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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12/15/2025 - Numbers go up a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 38 ships registered to dock as we head into the Holidays. This is 3 more ships than last week and 18 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 38 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 133,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 14.2 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 15 ships docking there, 11 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 12 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 6 ships will dock, 6 ships will dock on Tuesday, 6 ships on Wednesday, 7 ships on Thursday, 6 ships on Friday, 4 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 3 ships in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Royal Caribbean Submits Environmental Study For Construction Of Cozumel Beach Club
Royal Caribbean has submitted its environmental impact study for approval to begin construction of its beach club. The $75 million USD Royal Beach Club Cozumel project will be an overhaul of an already existing similar service.
According to the INEGI Classification of Economic Activities, the Royal Beach Club Cozumel project falls within the tertiary sector, specifically under the classification of “Cultural and sports entertainment services, and other recreational services,” sector. 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. Royal Beach Club Cozumel will be open to both its cruise ship passengers as well as to the general public and be built over an area of approximately 17 hectares. According to the company’s statement, its categorization of economic activities “is appropriate because the project: does not include hotel accommodations but rather focuses on daily recreational activities and includes infrastructure such as swimming pools, restaurants, and beach access, all designed for the provision of recreational services.”
The study points out that the beach club “will generate a daily flow of visitors without overnight stays, coinciding with the definition of economic units in sub-sector 713: “entertainment services in recreational facilities and other recreational services”. According to the government document, “the Promoter proposes to develop the “Royal Beach Club Cozumel” project in the municipality of Cozumel, Quintana Roo. The selected site is located in a previously impacted area where recreational activities similar to those planned, such as those at Playa Mia Beach Club, are currently carried out. “Cozumel is among the busiest cruise port destinations in the world, receiving more than 4.6 million cruise passengers in 2024, from more than 1,281 port calls that year. During the first four months of 2025, approximately 1.8 million cruise ship tourists arrived, representing a 3.5% increase compared to 2024. Furthermore, projections indicate an annual flow that could exceed 5 million visitors.
The project’s goals are as follows: -Target audience: primarily cruise ship passengers, but also the general public. -Capacity: to serve up to 4,000 visitors per day. -Services offered: daytime recreational infrastructure (beach club with pools, restaurants, beach access, restrooms), without offering overnight accommodations.
The project is based on three fundamental pillars: -Operational and recreational excellence: guaranteeing efficient services, comfort, and high-value-added experiences for tourists. -Environmental Commitment: minimizing impact, respecting the natural environment, responsible use of resources, and harmonious integration with the ecosystem. -Use of Previously Affected Areas: land will be used where previously authorized facilities already exist (such as Playa Mia).
According to the alternatives study, connections other than the current area were ruled out, as this area has existing infrastructure and prior authorizations, representing the least invasive option. The current proposal is considered to have the least environmental impact, as it conserves ecologically relevant areas and complies with current environmental and urban planning regulations. Overall, the Project seeks a balance between quality tourism, excellent service, environmental protection, and social benefit for Cozumel.
The project will be located in the municipality of Cozumel, at km 15+000 of the Southern Coastal Highway, in the state of Quintana Roo. The project is estimated to have a useful life of 26 years and 3 months, of which 1 year and 3 months will be for the preparation and construction phases, and the remaining 25 years will be for the operation and maintenance phase. The project occupies a total area of 17.42 ha. The breakdown of land use includes 1.1 hectares located in the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (ZOFEMAT), designated for semi-permanent facilities (beach lounge chairs and palapas) and 4.29 hectares in a private land area to be used for the main infrastructure of the Beach Club (restaurants, swimming pools, buildings, restrooms, access points, among others). In total, 5.39 hectares are designated for the development of the project. The remaining 12.03 hectres of the project area will be designated as open areas.
Royal Beach Club Cozumel will offer restaurants with views, market-style food court offering Mexican and classic fast food options, as well as bars distributed throughout various areas. On site, it will also have poolside bars offering themed drinks throughout the day, private beach palapas (stilt houses) and outdoor lounge areas with sun loungers, hammocks, and lounge chairs, sports courts and beach activities. The grounds will include areas with strategically located restrooms and showers, pedestrian walkways linking all areas of the club to facilitate circulation and an exclusive vehicle drop-off area for visitors, separate from pedestrian traffic. Their environmental study says landscaped green areas and surrounding natural areas will be preserved, restored and left undisturbed, promoting ecological conservation. The project will be harmoniously integrated into the environment through a Mexican theme, combined with the use of local natural materials such as quarry stone, native woods, and finishes with regional colors, creating an atmosphere that complements the coastal landscape.
In March of 2024, Royal Caribbean announced their intention to create Royal Beach Club Cozumel for $75 million USD. The completed project will have a capacity to serve 4,000 guests per day and will be open to both cruise ship passengers and the general public.
Cozumel Is No Longer Just A Cruise Stop.The Island Shatters Overnight Tourism Record
For decades, Cozumel has held a very specific title: “The Cruise Capital of the Caribbean.” The daily rhythm of the island was dictated by the cruise schedule. Thousands of tourists flood the streets at 9:00 AM, buy t-shirts and tequila, and vanish back onto their floating cities by 5:00 PM. But in 2025, that narrative has officially shifted.
State officials confirmed this week that Cozumel has broken a historic barrier, surpassing 700,000 overnight (stayover) tourists so far this year. This is a massive deal. These aren’t day-trippers; these are travelers booking hotels, renting cars, and staying for a week. It signals that Cozumel has successfully graduated from a “stopover” to a standalone “final destination” for hundreds of thousands of travelers. Here is why the island is exploding in popularity, and what you need to know if you are planning to be one of those overnight guests this winter. According to the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat (Sedetur), hitting 700,000 overnight guests before December even ends is a record-breaking figure.
For years, Cozumel’s 4,900 hotel rooms were often the domain of serious scuba divers or people looking for extreme quiet. Now, the demographic has broadened. Why are people suddenly staying the night? Because the “Real Cozumel” only wakes up after the cruise ships leave. If you visit on a cruise, you see the crowded, commercialized version of San Miguel. But after 6:00 PM, when the docks clear out, the island transforms. The sunset bars on the waterfront open up, the town square is filled with locals, and the restaurants serve incredible seafood without the rush. Overnight guests get access to the “Wild Side” (the east coast beaches) early in the morning before the jeep tours arrive. They get to dive the Palancar Reef before the cattle-boats show up. It is a completely different, superior experience. Part of this boom is due to better connectivity. You no longer have to fly into Cancun and endure the bus-to-ferry transfer if you don’t want to. Direct flights to Cozumel International Airport (CZM) have increased from major U.S. hubs like Dallas, Houston, and Charlotte. However, for those looking to save money, the traditional route is still popular. If you are flying into Cancun, taking the ADO bus to Playa del Carmen and hopping on the ferry is a rite of passage.
With 95% occupancy expected, Cozumel will be busy this winter, but it manages density better than the mainland. You won’t find the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of the Cancun Hotel Zone here. To ensure this influx doesn’t bring big city problems, the municipality has maintained a robust security posture. As was detailed earlier this year when Cozumel deployed additional police, the island treats its safety reputation as its most valuable asset. It remains statistically one of the safest municipalities in the state.
If you were thinking of booking a last-minute Christmas trip to Cozumel, stop thinking and start clicking. The days of showing up and finding an empty room are over. With the island hitting record numbers, inventory is tight. Waiting until mid-December to book your stay is a recipe for disaster.
Cozumel Cracks Down On Illegal Lobster Fishing
Despite the absence of a formal complaint, authorities are working to address reports of illegal fishing for both spiny lobster and queen conch in Cozumel. Mario Javier Martín Castillo, the local representative for the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (CONAPESCA) in northern Quintana Roo, stated that coordination with the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR) is underway to prevent these alleged cases of resource depletion. Martín Castillo emphasized the importance of filing formal complaints, which can be submitted via a written document directed to CONAPESCA through its website, or to the Secretary of the Navy, or the local commission office. This is necessary to implement specific measures, particularly as proper permits are required for lobster extraction even during the active fishing season.
According to legal lobster fishermen, a primary issue is the market price, which is sometimes driven down by the presence of illegal fishers who do not adhere to official size regulations for lobster. The mandated minimum size is 13.5 centimeters for the tail section, a rule designed to ensure sustainable fishing practices. The problem, as explained by the fishermen, is that individuals fishing illegally also harvest lobsters at a smaller size and sell them at a very low price. This practice damages the market, harms the development of the crustacean by interrupting its normal growth cycle, and creates a long-term problem by reducing the number of lobsters available for reproduction. Regarding the queen conch, the CONAPESCA official stated there are no complaints and no cases of depletion have been detected. He noted the species is under a permanent fishing ban and that the Cozumel Fishing Cooperative has implemented a self-imposed ban, choosing species conservation even though they have held the authorization to fish it.
Martín Castillo confirmed that operations have been conducted in coordination with SEMAR and marine inspectors, who will be conducting land-based inspections in the coming months. These inspections will target establishments that sell seafood, with a particular focus on lobster. The closed season for lobster is set to begin on March 1 and end on June 30.
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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12/15/2025 - Numbers go up a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 38 ships registered to dock as we head into the Holidays. This is 3 more ships than last week and 18 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 38 ships in port during the same week of 2024. An estimated 133,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US$ 14.2 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
