HISTORY OF COZUMELCozumel has 2000 years of recorded history. The first Maya settled in Cozumel 2,000 years ago. However, during the classic period 300-900.A.D.- a time when priests were at the top of the social hierarchy in the Maya world and life revolved around religious ceremonies - Cozumel became one of the most important sanctuaries in the Yucatan region. Cozumel Island derives its name from the Mayan words Cuzam (swallow) and Lumil (land of), which form the word Cuzamil (land of swallows). The Mayan word changed with time to the Spanish name of Cozumel. The Mayans believed the island to be a sacred shrine. Religious pilgrimages were common to the island especially from women who were either pregnant or wanted to get pregnant. They pay homage to the goddess IX CHEL, the deity of the moon, pregnancy and childbirth. It was a tradition among the Maya People in general to make the trip at least once in their lifetime to the shrine of this goddess in the Island By 1200 D.C, in Middle America there existed an important long distance trade in which Cozumel was a key link. It was on this island where all kinds of merchandise arrived from far away places. Goods were temporarily stored before being sent in canoes to other distribution points. It was by 1518 that the Spanish explorer Juan de Grijalva arrived to the coast of the island on Holy Cross Day (May 3rd), named this land as "Isla de la Santa Cruz" and proclaimed the land as property of the Doña Johanna and Don Carlos Kings of Spain, The Spanish arrive, to Cozumel on May 06 making a peaceful stop on the island, received by the locals, exchanging gold and a variety of goods. Juan de Grijalva ordered the chaplain Juan Díaz to offer a mass on the same place that the islanders had a temple therefore on may 6th the first catholic ceremony was held in México, at a location named by the Spanish like Saint John (currently named Las Casitas (little houses), where every year mass is still celebrated by the locals. The visit was followed a year later by Hernán Cortés. Cozumel was the first site touched by the army of Hernán Cortés in what is now Mexican territory, becoming the starting point for the conquest of Mexico. It was on this island that the long, drawn out domination of the Yucatán started and was carried out. Between the arrival of Cortés in 1519 and the year 1524 when the conquest culminated, there were no large-scale confrontations between the Indians and the Spaniards on the island. The Mayan ruler of Cozumel accepted their domination peacefully.The conqueror proceeded to destroy many of the Mayan temples. By the time, Cortés left Cozumel, the ancient civilization lie in ruins. At the same time, an outbreak of smallpox killed thousands. By 1525 Francisco de Montejo made a request to the king of Spain to autorize the conquest and development of the Isla of Cozumel (Montejo was one of the captains that arrived with Cortez 9 years prior). Don Francisco de Montejo arrives to Cozumel On September 29 of 1527 and gave the christian name of San Miguel de Cozumel. As the Spaniards became more familiar with the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, they realized they did not have to stop-over in Cozumel, excluding it as a port of call for Spanish ships. At the same time, as an immediate effect of the conquest, Mayan trade was nullified and the cult of the goddess Ix Chel suppressed. The islanders, deprived of their principal economic activity, were forced to depend only on agriculture for their survival. By the decree of the King of Spain of July 15 of 1583, Cozumel became directly dependent upon the Yucatan church. Between 1519 and 1570, the island's population dropped from 40,000 to 30. By 1700 it was finally uninhabited. Although several pirates used Cozumel as a base of operations in the 17th century, including the notorious Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte, the island was not resettled until 1848.England and Holland pirates came inside the land to capture Indians and Spaniards as slaves. During the caste war , refugees fled to the island. The mestizos founded San Miguel on the west coast and the Mayans settled at El Cedral. From mid-19th century to the beginning of the 20th , Cozumel´s economy boomed and it become an important port. The depression (1930´s) seriously affected the island economically, it bounced back during World War II putting Cozumel on the map. The U.S. built an air base for planes hunting U-boats in the mid-Atlantic and an airport was built . Drawn by the clear waters, frogmen came to train and returned home with stories of magnificent underwater vistas. Jacques Cousteau’s declarations in 1960 about the richness of the coral reef surrounding the island made underwater enthusiasts aware of Cozumel’s existence. By 1970, Cozumel's population quickly growth to 10,000 and today the island boasts a population of more than 75,000. GEOGRAPHY On top of the age-old structures of the Mesoamerican Reef (also known by its Spanish acronym, SAM ,Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano, is the largest reef system of the Americas, extending nearly 1000 kilometers) , stands the Island of Cozumel. Located at the Easter tip, of the Yucatán Peninsula, Cozumel was formed by coralline limestone rock and sandy soils, is the largest inhabited island in Mexico and Caribbean´s premier dive spot. (declared a national park in 1996). The Island of Cozumel measures 48 km (30 miles) from north to south but only 16(10 miles ) from east to west. On either side of the island, beaches form a long, white sandy coast. Gentle waves and transparent waters wash the western side of the island, while huge waves crash against the eastern side. CLIMATE The average daily air temperature on Cozumel is 80 degrees(27°C). In July/August, the highs range from the upper 80s to the low 90s.(32°C) In December and January, the daytime temperatures average in the mid-70s.(24° C.)Winter Months: Cold fronts may create windy, cloudy and cooler weather. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, usually lasting for an hour. Water temperatures range from 77°-82°F (25°-28°C) throughout the year. BIODIVERSITY With their crystal-clear water and incredible variety of marine life, Cozumel's reefs offer an underwater experience you won't soon forget. The waters surrounding the island are so clear that visibility can be up to 250 feet, opening up a world of beauty unlike any other. As many as 250 different species of fish can be seen in Cozumel's waters; one of the most spectacular is the Queen Angelfish, possessing bright blue-and-yellow markings and the distinctive blue "crown" on the top of the head. You can even catch a glimpse of the Toad fish, found nowhere else in the world. Making it's home in the holes along the reef, this fish grows from 12 to 16 inches in length. It has the distinction of being one of the world's fastest eaters: it can capture and eat a whole fish in milliseconds- faster than the blink of an eye! In addition to the colorful fish, Cozumel boasts some of the biggest and most spectacular sponge formations in the world. Fed by a continuous current bringing a steady supply of food to the reefs, some sponges, such as the Elephant Ear sponge, can grow as large as 12 feet across. Other sponges, like the Barrel sponge, gain considerable size as well. On the surface Cozumel has a number of unusual features and include certain endemic species, such as the dwarf raccoon(procyon pygmaeus) and the Cozumel wren(nasua nelsoni) Migratory birds also rely heavily on the richly productive feeding grounds of the reef, which supports populations of magnificent frigate birds,brown pelican,olivaceous cormorant, and many others. The prehistoric iguana and the crocodile are the state's largest lizards and there are a host of amphibians, tree frogs are particularly colorful, their bright hues a warning to predators. CLOTHING Clothing at the Caribbean coast is very casual no ties are required anywhere. Some upscale restaurants do have a medium dress code. During the winter months, we suggest you bring light sweater with you. Comfortable, flat-heeled walking shoes, such as sneakers, are recommended all year round so that you can safely explore the archeological zones and islands. EVENTS February 18 to February 24 May 14 to 16 April 30 to May 3 May 30 June 27 to July 4 September 13 to September 16 September 26 to October 3 Novermber 1 to November 2 December 1 to December 12 |
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