10 (Truly) Free Things To Do in Cozumel

If your Cozumel vacation includes a tight budget, not to worry. Or maybe you just need some free things to do with your free time between other more spendy activities, like diving or other excursions.

We’ve got you covered with some cool and (truly) free Cozumel “things to do” ideas and suggestions. 

Cozumel can be a very economical destination for your vacation, especially if you don’t require the fanciest all-inclusive resort, and you like eating in multi-cultural local cafes, authentic taco joints, and a huge array of delicious local mom-and-pop restaurants.

Scuba diving costs can add up (so worth it, though! read more about why, here.), but aside from that, there are loads of free ways to spend your time in Cozumel so you can save your budget for the main expenses of your vacation.

Cozumel offers many free things to see and do, especially around the downtown area of San Miguel de Cozumel.  There’s a wide variety of free street art and performance in downtown Cozumel, and local public beaches and snorkeling access points that are known for their beautiful blue Caribbean water and their free and easy access – with no strings attached.  

I’m tired of articles that promise “free” ideas, but then list 20 things that have an admissions fee, right off the bat.  I really don’t get that…

On the other hand, I truly hope you come to enjoy a lot more of what this island has to offer, spend a little money to have fun, and help boost the local economy if you can.

But even then, you also need moments while traveling to just be, and not feel like you’re shelling out cash left and right. 

10 Totally FREE Things to Do in Cozumel

Once you’ve arrived on Cozumel, what can you do around town for free? 

Maybe you just want to soak in the place, on the cheap?  Or maybe you have plans for some awesome Cozumel diving, or other relatively spendy activities and need the rest of the time to go easy on your wallet.  

No. Problem. 

I was definitely in that situation many times, and with some cheap eats thrown in, and maybe a love of street photography for added enjoyment points, you can hang out in Cozumel and not break the bank!   

1. Visit Cozumel’s Central Market (El Mercado)

Go to Cozumel’s public Mercado Municipal to poke around and people-watch. 

This bustling market in the center of Centro is open early, and full of fresh produce, meat, fish, breakfast and lunch counters, spices, housewares, cultural items, people hand-making fresh tortillas, etc. 

All walks of life and all kinds of local Mexican culture are right in one big square block. 

Cozumel’s Main Municipal Market entrance points are located along Calle R. Salas, spanning Av. 20 and Av. 25

2. Watch the Cozumel Morning Work Along the Waterfront

Get up early and watch the local fishermen go out along the Cozumel waterfront on Melgar Avenue.

Catch a show of a dive shop crew slinging tanks and preparing boats.

Stroll by the ferry terminal and see the various ferry and terminal service personnel get prepped and ready for the day, and the parade of morning-fresh taxi drivers line up for some good morning gossip before a long day of driving. Not the most glamorous side of things, but very very real.

(I mean, do you think she just wakes up looking like this?)

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3. Visit the Cozumel San Miguel Cemetery

There is a quaint, gated graveyard in Centro San Miguel de Cozumel is known as Panteón San Miguel.

It may sound creepy and macabre, but trust me, it is not. 

It is a lovely and well-kept cemetery full of fascinating family mausoleums, varying decades of decorative arts, and deep personal histories.  Like so many public places in Cozumel, it’s also full of flowers and pretty landscaping. 

Cozumel cemetary San Miguel: Located on Av. 5 Sur, on the bend in the road between Calle 7 and Av. 10 Sur

Bonus points if you are in Cozumel in time for Mexico’s moving Day of the Dead (Días de los Muertos) celebrations, annually on November 1 & 2.  

Coming on the heels of our ghostly and ghoulish Halloween, the Días de Los Muertos is a refreshing acknowledgment of those we’ve lost, and an invitation for them to come back for a visit – and enjoy all of their favorite Earthly treats.  

If you are in town in early November, another free walk through the residential blocks will reveal personal altars to the towns’ ancestors.

Be sure to hit Cozumel’s center square (or zócalo) during these days and nights, as well, for exhibits and parties for Day of the Dead.

This fascinating and moving holiday is growing in popularity world-wide, and the city of San Miguel de Cozumel is responding with more and more events for adults, families, and kids – every year. 

4. Go Swimming or Snorkeling Along Cozumel’s Beachfront

There are lots of places you can access the water and go for a swim or snorkel along Cozumel’s main shores, though it does help to have wheels to get to many of them. 

But close to Centro, there are a few good spots where you can walk on up and jump into the clear Cozumel water with no expectation of even buying a Coke for the pleasure.  

Of course, many nice beach clubs with comfy chairs and clean bathrooms have free admission, too, but they often do hope – and kind of rightly expect – that you might enjoy a small meal or a couple of drinks while you’re there (and using their chairs and bathrooms, etc).  But it’s often not mandatory.  

There are several beaches in Cozumel that are totally free and open to the public to access. In the downtown Centro area, free Cozumel beach access is available at two excellent spots that are easy to access, have sandy or smooth entrance points, and cost nothing to use: near Hemingway Restaurant and at the Playa Caletita, just south of the Car ferry pier.

For the true free Cozumel beach experience, try these spots: 

• The beach access point just north of Hemingway restaurant (Melgar Ave., just north of the Airport road.) 

• The popular little “locals” beach south of town called Playa Caletitas has a nice sandy slope into a clear blue dip.  Never crowded, except on late Sunday afternoons when lots of families come out for a swim.
  (This is also along Melgar Ave., south of town at the base of the car ferry pier.) 

5. Volunteer for a Local Cozumel Cause

OK, you may not want to “work” during your vacation, but getting involved and volunteering at Cozumel organizations is free and an excellent way to get an insider’s view of the local community that you’d never get otherwise.  

There are always opportunities to pitch in walking dogs or petting cats at the Humane Society, large events like the Ironman triathlons and various bike and running races that look for volunteers, and occasional beach clean-ups where fellow do-gooders will give you a lift, etc.  

If you plan ahead, this free way to spend time could just actually reward you in the end. 

6. Poke Around Cozumel’s Grocery Stores

Snoozer? Well, I don’t know about you, but over time and quite by accident I realized, and admitted (first step…), my love of shopping for everyday items in a foreign land.  

I’d go in needing soap or some chapstick, and never come out! It turns out I just love to poke around the aisles, browsing the different ingredients, brands, and the local array of fresh fruits and veggies.

I often end up buying something, it’s true. I might try a new soda, or try to find a reusable grocery tote bag as a memento. But that’s optional! 

For a really good time, check out the cookies or candy aisle!  

Bonus idea: while not free, foreign candies are amazingly inexpensive – yet very popular – souvenirs to bring home for any young kids that might be waiting eagerly at home for that post-card or giant sombrero. (Ditto spare foreign change and small bills.)  Save luggage space and buy them a few Mexican candy bars.  They’ll love it. 

7. Find All of Cozumel’s Seawalls Murals

The Pangeaseed Foundation has held two of their global “Seawalls: Paint for a Purpose” campaigns on Cozumel Island.  The first was in 2015, and the second in 2019.  

The Seawalls project brings supremely talented, large-scale mural artists from all over the world to coastal area communities to learn about the local environment, discuss the various threats facing the oceans, mangroves, and coastal communities. 

And then they turn it all into a beautiful festival of paint and pride of place.

I was lucky enough to sponsor part of the Seawalls Cozumel 2019 project, and to meet some of the impressive artists that came to town, including the filmmaker behind this awesome short film (8 mins) by Yoshi Travel.

The video is a fantastic summary of the inspiration behind the murals project, as well as a beautiful – if sobering – look at Cozumel Mexico and her natural environment.

All in, there are now approximately 58 (remaining) Seawalls murals scattered all through downtown San Miguel. 

Take a free self-guided art walk through downtown Cozumel and see how many you can find.

The best part is, in looking for the Seawalls paintings, you’ll also stumble on a vast array of local Cozumel street art that is not even part of that program. 

Mexico is nothing if not colorful and creative, so a self-guided street art treasure hunt is super fun and trying to find them ALL could truly last you for days.  

See here for an earlier post on the blog about the Pangeaseed program.    

8. Do a Daily Fitness Walk Along the Shore

When I’m not diving, my daily exercise is usually a good walk along the shoreline path on Cozumel’s west (main) side of the island. 

While I get my steps in, and my heart pumping, I also get to check in with the daily weather and water conditions.  I can see the action at various hotels and dive shops, and often spot signs for new events in town that wouldn’t be on my radar, otherwise.  

I also inevitably see some new and interesting forms of Cozumel wildlife, ranging from small geckos to large iguanas, and huge pelicans to brilliant birds.  

A simple daily walk is obviously good for fitness, but also a really good way to plug in to what’s going on on the island, and likely get ideas for other free things to do later in the day. 

If this appeals to you, be sure to also review our post on the three main Cozumel coastal walks here, it includes distances and approximate step counts! 

9. Watch the Famous Cozumel Sunset on The Malecón

Every day. If the weather is fine (and it usually is), the Cozumel sunset is just beautiful. 

Unlike Cancun and Tulum on the Mexican mainland, Cozumel island’s main drag and most of her hotels face West. So everyone in town can enjoy the most incredible daily sunsets over the water.  And many people do each and every day.  

If you walk or sit along the waterfront Malecón – the Spanish equivalent of waterfront promenade – you’ll see lots of locals out there, too.  People just getting off work, couples meeting up for a date, and families that might watch the sunset while taking a quick dip in the water. 

It’s just really nice and charming and cool.  And completely free.  

10. Take In a Free Cozumel Concert

Covid-19 and the Pandemic shut down took a toll on Cozumel’s history of public concerts and robust cultural programming in it’s main parks and venues.

I’m happy to say those days are over! The downtown is bustling with events, art fairs, concerts, and more!

The Pre-Carnaval festivities now take place in a huge event tent in the plaza outside El Palacio, and many of the free public shows and music events are back ON in Benito Juarez Park in the center of town.

Cozumel is still Cozumel, and it’s still bursting with nightlife and live music at every evening.

Chances are if you just walk around Centro for a while, you will hear live music spilling out of many venues.  Walk around the plaza and see what’s going on at Woody’s or Dick’s Dive, for starters.  

As you can see, common venues are often naturally open to the outdoors, making it easy to enjoy the performances from a safe spot, and also a free spot – you can find a nearby park bench, or just hang around a while and catch a few tunes.  

Then move on, and head a few more blocks into downtown, and you’ll likely hear the strains of some salsa, or maybe Cuban jazz coming from local restaurants or clubs.  

Stroll further down south along the waterfront to eavesdrop on some beach bar music at Turquoise (formerly) or the Latino del Mar venue, right across from the Casa del Mar hotel. 

There is a good rotation of live bands all over town, and the music often ranges from Mexican pop, to traditional dance music, to English-language classic rock covers. 

Finally, on your way back to your lodging, check out the park in front of the Palacio Municipal, another likely spot for public concerts, or during quieter times, a common spot for free family fun in the evenings. 

People gather at the playground and there is often a small convoy of electric kiddie cars being manned by local kiddie daredevils.  It’s adorable, and a nice free slice of life to round out your visit.  

Then maybe live a little, and finally buy yourself some fresh sweet churros in Cozumel, or an ear of esquítes street corn at the vendor stands on the east side of the Palacio park (a.k.a. Parque Quintana Roo).  

For other ways to budget your trip to Cozumel, read our related post, here, with information on different budget estimates for diving, accommodations, food, and other travel expenses on the island, and our post here about some more great (if not always free) things to do in downtown Cozumel.

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