About Cozumel
The name Cozumel (Isla de Cozumel) means "Land of the Swallow" in Mayan, and was named for the indigenous, graceful birds that can be seen regularly patrolling Cozumel's beautiful beaches and coastline. Cozumel was settled roughly 2000 years ago by ancient Mayans, a seafaring people, who saw Cozumel as a commercial stop as well as a sacred shrine.
The Infamous Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés found his way to Isla Cozumel in 1519 and with his influence, which included the destruction of many temples and the spread of smallpox, Cozumel's inhabitants went from 40,000 inhabitants to just 30 people by 1570. Cozumel's ancient Mayan civilization lay in ruins, and by 1600 Cozumel was uninhabited.
La Isla de Cozumel is approximately 45 miles south of Cancun, with its own commercial airport and is serviced by almost all major airlines. Nah Ha is about one mile north of the main airport road.
The largest inhabited island in Mexico and the oldest in the Caribbean group, Cozumel is located 12 miles off the eastern coast of the mainland (Yucatan Peninsula.) The limestone plateau that forms the base of the island is 34 miles long (north to south) and 11 miles wide (east to west) and, despite the boom in tourist and residential development in the past few years, the island continues to have vast expanses of untouched jungle and shoreline.
The island is one of the top 5 dive destinations in the world thanks to stunning coral reefs (second largest in the world) located just off the southwestern coast. Add in unusually clear water---with visibility often as great as 200 ft--and you have a formula for some incredible underwater diving.
Between the north and south hotel zones on the island's west coast is the vibrant city of San Miguel, population 90,000. This safe, extraordinarily friendly, mostly English speaking, Mayan/Mexican community has somehow managed to retain its own customs and cultural identity despite the increasing influx of visitors. You’ll also find wonderful dining and great shopping just minutes from Nah Ha.
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