Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Explore The Very Famous Island Of Mexico

By Linda Patterson


Cozumel is the famous island of Mexico that is found in the beautiful Caribbean Sea and it is known as the Island of the Swallows. This famous island of Mexico is the third largest island as well as the most populated in Mexico. There are a number of things that make this island famous and they are the Mayan ruins, coral reefs, white sand beaches and turquoise blue Caribbean waters.

San Miguel is the name of its unique city which is well known for its timeless elegance through having colonial and pre-Hispanic architecture, influence and remnants, Mayan archaeological sites, tropical beaches and outdoor adventure activities that will make any visitor's stay more than enjoyable.

The island shelters coral reefs which were made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1960. After that, the island became renowned to American divers and its piers welcomed the arrival of tourist vacation cruises which gave Cozumel global recognition.

Brief History Of Cozumel

Based on research studies, the first settlers were believed to be groups of semi nomadic people that were dedicated to hunting and fishing and arrived around the second century BC.

The Mayans from Guatemala, Peten region comprised the second group of settlers that arrived in the 3rd century AD.

From Tabasco, the 3rd migrant wave of chontal Mayas arrived to the island in the 8th century and they were dedicated traders and navigators. They introduced the worship of the god Ix Chel among the others.

Juan de Grijalva from Spain discovered the island on May 3rd 1518 and named the island Santa Cruz de la Puerta Latina, in English, Holy Cross of the Latin Port and after held the first Catholic mass on the Mexican territory.

The conquest of Mexico in the island of Cozumel was begun by Herman Cortes in 1519 and the sailor Geronimo Aguilar joined the conquest to be one of the first interpreters of the Maya language to Spanish.

The island San Miguel de Xamancab which was named by Francisco de Montejo in 1527 during the Spanish colonization became a refuge for pirates after it was abandoned.

During the middle of the 19th century, families from Valladolid, Saban Tihosuco and also Chemas in the Yucatan state started to repopulate the island as well as build settlements in El Cedral which was originally known as Oy ib situated in the south and San Miguel on the northwest coast due to the War of the Casts in 1847.

Visit The Celerain Light House

At the southern tip of the island, within the largest eco reserve in Cozumel known as Punta Sur, the Celerain Lighthouse can be found. A diverse range of plant and animal species inhabit this area. Furthermore, you can get to visit a navigation museum where you can gain knowledge of the history of Cozumel as well as the evolution of navigation since the Maya civilization right up until today.

The Mayans used El Caracol which is an antique lighthouse or ancestral structure to warn their population about the coming of a hurricane.

Exploring The Island

Among the very best approaches to enjoy Cozumel is riding a car because this will allow you to see its long shoreline, providing a lovely sight of the beautiful white sand beaches.

A lot of amazing attractions await in Cozumel. You can visit the Chankanaab National Marine Park, go on a dinner cruise, take a swim at the beach, go on a deep sea adventure, safari tour, shop for bargains, and enjoy authentic Mexican foods and a whole lot more.




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