From $499.99El Cielo Sandbar
What it is
El Cielo, Spanish for the sky, is a shallow sandbar off Cozumel's protected southwest coast, named for the constellation of starfish that rest on its pale sea floor. The water is so clear and so shallow, often only waist to chest deep, that boats anchor and travellers wade out to float above the sand. It is not a beach you reach by road but a snorkel and swim stop reached only by boat, usually paired with the nearby Palancar and Colombia reefs on the same trip.
How to visit
You reach El Cielo on a boat or catamaran tour, most leaving in the morning when the sea is flat and the light makes the shallows glow turquoise. Trips usually combine the sandbar with a reef snorkel and time to swim, and many add an open bar and lunch. Do not touch or lift the starfish, which are protected, and stick to reef-safe sunscreen. Private charters give small groups a flexible schedule, while shared boats and catamarans are the budget-friendly way to see it.
Hours & practical info
Accessible by boat tour only, typically morning departures. No road access or fixed opening hours.
Insider tips
- ✓ Book a morning trip for the calmest water and clearest starfish views.
- ✓ Never lift starfish out of the water, they are protected by law.
- ✓ Combine El Cielo with the Palancar and Colombia reefs on one boat tour.
Tours featuring El Cielo Sandbar
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you get to El Cielo in Cozumel?
- El Cielo is reached only by boat or catamaran tour, with most departures in the morning. There is no road access to the sandbar.
- Can you touch the starfish at El Cielo?
- No. The starfish are protected and lifting them out of the water harms them. Admire and photograph them while they stay on the sea floor.