Situated off the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, spanning 31 miles long and 9 miles wide, Cozumel is Mexico's largest island in the Caribbean Sea. This wonderful dive destination is 37 miles south of Cancun and lies just 12 miles off the mainland from Playa del Carmen. A laid-back, easy-going island, most of it's population lives in the town of San Miguel on the western shore.
During Mayan times, prior to Spanish occupation, Maya women would make pilgrimages to this island at least once in their lifetime in order to pay homage to Ixchel - the goddess of fertility. Cozumel grew to be one of three important ceremonial centers - the others being Izama and Chichen-Itza. Archeologists have found more than 40 sites around the island, and today still uncover small dolls that were used as offerings in fertility ceremonies. San Gervasio, located in the north-easterly portion of the island, is one of the larger ruins and has a few restored buildings.
El Caracol, an isolated ruin near the southern point of the island, is believed to have served as a landmark for navigation (a lighthouse, if you will).
In the south-westerly portion of the island are the ruins of El Cedral. The oldest Mayan ruins on island, dating back to 800 A.D, it was once the capital of Cozumel, and the largest community on the island. These days there is very little evidence of El Cedral's past glory because the conquistadors destroyed much of the temple.
The fascinating ruins of the Mayan civilization are just one reason to visit Cozumel, but there is so much more.
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