Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
A PILGRIMAGE SITE TO WORSHIP IXCHEL
Cozumel is a Mayan word that means "Land of the Swallows," as this bird is very common in the region.
Recent research has proven that the first Mayan settlers established themselves in Cozumel approximately 2,000 years ago.
The remains of these glorious days can be found in the archaeological sites of El Cedral, El Caracol, and San Gervacio, the most important ceremonial center. During the Postclassic period, the Mayans used the island as a place to worship Ixchel, the goddess of fertility.
In 1518, Juan de Grijalva was the first Spanish explorer to reach the island. The following year, Hernán Cortés landed on these shores and met the only survivor of a previous shipwrecked expedition, Jerónimo de Aguilar. Cortés took Aguilar with him during the rest of the conquest as an interpreter.
When Cortés left Cozumel, the ancient civilization was already in ruins. Additionally, the few remaining inhabitants were infected with smallpox, which almost wiped out the native population. Between 1519 and 1570, the island's population decreased from 40,000 to 30. As a result, the island remained forgotten and only served as a refuge for some pirates.
During World War II, the United States built an airbase in Cozumel and used its crystal-clear waters as a training ground for their frogmen. This brought attention to the island's natural wonders.
Later on, the oceanographer Jacques Cousteau proclaimed Cozumel as one of the best diving spots in the world, which helped establish it as one of the top diving destinations globally.
History in Cozumel
A UNIQUE UNDERWATER PARADISE