Punta Langosta, the International Pier (SSA), and Puerta Maya are all piers for cruise ships. A ferry pier in San Miguel is used for passenger ferries to and from Playa del Carmen, as well as for cruise ship tenders. A fifth pier south of downtown is used only for vehicle ferries.

Large parts of the island are covered with mangrove forest which has many endemic animal species. Cozumel is a flat island based on limestone,