San Miguel is the only town on the island and the starting point for exploring adventures. Once a traditional fishing village, it is now a lively resort town that still maintains its laid back atmosphere. The best traditions of classic Mexico here are intermingled with modern luxury and convenience.

The center of the action in San Miguel is the Plaza del Sol, the city's seaside main plaza. The streets surrounding the traditional square are closed to traffic, creating a pleasant area for strolling and people watching. Many of the town's excellent dining options, which can range from tasty tacos at a stand by the shore to gourmet dining, are located adjacent to the Plaza.

The Malecón (boardwalk) is the main street, running for about 14 blocks along the waterfront. Stroll along this scenic walkway, and you will pass an attractive variety of cafes and gift shops. Dive shops, souvenir stores, fine boutiques, cafes, jewelry stores, arts and crafts shops, grocery stores and everything else you may need are all readily available right along this scenic route.

San Miguel's main dock is at the foot of Av. Juárez, close to the center of town. Nearby are the shops that cater especially to cruise ship visitors for some great shopping. The romantic, tranquil waterfront can be downright bustling when the Cruise ships are in port.

The town of San Miguel is also home to the Museum of Cozumel Island for a quick lesson on the island's fascinating mix of Mayan and pirate past.

While in town, be sure to spend a day at Chankanaab Park! This waterfront recreational area is just 5 miles from San Miguel. It offers many different attractions in a beautiful beach setting. The wide sandy beach is scattered with thatched palapas offering a shady break from the sun. There are also many concessions offering all the equipment you'll need for some great diving and snorkeling. Other attractions include a fascinating Archaeological Park, a traditional Mayan village and a stunning Botanical Garden. Chankanaab also offers shops, snack bars, a restaurant, and a Mayan Museum.

Located near the center of the island, this ancient city is Cozumel's most important site of Mayan ruins. Many of the shrines and small temples of San Gervasio were built to honor Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of love and fertility. It is said that every Mayan woman from the Yucatan Peninsula made at least one pilgrimage here in her lifetime to present offerings to Ixchel.

Archaeologists believe the city was built in stages from the Early Classic Period (A.D. 300-600) to the Late Post-Classical Period (A.D. 1250-1500). Explore the distinct historical districts and step into the mysterious past at the remarkably well-preserved buildings.

This entire area wears its ecological, cultural and historical contrasts like a badge of honor. It is a startling mix of Mother Nature's influences and man's long march through time. Mayan heritage, Spanish influences and nature work together in harmony for the curious visitor. Look for inviting towns with curious names such as like Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Chemuyil. The touring choices are many, but the rewards are great. For more details on the Riviera Maya...

In the center of the Yucatan Peninsula is the renowned city of Chichen Itza, one of the world's finest examples of Mayan ruins. It is a place you simply must see at least once in your life. The site itself dates to the Classic period (600 to 900 A.D.) but many of its structures were built from 900 to 1200 A.D. The glory of the city was described in various Indian documents and in several Spanish colonial texts. At the height of its power, Chichen Itza dominated the Yucatan both politically and militarily. It was a major religious center for the Mayan world.

It's a truly impressive sight. It requires a full day to explore Chichen Itza's many fascinating structures, including the famed Temple of Kukulcán, a towering 365-step pyramid, which hides a beautifully carved smaller pyramid underneath. Sometimes referred to as El Castillo (Spanish for castle), this pyramid's dimensions seem carefully calculated to reflect the principle figures of the Mayan solar calendar. There are the 365 steps, one for each day of the year. There are nine levels, divided in two by the stairway, for the 18 months in the Mayan calendar, and 52 indented squares as this number was as important to the Mayan calendar as it is to our own.

The construction of the pyramid was designed so that at each Vernal Equinox the fading sun would create a shadow of the body of the serpent god Kukulcan writhing down the steps to join the permanent stone head at the base of the pyramid. Every year over 40,000 people make the pilgrimage to the great pyramid to watch in wonder as the snake's body slowly appears.

The temple is also acoustically designed so that a person standing on the top step can speak in a normal voice and still be heard by those on the ground for nearly 500 feet away even with vendors and other tourists milling about below.

There's also an enormous Mayan ball court, the largest in Meso-America. The great ball court of Chichen Itza is about the size of a football field. The Mayans would play a game similar to a cross between soccer and basketball. Two teams were supposed to put a hard rubber ball through a hoop at either end of the field, using every body part but their hands. The acoustics of the ball court are amazingly designed so that a person standing on the platform of the temple to the north of the court can hear a whisper from the other end, 150 feet away. The ball slapping the sides of the court would make the sound that gave the game its name: Pok-ta-Pok.

Chichen Itza also has a sacred cenote well (Chen Ku), 200 feet across, which was once used for human sacrifices. This eerie green pool of water, hidden underground, glows in the beams of sunlight that penetrate the rocks, stalactites and roots above. Its actual depth has never been determined.

Walking among these stone buildings, ball courts and statues evokes a tremendous sense of wonder for this ancient civilization. It's a moving, unforgettable experience.

Tulum

History has never been so alive than at the walled city of Tulum, just 80 miles south of Cancun. Once known as the City of the Dawn, it rests in front of turquoise waters and is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Mexico. Tulum dates from the Mayan Post-Classic period (AD 900-1521). Not only is Tulum the only walled city the Mayans built, it is also the only Mayan port city ever discovered and features more than 60 well-preserved buildings to explore. Especially impressive is El Castillo, The Castle, standing over a 40-foot cliff overlooking the Caribbean, and Templo de los Frescos, Temple of the Frescos, whose interior is decorated with paintings of Mayan gods and sacred elements such as corn and fish.

Coba

About 30 miles northwest of Tulum, amidst ever-encroaching jungle and surrounded by two lakes, stands Cobá ("waters stirred by the wind"), whose pyramids and stone walkways reveal the heart of a once sprawling and successful Mayan city. At 81 square miles, it is in fact the largest archaeological site in the Yucatan. The site thrived between 500 and 900 A.D., when it was home to 50,000 people. It has as yet only been partially excavated and explored.

Kohunlich & Chetumal

Further south along the coast, where the Mexican state of Quintana Roo meets neighboring Belize, the largely untouched, park-like setting of Kohunlich and the popular port of Chetumal are both interesting sidetrips. Kohunlich boasts numerous archaeological sites dating from 300 to 1200 A.D., when it was an important religious center. In Chetumal, a visit to the Museum of Mayan Culture is a must.

Where the park is located today, was centuries ago an important religious center for the Mayan world. Pilgrims would purify themselves in the waters of Xcaret's cenote before launching their canoes for the journey to Cozumel, the island sacred to Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility.

Some of the park's many attractions include a museum with models of the great Mayan cities, a replica Mayan village, and some small archaeological sites.

Float along the open air or underground rivers that circulate the park through a labyrinth of tunnels. Swim in the lagoon, or mysterious cenotes, there's even a swim with dolphins area. Xcaret's beautiful cove is scattered with archaeological finds which testify to its history as a Mayan trading port.

Other activities in the park include visiting the aviary, a breeding ground for hundreds of species of rare and endangered tropical birds, or the butterfly pavilion, literally alive with colors. There's also a stable full of horses for riding along the enchanting shorelines.

Xcaret at night comes alive with a magical voyage into Mexico's past. Tour the ancient temples by eerie torchlight to the sound of native drums. Then there's the folkloric show, a festival of music and dance that accompanies a traditional Mayan game of 'pok ta pok,' similar to a cross between soccer and basketball.