Cozumel Blowholes: Exploring the Wild East Side
One of my favorite things about Cozumel’s wild east side is that you never quite know what you’re going to find when you pull over and explore.
The blowholes are a perfect example.
Along parts of Cozumel’s rugged eastern coastline, waves push through openings in the coral limestone and send seawater shooting into the air. But what I love most isn’t just watching them, it’s hearing them. As the water moves through the rock, you can actually hear that deep rush of air and water that makes it sound like the ocean is breathing.
We stop at the blowholes pretty often when we’re exploring Cozumel’s east side—it’s one of those places that always seems to warrant a stop. We’ve brought family along too, including our grandkids Eliot, Judah and Levi, and I love watching other people experience it for the first time. There’s no big attraction to enter and no elaborate itinerary required. You’re just out on the wild side, climbing carefully across the rocks, watching the Caribbean crash against the coast and waiting for the next burst of water.
And yes, if you get close enough, you may get soaked. That’s part of the fun.
What Are the Blowholes?
An adventure for all ages - exploring the rugged blowhole trails as a family.
Cozumel’s blowholes are natural openings in the coral limestone along the island’s rugged east coast. When waves hit the shoreline, water and air are forced through openings in the rock, sending seawater spraying into the air.
The show can be different every time we stop. When the seas are higher or the tide is high, there’s usually more water being forced through the openings and the blowholes can put on quite a show. On calmer days, the spray may not be as dramatic, but you can still hear the air and water rushing through the rock. To me, it sounds like the ocean taking a deep breath—which is one of my favorite things about this spot.
We also like to wander along the shoreline while we’re there, looking for little treasures that have washed up along the coast. Sometimes that ends up being just as much fun as waiting for the next big burst of water.
This isn’t a developed attraction with railings and paved walkways. You’re exploring the natural rocky coastline, so watch your footing, stay back from rough surf, and don’t turn your back on the Caribbean.
💎 Dory’s Treasure Tip:
If the blowholes aren’t putting on much of a show when you first arrive, give them a few minutes. Watch the waves and listen for that rush of air and water through the rocks. When the sea is up, you may want to stand a little farther back than you think—you can get wetter than you planned!
Where to Find the Cozumel Blowholes
The blowholes we stop at are on Cozumel’s wild east side, along the coastal road where the Caribbean meets the island’s rugged rocky shoreline.
Our favorite spot is south of El Mirador and near Miami Beach Bar. It’s easy to include as part of a day driving the east side because you don’t need to plan an entire excursion around it. We usually stop when we’re already making our way along the coast and honestly, if we’re passing by and the sea is putting on a show, it’s hard not to pull over.
There isn’t a big entrance or formal attraction announcing that you’ve arrived. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the road, then take your time walking out toward the rocky shoreline. Once you get closer to the water, you’ll start seeing—and hearing—where the waves are pushing through the openings in the rock.
If you’re making a day of the east side, the blowholes fit naturally with stops at El Mirador, Miami Beach Bar and other places along the coastal road. My Cozumel Beach Bar Loop guide is a good companion if you want to turn the drive into a full day of exploring.
💎 Dory’s Treasure Tip: Don’t just stop, snap a picture and leave.
Walk the shoreline for a little while. We love looking for treasures that
have washed up, watching the waves, and seeing what we discover. The blowholes may be what
makes us pull over, but wandering that stretch of wild coastline is part of why we enjoy
the stop so much.
And if you want photos or video of the blowholes in action,
protect your phone or camera from the saltwater spray. A waterproof phone
pouch or GoPro is handy here. Try burst mode or slow motion too—it’s a fun way to catch
that split second when the water comes shooting through the rocks.
Why We Keep Stopping at the Blowholes
There are plenty of bigger things to plan a Cozumel vacation around, but the blowholes are one of those little east-side stops we keep coming back to. They don’t require reservations, tickets or a big chunk of your day. We pull over, walk the shoreline, see what the Caribbean is doing that day and stay for as long as we feel like staying.
And really, the blowholes are only part of what I love about stopping here. Cozumel’s wild east side has a completely different feel from San Miguel and the western side of the island. The coastal road takes you past rugged shoreline, stretches of beach, beautiful Caribbean views and some of our favorite roadside beach bars.
Sometimes we stop for the blowholes. Sometimes we end up spending more time looking for treasures along the shoreline. And sometimes we just stand there watching the waves. That’s the kind of Cozumel day I love with no real schedule and no need to rush to the next thing.
Tips for Visiting the Cozumel Blowholes
Just beyond the beach bars, this wild coastline hides Cozumel’s best-kept secret.
Wear sturdy shoes. The rocky coral limestone can be sharp and uneven. Dive boots, water shoes, tennis shoes or another sturdy option are much better than bare feet or flimsy flip-flops.
Expect to get wet. If the sea is up and the blowholes are really putting on a show, the spray can travel farther than you expect. A swimsuit or clothes you don’t mind getting wet aren’t a bad idea.
Watch your footing. Rocks near the water can be wet, uneven and slippery. Take your time, especially if you’re exploring with kids.
Respect the Caribbean. This is a place to enjoy the shoreline and watch the power of the water, not a swimming stop. Stay back from rough surf and never turn your back on the sea.
Protect your electronics. Saltwater spray and phones aren’t exactly best friends. If you’re taking photos close to the action, use a waterproof pouch or protect your camera.
Don’t rush the stop. The size of the spray changes with the sea conditions. Give it a little time, listen for the water moving through the rocks and wander the shoreline while you wait for the next good one.
Keep Exploring Cozumel’s Wild Side
If the blowholes sound like your kind of Cozumel stop, here are a few more of my guides to help you explore this side of the island:
- Hidden Gems in Cozumel — more of the places and experiences you might otherwise miss.
- Cozumel Beach Bar Loop — turn your drive around the wild side into a day of coastal stops, beach bars and exploring.
- How to Get Around Cozumel — my tips for rental cars, taxis, private drivers and exploring the island.
Beach Villa at Costa del Sol
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Oceanfront Condo at El Cantil
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Make Cozumel Your Home Base for Exploring
One of the things we love about Cozumel is how easy it is to head out for a day of exploring and come home to a completely different side of the island. Stay on the quieter south side at Costa del Sol or close to restaurants, shopping and downtown San Miguel at El Cantil—then make a day of discovering the wild east side for yourself.
Check Availability & Book Direct →Meet Dory (Shannon Coleman)
I’m Dory—also known as Shannon Coleman, owner of We’ve Gone Coastal with my husband, Jefé. I’ve been diving since 1987 and became an SSI Open Water Instructor in 2014, but Cozumel has become much more than a place we come to dive. It’s the island we love, the place we keep coming back to, and a place we’re happy to help other travelers discover.
I share what we’ve learned from our own time here—the places we eat, dive, explore and take our family and friends—along with the practical things I wish someone had told us when we first started coming to Cozumel.
