Five Facts About Cozumel

Today, blogger JJ Hartmann of Igougo has applied one of our favorite trivia games to one of our favorite Mexican destinations, Cozumel. Check out his very clever six degrees of separation below.

Cozumel is believed to have been first settled by the Mayans. There are 24 ancient ruins on the island, such as San Gervasio, which are easily accessible to tourists. The Mayans settled here around 2000 years ago.
Mayans named the island Cozumel, or Cuzamil, which translates to the land of the swallow.
There are a fair number of swallows in Cozumel. There are also 5 species of birds that are completely endemic to the island — meaning the only place in the world they reside in is on this island. Three endemic mammals and one endemic fish also make Cozumel their home.
Many of these endemic species can be seen at Chankanaab National Park. This park was set up under protection by the Mexican government in 1980 to protect the many natural treasures of Cozumel. Chankanaab has beautiful beaches and hiking trails, making it a great outdoor activity space. This National Park is also a very popular place to dive, as you can rent equipment right out of the park.
Scuba diving and snorkeling are the main reason many people come to Cozumel. The average temperature of the island hovers near 80 degrees year-round and the waters have 150-250 feet of visibility. The clear water helps sunlight hit deeper depths of the water, allowing coral to grow deeper and be more protected. Cozumel sits on a 600 mile coral reef system — the second largest in the world. Many of the all-inclusive resorts also offer snorkeling adventures and packages.