To speak of Mexico is to speak of the Maya civilization, one of the most important in pre-Hispanic America.

Therefore, it is not surprising that every year millions of people want to admire in person the invaluable legacy left by this culture in Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, the eastern part of Chiapas and Quintana Roo.
Precisely, in this state we can locate the island of Cozumel among the favorite destinations for those who decide to enjoy a vacation in this country.

For you to enjoy even more your trip to this paradise on the Caribbean coast and its Mayan heritage, here are a few curiosities that you will probably like to know.

about-cozumel

Things you have to know about Cozumel

Cozumel, in Mayan language Kosom Lumil, is the third largest island in Mexico and the second most populated.
It is one of the 11 municipalities of the State of Quintana Roo, is located 18 kilometers from the Yucatan Peninsula and just over 60 kilometers from Cancun.

It is also known as the Land of the Swallows due to the large number of these birds that fly over this territory founded by the Mayas as a sacred sanctuary and commercial stop.

cozumel-swallows

The enchanting island has been the scene of historical events that have marked it, making it an exotic island, like something out of a fairy tale. It has sheltered Mayans, Spaniards and even reckless pirates.

Despite this, it has always been a peaceful island and its inhabitants seem to be enraptured by a love and respect for the Mayan culture as in few other places.

The Arrecifes National Park (Great Mayan Reef) and its spectacular corals and marine fauna are some of the reasons why Cozumel is considered one of the top 5 diving destinations in the world.

Around the 60’s the renowned filmmaker, diver, oceanographer and writer Jacques Cousteau after having explored the seas throughout the world aboard his ship Calypso, declared that Cozumel was the best place to dive and, as if by magic, all diving lovers fixed their eyes on this small island making it one of the best places to practice this sport.

The people of Cozumel in gratitude to Jacques Cousteau have placed a statue of him at the bottom of the sea.

diving-with-turtles

If you don’t want to swim underwater to appreciate the marine fauna, coral formations and even a sunken ship, you can dive in a real submarine!

sunken-ship

Although Cozumel does not have extensive white sand beaches, since its geography is rather rocky, there are at least 3 that are a must-see:
Punta Chiqueros – with a still rather “wild” environment -; Playa Palancar, one of the most popular and highly recommended for snorkeling; and Playa de Chen Rio, which looks more like a swimming pool, thanks to the rocks that surround the place and slow down the swell.

chen-rio-beach

Archaeological sites in Riviera Maya

Among the most important archaeological sites to visit in Cozumel are the San Gervasio Ruins, where the sanctuary dedicated to “Ixchel”, the Mayan goddess of fertility, was erected.

The first inhabitants of Cozumel were the Mayas, who worshipped the goddess Ixchel, deity of fertility, childbirth, love and gestation. The love of the Mayan people for the goddess Ixchel was such that a sanctuary was built for her and it was the duty of every woman to go at least once in her life to worship her. It is said that the goddess Ixchel in gratitude made them bring from the sky the favorite birds of the Mayas, hence the name La Isla de las Golondrinas (Island of the Swallows). In Mayan Cuzam is swallow and Luum, place, giving origin to the name Cuzamil. The Spaniards, unable to pronounce it accurately, began to deform it to Cozumel.

san-gervasio-cozumel

However, you will have to board a boat to go to the mainland and tour the Mayan settlements of Chitchen Itza, Tulum and Coba.

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Mayan Sacred Journey

It is a ritual performed by the Mayans paddling in canoes from Polé (today Xcaret) to Cuzamil (today Cozumel) in order to worship the goddess Ixchebelyax (Ixchel).

mayans-paddling

The Renewal of the Cosmos is underway and the rhythm of life must continue, just as the Mythic Canoe sails the sky towards the stars to close the cycles and times of adversity. The time has come for the purification and healing ceremonies held in the ancient commercial port of Polé and Cuzamil.

Pilgrims faced the adversities of the sea to seek the advice and wisdom of Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility, the moon and gestation, as well as to ask for favors, health and fertility for their lands.
At that time, Maya priests and rulers communicated with the gods and organized rituals in which the community could participate.

mayan-goddess

The group of travelers leaving for “Cuzamil” also takes the opportunity to exchange products and trade with the natives of the paradisiacal island.

Once they receive their message, they travel back to the place we now know as Xcaret, and then take these words back to their respective communities.

Rebirth of the sacred Mayan journey

This ritual ceased to be celebrated with the arrival of the European conquerors for religious and commercial purposes.

However, the Mayan successors knew that sooner or later this famous ritual would be reborn. And so, the directors of Grupo Xcaret, together with the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, got together to rescue the Mayan customs and promote them.

Representatives from Xcaret, Xel-ha and Chankanaab parks were also part of this event.

The sacred journey begins in the evening at Xcaret Eco-archaeological Park.
The first encounter with the Mayan communities is to enter a lively market, where you can see how the natives exchanged skins, food, seeds, clothing, feathers and a myriad of merchandise.


The people in their pre-Hispanic clothing, the smell of food and copal, the cleanings of the shaman, as well as the Mayan music and language, are all part of the atmosphere of this tianguis straight out of a history book.

Afterwards, on a stage on the beach, the chants, prayers, dances and offerings that are part of the ritual to ask for the good fortune of the canoeists who will embark the following day take place.
The following morning, with the first rays of the sun, the 30 canoes begin their journey. Crewed by the enthusiastic volunteers who go into the sea.

It is a continuous rowing exercise and consists of a 28 kilometer journey through the 420 meter deep Cozumel channel.
Dressed in the Mayan style. That is to say, painted on the skin, with their calzon or blanket dress, the canoeros and canoeras carry an oar. They sail for approximately 6 hours under the sun’s rays, the movement of the capricious waves and the currents of approximately 4 knots.
Each canoe carries 4 to 6 crew members. All of them have a specific job within the boat. The one in front, called “Proel”, is the one who sets the pace and cuts the dangerous waves.


The following canoeists have the function of paddling and they paddle from right to left in an intercalated way. The last crew member, called the “Helmsman”, controls the balance of the canoe.

Spiritual Rebirth

The sacred Mayan journey is represented mostly by young volunteers. They have been preparing physically and mentally for this challenge since January.
The key to success is training in rowing, swimming, flotation, physical conditioning and first aid.
It is important to say that for the ancient Mayans, crossing the sea was recreating the passage through the aquatic underworld. Symbolically, a spiritual death occurred.
Upon reaching dry land and after having coexisted with the forces of nature, the ancient Maya also experienced a spiritual rebirth.

The other side of the Sacred Journey

The turning point of the sacred journey is the arrival of the canoeists in Cozumel. It is exciting to see how the community receives them with joy, gifts and food. Everyone looks happy, it is an achievement for each one of them, for the Mayan community and for all the assistants.
Each volunteer who arrives on the mainland has a story to tell. Many of them have done it out of love for the culture, for their country, for the customs, for the rescue of traditions or simply for personal challenge or self liberation.
But all together, locals, nationals and foreigners retire for the culmination of the event and the months of effort.

end-of-the-journey
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El Cedral de Cozumel

El Cedral de Cozumel is one of the places you should not miss, because it is a small town that has gone through different eras such as: Mayan and Spanish era. This construction is the oldest in Cozumel.

mayan-construction

This community has one of the oldest vestiges of the island, in which we can still see much of its architecture and traces of paintings on walls dating from 800 BC.

Also, El Cedral has one of the most significant traditions, a fair commemorating the day of the Holy Cross and the arrival of the 21 families that took refuge on the island of Cozumel during the Caste War in 1848.

The story goes that more than 170 years ago, Casimiro Cárdenas fled to Cozumel Island from the town of Sabán. His enemies murdered several of his companions, but Cardenas survives. He thinks it was because he always kept a cross in his hands and later promises that every year he will make a festivity in honor of the Holy Cross for the life that was given to him. Today, a festival is held in honor of the Santa Cruz de Sabán. On this site, one of the oldest ruins of Cozumel, the site of “La Cárcel”, is also located.

mayan-jail

The fair of El Cedral takes place at the beginning of May and in it you can find activities such as bullfights, cockfights, rodeos, typical food, folkloric dances of the region, horseback riding, among other activities that make this fair one of the must-see activities on the island of Cozumel.

This festivity begins on the last days of April and ends on May 3, the day of the masons and the Holy Cross. During these days, masses, rosaries and folkloric dances are held. On the other hand, the town of Cedral is full of festivities, the fair is present, a bullring is the host of the bullfights, as well as of the invited artists.

The pig's head dance at the Cedral festival

Every year on May 3rd, visitors to the Cedral festival dress up in their costumes. The long awaited dance of the “Cabeza de Cochino” begins in a part of the main palapa of the village, it goes around the whole palapa, they laugh, they celebrate one more year of tradition. Pol Keken, a word that comes from the Mayan, Pool means head (of any animal) and Keken means pig. Ancient stories mention that deer or wild boar heads were used before, in order to worship the Mayan deities. But with the arrival of the Europeans, they brought the pig and it was adopted by this species.

The pig’s head has sweet bread, bars or inserted Chinese paper flags, plus flowers around it, it goes on top of a tray with an apple in the mouth of the animal, plus fruit around it. It is carried by the person who made the promise.

pigs-head-dance

The ribbon dance

It is so called because on a pole several meters high, they have placed ribbons of different colors and at the tip, several flowers that adorn the so-called pole. With turns, alternating men and women, they wind the ribbons on the pole, lining it with a colorful fabric from top to bottom, to finish with another fabric away from the mast and in the form of a hat.

The ribbons are lifted and lowered and they go backwards, to unbraid the ribbons, until the pole is left with the ribbons hanging and then remove the pole and dance where the rest of the presentation will take place.

people-at-the-fair

To make your experience at El Cedral more memorable, we recommend that you bring comfortable clothing, cash, sunscreen, water, hats and sunglasses.

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Cozumel Jungle Tour

Cozumel Island is the third largest island in Mexico (after Isla Tiburón in Sonora and Isla Ángel de la Guarda in the Sea of Cortés), as well as the second most populated island in the country (after Isla del Carmen in Campeche).

It is important from an ecological and faunistic point of view due to the large number of endemic species and subspecies that inhabit it (27 vertebrates), including the largest number of endemic island mammals (seven), including the dwarf mastofauna.
These and other biogeographical peculiarities make it the second island conservation priority in the country.

cozumel-jungle

Travel through the jungle of Cozumel on this off-road vehicle tour with enough time to swim in a cenote and drive through a coral cave, all while discovering the Mayan culture.

Unlike most of the islands that make up the Greater and Lesser Antilles, most of Cozumel’s territory is preserved, as agricultural and livestock activities are restricted to small areas for family use. In addition, most of the population and tourism are concentrated in the town of San Miguel in the northern zone, so anthropic zones cover approximately 11% of the island.

The island has four Natural Protected Areas: the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Marine Park, the Laguna Colombia Flora and Fauna State Refuge (Parque Punta Sur) of which three quarters of its surface is made up of lagoon and mangrove systems, while the rest is occupied by a small portion of medium-sized jungle and beaches; the Cozumel Island Flora and Fauna Protection Area and finally the “Selvas y Humedales” State Reserve in the center of the island.

jade-cavern

Let your senses guide you on this adventure on dirt roads surrounded by abundant nature. A lively and knowledgeable staff will take care of you while telling you fun facts about the Jade Cave Cenote.

The cenote is connected to several subway tunnels on the island. When you arrive, you can take the opportunity to swim and admire the incredible nature.

During the adventure you will discover the cave system of Coral Cove, drive through the village of El Cedral, travel along several rocky trails, swim in a cenote and cross mud holes that will test your driving skills. You will also have the opportunity to take with you some wonderful memories captured by a team of photographers throughout the trip.

The tour includes:
All entrance fees
Bottle of water
Safety equipment (helmets, goggles and bandanas)
Bilingual guides

This tour is not suitable for:
Under 10 years old
Pregnant women
People with back problems
People with mobility problems
People in wheelchairs
People with respiratory problems
People with epilepsy
People with diabetes
Persons with hypertension
Drivers under 16 years of age
People with heart problems
Persons with pre-existing medical conditions

Important information:
What to bring
Driver’s license
Comfortable shoes
Closed shoes
Not allowed
Be in a state of drunkenness
Insect repellent
Unaccompanied minors
Sun protection

drive-throught-a-cave

Before traveling:
Minimum age to participate is 10 years old
Minimum driving age is 16 years old
Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied and supervised by a chaperone, parent or legal guardian at all times.
People with the following diseases/medical conditions cannot participate: pregnant, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory disease, blood pressure problems, back/neck problems, taking antidepressants, lithium, beta-blockers or vasoconstrictors.
The maximum weight per passenger on a quad is 145 kilograms (320 pounds).
A zero tolerance policy applies to people under the influence of any substance.
All participants must sign a waiver document.

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In the beautiful island of Cozumel, located in the state of Quintana Roo, you can visit a magnificent Mayan bee sanctuary. This one is focused on the melipona bee.

bees-in-honeycomb

Surrounded by a wide range of flora and fauna and in the company of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, in the Mayan bees tour you will be part of a beautiful spectacle of nature.

In this sanctuary you will learn about the nutritional and medicinal properties of Melipona honey.

You will learn about the melipona beecheii (stingless bee) known as ”The sacred Mayan bee” and its close relationship with the Mayan people, who performed sacred ceremonies in its honor thanks to the healing properties they found in honey.

melipona-bees

You will also discover the fascinating structures of the hives inside and out and how the bee colony is organized. At the end you will delight your palate by tasting different varieties of honey and observe how it is used to make different artisanal products.

Why are bees so important?

When one asks the traditional Maya priests or the honey beekeepers where these bees get their honey from, they answer that they go to a hole in the sky where the rain gods (the chaques) have a trough (a kind of canoe carved out of a big tree) full of honey and what the bees do is go up to the sky and bring down drops of honey for the people.

It is a sacred honey, the bees are sacred.

mayan-god-of-honey

In our country, beekeeping is one of the most relevant activities due to the impact it has on sustainable development. For this reason, actions are carried out to raise awareness among the population about the important contribution of bees in food production and the balance of ecosystems, as well as to promote their care and conservation.

Melipona bees are the native species of Mexico, they are of vital importance due to their function as pollinators of plants of interest such as achiote, avocado, coffee, pumpkin, chayote, habanero chili, mango, cucumber, watermelon, tomato, among others…

Also, honey production is very important, there are more than 43 thousand beekeepers nationwide, who in the last 10 years their work has placed Mexico as the fifth largest exporter of honey and the ninth largest producer of honey.

avocado-flower-honey

Curative benefits of its honey

Among the products produced by these bees are honey, pollen, wax, propolis, in addition to their valuable service as pollinators. A melipona hive produces a liter and a half of honey per year, its production process takes longer compared to that of European bees that produce up to 30 liters of honey in a year.

honeycomb

Although honey production is lower, it is much more beneficial than honey from other bees because its medicinal properties help the immune system, and it is also used to cure ailments, wounds, burns and diseases. It is also highly appreciated in the cosmetic industry, as it is used to create products such as soaps, creams and talcum powder.

honey-on-the-skin

Characteristics of the melipona bee

The main characteristic of the melipona bee is that it has no sting, but to defend its colony it “bites” everything that represents a threat, they cling in such a way that they die during combat.

They do not molt, their hive is permanent. They adapt easily to artificial hives and their behavior is not aggressive. When the queen bee is fertilized, she cannot fly. For this reason, unlike other species, they do not leave their breeding site. They are resistant to parasites and diseases.

melipona-bee

Did you know that… Melipona bees and their honey were taxed, both before and after the arrival of the Spaniards.

cenote-in-mayan-sanctuary

the Mayan Bee Sanctuary, a serene space in nature among plants, flowers and a cenote where sacred Mayan bees build hives cultivated in hollow logs. Learn how they produce their honey, considered a gift from the gods according to Mayan folklore.

Here you can actually see the bees in their natural environment while learning how they produce their honey, at the end you will understand why the Mayans marveled at these amazing beings.

sacred-bee

In the beautiful island of Cozumel, located in the state of Quintana Roo, you can visit a magnificent Mayan bee sanctuary. This one is focused on the melipona bee.

bees-in-honeycomb

Surrounded by a wide range of flora and fauna and in the company of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, in the Mayan bees tour you will be part of a beautiful spectacle of nature.

In this sanctuary you will learn about the nutritional and medicinal properties of Melipona honey.

You will learn about the melipona beecheii (stingless bee) known as ”The sacred Mayan bee” and its close relationship with the Mayan people, who performed sacred ceremonies in its honor thanks to the healing properties they found in honey.

melipona-bees

You will also discover the fascinating structures of the hives inside and out and how the bee colony is organized. At the end you will delight your palate by tasting different varieties of honey and observe how it is used to make different artisanal products.

Why are bees so important?

When one asks the traditional Maya priests or the honey beekeepers where these bees get their honey from, they answer that they go to a hole in the sky where the rain gods (the chaques) have a trough (a kind of canoe carved out of a big tree) full of honey and what the bees do is go up to the sky and bring down drops of honey for the people.

It is a sacred honey, the bees are sacred.

mayan-god-of-honey

In our country, beekeeping is one of the most relevant activities due to the impact it has on sustainable development. For this reason, actions are carried out to raise awareness among the population about the important contribution of bees in food production and the balance of ecosystems, as well as to promote their care and conservation.

Melipona bees are the native species of Mexico, they are of vital importance due to their function as pollinators of plants of interest such as achiote, avocado, coffee, pumpkin, chayote, habanero chili, mango, cucumber, watermelon, tomato, among others…

Also, honey production is very important, there are more than 43 thousand beekeepers nationwide, who in the last 10 years their work has placed Mexico as the fifth largest exporter of honey and the ninth largest producer of honey.

avocado-flower-honey

Curative benefits of its honey

Among the products produced by these bees are honey, pollen, wax, propolis, in addition to their valuable service as pollinators. A melipona hive produces a liter and a half of honey per year, its production process takes longer compared to that of European bees that produce up to 30 liters of honey in a year.

honeycomb

Although honey production is lower, it is much more beneficial than honey from other bees because its medicinal properties help the immune system, and it is also used to cure ailments, wounds, burns and diseases. It is also highly appreciated in the cosmetic industry, as it is used to create products such as soaps, creams and talcum powder.

honey-on-the-skin

Characteristics of the melipona bee

The main characteristic of the melipona bee is that it has no sting, but to defend its colony it “bites” everything that represents a threat, they cling in such a way that they die during combat.

They do not molt, their hive is permanent. They adapt easily to artificial hives and their behavior is not aggressive. When the queen bee is fertilized, she cannot fly. For this reason, unlike other species, they do not leave their breeding site. They are resistant to parasites and diseases.

melipona-bee

Did you know that… Melipona bees and their honey were taxed, both before and after the arrival of the Spaniards.

cenote-in-mayan-sanctuary

the Mayan Bee Sanctuary, a serene space in nature among plants, flowers and a cenote where sacred Mayan bees build hives cultivated in hollow logs. Learn how they produce their honey, considered a gift from the gods according to Mayan folklore.

Here you can actually see the bees in their natural environment while learning how they produce their honey, at the end you will understand why the Mayans marveled at these amazing beings.

sacred-bee
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Chocolate: food of the gods

Make your own Mayan chocolate from scratch. Discover the process of making chocolate from bean to bar inside this great little chocolate factory in Cozumel. Throughout the tour you will taste the different flavors of cocoa during the process and the Mayan drink made with the original ingredients.

chocolate-stages

The visit to the small and familiar chocolate factory consists of 3 parts:

1-. Museum history of chocolate in Mayan times:

A brief journey through time to discover the importance of the cocoa bean for the Mayas.

cocoa-and-Mayas

Cacao was already cultivated by the Mayas more than 2,500 years ago. The name “cacao” derives from the Nahuatl word cacahoatl or cacahuatl, meaning “bitter juice”, and “chocolate” derives from the Mayan word chocol, meaning “hot” and “water”, respectively.

In the 18th century, the naturalist Carolus Linnaeus, based on Mayan and Aztec beliefs, named the cacao tree with the scientific name Theobroma cacao, whose Latin meaning is “food of the gods”. This tree is a symbol of abundance, rulership and ancestry, and serves as a metaphorical conduit through which the souls of humans and the gods travel through earth, heaven and hell.

The Aztecs learned from the Maya the cultivation and use of cocoa. They called cacahuat to cocoa and xocolatl to the aromatic drink obtained from its fruits. At that time, xocolatl was appreciated as a restorative to give strength and awaken the sexual appetite, treat fatigue, increase the weight of the malnourished, stimulate the nervous system of the apathetic, exhausted or weak, improve digestion and stimulate the kidneys.

2-.Create your own chocolate

To prepare it, the Mayas ground the cocoa beans until they were reduced to powder and also added seeds or corn. The resulting powder was mixed with cold water and stirred until the foam rose.

cacao-ground-on-metate

According to the Chocolate Museum in Uxmal, Yucatán, the froth of the drink was directly related to the purity of the person who carried out the task; if the chocolate did not froth, the person was impure, and the more froth he produced, the greater the purity of his soul. The fate of those who failed to froth the drink was sacrifice.

Here we make the traditional drink, as they did in Mayan times. Cacao mixed with some spices, like the ones we have here in front of us, and with hot water. Here we have the cacao seed with the pulp covering it. That pulp is used to ferment the cacao, the seed is put in wooden boxes and left to rest for three to eight days. During this time, the pulp decomposes as it has sugar, makes an alcohol and is fermented. This cocoa without the shell, we are going to grind it. Using the metate we will grind until we have the powder, the fine powder. If the cocoa continues to be ground, the seed releases the fat and cocoa butter is created. This paste was used since pre-Hispanic times to treat wounds.

frothed-chocolate

In the chocolate factory you will live the experience of grinding cocoa beans to transform them into cocoa paste and then into chocolate. You can take it home to prepare a delicious ancestral drink. Undoubtedly, another cultural secret of Cozumel.

3-. Tasting throughout the visit.

Cacao was the second most revered plant for the Maya, only after corn, and practically all that is known of the uses and elaboration of foods and beverages based on it comes from hieroglyphic inscriptions on ceramics that have survived to the present day.
The inscriptions not only indicated that a cup or vessel was used for cocoa, but also engraved with the flavor: bitter, sweet, fruity, cocoa mixed with corn and even cocoa seasoned with chili.

chili-chocolate

During your visit you will taste different flavors of chocolate, from the roasted bean to the final product, you will also be able to observe through windows, the elaboration of chocolate and its packaging process. Totally accessible for the whole family.

Each intimate 90-minute tour starts on the hour (09:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m.) and costs $25 USD per person. As this is a small factory, space is limited, so they request online reservations with payment in advance. Regardless of whether you have booked a tour, you can visit the factory store to purchase chocolate souvenirs.

chocolate-preparation

Pharmacological properties of chocolate

As a bonus, here are several beneficial effects of cocoa consumption, as it is an antioxidant, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory, anti-adhesive for white blood cells, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-diabetic and “bad” cholesterol reducer.

Chocolate is rich in components with euphoriant and stimulating properties. One of these components is phenylethylamine, which acts on the brain causing emotional well-being; it also activates the nervous system.

dark-chocolate-with-spearmint

It is beneficial to achieve greater activity and physical performance, because it possesses alkaloids such as caffeine and theobromine, which tend to excite the nervous system, promoting activity.

Recently it has been discovered that chocolate has antioxidant qualities. Consumed in moderation, it can be useful for cardiovascular health and as prevention of heart disease.

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