Aside from its stunning beaches and unique dive locations, the island of Cozumel also has a rich cultural history. The island played an integral role in the Mayan world, serving as a religious and ceremonial center to Ixchel, the fertility God. Historically, Cozumel was also known as the first place in Mexico where a Catholic Mass was held by the Spaniards, occurring during the years of the Spanish Conquest.

In the 1970’s oceanographer Jaques Cousteu arrived to the island, discovering the beauty and life amongst the reefs which surround the entire island. His work in Cozumel caused the island to become a popular diver’s paradise, bringing international fame to its turquoise waters and stunning reefs. Cozumel’s international airport receives daily flights from a variety of airlines across the globe such as Continental, American Airlines, Northwest, Mexicana, and Delta, and also has direct flights from numerous U.S. cities as well as Canada.

The island provides a vast array of recreational activities and entertainment, appealing to a variety of interests and tastes. Situated directly behind Peninsula Grand Cozumel, the Cozumel Country Club features an 18-hole 72-Par Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, attracting players from all over the world. To learn and enjoy more of the Mayan culture, the archeological site of San Gervasio offers visitors the chance to explore the ancient ruins either on their own or with a tour guide, and also can be enjoyed on horseback. The Museum of Cozumel offers interesting artifacts and history of the island and frequently puts on various cultural and folklore events. Scooters, jeeps, dune buggies, and ATVs are all available to cruise across the island and enjoy both the diverse beaches and local atmosphere of the downtown. Both local and international cuisine are available in a variety of unique eateries, as well as fantastic shops where buyers can find the best prices on designer jewelry, watches, and
perfumes.

Cozumel is also the largest port in Mexico and receives more than 400 cruise ships a year. The port’s standards of excellence and welcoming environment are the reason that Cozumel is the most visited island in the Caribbean by cruise lines worldwide.
The island has an excellent climate, with an average annual temperature of 27°C (90°F). The temperature of the water is between 25° and 28°C (88° to 91°F) with a visibility of 80 meters (250 feet), resulting in magnificent opportunities to observe the reefs and aquatic life.

Peninsula Grand Cozumel is on the North side of the island, an area renowned for its tranquility and untouched natural beauty. Despite being just minutes away from the golf course, marina, and airport, the condominiums are far enough away from the downtown shopping area so that noise and passing tourists do not interfere with the serenity of beach front living.

2.1 Cozumel Statistics Population – 85,000 Inhabitants Population growth – 4.5% annually Preponderant Activity - 100% Turism and Commerce Total visitors per year – 3,800,000 2.2 Annual visitors a.- Cruises – 2 million people Of the people arriving by cruise ships, 90% are from the U.S. and 10% come from Europe. They spend an average of 8 hours on the island and spend an average of $50 per person. 70% of the passengers participate in excursions or tours once on land. b.- Hotels – 350,000 people Total number of hotel rooms available – 4,500 All-inclusive hotels – 3,000 European meal plan – 1,500 Length of average stay – 5.3 days Average annual occupancy – 65% Types of tourism Diving – 50% Pleasure – 30% Honeymoon – 15% Business – 5% Nationality of hotel occupants – USA – 60% (TX, CO, GA, NY, NJ, FLA, and NC) Canada – 15% Mexico – 15% Europe and rest of the world – 10%

Direct Flights to Cozumel Mexico City – Mexicana Charlotte – Airways Denver – First Choice Toronto – Air Canada c.- Day Excursions/Ferry – 1.2 million people Half of these people come to the island on tours purchased through their hotels in Cancun and the Riveria Maya, and the other half travel to Cozumel to explore the downtown, visit the beaches, or go on an occasional excursion. d.- House and Condos – 250,000 people Currently the available inventory of houses and condominiums for rent is around 450 units. However, there are about 300 more houses and condos which will be available to rent in the near future, including Peninsula Grand Cozumel. The average price of a beach front condo starts around $ 2,100.00 USD per square meter. The average weekly price to rent a 3-bedroom beach front condominium is $ 1,900.00.