Punta Sur Eco Park

(2860)

Overview

Parque Punta Sur, also known as the Faro Celarain Eco Park, occupies the southern tip of Cozumel. The reefs off its shore form part of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, and its beaches are protected to allow sea turtles to nest.

Inside the gate are the Celarain lighthouse, which can be climbed, and a small navigation museum at its base. Behind the beaches sits the Colombia lagoon, a brackish system holding wild crocodiles, with a scenic observation tower built for viewing them and some of the best birdwatching on the island. A catamaran ride on the lagoon, El Tatich, is included with entry.

The park also holds El Caracol, a small Maya structure from the post-classic period. It is widely described locally as a hurricane warning system or a navigation beacon; both stories are incorrect. It was a temple.

Several beaches sit inside the park, including Playa Bahia Azul, Anemona de Mar and Playa del Cielo, with a fringing reef close enough to swim to from shore and sea fan gardens on the inner reef. Snorkel gear can be rented on site.

Entry covers the lighthouse and museum, the Maya structure, the observation tower, the nature trail, the beaches, the catamaran ride, hammocks and beach chairs, parking, showers and changing rooms. Massages, kayak and paddleboard rental, snorkel equipment and the food and drink outlets are charged separately.

Open Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Closed Sundays. Roughly a 30 to 45 minute drive south from downtown along the coastal road.

Highlights

• Celarain lighthouse and navigation museum, climbable for views over the southern reefs
• Colombia lagoon with a scenic observation tower for wild crocodiles and birdlife
• El Caracol, a post-classic Maya temple, inside the park grounds
• Protected turtle-nesting beaches with shore snorkelling on the fringing reef

Reviews

(2860)

Aggregated Google rating — cached and updated periodically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours?

Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. The park is closed on Sundays.

Is there snorkelling at the park?

Yes. The beaches have a fringing reef close enough to swim to from shore, with sea fan gardens on the inner reef. Snorkel equipment can be rented on site. This is shore snorkelling and is separate from the boat diving on the southern walls.

Are there really crocodiles?

Yes, wild crocodiles live in the Colombia lagoon inside the park, and an observation tower is built for viewing them. Stay on the tower and marked trails and follow park staff instructions.

What does entry include?

The lighthouse and navigation museum, the Maya structure, the scenic observation tower, the nature trail, the beaches, the El Tatich catamaran ride, hammocks and beach chairs, parking, showers and changing rooms. Massages, kayak and paddleboard rental, snorkel gear and food and drink are charged separately.

How do you get there?

Roughly a 30 to 45 minute drive south from downtown along the coastal road. Scooter or rental car is the most flexible. Taxis work, but agree the fare first and arrange your return, as taxis do not wait at the entrance.

Is it the same as the Punta Sur dive site?

No. The eco park is on land at the southern point. The Punta Sur reef and Devils Throat are offshore dive sites reached by boat. The park sits above them.