Don’t let the cruise ship hubbub on Avenida Rafael Melgar turn you off from the town altogether. Besides the fact that most of the hotels, dive shops, banks, and other services are here, the town itself has much to offer, including a pleasant central plaza [1] and a great museum [2].
Budget a day or two to rent a car and explore the rest of the island, including the beach clubs [3], Maya ruins [4], family-friendly eco-parks [5], and the wild beaches and deserted coastline of Cozumel’s eastern side [6].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cancun-the-yucatan/cancun-cozumel-and-the-riviera-maya/isla-cozumel/sights/parque-benito-juarez
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cancun-the-yucatan/cancun-cozumel-and-the-riviera-maya/isla-cozumel/sights/museo-de-la-isla-de-cozumel
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cancun-the-yucatan/cancun-cozumel-and-the-riviera-maya/isla-cozumel/sights/beaches-and-beach-clubs
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cancun-the-yucatan/cancun-cozumel-and-the-riviera-maya/isla-cozumel/sights/archaeological-zones
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cancun-the-yucatan/cancun-cozumel-and-the-riviera-maya/isla-cozumel/sights/sea-turtle-conservation
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cancun-the-yucatan/cancun-cozumel-and-the-riviera-maya/isla-cozumel/sights/beaches-and-beach-clubs/eastern-cozumel-