Lorry Perkins
Writer, Travel Blogger
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Adventure Awaits: For a Good Time…Take a Jeep Ride in Cozumel
Jeep Tour in Cozumel: First, Snorkeling
The first time we traveled to Mexico, we sailed on a Royal Caribbean cruise. We studied the Royal Caribbean website and booked all of our excursions before we left for our vacation. A Jeep ride in Cozumel that included a snorkel tour and lunch on the beach captured our interest. Decision made. When our cruise ship arrived at that port, we would be scheduled for a Jeep ride. We arrived on the island, and our tour guide paired us up with Jan, a single woman from the west coast. She was thrilled that my husband would be driving the Jeep.
Cozumel Island: Best Beach in Mexico for a Snorkeling Excursion
First, we snorkeled just off of Cozumel island in the Caribbean Sea. This is one of the best beaches in Mexico for a snorkel excursion. Snorkel gear was provided by our tour guide, including a brief lesson for those new to snorkeling. The water is shallow and calm, which is perfect for beginners, and you will see a variety of marine life and sea creatures.
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Jeep Riders Tour Begins
Our guides then lined all of us up in our Jeeps and took us on a ride to see the beautiful island. Jeep drivers need to be fairly confident to keep up with the tour. Locals tend to drive somewhat aggressively, so it is important to keep up with your tour group and not allow much space between your Jeep and the Jeep ahead of you.
Group Tour or Private Jeep Tour Cozumel: Punta Sur Park
We made stops during the Jeep tour to allow everyone to stay together and give us opportunities to enjoy the Cozumel island and take photographs. We saw the waves crashing against the glistening black rocks and felt the salty wind in our hair. It was perfect! If you don’t enjoy riding in a group, private tours are available that can be customized to your needs. Punta Sur Park is a must-see, or check out San Gervasio Mayan Ruins.
Mexican Lunch on the Cozumel Beach
At the direction of our guides, we drove the Jeeps on the secluded beach where a delicious authentic Mexican meal was served. We were given the opportunity to take in the sites and swim in the cool aquamarine water, and enjoy the white sand beaches. An artist offered the travelers henna tattoos for a nominal cost.
After lunch, we were taken to a shopping arcade where we bought a blanket, chair hammock, jewelry, and other items. Now that we have been to Mexico so many times, we rarely go shopping unless there is something we need or a special trinket catches our eye.
Jeep Riders Cozumel Tours end at Carlos ‘n Charlies
After the Jeep ride, we were given coupons for a free drink at Carlos ‘n Charlies in Cozumel. This is a popular tourist bar, so it was difficult to find a seat. Their claim to fame is a ceiling lined with t-shirts from tourists. According to their sign, if you give them your t-shirt, you will receive a free Margarita. We were tired from our day of adventure, so we enjoyed our refreshments and returned to the cruise ship wearing our t-shirts.
Return Trip to Cozumel Island: Another Jeep Tour and Tequila Tasting Tour
We enjoyed this excursion so much that when we returned on a Celebrity cruise five years later, we sought out a Jeep ride tour again. This time we were traveling with my brother and his lovely wife. The snorkeling was canceled due to the strong current, but I didn’t mind. We toured a tequila plantation where we could sample a variety of flavored tequilas from Cava Antigua. They were the best-flavored tequilas that I had ever tasted. I highly suggest a private tour of the tequila plantation. Having a private tour guide was so much fun and allowed us to ask questions and understand the differences in the tequila we were tasting. The Cozumel Jeep tour and tequila tour are perfect pairings. We also visited a secluded part of the island, where we stopped for beach photos and walked across the street to an elevated pavilion where we had snacks and margaritas. We met two great couples from New Jersey that kept us in stitches laughing. By the end of our Jeep excursion, we were still laughing and smiling. It was a remarkable day.
Cozumel Jeep Tours: Our Last Ride…
I didn’t know it at the time, but this would be our last vacation with my brother. He suffered a heart attack a month later while bike riding on a trail near his home. Thinking back to that amazing day in Cozumel, Mexico, I can still see and hear him talking to our new friends after we boarded the ship at the end of the day. He reminisced about years prior when he was in Cozumel with his significant other, who later became his wife. That day in Cozumel, Mexico, they decided to get married, so he bought her an engagement ring while they were there. When he told us the story about their engagement, he declared that she was his soulmate and “it was the happiest day of his life.” It warms my heart to know that we had the opportunity to return to the island with them and relive those fond memories while creating precious new ones that will last forever in our hearts.
Lessons learned: Take the time to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. And, travel now. Don’t put it off until you retire.
Need More Jeep Adventures?
If you like to travel by Jeep, You may be interested in our Jeep tour to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Read more about this excursion where we traveled once by boat and the other by Jeep, and watch the video of the Jeep ride below. Once we arrived, we went by foot and by boat to experience the untouched marine world that lives in this vast real estate of water. Here’s a clip of the bumpy ride and our fearless driver, my husband, enjoying the heck of driving this Jeep in the jungle. Watch it until the end, and you will see a glimpse of the entry to the biosphere. Funny story, all of the guests on this excursion spoke German except for us, and the couple you see briefly in the video in the back of the Jeep spoke Spanish. The tour guides were fantastic because they spoke all of these languages and never once made us feel like we were outsiders.
Group Tours and Cozumel Custom Private Jeep Excursions
Because we’ve enjoyed all of these Jeep tours, we wouldn’t hesitate to take another when visiting Cozumel. Whether we take a tequila tour again, check out the Mayan ruins, visit Punta Sur Eco Park, or experience other unique and fascinating culture, as long as there is a delicious lunch and views of the Mexican Caribbean Sea, we will enjoy it. If you are not interested in riding in a group, check out the private tours that you can tailor to your likes.
Horseback Riding on Cozumel?
Not into Jeeps? Did you know there are horseback riding tours on Cozumel Island? Private tours are available too. Ask your travel agent or concierge in your resort for more information.
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[…] mostly undeveloped, but there is a lively shopping district, and plenty to see and do. A fantastic Jeep tour of the island is a must-do if you have the opportunity. Chichen Itza is so far inland that you can book that […]
We love to do outdoor activities when we head south. We would surely start with snorkelling in Cozumel. But a jeep ride would add some fun entertainment. How fun to have a lunch stop on the beach. Great to read that you enjoyed it so much that you booked another jeep ride!
I’ve never tried a jeep tour but I love outdoor tours, so it sounds like it’d be fun! I don’t think I’ve been to cozumel so adding this to my list
Since I’m not driving, I could only join the jeep tour if they offered me a chauffeur 😀 However, your pictures are reminding me of how rough the sea is down there – I experienced some of the wildest waters around Mexico – exciting yet really dangerous.
I’m often in Playa del Carmen but haven’t been to Cozumel yet. Now I know that the next visit to Playa will start with a trip to Cozumel. Jeep Ride in Cozumel seems great fun and adventure!
Looks gorgeous. I’ve heard of Cozumel as one of the best diving spots in Mexico. I didn’t realize the beaches are also this stunning!
We did these in Cozumel, too…one Christmas!
Great post! I feel enjoyed reading this post. I like jeep rides,s especially in summer. jeep ride adds some entertainment.