Isla Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, is preparing for its 101st annual Carnaval celebration to be held on Feb. 26 through March 5, 2003. The pre-Lenten celebration will provide visitors with an authentic look at Mexican traditions, including regional food, musical performers and ethnic dances, as well as parades, floats, and costumes. The focal point of the celebration is the Comparsas Ball featuring a group dance competition on Feb. 28.
Scheduled Carnaval Events:
Wednesday, Feb. 26
The Carnaval celebrations will begin with a children's masquerade contest.
Thursday, Feb. 27
Children's costume contest.
Friday, Feb. 28
Children's Parade on main street
Comparsas Ball
Saturday, March 1, Sunday March 2, Tuesday, March 4
Carnaval Parade - procession of vehicles, floats and people in costumes, departing from the Municipal Palace and then returning.
Monday, March 3
Adult's masquerade contest and ball.
Wednesday, March 5 (the last night of Carnaval)
Awards night with the King and Queen of Carnaval. Awards and prizes are given for the best overall in every Carnaval category.
"Every year Isla Cozumel's Carnaval events continue to grow, as the island and its inhabitants are dedicated to providing the best celebration possible," said Fernando Ferraez, conductor of Carnaval, involved in the Cozumel event for nearly 20 years. "Cozumel looks forward to another record-breaking year with more than 30 floats projected and 100 percent hotel occupancy."
From Feb. 26 through March 5, the Museum of the Island of Cozumel, located on Avenue Rafael Melgar, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will feature special exhibits with photography of children from past Carnaval celebrations. Within the museum visitors can learn about the island's origins, wildlife migration patterns, reefs, archeology, galleons and pirates. Murals that depict daily scenes of Mayan life line the walls as well. The museum's phone number is (011) 52 987 87 21434 or (011) 52 987 87 21475.
Named "Cuzamil" by the Maya who inhabited it more than 2,000 years ago, Isla Cozumel or "land of the swallows" is located in the state of Quintana Roo, east of the Yucatan Peninsula. Cozumel, approximately 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, has an international snorkeling and diving reputation with the world's second-largest reef network featuring limestone caves, tunnels and rare black coral. Cozumel Reefs National Park, a protected 30,000-acre national area covering 85 percent of the island's dive sites and embracing the southern section of Cozumel, was created in 1996 for the purpose of conserving, monitoring and researching the reef formation and its natural habitat. In 2002 a U.S. News & World Report Travel Agent Survey recognized Isla Cozumel as the North American/Caribbean destination offering the best vacation value Visit Cozumel on the World Wide Web at www.islacozumel.com.mx.
