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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03/02/2026 - Numbers go down a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 33 ships registered to dock as we head into March. This is 2 fewer ship than last week and 13 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 33 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 115,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 12.3 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 13 ships docking there, 10 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, 7 ships will dock on Tuesday, 6 ships on Wednesday, 6 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
Cozumel Declares Itself Full Due To Airport, Cruise Ships And Ferries
The island of Cozumel projects exceeding 9 million visitors during 2026, thanks to improved air connectivity, as well as sporting and convention events, reported Mayor José Luis Chacón. The mayor detailed that in 2024, a historic record of 4.6 million cruise passengers was reached, a figure that surpassed pre-pandemic levels. By 2025, the destination had closed with 4.72 million cruise passengers, consolidating an upward trend.
In terms of air travel, he noted that passenger numbers exceeded 700,000, also a record for the island. This is in addition to more than 3.6 million ferry crossings between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, bringing the destination closer to 9 million annual visitors. Chacón stated that the start of 2026 has been positive, with high hotel occupancy during January and February, particularly during Carnival, when full occupancy was recorded. He also highlighted that some cruise ships will extend their stay until 10 p.m., which will generate greater economic benefits for businesses, restaurants, and tourist services. Chacón emphasized that the calendar of sporting and tourist events will strengthen visitor arrivals, highlighting competitions such as the Half Ironman. He indicated that the joint promotional strategy between the State Tourism Secretariat and the Municipal Tourism Office has been key to consolidating the destination's positioning, which now faces the challenge of surpassing its own records and sustaining growth with adequate infrastructure and services. As reported by REPORTUR.mx, Cozumel ended 2025 with record figures in cruise tourism, consolidating itself as one of the most important destinations in the Caribbean, according to data from the Integral Port Administration of Quintana Roo (APIQROO).
Four Quintana Roo Projects Enter Public Consultation For Environmental Impact Assessment
Federal environmental authorities have opened four development projects in Quintana Roo to public consultation as part of the process to authorize their Regional Environmental Impact Assessments.The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk (Dgira) announced the move, which allows the public to review and comment on the proposed developments.
The projects include: “Perfect Day” in Mahahual, Othón P. Blanco. “Amai, Coastal Protection and Resilience Strategy Through Marine Infrastructure and Beach Rehabilitation” in Cancún, promoted by the tourism development company Paso Victoria, S.A.P.I. de CV. “Royal Beach Club Cozumel” by the tourism development company l. 18 de México S de RL de CV. “Rustic Pier Uhk-Aay” in Tulum, promoted by María Farias Campero.
Dgira initiated the public consultation process for “Perfect Day” on January 29, 2026, for “Royal Beach Club Cozumel” on January 26, 2026, for the “Amai” project on February 5, 2026, and for the “Rustic Pier Uhk-Aay” on February 9, 2026. For the Perfect Day, Amai, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel projects, the consultation period runs from Monday, February 23 to March 23, 2026. During this time, any interested party may propose additional prevention and mitigation measures, offer opinions, and submit observations regarding the projects.The consultation period for the Rustic Pier Uhk-Aay project will be from Monday, March 2, to March 30, 2026, for the same purpose of public input.
Cozumel’s NaturaIsla Connects Community With Wildlife
With the goal of strengthening the bond between the community and nature, the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) carried out NaturaIsla, an environmental education activity that allowed attendees to have direct contact with the wildlife of the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park.
Through the Conservation and Environmental Education Directorate (CEA), community members participated in guided tours to learn about various species of birds and wildlife that inhabit this important ecosystem, one of the most representative of the island for its natural richness and environmental value. During the activity, CEA director, biologist Rafael Chacón Díaz, highlighted that one of the natural wonders that can be observed during this season is the monarch butterfly, an emblematic species that migrates thousands of kilometers from the United States and Canada to central Mexico to spend the winter. He explained that this phenomenon occurs across several generations, in search of warmer temperatures and refuge, and that although its presence in Cozumel is not as abundant as in the center of the country, its sighting on the island is especially significant.
FPMC general director Juanita Alonso Marrufo emphasized that activities like NaturaIsla align with the New Agreement for Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama, by fostering a more conscious and respectful relationship with the natural environment, promoting environmental education, citizen participation, and biodiversity protection as pillars of sustainable development.
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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03/02/2026 - Numbers go down a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 33 ships registered to dock as we head into March. This is 2 fewer ship than last week and 13 more than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 33 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 115,500 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 12.3 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
