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ATM Machines - |
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| Located Downtown, near the central square | |
| Baggage - | |
| Wherever you travel you should always have, solid, secure, id on all bags. Locks on larger dive equipment bags never hurts. | |
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Cameras - |
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| Bring all camera gear and lots of film, buying film can be expensive. | |
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Car/Jeep Rentals - |
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This is one of the more interesting experiences in Cozumel. Not all rental cars/jeeps or rental companies are created equal. If it moves forward, they'll try to rent it. Stay with the names you know and rent before you get to Cozumel. Keep all paperwork! |
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| Cruises - | |
| Cozumel has become a very large destination port for cruise ships that effects the entire city. Imagine a wave of 100's of people walking down the street and you get the idea. The good news is they're not there for long and they typically stick to the main streets. All the more reason the explore other areas. | |
| Currency: | |
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The local currency is the Peso, but U.S. cash is accepted everywhere. Know the exchange rates before you go as they all tend to "round up"! |
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| Dining Out - | |
| There is a huge variety of restaurants ranging from street vendors to classy restaurants. Check with the locals you trust for the best places. | |
| Drinking Water - | |
| Cozumel seems to have a good purified water system, but that's hard to confirm because we ALWAYS drink bottled water, even brushing our teeth. Nothing ruins a dive trip faster than you-know-what! | |
| Driving - | |
| Can be a source of great entertainment, but watch of for the scooters, taxis, jaywalkers and crazy folks on bikes. Maybe you should take a taxi! | |
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Electricity - |
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| Most of Cozumel uses standard 120-voltage. | |
| Email/Internet - | |
| There are easy to find Internet places downtown, expect super-slow connection speeds for around $10 US per hour. | |
| Emergency Phone Numbers: | |
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Clinic
20103 |
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| Entry Requirements: | |
| Your best
bet is always a valid US Passport. From the Mexico Consular Information Sheet: The Government of Mexico requires that all U.S. citizens present proof of citizenship and photo identification for entry into Mexico. A U.S. passport is recommended, but other U.S. citizenship documents such as a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, a Naturalization Certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship are acceptable. U.S. citizens boarding flights to Mexico should be prepared to present one of these documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, along with photo identification. Driver's permits, voter registration cards, affidavits and similar documents are not sufficient to prove citizenship for readmission into the United States.
In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry and exit points, including requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission of the parent(s) or legal guardian not present for the child's travel. Parents of minor children (under 18 years old) should document carefully legal custody prior to traveling to Mexico. If a minor child is traveling with only one parent, the absent parent should provide notarized consent. If only one parent has legal custody, that parent should be prepared to provide such evidence to airlines and Mexican authorities. In cases in which a minor child is traveling to Mexico alone or in someone else's company, then both parents (or the sole, documented custodial parent) should provide notarized consent. If a child traveling to Mexico has a different last name from the mother and/or father, the parents should be prepared to provide evidence to airlines and Mexican authorities, such as a birth certificate or adoption decree, that they are indeed the parents. more |
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Gas Stations - |
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| Seem to be few and far between. Get directions from your rental company before you leave the lot. | |
| Groceries - | |
| There is a new groceries store just south of the center of town. Go there and be done with it. | |
| Language - | |
| Everyone speaks Spanish and many locals speak a decent English. Try out few words of Spanish and you'll learn it's a lot easier than French! | |
| Money Exchange - | |
| For the best exchange rates, stick to the banks downtown. They tend to have better rates than the hotels. Canadians leave your money at home and bring US dollars. | |
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| Roads - | |
| There's a new highway to the Southern resorts and hotels. Other roads can be rough. Watch out for rains and the ever present folks on scooters passing on the left, right, wherever they can. | |
| Safety - | |
| Compared to the US or abroad, Cozumel is very, very safe. Stick to areas where there's lots of people and you wont have a problem. Petty theft is the biggest problem. | |
| Scooters - | |
| You can’t buy insurance when renting scooters, so make sure you're covered with your own. Riding a scooter can be a fun or horrifying experience, make sure you're ready it! Supermotor cross riders have a ball. | |
| Scuba Diving Knives & Gloves - | |
| Banned in the National park, but divemasters usually don't say much about small knives on other trips. | |
| Seasonal Rates - | |
| Rates vary from season to season, forget about Thanksgiving and Christmas as this is when most Mexicans go on vacation and rates are at there highest. Talk to our trip specialist if you want more info. | |
| Security - | |
| many hotels offer in-room safes, use them. | |
| Sunscreen - | |
| Bring a lot and use it, everyday! The combination of sun, surf, sand and beer makes for a perfect a perfect sunburn. | |
| Telephone Calls - | |
| It's very expense to call the US from Mexico. Get a calling card, call your long distance provider and find out what numbers you need to dial to minimize the expense. Some rates are $1.25 per minute, so it's worth it to find out. Best of all use email! | |
| Time Zone: | |
| Cozumel is Central Standard Time year round. | |
| Tipping: | |
| Tips go a lot further in Cozumel than they do in the U.S. A well placed tip here and there can make your life a lot easier. Divers - for god's sake tip the diving crew at least $10 per day, you're life is in their hands! | |
| Wheelchair Accessibility | |
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This has greatly improved over the last few years. Many of the streets has been modified to accommodate wheelchair accessibility with ramps. Many hotels do not have ramps or elevators so ask before you book. |
