The Story Behind the Travel Photo: How to See Crocodiles in Cozumel
- Feb 28
- 5 min read
People who do not take cruises as part of their travel repertoire often smirk when I tell them that we sail on cruises often. All they can picture is a bunch of people line dancing on the Lido deck, bad food or getting into fights that make it onto social media. Or, they imagine old people listlessly being guided from one boring activity to another, playing shuffleboard and bingo, hanging out in the casino and then having to watch horrible singing at the nightly show.
I'm sure that exists, but I tend to view taking a cruise as something more. And one of those reasons is to use the ship as a form of transportation: seeing more than one location while using the vessel as a resort. This is why choosing the ports when I take a cruise is important, what do I want to do, where do I want to visit.
Some locations are nice to visit without having to stay there for a couple of days. For me, Cozumel is one of them. And, since I speak Spanish and I can drive a car, it's the perfect cruise port of call. Doing my own excursion is a no brainer. It just calls for a little planning.
The first thing I do is to get a car. Before you even set sail on the cruise, we looked at the itinerary to see what day we would be in Mexico and what time. We had to make sure the rental car place would be open. And even more important than that, we needed to know what time the ship will sail. Yup, all those ominous warnings that you hear about cruises leaving people are absolutely true, you will get left behind and you either have to catch up with the ship at the next port or get yourself home (The NYC Traveler Tip for Your Trip: always have one credit card available with enough money on it to get home). Finally, one week before we set sail, we checked the weather to make sure it would be cooperative.
Anyway, I catch up on the latest things to do and make out a rough itinerary. Your plan for the day doesn't have to be set in stone: that's the fun of making your own excursions, you can always vary the plan and be spontaneous. Also, make sure your phone is charged up, bring an external battery and turn it on. Yes, it is worth the expense to have international service if you travel often. Not only will you have access to GPS, you can communicate with other people. Yes, most phones will let you call emergency services with using data, but it's good to be able to make a call.
We packed our backpacks for the day: swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, camera paraphernalia, hats or visors, water shoes, water bottle, snorkeling gear. It sounds like a lot, but as many travel advisors tell you, this is stuff that you don't want to have to buy either on the ship or in port.
OK, now we have wheels, we know what time the ship leaves (meaning that we need to be back at the port one hour before so that we can turn in the car) and we have a basic plan. We headed out from the port with a map, GPS and turn our car in the direction of Punta-Sur Park: lighthouse, beach and home to crocodiles.
What? Yes. Cozumel has crocodiles, which since the last time we were there, have been determined to be their own species, not just relatives of the American crocodile who ran away from home. And, they love their waters, so be careful.
The ride to Punta Sur Eco Park, where you can see these crocodiles safely, takes a nice route along the edge of the island. Did I forget to mention that Cozumel is on an island, which is why it is such a nice cruise destination. And although technically the ride from the cruise port area, to the park can be about a half hour, the lovely views along the way can entice you to stop and admire the vista, making your journey even longer.
The park is not free, we checked the website and we were ready to be able to buy tickets at the park but that was a while ago. Now, I would buy my tickets ahead of time (another reason to have your phone with you and not back at the ship). And since we already checked the weather, we knew it will be a nice day to visit. Lucky for us, we were able to get in but now we know that if we want to visit, we'll buy the tickets in advance so that we won't be edged out by the people who are on the excursion from the ship. There may be a few buses, jeep tours, etc.
We could have spent the day at Punta Sur, it's almost like a private island. They have lots of amenities (that cost extra) such as massages, snorkeling, kayaking and restaurants. But we wanted to circle the island and see more of Cozumel. So we decided to just visit the crocodiles and then snorkel a little. But, as we always say, next time...The purpose was to see the crocodiles and then swim a little (and no, not near them).
And yes, those crocs are there. When you are in a park that tries to keep it as natural as possible and yet still keep everyone safe, it's a little disconcerting to see these beasts so close. We definitely heeded to all of the warnings and stayed on the paths and walkways. Because when you look down, there they are.
All of a sudden, I start to have doubts about the wooden walkway that I so confidently strode down to the end. Is it sturdy? Will it hold? Help! No worries, the park is dedicated about your security, so we know to follow directions and heed all of the warnings. And yet, as scary as it is to see these beasts up so close, with no real fence or no glass separating us, it's hard to leave so quickly.
As many people know, large reptiles can stay still for an extremely long time. So, I waited wondering if they will move, start walking, slide into the water, swim a little. Anything. Hey, I came all the way from New York to see you, at least blink!
But honestly, seeing them was enough. It's one thing to see crocodiles in a more secure environment, but this seems to real, like you are out in nature and just happen to see one. And then after that, further down the road, on the beach side, we go snorkeling. Hmmm, I always have to be careful about other animals in the water, can the crocs get over on thise side? Actually, there are warnings about being in the water at dusk, in the evening and when the water is shallow.
That's OK. We want to see a little more of Cozumel, so we pack up, dry off and find a local spot to get a snack. Later, we stop for gas and head back to the cruise terminal. We check the trunk of the car: nope, no one slid along trying to stowaway. We're in the clear. We board the ship, pass through security and head back to the cabin. But for some reason, I just want salad for dinner. No seafood for me that night...
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