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Cozumel Trip Report
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Posted by Bob P on 07/02/02

Trip report...Punta Sur lighthouse......imgs

Some of us actually have lives “outside” of Cozumel.  We have jobs that require us to
work and don’t allow us to check this board twelve times a day.  Fortunately, I’m not one
of those.  I seldom miss a day with out at least checking up on things.

     I owe you a trip report and this is the first installment.  We (wife Gale & I) took
our two sons (third trip) and our daughter and son-in-law (first trip) down on June 1st.
We are regulars at El Presidente, but this time we began our stay at Villa Dzul-Ha.  Our
first stay there and it was a perfect fit for our group.  More on the Villa later.
     This report covers our tour of the Punta Sur lighthouse and southern lagoons.  For
those of you that haven’t been, the entrance to the park is right at the stop sign on the far
south end of the island next to Bob Marleys and across the street from Rasta’s.  The cost
is about $6US per person and well worth it.  
     After entering the gate there is a beautiful drive of about a mile of dirt road along
near virgin beaches (no stopping allowed however) ‘til you reach the visitors center.  Here
you board the “bus” to get to the lighthouse.  The “bus” is a flatbed pick-up truck with a
two story wooden deck built on it.  Of course the top level looked like the place to be, so
all six of us climb up and off we go.  The dirt road is very bumpy and the deck creaked
and swayed as we drove the three miles or so to the lighthouse.  Every one was white
knuckled and ready to leap to safety when the deck collapsed.  It didn’t!  Note: we rode
on the bottom on the way back.

 
The views of the lagoons on your right and Gulf on your left were great.

Looking back up the road from the visitor center.


     The lighthouse itself has a self guided tour of a museum covering a lot of the
ecology, boating, history, and geology of the island.  Very interesting if you take your
time.  



 The highlight.....climbing 133 steps (I counted) to the top. Beautiful views, nice
breeze....one of those “it’s all worth it” moments.





     From the lighthouse you can see the lowland rainforest and lagoons that harbor
hundreds of varieties of nesting birds, crocodiles, and fish. The nutrients created in these
warm water lagoons are the reason the reefs are so vibrant with life.  These lagoons must
be protected for the reefs to survive.



Gale & the BOYZ looking west.



Gale and I looking north.


     After a few pictures and oohs and aaahs we go down the 133 step circular stairway
(not much air in there either) to ground level.  They sell ice cream at the gift shop!



     We board another “bus” (single level and shaded) for the drive through the
“lowland rainforests”.  Lots of lizards, birds and diverse plant life.....all viewed at 25 miles
an hour.  The ride ends at a beach on the southern tip of the island.  There you can either
play on the beach or take a free lagoon tour (or both).





A view of a spot where the lagoon dumps into the gulf currents.

     We board a pontoon boat for a cruise around the shallow lagoons.  Our guides
point out several nesting birds and give out lots of information on the value of the lagoons.
Unfortunately it is June and winter is the primary nesting season for the birds.  



     The guide manages to coax one croc out of the mangrove trees by slapping the
water to mimic a fallen bird and yelling, “Juanita.....we have white meat!”

After the tour we head to the beach hoping to snorkel there. The beach is very beautiful,
clean, and shallow.  The only reef “appears” to be fifty yards off shore.  After swimming
out 150 yards we find a small shallow reef with some fan coral and sparse infant fish.  We
did see a large ray and there were tons of sand dollars laying about, but not worth the
LONG swim.




     The trip back was nice as the moving trucks had shade and wind. The visitor’s
center had peacocks, pigs, and other creatures (some caged) to feed and visit.
     The Punta Sur tour is really a “must do” trip if you love the island.  It will give you
a totally different perspective of how things were just a few generations ago and how
easily it can all slip away without a little vigilance on everyone’s behalf.

     Next report: Underwater!

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