Hasta Luego Punta Sur

Punta Sur Eco-Park offers many compelling reasons to come and visit. Located at the southern tip of Cozumel, it is part of the protected Cozumel Marine Park. We had many opportunities to come here during our 2+ years living on the island, and each visit was special. It is the one place we would visit if we were only given one day on the island. Our last visit was not just another trip, as we have come to say see you later (or hasta luego in spanish). This is our love letter to Punta Sur.

We always stop at the first lagoon – X’tacún – to see if the crocodile is hanging out around the dock. On our most recent visit, we were lucky to find two of them. Then, as we climbed up the viewing platform, we noticed two flamingos grazing in the shallow waters. The sun was shining at the perfect angle and we got some great pictures of the lagoon and colourful mangroves. We have barely traveled past the entrance and we’ve already had a wonderful day.

We drove right past the lighthouse towards the beach. If we were showing off the island to friends we would have stopped, as the views from the top are quite incredible. This isn’t our first visit to Punta Sur Eco-Park. We keep moving towards out goal.

The road is slow and dusty. We parked outside of the beach clubs and claimed our seats overlooking the beautiful blue water of the Caribbean. The staff is quick to offer help but we decline service and the waiter tells us he will watch our stuff.

We quickly make our way towards the water with our equipment strapped onto our heads.

What Makes Punta Sur so amazing?

The reason we come here is the snorkeling. The reef that is located a short distance from the shore is one of the most incredible places on the island. This is the reason we’ve come back one last time.

This isn’t an easy swim and lifejackets are mandatory. We had to swim against the current for at least 20 minutes, but we’ve done this before and know the reward is worth it. At times it feels like you’re making very little progress and the white buoy that once marked the “start” was now gone.

Once you make it to the beginning of the reef the current becomes your ally, and it slowly guides you along the reef. At first, it isn’t all that impressive. Then you notice more fish that are riding the current with you.

There are a few teasers of what is about to come, as the beautiful purple fan coral is hard to miss. As you will see in the pictures that follow, this beautiful scene plays out like a fantasy. It slowly gets better and better. After about 20-30 minutes you reach the end of the ride, and the beach club is quite far away. It takes another 15-20 minutes to swim in and another 15 to walk back, but it is worth it.

Where is Punta Sur and how do you get there?

Cozumel has one big ring road that loops around most of the contour of the lower portion of the island. Punta Sur Eco-Park is about a 45 minute drive from San Miguel de Cozumel. There is no public transit to the “other” side of Cozumel, so you have to have your own transport. This could any number of things, including a human powered bike, rented car or scooter and a taxi hired for the day . There are also tour groups that come here, so stop making excuses. We promise you it is worth it.

If you’re looking for an all day adventure which encompasses many of the best parts of the island, this should be your top choice. We are working on a comprehensive “how to get to Punta Sur” guide, so in the future we will have a more dedicated location for all of our tips for visiting Punta Sur.

If you still need some convincing, please scroll down to see some of the pictures from our latest visit. This is a pretty great sample of the best of Punta Sur on Cozumel. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Hasta Luego Punta Sur