San Miguel Cemetery: Cozumel’s Historic Heart

Cozumel, QRoo — Just meters from the Caribbean Sea, amidst pathways covered in flowers and ancient crosses, the San Miguel Cemetery stands as one of the most emblematic sites in Cozumel. Constructed between 1803 and 1804, this cemetery is considered a historical and spiritual heritage for the community, as its tombs hold those who shaped the island as it is known today.

The lifelong chronicler, Veudi Vivas Valdez, recalled that the cemetery holds the remains of the first generation of resettlers, the men and women who arrived on the island after a period of abandonment and who witnessed the social, economic, and political growth of the municipality. "Every headstone tells a story, every name evokes the effort of those who made the rebirth of Cozumel possible," he expressed.

Among the names inscribed on its tombs are fundamental figures such as José Rosa Barón Delgado, registered as the island's first baker in 1875, and Higinio Vázquez Dávila, who laid out the streets for the first expansion of Cozumel's urban grid.

The chronicler also recalled that the cemetery holds the remains of the businessman Nassim Joaquín Ibarra, a prominent figure in the economic history of the state and father of former governors Pedro Joaquín Coldwell and Carlos Joaquín González. "His family legacy is an essential part of the political and social memory of Quintana Roo," he added.

The San Miguel Cemetery is not only a site of eternal rest but also a space that keeps local history alive. Many streets, schools, and public spaces on the island bear the names of those who rest there, as a way of paying homage to the early builders of Cozumel.

During the days leading up to the Day of the Dead, the cemetery fills with flowers, candles, and visitors who come not only to remember their loved ones but also to reconnect with the history that unites them. "The San Miguel is part of the soul of Cozumel, a place where life and death intertwine to keep the island's memory alive," concluded Vivas Valdez.