Welcome to our Book of Adventures

Cozumel looked like paradise in all of the pictures I saw online. I started looking at resorts and was hooked… we had to go there. It seemed daunting, however, getting to the island. Direct flights were quite pricey from O’Hare Airport. However, flights into Cancun were dirt cheap! There was only one catch: you have to then take a ferry to the Island which was a 30 minute cab ride away. I’m lazy when it comes to travel…the less stuff I have to do to get to where I want to go, the better. Thankfully, Nate is like a walking compass and fearless when it comes to taking a train, then a boat, then a bus, then a scooter, than a short 5 mile walk… he’s the best travel companion a girl could ask for 🙂

I booked the flight direct into Cancun and then purchased ferry tickets when we got to the boat.

I had read that the rates could be different, some lower and some higher, depending on where you bought them. There were other companies trying to sell ferry tickets, I recommend buying them directly from the ferry office. Tickets were cheap, about $15 a person one way.

We arrived to the ferry early so we did something we try to never do… eat at a commercial chain restaurant. We diligently try to eat at local establishments to get the best cultural foodie experience, however, Senor Frogs was right on the water and right in front of the ferry entrance. The views from the seating area sucked us in! And, we were pleasantly surprised with the food, it was really good!!! All I wanted was fresh ceviche and a big margarita… check and check!! I proudly wore my ballon crown as I sipped a big glass of ‘relaxation’…

It was a lovely 1 hour boat ride to Cozumel! We sat on the top deck to get the best views…of course.

There are taxis lined up when you get off the ferry, we took one to our resort which was around $20 (bring cash!).

There are so many resorts to choose from…. I was specifically looking for all-inclusive as I didn’t want to find restaurants during a time when I knew most restaurants would still be closed (January, 2021, still very immersed in the residual effects of the pandemic). The Occidental was the resort I chose.

The pictures were enough to convince me, and the rates were very reasonable. The gardens surrounding and inter-woven throughout the property were immaculate. And, lots of wildlife.

I had a feeling the guest count would be underwhelming, and I was right. It felt like it was just us at the resort most nights. We had the whole beach to ourselves! The food was excellent for an all-inclusive… I don’t know about you, but my experiences with all-inclusive’s has been sub-par food. The best food is certainly elsewhere in the local restaurants…however, The Occidental did a great job.

Because we knew that things were still closed due to the pandemic, we opted to stay at the resort. Normally, we are adventuring all over the place. But, we did really enjoy just relaxing… we ate a fabulous breakfast every morning, we then went to the beach for most of the day while sipping delicious cocktails (tip: ask for a double shot!!) Nate spoiled me with a massage by the sea which was worth every penny… I had a huge knot in my right shoulder area named ‘2020’ and she worked that thing right out! I felt like a brand new person 🙂

There is something magical about swimming in clear blue water. It is truly an exhale moment when your feet are in the sand, your wading in crystal clear ocean, the sky is perfectly blue, and there’s no noise except the waves.

There was a constant breeze on the island which just added to this outstanding experience. My sister and her husband joined us on this excursion to Mexico and we had the ABSOLUTE BEST TIME, I’m so glad we went even though everything around us was still uncertain. We needed to put the past year behind us and do a major reset on our well-being. To make this trip even more special, I received a job offer while on the plane-ride over… so unexpected and such an incredible moment… it truly felt like life was back on track and only wonderful things were ahead. A sense of renewal and hope like I had never felt…. Cozumel was a gift.

We spent 4 nights and 5 days on Cozumel… much more to write about!!

To be continued….

Heather & Nate