When
Marie and I spent four days on the Mexican island of Cozumel this past month we made a point of visiting Faro Celarain and the Punta Sur area on the southern tip. Mike and Carolyn had insisted we go there and it was well worth the short drive. There is an Ecological Reserve there which encloses a variety of natural wonders, covering an area of 1000 hectares - coastal dunes, mangroves, reefs, lagoon systems and beautiful beaches. The park is huge so our little rental car from Isis came in handy to drive from spot to spot within the park. We paid an entrance fee of $10US per person and got wristbands for the day. We saw the old lighthouse, small Mayan ruins (the Tumba del Caracol) a site dedicated to Ixchel, the jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine, and a crocodile lagoon with a few sleepy inhabitants (we climbed the tall observation tower where it was easy to spot both crocodiles and their prey. As well as the crocs we saw herons, egrets, and off in the distance many pink flamingoes). We also passed a quiet beach sanctuary for sea turtles who arrive annually to lay their eggs. In the reproduction season beach surveillance is conducted by the Mexican army as well as people of Cozumel who care about the turtles.
We snorkeled at the public beach, the water clear and warm, but until one went out to the reef very little life could be seen. Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 did a lot of damage to the region when it passed over Cozumel with winds peaking at 230 km/hr (145 mph), and alot of the coral was destroyed. We walked a short distance down the beach and, as you can see from the photo, had it all to ourselves! Just outside the park we stopped for cold coconut milk and bought some Mexican jewellery at one of the many vendors you'll find alongside the roadways. Thanks again Mike and Carolyn for the great suggestion!
gws
