Fly off to Cozumel, the Mayan's "island of swallows," a 28-mile long, 11-mile wide spot of beautiful beaches and untamed jungle on the blue watersof the Caribbean off the coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Laid back and casual, with but one town, San Miguel, the island has been a vacation haven for years, and still remains a relaxing scene in spite of being a newly-discovered port of call for cruise ships.

Stay at the all-inclusive Paradisus Beach Resort where, with rates including tips and taxes, all you have to do is enjoy. Located 3.6 miles north of town, the resort is close to a Mayan archaeological site and natural parks, and is on one of the longest stretches of natural beach.

The resort offers all sorts of activities for couples: scuba diving, tennis clinics, wind surfing, horseback and bicycle riding, sailboat trips, kayaking, and gym and aerobic classes. Food is served all day long, but there are also very good restaurants all over the island.

Interesting side-trips close at hand on the cozy island are both San Gervasio Ruins, a Mayan archaeological site, and Chankanaab Ecological Park, a monument to nature.

The Mayans considered Cozumel to be a sacred island. San Gervasio was once the island's capital, dedicated to the goddess Ixchel, the wife of Itzamma, the top Maya god who invented corn, cacao, reading and writing.

The Mayans came in dugout canoes, making pilgrimages from all over theYucatan to honor this goddess of fertility, childbirth, medicine, and the moon. Every Mayan woman hoped at least once in her lifetime to make the perilous journey here from the mainland.

These scattered Mayan and Toltec ruins, situated in the coolness of dense forest, consist mainly of small temples and shrines built on platforms. One of the temples is believed to be that of Ixchel. The structures are clearly identified; be sure to check out "Las Manitas," which has faint red imprints of hands over the altar. The Arch, once serving as both entrance and exit of the site, leads out to the coast on the opposite site of the island.

Chankanaab was declared a national park in 1980. It's a refuge area for protecting marine flora and fauna on the west coast of the island. Coral and limestone formations wearing away through time have made the area into a world famous ecosystem. Fish, mollusks, crustaceans and coral formations make it a special marine garden, thanks to two underwater caves the sea flows through.

A main attraction in the park is the beautiful blue natural lagoon; Chankanaab in Mayan means small sea. Snorkeling and swimming used to be permitted there, but no longer, since suntan lotion collects in the water and harms the fish.

But there is plenty of swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving on the beautiful west coast beaches. And, you can swim with the dolphins: Dolphin Discovery is a one-hour program available to anyone over 8 years of age who can swim. The naturally playful animals will pull you through the water, push you by your feet, even leap over you.

As you enter the park, you may pass by colorful macaws on perches beside the road. The Botanical Gardens have 60 different kind of palm trees, as well as a garden of orchids, water lilies and bamboo. There's mini-golf, a museum, and El Bucanero Restaurant for open-air meals.

The waterfront in downtown San Miguel is lined with all sorts of shops showcasing delightful Mexican offerings, from colorful clothing and souvenirs to shining silver jewelry from Taxco. Restaurants, too: Las Palmeras, across from the downtown pier, has specialized in seafood for years.

As for the pier, if you're feeling adventurous, take the ferry across to Playa del Carmen on the mainland. Once a quiet little village, Play is now quite a tourist destination in itself, and the ferry ride is a cool diversion. Often, dolphins play alongside the boat.

You might not want to miss the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel on the waterfront. It's not large, but it will give you a basic background on the history, ecosystem and geography of the island. Interesting exhibits are the Mayan dwelling, and the scuba diving artifacts. And there are dive shops all over the waterfront; this is one of the prime dive spot in the entire world.

Paradisus Resort:

email:paradisu@cozumel.czm.com.mx
Website: http://iminet.com/mexico/coz203.html