🔎 TL;DR
- 2-day live-aboard from Puerto Aventuras: day 1 north + crossing (Maroma anchor → Chankanaab → overnight Cozumel), day 2 reef (Palancar drift snorkel/dive → south reef → return).
- Total water time ~22–26 hours; total run distance ~70 km (38 NM). Standard for 50–65 ft cruisers and small catamarans.
- Overnight at a Cozumel marina slip (Puerto de Abrigo / Marina Caleta) — pre-arranged, slip fee ~$150–250 USD plus pump-out, water, electricity.
- Domestic clearance only (no customs) — both ports are Mexican; SEMAR Capitanía despachos at both ends are mandatory.
- Best window Dec–April; pricing for 6–10 guests on a 55 ft yacht typically runs $6,800–11,500 USD all-in for the 2 days.
- Pre-trip checklist: provisioning, two-night seasickness plan, certified-diver paperwork if you want Palancar drift, sun protection rated for 14+ h on water.
Why overnight to Cozumel?
A day-trip Cozumel yacht charter is excellent (covered in our Riviera Maya routes article) — but it caps you at ~3 hours of island time and zero night anchorage. An overnight charter unlocks three things the day trip can't:
- Palancar drift dive or snorkel at dawn — calm water, no other boats, the wall lit by sunrise sidelight.
- Cozumel town at night — dinner in San Miguel, no ferry rush back.
- A second reef day on the south end — Punta Sur, Colombia Shallows, plus the south-coast anchorages most day-trippers never see.
It's also the most efficient way to combine yacht time with serious dive logistics. The NOAA Mesoamerican Reef visitation data shows Cozumel handles ~1 million dive-tank fills annually; concentrating two days of reef time around an overnight is the local pros' move.
Day 1 — Puerto Aventuras → Maroma → Chankanaab → Cozumel overnight
07:30 — Provisioning + boarding (Puerto Aventuras)
Show up at the marina security gate by 07:30. Crew has been provisioning since 06:00. You bring personal kit; the boat has food, water, ice, fuel. Captain meets the SEMAR Capitanía for despacho de salida.
08:30 — Depart Puerto Aventuras, run north to Maroma
25 km north to Maroma (45–60 min on a 55 ft cruiser at 18 knots). Anchor offshore — the beach is famously gorgeous but the public-access section is busy. Swim, paddleboards, light breakfast on deck.
10:30 — Underway south-east to Cozumel
Back aboard. Run south past Puerto Aventuras, then east-south-east 22 km to the Cozumel west coast. Underway ~1 h. Arrive Chankanaab anchorage by 12:00.
12:00 — Chankanaab snorkel + lunch on board
Anchor on a designated CONANP buoy at Chankanaab Reef. Sea turtles, parrotfish, easy 4–8 m snorkel. Lunch served on board while the second wave snorkels. CONANP per-visitor park fee applies — confirmed in the operator quote.
14:30 — Cruise south along the marine park, drop in at Paradise / Tormentos
Slow run south parallel to the reef line. Optional second snorkel at Paradise Reef or Tormentos (shallow, easy). Beer o'clock. Sunset cruise into San Miguel.
17:30 — Dock at Cozumel (Puerto de Abrigo or Marina Caleta)
Captain clears in with local Capitanía, hooks up to slip power and water. Guests can stay aboard or walk into San Miguel for dinner (5 min from Puerto de Abrigo).
19:30 — Dinner in San Miguel
Reservations help. Casa Mission or El Foco for laid-back Yucatecan; Kondesa for upscale.
22:00 — Back aboard, sleep on the yacht
Cabins assigned. Cozumel is calm at dock; you'll sleep well.
Day 2 — Palancar dawn + Punta Sur → return to Puerto Aventuras
06:30 — Coffee, light breakfast, depart slip
Underway by 07:00. Captain has dawn light and zero traffic. 15-min run south to Palancar Caves — the canyon-and-swim-through section that made Cozumel famous.
07:30 — Palancar drift dive or drift snorkel
Cozumel reef is drift-only. Two options:
- Certified divers: 40–60 min drift, depth 12–25 m depending on guide and current. Pre-book tanks + DM with the operator.
- Snorkelers: drift along the top of the wall, 5–10 m water, the yacht repositions to pick up.
Visibility is typically 25–40 m. Current sets you north-to-south along the wall. CONANP regulates the dive site.
09:30 — Cruise south to Punta Sur and Colombia Shallows
The south end of Cozumel. Colombia Shallows (5–10 m, sandy + coral patches) is a relaxed snorkel after the wall morning. Lunch on board.
13:00 — Underway back to Puerto Aventuras
Run west across the channel ~22 km, then north-west ~15 km along the mainland coast. ~1 h 45 min on a 55 ft cruiser. Sea state typically picks up in the afternoon — secure loose gear, plan for chop.
15:30 — Arrive Puerto Aventuras, disembark by 16:00
Crew tip distributed. Operator handles post-trip cleaning and Capitanía despacho de llegada.
Build your 2-day overnight. See Riviera Maya yachts →
The 2-day cost breakdown
| Line item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base charter, 2 days, 55 ft yacht 6–10 guests | $6,000–9,000 USD | Captain + 2 crew included |
| Cozumel overnight slip | $150–250 USD | Plus pump-out / water / 30A |
| Fuel surcharge | $400–800 USD | ~70 km total run |
| Marina guest fees Puerto Aventuras | $25/guest each way | ~$200–300 USD |
| Cozumel Marine Park (CONANP) | ~$30/guest | Day 1 + Day 2 covered |
| Provisioning (food + drinks aboard) | $300–600 USD | Mid-range; chef upgrade extra |
| Cozumel dinner ashore | $30–80/guest | Your call on venue |
| Crew tip 10–15% | $700–1,400 USD | On base charter |
| 2-day total all-in (8 guests) | $8,500–13,000 USD | ~$1,100–1,600 / guest |
Smaller yacht (40–45 ft, 4–6 guests) drops the total to ~$5,500–8,500 USD. Bigger (70+ ft) climbs to $15,000–25,000 USD with chef and additional crew.
Provisioning that actually works
The operator handles primary provisioning if you let them — most have a standard 2-day food plan. If you want to bring your own:
- Day 1 lunch: light proteins, fruit, hydration. Aboard, on anchor at Chankanaab.
- Day 1 dinner: ashore in San Miguel. Don't pre-buy.
- Day 2 breakfast: high-energy, low-effort. Pastry + fruit + coffee.
- Day 2 lunch: substantial. After dive morning everyone is hungry.
- Drinks: lots of water + electrolytes. Alcohol moderate — sun + boat + dive don't combine.
- Restrictions: glass bottles often discouraged or banned on board. Confirm.
Customs / clearance — what you actually do
Both ends are Mexican ports, so this is not international customs. What is required:
- Puerto Aventuras despacho de salida (sailing clearance) from local Capitanía SEMAR — operator handles.
- Cozumel arrival — local Capitanía notification on arrival.
- Cozumel slip check-in — APIQROO or marina concession registration. Operator handles.
- Day 2 despacho de salida from Cozumel + arrival at Puerto Aventuras. Operator handles.
- For guests: passport or ID copy on hand. Mexican-flag yacht with Mexican domestic charter — no additional immigration.
If your yacht is foreign-flagged, the TIP rules from our contracts and port rules article apply. The Mexican system follows international IMO norms for safety and competency.
Anchorages and slip options on Cozumel
- Puerto de Abrigo (San Miguel): the working harbor. Closest to town, simplest walk to dinner. Slip fees mid-range.
- Marina Caleta (south of San Miguel): quieter, better facilities, slightly pricier. Taxi to town 10 min.
- Punta Norte anchorage: open anchorage north of town. Possible but exposed if a Norte rolls in.
For overnight live-aboards we recommend the slip — power, water, safer with crew sleeping. Anchorage works for experienced crews and good-weather windows only.
When to book — weather, season, demand
The overnight only really makes sense December through April when the morning Caribbean is glass and the Yucatán Channel crossing is reliably calm. May–early June is doable. June–November introduces sargassum (manageable) and hurricane risk (not). For best season-by-season detail, see our Riviera Maya yacht season & pricing guide.
Demand: book 8–12 weeks ahead in high season. The Cozumel overnight slips are limited — operators reserve them per trip.
2 days, 2 reefs, 1 overnight. Browse yachts & routes →
Frequently asked questions
Can I sleep on a 40 ft yacht for an overnight to Cozumel?
Technically yes for 2 people max. Realistically: 45+ ft is more comfortable for sleep, 55+ ft is the sweet spot for 6–8 guests with 2 crew. Below 45 ft the head, kitchen and bunk space get tight after 24 hours.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
No. The drift Palancar morning is divided — certified divers go down with a DM, non-divers drift along the top of the wall as snorkelers. Both are excellent. Bring your cert card if you intend to dive.
Is the overnight really worth the extra money over a Cozumel day trip?
For first-time Mexico Caribbean yacht guests: maybe not. The day trip is excellent on its own. For repeat guests, certified divers, or anyone who wants Palancar at dawn — yes. The pre-dawn drift on the wall is a different experience from anything daytime.
What if a Norte rolls in overnight?
SEMAR closes the bar — you stay docked in Cozumel until it passes. Operators carry contingency for an extra night at slip; you absorb 1 extra slip night cost ($150–250 USD) and reschedule the return. Travel insurance recommended.
Can we combine this with the Tulum coast cruise?
Yes — 3-day version exists: Day 1 Tulum coast + Sian Ka'an sail-by, Day 2 Cozumel overnight, Day 3 Palancar + return. Adds ~$3,500–5,000 USD over the 2-day. We build it custom — see our routes article for individual day breakdowns.
Plan your 2-day overnight
Group size, dates, diver count — we match boat + crew + provisioning + Cozumel slip in one quote.