The east-coast road is the best half-day trip on Cozumel — a stretch of wild, windswept Caribbean coastline almost entirely free of development. A single road follows the shore from south to north past low limestone cliffs, sweeping beaches, and a handful of palapa restaurants.
Stops worth making: Punta Sur at the southern tip, Playa Bonita for swimming in a sheltered cove, Coconuts Bar on a clifftop near the middle (good food, weird ambience, decent margaritas), and the natural rock arch at El Mirador further north. Strong currents and undertow mean swimming is dangerous outside a few specific coves — pay attention to local warnings. Rent a car or scooter in San Miguel; the whole loop takes three to four hours with stops.