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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Note: All translated articles are the property of Cozumel Insider and cannot be used, displayed or reproduced without express written permission from Cozumel Insider.
07/07/2025 - Numbers go up a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 19 ships registered to dock as we head fully into Summer. This is 4 more ships than last week and 1 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 19 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 66,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 7.1 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, 6 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 5 ship will dock, 1 ship will dock on Tuesday, 3 ships on Wednesday, 4 ships on Thursday, 3 ships on Friday, 2 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 1 ships in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Island Records Increase In Passenger Traffic Between Cozumel And Riviera Maya
The San Miguel passenger pier, the main gateway to the island, reported an increase of 5 percent in passenger traffic. In a statement by Cozumel Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez, the increase is in the number of people traveling between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen during the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Chacón Méndez emphasized that these figures are the result of coordinated efforts to strengthen tourism with a vision of shared well-being. “We continue to promote tourism that brings prosperity for all. The increase in visitor arrivals is good news because it represents more opportunities for our people, more jobs, and more economic activity on the island. Cozumel continues to consolidate itself as an attractive destination with a rich human heritage,” he stated. According to data from the Quintana Roo Comprehensive Port Authority (APIQROO), between January and May of this year, 1,635,641 passengers used the maritime transportation services from one of the three ferry companies operating the federal route. In contrast, during the same period in 2024, 1,553,432 people were counted, representing an increase of 82,209 tickets sold.
It is estimated that around 90 percent of passengers are tourists from Riviera Maya, reflecting the strong connection between the two destinations and the growing preference among visitors to explore the island of Cozumel. The municipal government, together with state and federal authorities, continue working to strengthen the promotion of the island as a destination of excellence.
Officials Tour Cozumel’s Long Overdue Wastewater Plant Expansion Project
Last week, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama toured the Cozumel water treatment expansion project. Lezama, with Hugo Garza Sáenz, the Director of the Potable Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA), toured the expansion of the San Miguelito treatment plant which will double the island’s capacity.
Cozumel Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez explained that this is a historic project with an investment of more than 113 million pesos from the Wastewater Sanitation Program (PROSANEAR), benefiting all residents of Cozumel. Once complete, the treated wastewater capacity will increase from 110 to 230 liters per second. “With responsibility and a vision for the future, we are addressing population growth and the influx of tourism to guarantee the health of Cozumel residents and environmental protection. “This is a historic, necessary, just and urgent project because this expansion represents health, well-being and environmental protection,” Governor Lezama stated.
During the tour, Director Hugo Garza explained that work is underway on a new pretreatment module, an activated sludge biological reactor, infiltration wells, regulation tanks and all the necessary infrastructure to ensure the water is treated properly, protecting aquifers and the environment. The island’s San Miguelito plant will cost around 210 million pesos. The investment was announced last year as part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the island’s infrastructure.
Mexico’s Senate Votes In Favor Of New Law To Protect Dolphins Used For Tourist Entertainment
The Senate of the Republic of Mexico has approved a new law to protect dolphins in captivity. On June 23, the Senate unanimously approved the new Mincho Law that defines strict limits for dolphins used for tourist entertainment.
The new Ley Mincho or Mincho Law, named after a dolphin that was seriously injured during an acrobatic tourist show in Riviera Maya, is being hailed as a turning point for the protection of marine mammals in the country. Once in effect, the new law prohibits the breeding of dolphins in captivity (unless for conservation purposes), their use in acrobatic shows and living in concrete tanks. The new law also includes the prohibition of keeping ‘new’ marine mammals. The legislation was promoted by Animal Heroes, a civil organization, who lobbied for the changes after a video of dolphin Mincho’s accident was released on social media.
Mincho was a tourist show dolphin at the Barceló Hotel’s dolphinarium in Riviera Maya. In November 2020, during an acrobatic performance, Mincho suffered a serious accident when he hit a concrete slab outside the pool. The hotel did not report the accident to environmental authorities as required by law. Despite a veterinarian recommending two weeks of recovery, Mincho was returned to performing two days after the accident. The Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) visited the hotel, and after a lengthy inspection, permanently shut the hotel’s dolphin show and imposed a fine of more than 7.5 million pesos. The Barceló Hotel’s dolphinarium in Riviera Maya was closed after federal environmental inspectors found multiple irregularities including unauthorized acrobatics, the participation of dolphins undergoing medical treatment in activities without veterinary approval and excessive crowding of dolphins. According to Animal Heroes, there are more than 350 dolphins in captivity for tourist entertainment throughout Mexico. According to separate reports, a majority of those dolphins, at least 250, are in the state of Quintana Roo. Although the Senate of the Republic of Mexico has approved the new law, the initiative must now be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies for final approval.
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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07/07/2025 - Numbers go up a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 19 ships registered to dock as we head fully into Summer. This is 4 more ships than last week and 1 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 19 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 66,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 7.1 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
