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On our recent cruise Lunch and Shopping in Cozumel were the two activities I had in mind for the Mexican port. Read all about our authentic Mexican lunch and where I found pure Mexican vanilla!
The third port of call on our cruise last month was to Cozumel. I know that people like to spend that time going to Tulum and seeing the Mayan Ruins there or enjoying various water activities. Well, we scheduled Mayan Ruins for our next port of call and if I really wanted to go snorkeling on this trip, I would’ve done it in Grand Cayman.
There were only two activities I had in mind which were Lunch and Shopping in Cozumel. I know that you’re probably thinking, “Wait?! Didn’t you just go shopping in Grand Cayman?” Yes, but there is something in Cozumel that I had in mind and anyone that loves to bake will totally understand. I’ve got two words for you, Mexican Vanilla.
Several years back my mom gave me a bottle of Mexican vanilla that she had bought on her last cruise to Cozumel. I absolutely loved the stuff. It brought new life to my baked goods and I was really disappointed when I ran out of it because it has a much richer flavor than the vanilla that you find in the grocery store.
You have to be careful when buying vanilla in Mexico because it’s not all pure vanilla and it may contain something that causes liver and kidney failure in high doses called coumarin. Coumarin is banned here in the states but is still legal in Mexico. It gets tricky trying to find the right vanilla because you see it everywhere. What my mom bought me several years ago had the vanilla beans in it but I didn’t see anything like that on this trip.
It is important to note that it does have the word “pure” and that it’s not from concentrate. The cost is also going to be a bit more than at the tourist shops. Around $10 – $15 a bottle, I paid $12.
We found ours at the Punta Langosta Plaza at the Mayan Fiesta store on the bottom floor. Their focus is actually on super rummy rum cakes but they also have local coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Their vanilla is double-strength which means you only need half the vanilla a recipe calls for. It’s true, too, I made a small batch of cookies when I got home and you definitely only need half which is good because that means it will last longer!
They sell clear and dark depending on your baking needs. I bought a bottle of the amber but I may get some of the clear just to have the next time I’m in Cozumel. They have five stores in the area and are very easy to find. Customer service is excellent, too. They are one of the few stores that don’t have people harassing you to come in and are very helpful when you’re in their store!
We were very lucky with where our ship docked. There are two piers in the area where your ship can dock and we were docked at the Punta Langosta Pier. This pier is close to downtown and within easy walking distance to plenty of shops, restaurants, and even the ferry if you wish to spend the day in Playa del Carmen. No need for a taxi if you’re looking to explore in the immediate area.
Since we did find our vanilla right away, the rest of the day was looking for souvenirs and going to lunch. We didn’t buy our vanilla immediately since we had to go back through the plaza to get to our ship and grabbed it on our way back so we didn’t have to carry it around with us.
There was one thing that I hated about our day in Cozumel and that was people harassing us and trying to get us to take their taxi or tour or go in their stores. I am one of those people that like to be left alone when I shop so having people constantly in my face while I’m trying to just walk down the street definitely tries my patience and can put me in a not-so-great mood. I know some people love it and even get a kick out of it but I am so not one of those people!
If you’re like me, I have a couple of shops for you that had the same type of touristy products and did not have people outside and the salespeople were very kind and helpful when we asked for it. Those shops were Cozumel Mart and The Mayan Flea Market.
Now let’s talk about my favorite part of the day and that is lunch! Derek and I love Mexican food. We eat it at least once a week. I said from the beginning of planning this trip that if I am going to Mexico, I’m going to a local Mexican restaurant for lunch. Señor Frogs was not going to happen no matter how much my father likes them!
I did a little research ahead of time and found Colores y Sabores on TripAdvisor. It has great reviews on there, close to the port, and as it so happened just around the corner from The Mayan Flea Market. The restaurant is quite small but they do have some tables out front. We decided to dine al fresco and I’m glad we did because although it was a warm day, we were in the shade and a nice breeze was blowing.
We started off with some refreshing drinks. Derek and my dad drank Sol Cervezas and my mom and I had Mexican Coca-Cola which tastes so much better than what we got here in the states. They served us chips with the best pico de gallo I have ever had along with a creamy green sauce. It wasn’t guacamole but it might have had some avocado in it. It was really good, too!
For our entrees, my dad, Derek, and I got fajitas but different ones so we could sample. I got shrimp, dad got chicken, and Derek got beef. They were all delicious! They were served with refried beans and guacamole, so yum! My mom got these little tostadas filled with beef and sautéed onions, they looked amazing and she really enjoyed them. On top of all the incredible food, the service was excellent and the owner was very nice. This was definitely the best meal I’ve ever had at a cruise port! If you do nothing else in Cozumel, treat yourself to a meal at Colores y Sabores! You won’t regret it!
After our fantastic lunch, we headed back to the ship, picking up our vanilla on the way. Despite the frustrating people on the street, I think overall our Lunch and Shopping in Cozumel was a success! I hope the few tips and recommendations I provided will be helpful to you the next time Cozumel is your port of call.
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