Friday, June 7, 2013

Cozumel Is One Fine Destination For Adventure Vacations

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By Linda Patterson


Dubbed as the Island of the Swallows, the beautiful Cozumel Island is located in the Caribbean Sea. It is the well known island of Mexico and the second most populated region of Mexico. It is famous for a number of things such as the beautiful beaches in the Caribbean with azure waters, coral reefs and the ancient Mayan ruins.

Its unique city San Miguel features colonial and Pre-Hispanic remnants, influence and architectural style and boasts it paradise like beaches, ancient Maya ruins and a number of attractions that would make any visitor's stay exciting and unforgettable.

The island shelters coral reefs which were made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1960. After that, the island became renowned to American divers and its piers welcomed the arrival of tourist vacation cruises which gave Cozumel global recognition.

Cozumel Island And Its History

According to research, it was around the second century BC when the first settlers arrived and they were thought to be a part of semi nomadic groups that dedicated their lives to hunting and fishing.

The Mayans from Guatemala, Peten region comprised the second group of settlers that arrived in the 3rd century AD.

The 3rd migrant waves were the chontal Mayans which arrived to the island during the 8th century from Tabasco. They were dedicated to navigation and trade. They introduced the worship of the god Ix Chel among the others.

The Spaniard, Juan de Grijalva discovered the island on the 3rd of May 1518 and named it Santa Cruz de la Puerta which means Holy Cross of the Latin Port in English. The first catholic mass was held after that on the Mexican territory.

The conquest of Mexico in the island of Cozumel was begun by Herman Cortes in 1519 and the sailor Geronimo Aguilar joined the conquest to be one of the first interpreters of the Maya language to Spanish.

The island was given the name San Miguel de Xamancab by Francisco de Montejo in 1527 during the colonization however it was abandoned and was left to become a refuge for pirates.

While in the middle of the 19th century, as a result of the War of the Casts in the year 1847, families from Valladolid, Saban Tihosuco as well as Chemas in the Yucatan state began to repopulate the island and also build settlements in El Cedral which was known as Oy ib.

Visit The Celerain Light House

The Celerain lighthouse is found the southern tip of Cozumel Island in Punta Sur which is a large ecological reserve. A number of plant and animal species dwell in this ecological reserve. Additionally, you can visit a navigation museum where you can learn about Cozumel's history and also the evolution of navigation ever since the ancient Maya civilization till these days.

An antique lighthouse or an ancestral structure called El Caracol is used by the Mayans to warn their population about a coming hurricane.

Exploring The Island

Riding a car is among the very best ways to enjoy Cozumel as this will allow you to see its long coastline, which offers a wonderful sight of the lovely beaches.

Visiting the island of Cozumel will provide you with a number of attractions that is bound to keep you busy and enjoying. Embark on a deep-sea diving adventure, visit the Chankanaab National Marin Park, take a safari tour, go on a dinner cruise, play golf in a world class country club in Cozumel, try dinner cruises and enjoy Mexican cuisine or go shopping.




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