Cozumel Reefs National Park has four sites closed until 30 November

Cozumel Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel) is the subject of a current conservation restriction in Cozumel, Mexico: four named reef sites remain closed to diving and snorkelling until 30 November 2026.

The measure affects San Francisco, San Francisco Shallows, Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Wall, while other sections remain available. The restriction is part of a rotating rest programme managed by Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, known as CONANP.

Four reef sites remain closed until 30 November 2026

CONANP’s closure runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026. It covers diving and snorkelling at the four sites inside the national park, rather than closing the whole marine protected area.

The October-November closure notice says the rotation gives heavily used sections a break from recreational pressure. A separate report by Riviera Maya News identifies the same four sites and says the wider park remains open.

Palancar Caves and Palancar Bricks completed their August-September rest period and are open again. Colombia, Colombia Shallows, Punta Sur and other Palancar sections are also listed as open, although operators must follow the current site restrictions.

How the closure connects to the park’s 1996 protection

The park extends along Cozumel’s south-western and south-eastern coasts and protects coral reefs and beaches. CONANP says the area was declared a protected national park on 19 July 1996, with an approximate extent of 12,000 hectares.

The CONANP park record links that protection to the area’s biological and economic importance and describes monitoring, surveillance and controls on recreational activity. The current rotation therefore changes which reefs visitors can use without removing access to the national park as a whole.

This distinction matters for a visit in November 2026. A diver or snorkeller planning specifically around Santa Rosa or San Francisco will not be able to use those sites during the restriction, while an itinerary built around open sections can continue under the park’s rules.

Visiting Cozumel Reefs National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The restriction applies at the park from 1 October to 30 November 2026 and names San Francisco, San Francisco Shallows, Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Wall.
• Diving and snorkelling are not permitted at those four sites during the closure, while Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks and other listed sections are open.
• The park lies around Cozumel’s southern and south-western coastal areas. CONANP’s visitor information directs arrivals from the island’s fiscal dock by taxi along Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and the South Coastal Highway.
• The protected area includes reefs and beaches, and its national park status dates from 19 July 1996.
• Mexico’s official language is Spanish and its currency is the Mexican peso.
• 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.

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Frequently asked questions about Cozumel Reefs National Park

When do the reef closures end at Cozumel Reefs National Park?

The current restriction ends on 30 November 2026 for San Francisco, San Francisco Shallows, Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Wall.

What remains open at Cozumel Reefs National Park?

Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks, Colombia, Colombia Shallows, Punta Sur and other Palancar sections are listed as open during the restriction.

Where is Cozumel Reefs National Park and how do you get there?

The park surrounds southern coastal areas of Cozumel. CONANP directs visitors from the island’s fiscal dock towards the South Coastal Highway.