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.
06/09/2025 - Numbers remain the same this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 16 ships registered to dock as head towards the first day of Summer. This is the same amount of ships as last week and 4 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 14 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 56,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 6 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 7 ships docking there, 4 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 5 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 4 ships will dock, 1 ship will dock on Tuesday, 1 ship on Wednesday, 3 ships on Thursday, 4 ships on Friday, 2 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
Authorities Tweaking Final Details On State’s Beach Restoration Project
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is finalizing technical details on the state’s beach restoration project. The project includes 31 kilometers of coastal sand areas as well as rehabilitating dunes and the strengthening of coral reef.
Oscar Rebora Aguilera, the Quintana Roo Secretary of Ecology and Environment, says they are working on the final technical details of the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) to carry out the restoration of Quintana Roo beaches. According to Rebora Aguilera, the project includes interventions in four municipalities they have found seriously affected by coastal erosion. Those municipalities include Benito Juarez (Cancun), Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Isla Cozumel. He explained that the complementary studies are expected to be completed this month and that the goal is to have the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) approve the MIA before the start of the summer vacation season.
The plan includes rehabilitating 12 kilometers of beach in Cancun, 12 kilometers in Playa del Carmen, between two and three kilometers of beach on Cozumel and six kilometers in Puerto Morelos. Rébora Aguilera says two recovery scenarios are being evaluated. The first involves locating sandbanks to reconstruct the coastline along the stretches defined in the MIA. The second, which is being studied in conjunction with experts from the Cuban government, involves rebuilding dunes, many of which were altered by hotel and condominium developments that built on them. Oscar Rébora Aguilera explained that sustainable solutions such as dune reconstruction are being considered. “We can’t just continue filling in the beach. We must propose nature-based solutions such as rebuilding dunes and rehabilitating coral reefs. All of these are being considered,” he said. In addition to beach restoration, he says the project also includes strengthening the coral reef in the targeted areas since the ecosystem has suffered severe damage due to rising sea temperatures, which has affected nearly 60 percent of the coral reef cover.
Mexico Prepares For The Hottest Time Of The Year
Mexico is preparing for one of the hottest periods of the year: the Dog Days of 2025 is about to arrive. This climatic phenomenon is characterized by high temperatures and a significant decrease in rainfall. It is expected to begin in early July and last until mid-August, lasting approximately 40 days.
Temperatures could exceed 44-45°C in several regions of the country. The states that will be most impacted include: North: Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí. Central: Hidalgo, Morelos, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Puebla. South Pacific: Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, Colima, Michoacán, Jalisco. Gulf Coast: Tamaulipas, Veracruz. Southeast: Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Yucatán.
Health and environmental risks: Extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, dehydration, and an increase in gastrointestinal illnesses. The heat wave also affects agriculture and livestock, impacting the local economy.
Yucatan Fishermen Caught With 132 Kilos Of Illegal Catch After Running Out Of Fuel
Three Yucatan fishermen were taken into legal custody last week after requesting help. Federal officials arrested the three fishermen after finding an illegal catch on their boat. The incident happened last week off the coast of Progreso when Navy personnel responded to a request for assistance at sea. The Navy vessel was patrolling the coast when they came upon the small boat that had run out of fuel. While assisting the three men, federal inspectors were called in to board the vessel and conduct a search since the boat was found without any identifying information. On board they located fishing gear, a false bottom and poached snail.
Navy personnel made the arrest in coordination with personnel from the Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA) who performed the inspection. In a statement, officials reported “three people, fishing gear and marine products were seized during a closed season as part of efforts to combat illegal fishing and the predation of protected species on Pérez Island, Yucatán (Arrecife Alacranes).“This action was carried out when naval personnel belonging to the Isla Pérez detachment sighted a smaller Imemsa-type vessel with three crew members, who requested support, mentioning that a few days ago they had left Caleta de Progreso, Yucatán, without being able to return to port due to not having enough fuel. “Upon inspection of the vessel, it was observed that it had no name or registration, and fishing gear was found inside. A vessel belonging to this Naval Command was ordered to set sail with qualified personnel to conduct a thorough inspection in coordination with CONAPESCA and the Federal Maritime Protection Service. “The vessel was found to have a false bottom, containing approximately 132 kilograms of queen conch, a species under permanent ban. As a result, the corresponding reports were drawn up and the three fishermen were arrested.
“The detainees, the seafood, the small vessel, and various seized items were handed over to the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) for further investigation.”
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
Because we are continually asked about travel safety in Mexico and Cozumel, INSIDER always maintains a condensed version of the U.S. State Department Mexico Travel Warning HERE on our website for traveler convenience.
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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06/09/2025 - Numbers remain the same this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 16 ships registered to dock as head towards the first day of Summer. This is the same amount of ships as last week and 4 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 14 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 56,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 6 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
