Vacations from Phoenix to Cozumel

Isla Cozumel, whose Mayan name translates to “Island of the Swallows”—a nod to its indigenous bird population—has become a cruise ship favorite, as well as a hotspot for divers, since it’s one of the best dive sites in the world, with reef walls plunging to incredible depths. In the 1950s, after explorer Jacques Cousteau and his team discovered the wall of reefs off Cozumel, the island grew in popularity and has since been declared one of the top 5 dive sites in the world.

Most of the island´s roads are one-way, and while a coastal highway circles the island, the rest of Cozumel—particularly along the western coast—is quaint, with just a few beach restaurants dotting stretches of deserted sand. The eastern side is lined with rugged limestone cliffs and a wide-open ocean, meaning plenty of waves that are better suited to surfing than swimming. While scuba diving is one of the main draws to Cozumel, visitors can soak up the local culture in plenty of other ways. Head deep into the jungle to visit the once-sacred Mayan site of San Gervasio, or taste your way through the melting pot of Mayan cuisine, sampling food along the main street, Rafael Melgar Avenue. Be sure to try the Lionfish; the coral reefs of Cozumel are home to this species and local restaurants often serve it on their menu.