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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01/19/2026 - Numbers go down again this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 35 ships registered to dock as we head towards the end of January. This is 2 fewer ships than last week and 15 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 34 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 122,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 13.1 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 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 -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 4 ships will dock, 6 ships will dock on Tuesday, 8 ships on Wednesday, 7 ships on Thursday, 6 ships on Friday, 3 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
Restoration And Protection Of Over 800 Reef Colonies Achieved In Cozumel
The island of Cozumel has implemented a strategic coral restoration program that has resulted in the successful spawning of cultured corals and the protection of over 800 colonies of priority species. This has solidified its position as a key center for global marine conservation, as the scientific and local communities have achieved historic milestones in the recovery of Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) corals. This effort is led by the Cozumel Living Corals Brigade, in coordination with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and under the framework of the Program for the Protection of Priority Ecosystems and Species (PROREST).
The brigade presented the results of its recent monitoring effort in the Cozumel Reefs National Park, highlighting data that reinforce the reef's resilience with the registration and protection of more than 800 colonies of Acropora palmata. The simultaneous spawning of three colonies was also documented, a critical indicator of the system's health and recovery capacity. For the first time in the region, spawning was recorded in a colony produced through assisted fragmentation (previously cultivated by humans), validating the success of the restoration techniques. The project is not limited to isolated actions but rather is governed by the “Comprehensive Coral Reef Ecological Restoration Initiative.”
This model, highlighted by researcher Blanca Quiroga García, is divided into six phases that encompass everything from biological viability to post-planting monitoring.With this model, Cozumel not only protects a species, but also guarantees ecosystem services such as hurricane protection and the support of tourism that the reef provides to the entire region. “These actions not only protect a species but also ensure the future of the ecosystem services that the reef provides to our community,” she noted.
Quintana Roo Updates Biodiversity Conservation Plans For 2026
The Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of Quintana Roo (Ibanqroo) announced the implementation of a series of measures to strengthen its institutional structure and improve coordination with municipal governments in 2025. These actions have allowed for optimized management, promoted greater inter-institutional communication, and increased efficiency in local biodiversity conservation processes, according to its director, Javier Carballar Osorio.
A key component of this strategy is the update of the State Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation, which is expected to be completed between February and March 2026. This roadmap will be fundamental in defining concrete and sustainable actions for the protection of species and critical habitats in the region. In parallel, protocols for wildlife care are being finalized, with the goal of ensuring a coordinated and effective approach in responding to incidents and emergencies in the natural environment, benefiting both local administrations and communities near protected areas. At the financial level, the budget allocated to the environmental sector remains at approximately 12 million pesos for 2026, although experts and officials recognize the need to increase these resources. The conservation and restoration of ecosystems requires greater investment to address challenges such as habitat loss and climate change. To reduce budgetary limitations, the management of international funds is being promoted, including partnerships with programs such as Marfond in coordination with the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp). Strategic projects prioritize the protection of lagoons such as Chacmuchuc and Manatí, as well as initiatives to strengthen the protection of sea turtles in Xcacel - Xcacelito and collaborate with Belize in the conservation of manatees in Chetumal Bay.
Carballar Osorio also highlighted the importance of territorial planning, clarifying that although beaches are under federal jurisdiction, many natural areas are located in zones of high ecological and touristic value, meaning municipal Urban Development Programs will play a central role in protecting these ecosystems. Finally, he emphasized that effectiveness in conservation will depend not only on existing laws and regulations, but also on citizen participation and environmental education. Citizen reporting and awareness are essential tools for activating and strengthening environmental protection and restoration actions. This comprehensive approach aims to consolidate a more transparent, participatory, and effective environmental policy in Quintana Roo, aligned with current challenges and biodiversity conservation goals in the region.
Mayan Statues To Transform Cozumel’s Cultural Route
The Cozumel Municipality and the Maya Government of Quintana Roo are preparing an ancestral route through the installation of Mayan statues along the island's malecón and in the Plaza de las Dos Culturas. The initiative aims to boost cultural tourism, enrich the island's offerings, and empower Mayan artisans through the donation of sculptures carved from stone.
Margarita Vázquez Barrios, Secretary General of the Cozumel Municipality, explained that the project was proposed by Carlos Francisco Pacheco Polanco, the Maya Governor of the state of Quintana Roo. It consists of placing statues alluding to Mayan deities and others representing the uses and customs of the ancient Maya along the Cozumel malecón. Through these actions, the project intends to promote cultural tourism, provide additional attractions for the island, and foster respect and knowledge of Mayan culture. It also seeks to empower Mayan artisans, who would be donating these sculptures, which are mostly carved from regional stone, thereby empowering the indigenous Maya of the state. "We are working to make this Mayan Route an important attraction for Cozumel, adding more Mayan statues to the island, such as those already located in the town center, like in Benito Juárez park, and others within some plazas, also donated by the Maya government of Quintana Roo," commented Vázquez Barrios. The plan is to place these pieces in the Plaza de las Dos Culturas, opposite the public beach "Casitas," and in an adjacent space where sculptures were installed decades ago. This will allow for the installation of additional statues at key points along the malecón, creating a route for tourists to learn more about Mayan culture.
Although a specific date for the project's completion has not yet been set, progress has been made with the installation of some of these sculptures. Work is also underway to develop a narrative script to explain the history of the Maya to tourists who visit these spaces.
Six Quintana Roo Projects Await Environmental Approval
Six infrastructure projects were submitted and processed at the Central Offices and Representation Offices of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), as well as through Public Consultations and Public Information Meetings for procedures submitted to the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure (Peia), the federal agency reported.
The listed projects seek the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) to be developed. In Benito Juárez, there are two: “Strategy for coastal protection and resilience through marine infrastructure and beach rehabilitation Mia,” located in Cancún, and the project for a private pier with Lift and gable roof, in the Hotel Zone. The other four are in an equal number of municipalities: Puerto Morelos, where the Academic Unit of Reef Systems (Uasa) seeks the replacement and rehabilitation of the pier of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In Isla Mujeres, the promoter seeks authorization for the construction and operation of a 5-level building with 2 apartments on level 1 and 3 apartments from level 2 to level 5, totaling 14 apartments within a property with a total surface area of 831.79 square meters; “it also includes the operation of works already built on land reclaimed from the sea (Tgm) and the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (ZFMT), adjacent to the property, and in the area of the coastal lagoon Makax, which consists of a wooden platform that runs parallel to the ZFMT with a surface area of approximately 100 square meters (20 m long by 5 m wide).”
The fifth project is located in Playa del Carmen, on lands of Playa Paraíso, where the promoter requests environmental authorization for the construction and operation of a real estate development consisting of 11 two-level villas, with a total of 42 rooms, also contemplates the construction of 4 lots intended for apartment buildings with a total of 244 apartments with 344 rooms, as well as their respective parking areas, with their common and service areas, within a property with a total surface area of 681,831.04 square meters.
The sixth MIA request is for the project “Punta del Mar Cozumel,” which will be tourist-residential. The project will be carried out on two properties owned by the promoter; the first property is located between the Old Southern Coastal Highway and the Southern Perimeter Highway with a total area of 5.286 ha. The second property is located between the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone and the Old Southern Coastal Highway with a total area of 0.657 ha. The total area where the project will be carried out is 5.943 hectares. It should be mentioned that this project was submitted on November 26, 2010; and the environmental impact statement for the project “internal roads of the master plan punta tormentos” was submitted for evaluation before the Institute of Environmental Impact and Risk of the Government of the State of Quintana Roo (INIRA).
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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01/19/2026 - Numbers go down again this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 35 ships registered to dock as we head towards the end of January. This is 2 fewer ships than last week and 15 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 34 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 122,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 13.1 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
