Cozumel Island News and Blog in English

Paisano Pato's Blog and Island News

Updated Almost Daily

Most Articles are from Mexican Newspapers and should be taken with mucho grains of margarita salt!

posted 1/31/2012

Rumors have surfaced again about the Tampa to Mexico car and people cruise. The latest on this on-again, off-again scheme is that as of June or July it will be making maybe 2 trips a week from the port of Tampa, Fl. to Calica, just south of Playa Del Carmen. The ferry reportedly can carry 2000 passengers and 600 cars. If it does start running this would be great for adventurers wanting to travel with their cars to Quintana Roo, Cozumel and all of Mexico. Since this plan has been in the works for over a year now with seemingly no start date in sight we will adopt our usual "wait and see" take on this.

Out of the 35 police vehicles on Cozumel, 11 of them are not running and are in the shop for repairs. That leaves only 24 official cop cars left to patrol the island. The shortage is forcing some officers to use their own transportation to get to the scene of emergencies. And accident wise things are hopping on the island. On Sunday night there were five car wrecks, a suicide and two fatalities in other incidents in various parts of the city, so several officers had to respond sans official vehicles. There is no word on when the ailing squad cars will be back on the streets again.

posted 1/23/2012

The President of the Employers Confederation of Mexico (Coparmex) is calling for the building of more hotels on Cozumel. Specifically he would like to see major building on the islands East Coast, north of Mezcalitos, in one of the last undeveloped and environmentally pristine parts of the island. His mission is to create more jobs for Cozumeleños and revive the island economy. He feels that if more hotels were built here then more tourists would be drawn to the island and would stay longer. We are not sure that will be the case though as, except for only a few weeks a year, the island can not fill the hotels that it already has. But who knows, maybe some more housekeeper and waiter jobs are just what the island needs to give it a boost.

Unhappy survivors of the Costa Concordia sinking

The Port Authority of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) confirmed that there has been no impact to the schedules of cruise ships coming to Cozumel since the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off Giglio Island, Italy. Cruise watchers feel that Carnival, the parent company of the grounded vessel, will face a big hit to revenue for 2012. Cozumel officials are still hoping that the much deeper waters around Cozumel island will make the cruise passengers feel safer and that some 3 million cruisers will still visit The Island of Swallows this year.

posted 1/18/2012

The number of couples getting married on Cozumel seems to be in a slump. Fewer folks getting hitched...more couples just living in sin, we guess. In an effort to put lovers on the right path, the Civil Registrar's Office on the island is offering big savings on a mass wedding in February. We are not sure just how much will be saved, but in these uncertain times every little bit helps.

The island's Director of Tourism has issued a statement warning everyone to "not rent motor scooters." We totally agree just from a safety standpoint, but the Director adds that when vacationers rent a moto and get in an accident then that can give visitors the wrong impression of the island...Good point! He also says the streets on the island are in poor condition (potholes and sneaky speed bumps) and many of the motorcycles are not as well maintained as they might be, even though they should be in perfect shape. Okie Dokie!

posted 1/12/2012

PROFECO's list of the top consumer complaints for Cozumel businesses is out. It looks like, in 2011, the top gripes were about mobile telephone providers and pay TV service. There were also a good number of beefs about auto repair shops and companies that rent motos and automobiles. That last complaint would be coming from tourists, and PROFECO (Mexico's BBB) is most active in reconciling those issues so the island does not get a bad name. A PROFECO spokesman advises everyone to read the fine print in any contract they sign, as well as to complain to PROFECO if they can't work problems out with the service provider. Indeed, the agency is successful in getting satisfaction for the consumer in 98% of the cases it handles.

Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History reports that Tulum was the number one ruin in the state of Quintana Roo., with over a million tourists visiting the tiny ocean front site in 2011. Following at number two was Coba with more than 450 thousand trekkers. San Gervasio, on Cozumel, was the 3rd most visited ruin in the state with 137 thousand day-trippers exploring the island's only ruin of note.

posted 1/10/2012

In a move that seems like deja vu all over again, the Chief of Police on Cozumel reports that cops will begin enforcing the 2 on a moto rule...again. This law was put into effect over a year ago and, despite a few tickets, was largely ignored by cops and citizens alike. We're still seeing up to 5 peeps on a motorcycle on a daily basis. The current fine for more than 2 on a moto is 163 pesos, but we are reading that it may go up in the near future. In related article, the number one auto violation on the island for 2011 was for persons operating a motor vehicle without a drivers license, with 3987 persons fined. The number two fine was for cars not having license plates. That makes sense...who needs a license plate if you don't have a drivers license anyway?

A new report ranks Cozumel in the top 10 percent for Internet use in all of Mexico. Eight out of every 10 Cozumeleños are connected via the web. Cozumel has 12 pairs of fiber optic cables running underwater to the mainland. They have the capacity to handle 9.7 million simultaneous sessions of voice and data over a single pair of cables. Officials say that all this band width, and high tech connectivity, there is no way that the island can be cut off from the rest of the world no matter what the disaster.

We are seeing reports that mosquitoes are still plaguing the island and so larval control and spraying will be ongoing. Mosquito experts claim that 2012 will be an even more difficult year for Dengue in the Caribbean than 2011 was.

posted 1/5/2012

We have just come across a great tool that may encourage tourists to use the confusing Cozumel bus system. The bus system is geared toward locals to get them to and from the Chedraui grocery store. Most of the buses pick up there and cost about 7 pesos per ride. None of the routes go along the water, or out of town to the tourist areas. After looking at the maps, and checking the routes, we will definitely be taking a ride. For a pdf file with all the info click HERE.

Cozumel has just been listed by the Federal Government of Mexico as one of the LEAST safe cities in the country. Even the US government does not count Cozumel as one of the most dangerous Mexican cities, so Cozumeleños are wondering, "What's up!" Understandably the Mayor of Cozumel is hopping mad and wants a retraction, as Cozumel has long been considered one of the safest places to be in all of Mexico. We will wait and see how the Mayor deals with this PR nightmare. FYI: Cancun also made the list but we are not surprised with that choice.

In another affront to Cozumel, the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), has just released its Competitive Index and the island failed to make the top tier on that report. Out of 402 municipalities, only 14 showed high competitiveness and three of those were Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Isla Mujeres. The rankings were determined mostly by how high income levels were in those communities. Also considered were their ability to attract and retain investment, in promoting sustained economic growth and the prospect of future demand for housing. Other municipalities topping the rankings were Cabo San Lucas, San Luis Potosí, Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, Hermosillo, Guanajuato, Xalisco, and Nuevo Laredo.

posted 1/3/2012

If you have noticed that it now seems to take longer to clear customs at the Cozumel airport then you are not alone. Airport officials advise that the wait time for luggage has jumped from 20 minutes to 40 minutes in the past two months. They cite the necessity of more thorough inspections of the bags as well as shortages of personnel to conduct the inspections as major contributing factors to the delay. Makes us want to just bring a carry-on for our next island trip.

The Municipal Transit Department on Cozumel has become one of the major sources of revenue for the city. Traffic fines represent from 20 to 30 percent of the cash that the city collects per month. In an effort to boost the amount collected, a new fine for noisy, smokey motos and autos is now being imposed. It seems noisy vehicles give a bad impression to students as well as visitors and no one wants that. Authorities advise that the best way to avoid a fine is to have all your vehicle papers in order. But if you do get a ticket then pay it within 5 days to take advantage of a 50% discount for prompt payment.

posted 12/30/11

Our latest trip to the island was our first time to use the services of a Mayair flight from Cancun to Cozumel and we must say the service was excellent. The flights were not crowded, were on time and the views from the planes were marvelous! Because the Mayair terminals are removed from the regular tourist flights, we avoided the crowds and the timeshare sharks. We also discovered that to fly like a local you can just show up at the departure lounge about 10 minutes prior to departure and still be on time for your flight. But as of January 6th 2012 we are reading that all those good things will change for flights to and from Cozumel. As of that date Mayair will move to the main terminal on the island and passengers will be subject to the regular pre-boarding screenings. Flights will also be closing 25 minutes prior to departure. We also assume that passengers will be fair game for timeshare hawkers too. We do have one other insider tip that saves so much on the cost of the ticket that it makes it almost cheaper to take the flight than it is to take the bus and ferry to the island, but you will have to contact us directly for that one.

posted 12/26/11

Probably due to the "worst season ever," the McDonald's on Melgar has gone out of business. This is bad news for the restaurant's employee's and lovers of fine American fast food, but good news for the stores immediately below McDonald's which will no longer have to put up with the restaurant's overflowing toilets and spilled cooking oil seeping down their walls. McDonald's joins the ranks of international companies like the Ford and Chevrolet dealerships that have also had to close up shop on Cozumel.

posted 12/22/11

City Officials say that if anyone wants to build a heliport on the island then they only need to check in with the Department of Urban Development to get the ball rolling. They also advise that there will be a lot of red tape involved and it will probably be a very expensive project. The first priority would be selecting the right location and then having a feasibility study done regarding noise pollution and safety. Some years ago a company named "Magic Adventures" planned to construct a heliport offering helicopter rides to tourists, but the Administration at that time nixed the whole deal because of safety concerns.

We are reading that as of January 1st, the fees to visit almost all the ruins throughout Quintana Roo will be going up. The biggest rate increases will be at Tulum and Coba, where it will cost 57 pesos to visit the sites. San Gervasio, on Cozumel, will jump to 46 pesos (we think from 33 pesos). If correct, that amounts to a grandiose 40% increase! So if you want to save a peso or 2 check out your fave ruin before the end of the year.

We have always adopted the old adage to not ship anything to, or from, Mexico unless you won't need it for a few months or just never want to see it again. It now sounds like Profeco may be getting into the act as complaints are mounting about island shipping companies like DHL and Estafeta. High rates, lost shipments and miss delivered packages are just some of the issues. Customers even complain that it is a waste of time to file a complaint. Good point.

posted 12/16/11

Cozumel Cab Drivers have always taken offense whenever a non-taxi hauls tourists around town. Taxistas can go to great lengths to stop the competing Pirate Cabbie from going anywhere. The latest incident involved a long time Pirate Cabbie offender and when word got out that there was a violation going on a taxista representative raced to the scene in a manner consistent with any Taxi Cab Emergency! His wild driving caused him to run off the road and hit a tree. The Pirate Cabbie stopped to render assistance. No one was hurt and the Pirate Cabbie will probably just apologize again and say, "I forgot."

On November 17th, a police officer traveling at a very high rate of speed struck and killed an entire family of four on the Transvaal Highway. The family was riding in their 3 wheeled "tricyclero" and did not have lights or reflectors on the slow moving vehicle. Because of this horrendous incident, a new law has been proposed that requires all pedal powered vehicles to have lights and reflectors. Offenders will have the bike taken into custody and then must show proof of ownership and put lights on the bike in order to get it back.

posted 12/13/11

The latest we are reading about the new Marina at Caleta is that NO explosives will be used to open the mouth of the marina, as this could cause serious ecological damage to the island. This issue came about when concerned Cozumeleños discovered stakes placed in hard rock that looked like they might mark dynamite holes. Officials say that only heavy equipment will be used to remove the rock, and precautions will be taken to make sure the reef at Paradise is not damaged.

Two companies on the island have taken up making organic fertilizer from Cozumel worms and the stuff they leave behind. The companies, "Coz-Humus" and "Tumben luum," are reportedly having some success selling both liquid and solid fertilizers to be used by island gardeners. Both companies say their products are great for growing tomatoes, lettuce, onion, jicama and chile habanero among others vegetables. In a related story, ostrich farming may be coming back to the island next year. This was tried some 6 years ago and the project failed, supposedly because the ostriches got stressed out during the noisy fair at El Cedral. It is hoped that some future, unnamed investor will find a more peaceful location for his ostrich ranch.

We came across a vague story about the cops who killed and butchered a cow some months ago. Our best read is that any officers involved in the incident have been fired from the police force. The article does not name names or note just how many cops were involved.

The new statue of the Virgen de Chankanaab is on Cozumel and making the rounds of the churches and streets as part of the festivities in honor of the Virgen of Guadalupe. The original statue was stolen from the bottom of the ocean at Chankanaab Parque months ago and never found. The new icon, made from keys donated by islanders, is 1.6 meters tall and weighs 70 kilos. It will be carried around Cozumel during the festival of the Virgen of Guadalupe and then placed on the bottom of the sea at Chankanaab on December 18th.

posted 12/8/11

When we shop for groceries on Cozumel we occasionally check the expiration date on food items and it does not surprise us when we find expired stuff still sitting on the shelves. What we don't expect is rotten food being sold and that sounds like what was gong on at the Chedraui on Melgar. A customer complaint about very bad meat resulted in an apology from a cashier and an offer to refund the purchase price. The customer refused that offer, and instead complained to the health department. The resulting inspections turned up more bad food and a more vigorous apology from the store manager who said that the refrigerator had broken and the staff had not let him know. He noted that the Ched offers a 200% satisfaction guarantee on anything they sell, and will also replace the crappy product for free. We will remember that on our next visit!

For same sex couples looking to Cozumel as the spot to get married we are reading that they will need to keep on looking...at least for awhile. The judge that performs all the marriage services on the island says that by law he cannot marry gay or lesbian couples. However 2 same sex couples were recently married on the mainland and that has generated requests for similar ceremonies to be performed on Cozumel. Apparently there is a loophole in the law that does allow gay and lesbian Mexican Nationals to get hitched, but there is no similar provision for foreigners...yet!

posted 12/5/11

We are reading that there is a shortage of police officers on the island, but some islanders may feel that there are too many officers as it is. One lady reported that her moto had been stolen and, to her delight, cops reported finding it the very same day. When she went to retrieve it, taking all her proof of ownership papers, she was told by a cop that there would now be a fee of some 350 pesos involved that would help "facilitate" the moto's return. In Mexico, a bribe like that to get business done is known as "Mordita." We have not read the outcome of this incident.

Some Horse Drawn Carriage operators are asking the city to be able to use the old, smaller horses that have been banned by the City Council. The operators say they would only use them in an emergency, like if the other horse were sick or something and not able to work that day. The City Council reportedly denied that request.

posted 11/28/11

By all reports we are reading that this years Cozumel Ironman was another success. Almost 2,400 athletes competed in this years event and island number crunchers figure that at least 3 fans accompanied each competitor. That was enough to fill 85% of the hotel rooms on the island, so hoteliers are happy. Many Cozumeleños are marking the Ironman event as an end to one of the worst slow seasons the island has ever experienced.

On our latest trip to the island we were not at all surprised to see that the only 2 people on a moto law is clearly not being enforced anymore. We also noted that there has been some backsliding on the mandatory helmet law too. The one incident that brought this home was seeing a moto family of 4 drive past. Only two of the riders had helmets and the driver was wearing a police uniform!

posted 11/22/11

The Cozumel press is reporting that this Sunday "...the world's eyes will be turned toward the island of Cozumel..." as athletes from around the world compete in the 2011 Ironman. Indeed athletes can be seen everywhere on the island prepping for the big race. The first of the swimming groups hits the water at 6:40am this Sunday, with biking and running stages to follow. Participants have until midnight to finish all the races. If you are on the island Sunday watch for road closings and traffic delays. You can also just find a good vantage point on Melgar or at the Palacio Parque and cheer on the Ironmen!

On our recent trip to the island we were able to take advantage of the new scenic overlooks on the East Side. Built amid some controversy, as it was thought they could interfere with turtles laying eggs, we found them a great place to hang out. Each had a wheelchair accessible platform at road level with primitive changing rooms below that. The palapas were a nice size to provide a spot of shade or, in our case, shelter from the rain. None of them had adequate parking but that will change as the East Side road is widened. So pack your own picnic and check them out.

posted 11/16/11

We apologize for the lack of island news here on our blog, but the last 3 weeks have been filled with a Hurricane Rina postponed trip followed by a constant stream of activities on the island, so no time to post...or do much else for that matter. Our trip was great although brief, and we had some interesting highlights as well as low-lights.

Sam's Club surprised as the place to be on Sundays. We have never gotten anything for free at any Sam's Club in Mexico, but the one on Cozumel turned out to be a wild free for all! Vodka, cake, beer, pie, hotdogs, wine...if it was consumable then it was being given away and usually as much as you wanted. During the week this store was almost totally empty but check it out on Sunday for the people watching and constant snacking!

We were also surprised by the entertainment available on the island. We were just passing through the Municipal Parque one night and caught an incredible performance by Latin Grammy award winning band "JotDog." It was maybe one of the 2 best concerts we have ever seen on Cozumel. It seems that you never know when the island will surprise you!

We hit a low-light at one of our fave pizza joints, "Mosiacoz," where it seems you can no longer order the 3 for 2 pizza special and take your leftovers home with you. You have to either eat all the pizza at the restaurant or throw it away. If you try to take it with you they charge you full price for all 3 pizzas. What??!!

The island is still lovely though. If we had the time we could just sit on the East Side for hours each day and we certainly hope to be back much sooner rather than later.

It looks like it is pretty much business as usual for the island's Horse Drawn Carriages. We read that about 6 of them were out of service and we assume that was because the operators have not gotten the new, bigger horses. But our take was that of the carriages that were still working, the horses still seemed pretty small to be pulling those carriages full of overweight cruisers around town.

Crime is up on the island too. One of our amigas had her moto stolen early one evening while it was parked in front of a friends house. Island police say that motos are being scooped up off Cozumel's streets at the rate of 6 a day! You just can't let your moto out of your sight.

posted 10/27/11

Even though Hurricane Rina is now Tropical Storm Rina, Cozumel Officials have declared a curfew on the island and instituted the dreaded "Dry Law" until further notice. As of yesterday there can be no alcohol sold anywhere on the island, even tourist hotels. The car ferry has suspended service and the people ferries have stopped ferrying people. Police and military are watching the streets to make sure no one leaves their houses....also until further notice. Rina is now predicted to further weaken in strength but the island could experience rainy conditions for several more days.

A wheel fell off one of the island's Horse Drawn Carriages yesterday and, according to the papers, almost caused a life threatening accident. Fortunately no one was hurt and onlookers helped the carriage driver to restore the wheel to the vehicle. Carriage Operators still have till November 1st to get their horses in order or no longer be allowed to work on the island.

Ever experience loud music or noise on the usually quiet streets of Cozumel? Well, if so then just contact the Director of Ecology on the island. He is supposed to have the equipment to determine how loud that music is blaring and if it's too loud then he can tell the offending club, bar or home owner to "silencio, por favor!"

posted 10/20/11

Taxi Cab owners on Cozumel have been lobbying for some time to raise rates about 20%. So far State Officials have not allowed the rate increase basically saying that it would be too onerous for Cozumeleños to pay more to use a cab during these tough economic times. The article reported that the cheapest published rate to hire a taxi in town is 18 pesos, while the most expensive rate is to circumnavigate the island, which is a surprisingly affordable 400 pesos. We need to remember that next time we flag down an island cab cause no taxista has ever quoted us 400 pesos to go around the island!

We are reading that Cozumel's horse drawn carriage operators are gearing up to ask for an extension on the November 1st deadline to get bigger horses to pull the carriages. The rumor on the street is that so far none of the operators have even purchased the required larger horses. No surprise there!

posted 10/18/11

More than 9 inches of rain deluged the island over the weekend. Several streets were closed due to high water and the port was closed to small boats. We also read that a lightening strike knocked out the warning light at the Caletita Lighthouse. Seventeen small craft were reported sunk by the rain in Cancun. Skies are clearing now and while all the rain might presage a new round of mosquitoes, it looks like Cozumel may be experiencing much cooler weather this week with highs only in the 70's. Maybe a cold norte will blow the skeeters out and mark an end to Hurricane Season in the Atlantic basin.

Cozumel will host its second Lionfish Safari October 19-23rd. The cost is $195 per person and that buys you training in how to kill the pesky Lionfish as well as 6 tanks of diving, a T-shirt, Lionfish snacks and 2 free drinks at Carlos' n' Charlie's. The event is geared to boost island tourism.

Six of the women arrested for the Diamond's International robbery have been released from jail. It sounds like they were arrested because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even so the cops kept whatever money the women had as well as their cellphones. Still no word that any of the now reportedly 29 million dollars worth of stolen watches has been recovered.

posted 10/13/11

City Officials are saying that as of Nov 1st only Horse Drawn Carriages with newer, larger horses will be allowed on Cozumel streets. Requiring bigger horses was the city's response to allow the carriages to keep working on the island, even though horses are not allowed to work on paved streets in the rest of Mexico. Reportedly the city will not be offering financial support to the carriage operators to help purchase the horses. City Officials are adamant that, unlike past administrations, there will be no extensions to allow operators to keep working until they can find a big horse. We are not sure if they can just stop working until they find a big horse or if come November 1 and they don't have a new ride then they can never work again. We will keep you advised.

posted 10/11/11

Reportedly, Cozumel Cops have captured all 13 robbers involved in the Diamonds International heist. Seven women and 5 guys are now locked in the full-to-overflowing Cozumel jail. Police report that so far none of the 200 hundred watches stolen have been recovered. Claims by DI that the missing watches cost some 125,000 pesos each have some in the community very doubtful over what was really taken. Meanwhile all passengers departing the island via the ferry are being searched for the baubles. This has caused many tourists to literally miss the boat as the ships depart on time leaving would be passengers still in line being searched.

The most popular dive spot on the island, Paradise Reef, may be in danger of being severely damaged. Engineers working on the new Marina at Caleta have punched into the underground spring in that area and it is causing a flood of sand and debris to flow toward the reef. Builders were warned that this would happen and were advised to place underwater curtains to catch the particulates, but that advice was not followed. Some 40% of all Cozumel scuba dives take place on Paradise Reef and if destroyed the loss to the island could be irreparable.

The guys who work with Cozumel's sea turtles are reporting that so far some 3,460 nests have been counted and that 171,000 baby turtles have been released into the sea. Officials plan to release the last of the turtle babies at a celebratory event in mid November.

We just had to throw this last story into the mix: It seems around 2 am Saturday morning a "horny couple" was caught in full intercourse inside a car parked on south Melgar. A third man, who was going to warn the couple if anyone took an interest in the rocking vehicle, was also arrested. Reportedly, alcohol was involved.

posted 10/06/11

Diamonds International on Cozumel was the scene for a daring armed robbery Wednesday evening. Witnesses report that from 8-12 masked criminals armed with pistols and an AK-47 swept into the jewelery store. They clubbed an unarmed security guard and used hammers to smash glass cases throughout the store. Reportedly shots were fired but no one was hit. Outside the shop other criminal types rounded up street cops so they could not stop the crime. After looting the store of at least $100,000 in jewelery the bandits fled in a van which was found abandoned a short distance away. We hear that the island went into lock-down mode...the 9pm ferry was cancelled and everyone leaving Cozumel was being searched. We are reading that as many as 4 suspected bandits have been arrested but we have no confirmation of this.

We have heard that island officials have started cracking down on motos illegally parked on Melgar. Eye witnesses report that motos are being hauled off to the impound lot by the truck load...or something like that. We are glad to hear that motorcycles will now be treated like any other motor vehicle.

There is another attempt going on to repair the famous Divers Fountain located on the seawall of the island. This seems to be one of those Cozumel landmarks that just never seems to work for very long. The last time it was "repaired" we think it worked for about 3 weeks and then was mysteriously broken again. Anyhow, the word is that it will be running again in November just in time for the Ironman. Come on down to Cozumel and check it out soon!

posted 9/29/11

As of today motos will no longer be allowed to park for free on Avenue Melgar. We are not sure where they will be able to park or how much it will cost, but the article says that by this Saturday motos on Melgar will be ticketed for parking violations. Pretty vague stuff!

Two great reasons to come to Cozumel right now: The peso is near 14 to the dollar so you can buy more stuff for less money in Mexico. And hotel occupancy is now at a new low of 5% so you can get your pick of pretty much any room at the inn! See you on the Isla.

posted 9/27/11

Health Officials are advising locals and tourists to NOT TOUCH THE WHITE MOTHS that are swarming around bright lights on the island. The moths can cause a skin dermatitis in humans, so don't play with the moths. Reportedly, these moths were last seen in these numbers following Hurricane Wilma. Scientists think the moth population is getting out of control because birds and other natural predators are not eating the moths like they should. It seems most of the white moths prefer the very bright lights at the OXXO stores so be extra careful at those locations.

Tourism Officials are reporting that dive businesses on the island are suffering because divers now prefer to just sit at home and take a "virtual dive" by watching one on TV. Who wants to spend all that money diving and getting wet when you can have just as good a time watching a video! Really? Well if it's in black and white then it must be true!

Supposedly FREE WI-FI will soon be available along the town water front and in Benito Juarez Park. Telmex is setting everything up and it should all be in place sometime by the end of the year, if not before. The park in front of the Palaccio is close to having the service. If you have a Telmex account then you will just log online with that. If you do not have an account then, supposedly, you can get 1 hour of free internet a day.

posted 9/20/11

Hotel occupancy on Cozumel is currently below 19%. We think that this may be a new low for the island. The only plan we have heard of lately to boost island tourism is to destroy the protected areas on the East Side of the island and build condos and a couple of golf courses there. In any event, hoteliers are anxiously waiting for the boost in tourism they expect in November when the Cozumel Ironman comes to the island.

Some of the older houses on the island may be getting a face lift soon. Island Officials are planning to paint 22 of the oldest homes in the city center to give Cozumel a more distinctive look. Comex Paints will reportedly be providing the paint as well as an exclusive palate of colors just for the project. If these colors look cool then soon you may be able to drop by your neighborhood Lowe's and order a gallon of Cozumel Blue paint for your own facelift project!

posted 9/15/11

Authorities are saying that even though the Dengue epidemic is bad there is no quarantine being planned for Cozumel. The airport and ferry piers will not be closing. We are not sure why that became an issue at all since Dengue can't be spread from human to human but is only spread via mosquitoes. We think people are comparing it to the flu epidemic of 2009 and Dengue is not the flu. Officials are only confirming 84 cases of Dengue on the island and saying only 1 person has died of the disease. But they are also reporting that the the state operated clinics on the island have run out of medicine to treat the sick...sounds like lots of cases to us. Meanwhile a team of specialists in spraying the moscos is coming to the island to press the attack against the pesky skeeters. The mayor says there will be no truce in the fight against Dengue and spraying is planned street by street and house by house in an effort to wipe out the disease carriers.

Chankaanab and Punta Sur parks are going into low season mode and will be closed on Sundays. It is hoped they will resume their 7 day a week schedule sometime in December. We hope they will not be raising the current admission price of $19 usd any higher than it is now.

Two months into the season and the lobster-men of Cozumel have already hauled in 12 tons of the tasty crustaceans. The goal is to catch 25 tons in all, the same as 2010 and the lobster hombres say they are well on the way to meeting those numbers.

posted 9/13/11

Celebrations for Mexico's Independence Day are happening this week on Cozumel, with the wild party the night of September 15th. The big crowds will be dancing and drinking in the park at the Palaccio...probably all night so you will have plenty of time to join in the festivities. There may be fireworks or there may not be fireworks...these things change all the time. Security is supposed to be tight and minors are not supposed to be drinking...officials say. There probably will be some boring speeches but we say check it out cause this is one of those really fun times to be on Cozumel.

posted 9/12/11

We are reading that the City of Cozumel has decided that this is the year it will finally go after the owners of condos and villas to collect taxes that are owed when the property is rented out for money. Hotel owners have always paid these federal and city taxes and have viewed condos and villas as having an unfair advantage because they don't have to pay anything back to the island. If this does happen then the big winners will be the electric (CFE) and water (CAPA) companies on the island because all those rental properties will immediately be charged the much higher commercial rate for utilities. Losers will be reputable real estate agents who will have to let prospective buyers know that if they choose to use their new purchase as a vacation rental then there will be lots more expenses and red tape involved then there used to be. So far we have not read how the city will go about collecting the fees but will let you know if they come up with a plan.

posted 9/7/11

The Mayor of Cozumel is pushing for a new tourist housing complex north of Mezcalitos on the East Side of the island. Even though construction of anything more than a stick and grass hut is forbidden in this protected area the mayor feels that this is the best way to bring new investment to the island. By changing the environmental laws to allow condos and homes to be built on the East Coast, the Mayor hopes to be remembered in 20 years as the individual who was courageous enough to do what had to be done to grow the island into a major tourist destination. Our take is that with some 3,800 hotel rooms on Cozumel now and occupancy running at near 30% then any new construction will just add more empty rooms to the pot. Now if the Mayor could get the ferry boats to carry passengers for FREE then he just might earn that coveted spot in Cozumel's history books.

We are hearing fresh warnings regarding the parking meters of Cozumel. One of our island amigos is reporting that there is no information posted regarding the times that the meters are in effect and the meter maids are very quick to lock on the boot over a violation of mere minutes. In fact he says they seem to be hiding just waiting to pounce on unsuspecting parkers. Currently, if you are driving a moto then you can park anywhere as the meter police have not figured out how to ticket and boot a 2 wheeled vehicle.

posted 9/1/11

Cozumel's Director of Ecology is reporting that more than 3,300 turtles have been released into the wild so far this season, and he expects that number to go higher. Ninety percent of the turtles released are Hawks-bill, we think, while the other 10% are Loggerhead. Reportedly, there have not been many problems with predators disturbing the nests even though that was a concern earlier in the season. The Director acknowledges that there are still reports of old Cozumeleños who eat turtle meat and eggs. He says it is the younger generations who are aware of the need to conserve the species and they will be the ones to put an end to the harvesting of island turtles.

We are hearing rumors that horse drawn carriage operators on Cozumel have been violating their agreement with the city. Supposedly horses have been injured and abandoned to die. Operators are cramming too many people into the carriages and have horses working longer hours than the law allows. Carriage Operators can be fined 2,268 pesos per violation, if they are ever charged.

posted 8/30/11

Be sure and bring lots of bug repellent to the island if you plan on visiting soon because it is mosquito season in the tropics and that means Dengue. While Cozumel officials are reporting about 50 cases of Dengue Fever so far this season, unofficial reports list the numbers as high as 300. Word on the street is that health officials are playing down the number of persons sick with the fever in an effort to not alarm the public. Spraying for skeeters is continuing, although we have read that an undetermined amount of the mosquito spray went missing, supposedly sold to individuals for personal use.

posted 8/29/11

We are reading that 2 new species of sea-life have been discovered in a cenote on Cozumel. Scientists from the US, China and Mexico are as yet unsure how this one underwater cave on the island of Cozumel is the only known location of a peculiar starfish and some creature called a sprocket wheel. None of the researchers have ever known of this type of sea-life adapting from a salt to a fresh water environment. One theory is that there is some nutrient in mangroves that allowed the creatures to survive in the cenote. Scientists hope to know more in a few years.

We have been reading for sometime that a wind farm was being planned for Cozumel and just passed it off as another wild scheme, but now it looks like something might, maybe, really happen. A total of 5, sixty meter tall towers are being planned on the south eastern side of the island. The company doing the deal, Mexico Power Group, hopes to produce between 50 and 85 megawatts of electricity initially. We are still not sure when that will be since it also looks like Mexico Power is soliciting investors to participate in the Cozumel project.

posted 8/11/11

We have been reading that new measures are being tried by Cozumel officials to encourage more tourism. Things like a new Facebook campaign and big signs promoting the beauty of the island in Mexico City airports. Officials want to try anything to play up how safe, peaceful and friendly the island is. One island car agency has found a new approach to encourage customers...it's called, "pay me more money or I will stab you with this knife." That's what greeted three Argentine tourists when they went to pick up their reserved motor scooters at "Punta Norte" rentals located on Ave 10 near Salas. The owner demanded an additional $58 over the $75 already paid. When the Argentinians argued and said they would not pay any more then the owner insulted them and pulled a knife to convince them that he really wanted more money. Eventually the cops arrived, found the agency didn't have the proper papers to be in business and shut them down. We are not sure if the owner was arrested or if the Argentinians ever got their money back or got their motos. The Mayor of Cozumel has offered that this is not the way he wants to encourage tourists to visit the "Island of Swallows."

posted 8/9/11

Interjet Airlines has reduced the number of flights from Mexico City to Cozumel, from 7 back to 4 per week. The extra flights had been added to take advantage of the summer holiday season in Mexico. The daily flights had been running 70% to 80% full. With the reduction comes the really low season on the island we have mentioned. Restaurants, hotels and rental properties on the island have been feeling the pinch for some time, in spite of the few extra tourists flying to Cozumel.

The mainland town of Puerto Morelos is now a port-o-call for a cruise to Cuba. Tropicana Cruise Lines' ship "Adriana" will be sailing weekly from Progresso to Havana and Campeche. Prices start at $1200 per person and the ship has a capacity of 450 passengers. The Mayor of Puerto Morelos is not real happy about the situation as it now stands since the ship is only docking at PM for 3 hours...hardly enough time for passengers to see the tiny town, much less spend a lot of tourist dollars there. Reportedly, the only people who are happy are the cab drivers who jacked up their prices from 20 pesos to 30 pesos for the ride in to town. This kind of sounds like what Cozumel has been facing for years; The cruise ships don't stay long enough to add much to the economy and taxi drivers jack up their rates to gouge the tourists.

posted 8/8/11

A French tourist was struck by a boat while she was swimming off La Palapita beach on Saturday evening. She sustained serious injuries to both legs and her arm. The captain of the boat fled the scene and at last report, was still hiding from authorities. The tourist, Marilla Jessica Martine Perrin, is in serious condition and is being treated in a private clinic.

Another American tourist has been arrested at the Cozumel airport and charged with possession of bullets. This is the second time this has occurred in the past 2 months. Apparently this is now becoming so common place that the bullet toting tourist only had to pay a fine and then was on her way back to Dallas. Even though it looks like future offenders will not be doing any jail time, it would still be a good idea to check your luggage for firearms before you head out to the airport, just to avoid any misunderstandings. Of course we are still not sure what TSA is doing to allowing weapons on flights departing the states in the first place.

posted 8/4/11

Registration for this year's Iron Man on Cozumel has closed early. Twenty Five Hundred participants have signed up for the event and that is the maximum number that can be handled safely and efficiently on the island. Officials expect some 7,000 Iron Man fans and participants to come to the island for the event in November. They hope to have the East Side road fully completed and to have paid the remaining 3.5 million dollars owed to the Iron Man committee by then. As of this time no changes are planned in the routes or starting time of the event.

posted 8/2/11

If you are on Cozumel August 13th then you might want to check out what is sure to be a bidding frenzy at Costa Del Sol. This normally quiet enclave south of town will be the scene of a never before attempted on Cozumel "No Reserve" auction. Parasio Azul, a 4 bedroom 4 bath fully furnished luxury villa, is on the block and the word is it will be sold for whatever the highest bid...no matter how low. The current asking price for this ocean view villa is over $800,000 usd but we are sure bidders are hoping to scoop it up for much less. You only need $25,000 in certified funds in order to bid, so check it out and let us know if it is indeed a "No Reserve" auction.

A second turtle has been found dead on the Eastern shore of Cozumel. The most recent weighed an estimated 200 kilos and was discovered on Playa San Martin. The first turtle death occurred last week. No cause for either death has been determined. Authorities are still concerned about packs of wild dogs on the East Side. Some of the packs have as many as 10 canines in them and many have been seen foraging for turtle eggs. The latest plan to deal with the feral dogs is to trap and euthanize them.

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