Starting in 2000, banded individuals were recorded, which allowed for tracking of specific specimens. Following the site’s reclassification in 2011 as the Laguna Colombia State Ecological Park, the FPMC strengthened monitoring schemes. The area director, Jesús Benavides Andrade, explained that each year the presence of groups exceeding 30 specimens has been documented, as well as flamingos identified through bands, which confirms the importance of the site within their routes and zones of permanence.Monitoring work is carried out in coordination with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the state government, and non-governmental organizations. This effort is part of a program of more than 25 years that promotes the banding of the American Flamingo in Mexico to understand its dispersion, migratory routes, and population dynamics.
In Punta Sur, specimens with band combinations such as DLAS, DHHT, HZTN, ABBB, and DXZZ have been identified. The latter has generated special interest, having been recorded for the first time in 2000 and observed recurrently since then. The sighting of the current season represents the most recent record of its permanence in the zone. Sightings are reported to Flamenco Lab, a citizen science initiative led by the Pedro y Elena Hernández A.C. Foundation, which allows the information to be integrated into regional and international databases. Although the species is considered a winter resident, records have been documented in different months of the year in Punta Sur. The monitoring is supported by innovative techniques such as the use of drones for censuses and population counts, under non-invasive protocols. The images obtained have allowed observation of cooperative feeding behaviors, through which flamingos stir the substrate in search of crustaceans and microalgae, favoring soil aeration, the nutrient cycle, and the biodiversity of the lagoon.
Cozumel’s Sustainable Tourism Protects Reefs And Rainforest
The island of Cozumel offers more than just a postcard of turquoise beaches and dreamlike reefs: it represents a destination that has learned to look beyond mass tourism and recognizes that its true treasure is the surrounding nature. For years, its growth tested the fragility of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reminding that the island’s memory, identity, and economy depend directly on environmental balance.
Today, Cozumel faces a new challenge: transforming how it receives visitors, promoting experiences where nature and tourism development go hand in hand. This push toward a more responsible future is based on sustainability. Every action, from reef restoration to environmental education for divers, seeks to ensure the island remains a dream destination without compromising its natural heritage. On Cozumel Island, tourism is no longer just about admiring but actively engaging in environmental conservation, fostering responsible tourism that benefits both ecosystems and the local community. In various corners of the island, scientists, divers, and volunteers have turned the reef into a living laboratory. Damaged coral fragments are rescued in submerged nurseries and replanted in degraded areas, while some are protected with special roofs to withstand rising water temperatures due to climate change. These efforts show the ecosystem’s resilience and the determination of those seeking to ensure Cozumel Island maintains its natural wealth. But sustainability on Cozumel Island goes beyond coral restoration. Local diving schools have reinvented their approach, combining diving practice with environmental education. Each dive becomes an opportunity to learn about life under the sea, understand ecosystem interconnectedness, and recognize the importance of protecting every species. The goal is for every traveler to become a reef guardian, joining monitoring and restoration efforts while enjoying the experience and participating in responsible tourism with real impact.
The island also works on rainforest regeneration and water management, integrating local producers and promoting accommodations that respect the environment. The idea is to replace mass consumption with experiences that generate positive impact, where visitors can plant coral, participate in community surveillance, and experience nature consciously. This comprehensive approach reflects a regenerative tourism model that not only protects biodiversity but strengthens local communities and establishes Cozumel Island as an example of responsible tourism in the Caribbean. Cozumel Island aspires to establish itself as a sustainability leader by 2030. Clear and responsible management, active community participation, and commitment from hoteliers, scientists, and travelers point toward a future where the island not only conserves its natural beauty but enriches it with each visit. More than a luxury, Cozumel’s true treasure lies in keeping its reefs and rainforest alive, demonstrating that sustainability is not an option but the path toward tourism that leaves a positive footprint.
More Than Half Of Bacalar's Digital Platforms Are Illegal
Mayor José Contreras Méndez admitted that 60% of the lodging establishments in Bacalar that provide services through digital platforms are not regulated, since they do not have a civil protection scheme or municipal public services.
Contreras Méndez reported that of the 100% of rooms offered on digital platforms, only 40% have been regularized, and these were detected through their promotion on social media. However, he acknowledged that they do not know the total number of lodging establishments that exist on digital platforms "because they only give me percentages in the regularization process," he said.Contreras Méndez indicated that he also does not know how much the municipality receives from collecting lodging services through digital platforms.
The Bacalar Nautical Association denounced the presence of numerous unlicensed boats offering tours on the lagoon during this holiday season without the necessary permits or safety measures. Daniel Muñoz, from the local nautical association, asserted at the time that pirate operators pose a risk to visitors and constitute unfair competition. “In the middle of the summer vacation season, when the situation is improving for the sector, we are being invaded by pirate boats that endanger tourism by failing to comply with safety measures,” he stated.
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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12/29/2025 - Numbers go up just a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 36 ships registered to dock as we say Good-Bye to 2025 and wish everyone a "Happy New Year " 2026. This is 2 more ships than last week and 16 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 34 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. 
