Cozumel Reefs National Park keeps four sites closed until 30 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 14:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSReef access and conservation
- CONANP keeps four Cozumel sites closed through 30 November 2026.
- San Francisco and Santa Rosa are restricted while Palancar and Colombia sites remain available.
- Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel was declared a national park in 1996.
- Cozumel Reefs National Park extends along Cozumel's south-western and south-eastern coasts.
Cozumel Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel) is keeping four reef sites closed through 30 November 2026 as part of a rotating conservation programme in Cozumel, Mexico. The restriction concerns diving, snorkelling and tourist boat visits to San Francisco, San Francisco Shallows, Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Wall.
The measure does not close the entire marine park. Other designated sites remain available, so the current change affects the choice of reef rather than access to all underwater activities.
Four Cozumel reef sites remain closed until 30 November
The National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, known as CONANP, is applying the restriction from 1 October to 30 November 2026. The programme gives selected reef areas a temporary break from recreational pressure while other sections continue to receive visitors.
The 30 November closure date is stated in a report from Cozumel published on 8 November 2026. It identifies San Francisco, San Francisco Shallows, Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Wall as the affected sites, while Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks, Colombia, Colombia Shallows, Punta Sur and other Palancar sections remain available.
The restriction is part of a rotating reef-rest system rather than an emergency shutdown. CONANP's conservation programme has operated in Cozumel since 2019, following concern about coral disease and the pressure created by intensive tourism.
How the closure fits Cozumel's protected marine area
The park extends along the south-western and south-eastern coasts of Cozumel. CONANP information cited in the local report records its declaration as a national park on 19 July 1996 and gives its area as approximately 12,000 hectares.
The protected area includes coral reefs, marine ecosystems and beaches. The current closure links that long-standing protected status with a specific visitor change: four named sites are resting, while Palancar and Colombia sites that completed their previous rest period are available again.
That rotation also means the list of accessible reefs can change after 30 November 2026. Visitors planning a particular wall dive or snorkelling stop need the current park information before setting an itinerary.
Visiting Cozumel Reefs National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The closure runs from 1 October through 30 November 2026 at San Francisco, San Francisco Shallows, Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Wall.
- Diving, snorkelling and tourist boat visits are restricted at those four sites, while Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks, Colombia and Punta Sur are listed as available alternatives.
- The park lies on Cozumel's south-western and south-eastern coasts, and the local visitor information identifies the fiscal pier, Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and the Costera Sur road as access references.
- Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Mexico, and the Mexican peso is the national currency.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Cozumel Reefs National Park on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Cozumel Reefs National Park
What has changed at Cozumel Reefs National Park?
Four named reef sites are closed to diving, snorkelling and tourist boat visits through 30 November 2026. The rest of the park remains available under current environmental rules.
Where is Cozumel Reefs National Park and how do you get there?
The protected marine area lies along Cozumel's south-western and south-eastern coasts. Visitor information points to the fiscal pier, Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and the Costera Sur road.
Which Cozumel reefs remain available in November 2026?
Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks, Colombia, Colombia Shallows, Punta Sur and other Palancar sections are listed as available during the current closure period.
