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Most Talked About Things to Do Reviews:
Posted by our Cozumel Chatters Central board users

Posted by marlon on 06/10/02

I think Chankanaab is one of the best place to visit in cozumel. Into the park you can visit the ruins (pieces of the all diferent culture that Mexico had, like Maya, Azteca, Olmeca, etc.), Donīt forget to see the Sea lion show, and of course snorkel or dive. I recommend you to ask where you can snorkel to see The Christ and the Guadalupe Virgin.

  The entrace cost $10 USD p/pax., but donīt worry about because i sure that youīll enjoy all the day long.

  marlon

Posted by Daver on 02/28/01

Chankanaab is a very nice place to visit, and worth the $10.00 price to get in. From the road Dzul-ha does'nt look like much, but once you get in the warter that all change's. In my opinion the snorkeling at dzul-ha is better than Chankanaab. We saw several snorkel-tour boats stopping right out in front of the place which tell's you something. We ate lunch there two different times and thought it was very good. Why don't you try visiting both places like we did and see what you think. Both have alot of interesting qualities about them. Also, don't forget your underwater camera!!!

Posted by Stuart and Kristin on 08/23/00

Cost us 10 dollars each to get in, and if you don't already own your snorkel equipment, you have to pay to rent. It's a nice park with some neat activities (Sea Lions, Swim with the Dolphins, snorkel, SNUBA, etc.); but, since we're already scuba divers, we didn't feel we got our money's worth. There are many areas along the island's shores to snorkel, so don't go to Chaankanab if that's all you want to do. They do have a nice beach area with shaded parts, showers, locker areas, a restaurant, and scuba dive instruction and equipment rental.

Posted by Beccad71@aol.com on August 23, 2000

We spent one day at Chankanaab and I was expecting a major tourist trap..  Maybe we went on a good day but I thought it was lovely! The lagoon is very beautiful and there are many palapas on the beach to just relax..there was a pretty good restaurant ..we had the chicken tacos and they were great. It was also nice to walk around the tropical area...they have a little trail and it is very green and lush..there is bamboo, palm trees..on the day we went there was a small shower right before we walked through the garden area..so it smelled wonderful and little drops of water were falling off the leaves. We did not go snorkeling and as the afternoon progressed, it did get crowded. Go early as you can in the morning and you will enjoy this beautiful place. Then when the crowds start coming, you can leave!

Posted by Ron and Robin on July 3, 2000

The entry fee is now $10 per person.  If you are staying at a hotel with no snorkeling area or beach this might be a good deal.  For us it was a waste... we had better snorkeling elsewhere.  Plus the place is packed with the cruise ship people.  Nice big beach area with lots of chairs and
palapas, a nice acheological replica park, we didn't do the dolphin stuff since we think it is cruel.  I wouldn't recommend this place....... snorkel at the Sol Cabanas hotel, or one of the others mentioned in reviews.  Save your money!!

Ron & Robin

Posted by Annuska van der Veen on May 31, 2000

We were there on May 21st and it was great! The snorkeling was very good, saw tons of fish in many colours and shapes! I just love the place! Sunday is a good day to go, not crowded at all! (No cruise ships in San Miquel). There were maybe 40 people at the beach and in the water. Entrance is USD 10, Corona is 27 pesos at the beach, 30 pesos in the restaurant. Nachos with guacamole 45 pesos, club sandwhich 50 pesos. Sounds reasonable to me...

Posted by Bryan Jick, M.D. on May 1, 2000

Chankanaab: It cost $14 each way from our hotel, plus $30 for 2 adults, 2 kids to get in. Once there, we had a good time. Large area to lay down, find shade. Snorkeling was quite good. We went on Sunday. Best day to go, no cruise ships in port, so it wasn't crowded. Alternative: one beach south of Chankanaab is Playa Corona. They have the same stuff...snorkel, scuba, restaurant, showers, tables, and FANTASTIC SNORKELING. We saw barracuda, hundreds of fish close to shore, shallow water so you can stand. Nice people worked there. We found this place our last day, and wished we had found it sooner. I would have skipped Chankanaab. We met 2 couples there. Both were Cozumel regulars who came to scuba, take pictures, and AVOID the CROWDS!

Posted by Kris on 02/22/00

There was much better snorkeling about everywhere else.
Chankanaab was the worse snorkeling we have done in years.

Posted by billy on 02/22/00

I second that about the huge tourist trap!  everybody raves about it and we cant figure out why.

Posted by tom on 02/21/00

I liked snorkeling there. Yes there are a lot of tourists if you go at the wrong time. If you stay close to shore you can see alot of different coral and fish. I didn't see the coral snorkeling off the Fiesta Americana beach. I saw fish because people feed them.

Sorry you didn't like it!

tom

Posted by Sammy on February 21, 2000

Coz was great. I will write more later but for those who say Chankanaab park is good need to re-evaluate the situation. Coz has much better snorkeling off of the hotel beaches etc. The park is a TOURIST TRAP for the cruisers!! It is also good if you have small children otherwise it is a waste of time!

Posted by Eric February 17, 2000

Nothing crumby about Chankanaab. It's kinda posh as I remember it. Beautiful bar fancy drinks in fresh coconuts with flowers.You won't forget the place. There are lots of more reasonable places to drink though, Coronas are a dollar at street vendors downtown. You will find many great places to go in Cozumel Chankanaab is one of them.

Posted by tom on January 28, 2000

The Park is a nice place to snorkel. You will see some coral and some nice fish. The deeper you go the coral disappears to a sandy bottom. So stay shallow and enjoy.
tom

Posted by Carol C. on January 28, 2000

Chankanaab has a "baby pool" that fish actually go in and out of with the light wave action from the opening into the "pool". This is the best first intro to snorkeling for a child. Then when you're ready for more "open water", but shallow, try Playa Corona...*if* you don't mind paying the cover charge for using the beach!

Posted by joe on January 13, 2000

Well worth the effort, no matter the cost.

Posted by Brent on January 13, 2000

Snorkeling at Chankanaab is great! The beach is a little rocky though. Cab fare from the pier downtown will be 9-12 dollars. A visit to Chankanaab is a good choice while in Cozumel. Hope this helps you out.

Posted by billy on January 13, 2000

Can someone fill me in on what's so great about Chankanaab for snorkeling? I went to Cozumel in May of 98 and we didn't see any coral or very many fish. The park was very crowded (on a Friday)and always a line of people trying to go down the steps. Has something changed since then? We walked down the steps and swam out to the floating dock and snorkeled around that area. Maybe we didn't go to the right spot. I'm going back this March. Since everybody raves about how beautiful it is, I'd like to know what I missed.

Posted by KIm/SD on January 13, 2000

I know what you are saying, the last time we went to the Park we didn't see very many fish either and it was very crowded there as well. It is a nice park, but I don't know if we will go back to it this year or not, we see more fish by our hotel anyways.

Posted by Angie in Dallas on October 06, 1999 

You can get a cold anything while you're lazing in the sun at Chankanaab. The waiters come by about every other minute and ask if you want something to drink. Then they bring it right to you while you lay in your chair under a palapa. Ahhhh...

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