Venezuelan Tall Ship Cozumel

Venezuelan Tall Ship Brings Friendship, History and a Touch of Maritime Magic to Cozumel

The towering masts of Venezuela’s training ship Simón Bolívar added a striking silhouette to Cozumel’s waterfront last week, drawing curious onlookers, history enthusiasts, and maritime fans alike to Punta Langosta Pier.

The iconic sailing vessel arrived to a festive welcome that featured traditional music, folkloric dances, and plenty of warm island hospitality, turning the ship’s visit into a celebration of friendship between Mexico and Venezuela. The arrival formed part of the vessel’s 36th Overseas Training Cruise, aptly named “Seas of Union for Bolívar’s Dream.”

During the official welcoming ceremony, civil and naval authorities from both nations gathered dockside to greet the crew. Representing Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, director of the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation, welcomed Venezuelan military attaché Major General Alirio Cruz Ortega, ship commander Captain Carlos D’ Suze Santos, and the vessel’s 219 crew members and cadets.

The visit was about far more than a ship dropping anchor. Venezuelan Ambassador Stella Marina Lugo highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties shared by both countries, noting that liberator Simón Bolívar was proclaimed a Mexican citizen in 1824 — a symbolic gesture that continues to resonate more than two centuries later.

For Captain D’ Suze Santos, the Simón Bolívar serves a dual purpose. It is both a floating classroom where future naval officers learn the art of seamanship and an ambassador of goodwill that carries a message of mutual respect and international cooperation wherever it sails. He thanked the people of Cozumel for the enthusiastic reception and said the voyage helps strengthen cultural ties between nations.

Adding to the symbolism of the visit is the ship’s close connection to Mexico’s beloved training vessel, the ARM Cuauhtémoc. The two are often referred to as “sister ships,” having been built in the same shipyards in Bilbao, Spain, and sharing the mission of training naval cadets while promoting diplomacy around the world.

Known internationally as “The Ambassador Without Borders,” the Simón Bolívar quickly became one of the island’s most talked-about attractions. Residents and visitors alike took advantage of the rare opportunity to step aboard the majestic vessel, explore its decks, and learn more about life at sea.

After its successful stop in Cozumel, the ship continued its Caribbean journey to Cuba before eventually returning home to Venezuela. Yet for a few memorable days, the elegant tall ship transformed Punta Langosta into a floating showcase of history, culture, and international friendship.

And as its sails disappeared over the horizon, the visit left behind a simple reminder: while the Caribbean Sea separates nations by water, it often brings them closer together.

El gran velero venezolano trae amistad, historia y un toque de magia marítima a Cozumel

La semana pasada los imponentes mástiles del buque escuela venezolano Simón Bolívar se sumó con su impresionante silueta al malecón de Cozumel, atrayendo al muelle de Punta Langosta tanto a curiosos como a entusiastas de la historia y aficionados a la náutica.

La emblemática embarcación fue recibida con una festiva bienvenida que contó con música tradicional, bailes folclóricos y la cálida hospitalidad de la Isla, convirtiendo la visita del buque en una celebración de la amistad entre México y Venezuela. La llegada formó parte del 36.º Crucero de Instrucción al Exterior, acertadamente bautizado como “Mares de Unión por el Sueño de Bolívar”.

Durante la ceremonia oficial de bienvenida, autoridades civiles y navales de ambas naciones se reunieron en el muelle para saludar a la tripulación. En representación de la gobernadora de Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama Espinosa, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, directora de la Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel, dio la bienvenida al agregado militar venezolano, el general de división Alirio Cruz Ortega, al comandante del buque, el capitán Carlos D’Suze Santos, y a los 219 tripulantes y cadetes del buque.

La visita fue mucho más que el simple hecho de que un buque echara el ancla. La embajadora venezolana Stella Marina Lugo destacó los profundos lazos históricos y culturales que comparten ambos países, y señaló que el libertador Simón Bolívar fue proclamado ciudadano mexicano en 1824, un gesto simbólico que continúa resonando después de más de dos siglos.

Para el capitán D’Suze Santos, el Simón Bolívar cumple una doble función. Es a la vez un aula flotante donde los futuros oficiales de la Armada aprenden el arte de la navegación y un embajador de buena voluntad que lleva un mensaje de respeto mutuo y cooperación internacional donde sea que se encuentre navegando. Agradeció a la gente de Cozumel la recepción tan entusiasta y declaró que el viaje contribuye a fortalecer los lazos culturales entre las naciones.

A la simbología de la visita se suma la estrecha conexión del buque con el querido buque escuela mexicano, el ARM Cuauhtémoc. A menudo se hace referencia a ambos como “buques gemelos”, ya que fueron construidos en los mismos astilleros de Bilbao, España, y comparten la misión de formar a cadetes navales en tanto promueven la diplomacia en todo el mundo.

Conocido internacionalmente como el “Embajador sin Fronteras”, el Simón Bolívar se convirtió rápidamente en una de las atracciones más comentadas de la Isla. Tanto habitantes locales como visitantes aprovecharon oportunidad única de subir a bordo de este majestuoso velero, explorar sus cubiertas y conocer mejor la vida en el mar.

Tras su exitosa escala en Cozumel, el barco continuó su travesía por el Caribe hacia Cuba antes de regresar finalmente a su puerto de origen en Venezuela. Sin embargo, durante unos días memorables, el elegante gran velero transformó Punta Langosta en un escaparate flotante de historia, cultura y amistad internacional.

Y mientras sus velas desaparecían en el horizonte, la visita dejó tras de sí un sencillo recordatorio: aunque el mar Caribe separa a las naciones con agua, a menudo las acerca.

The towering masts of Venezuela’s training ship Simón Bolívar added a striking silhouette to Cozumel’s waterfront last week, drawing curious onlookers, history enthusiasts, and maritime fans alike to Punta Langosta Pier.

The iconic sailing vessel arrived to a festive welcome that featured traditional music, folkloric dances, and plenty of warm island hospitality, turning the ship’s visit into a celebration of friendship between Mexico and Venezuela. The arrival formed part of the vessel’s 36th Overseas Training Cruise, aptly named “Seas of Union for Bolívar’s Dream.”

During the official welcoming ceremony, civil and naval authorities from both nations gathered dockside to greet the crew. Representing Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, director of the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation, welcomed Venezuelan military attaché Major General Alirio Cruz Ortega, ship commander Captain Carlos D’ Suze Santos, and the vessel’s 219 crew members and cadets.

The visit was about far more than a ship dropping anchor. Venezuelan Ambassador Stella Marina Lugo highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties shared by both countries, noting that liberator Simón Bolívar was proclaimed a Mexican citizen in 1824 — a symbolic gesture that continues to resonate more than two centuries later.

For Captain D’ Suze Santos, the Simón Bolívar serves a dual purpose. It is both a floating classroom where future naval officers learn the art of seamanship and an ambassador of goodwill that carries a message of mutual respect and international cooperation wherever it sails. He thanked the people of Cozumel for the enthusiastic reception and said the voyage helps strengthen cultural ties between nations.

Adding to the symbolism of the visit is the ship’s close connection to Mexico’s beloved training vessel, the ARM Cuauhtémoc. The two are often referred to as “sister ships,” having been built in the same shipyards in Bilbao, Spain, and sharing the mission of training naval cadets while promoting diplomacy around the world.

Known internationally as “The Ambassador Without Borders,” the Simón Bolívar quickly became one of the island’s most talked-about attractions. Residents and visitors alike took advantage of the rare opportunity to step aboard the majestic vessel, explore its decks, and learn more about life at sea.

After its successful stop in Cozumel, the ship continued its Caribbean journey to Cuba before eventually returning home to Venezuela. Yet for a few memorable days, the elegant tall ship transformed Punta Langosta into a floating showcase of history, culture, and international friendship.

And as its sails disappeared over the horizon, the visit left behind a simple reminder: while the Caribbean Sea separates nations by water, it often brings them closer together.

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Laura Wilkinson

Author at Cozumel 4 You

An ex-Connecticut Yankee who has called Cozumel home for over 18 years, Laura ran away to the Caribbean years ago, bumped around the islands teaching SCUBA diving, lost some time in Jamaica, and finally stopped in Cozumel for a 2 week vacation that hasn’t ended yet. With a degree in Journalism from a fancy private college she convinced her parents to pay for, Laura writes, edits, and creates the weeklyCozumel 4 You news,social media, and promotional articles about the island, as well as moderates the Cozumel 4 You Facebook group, which currently has over 25,000 members. Her long suffering husband, Fabian, has long since resigned himself to having zero private life, as he’s been involved in her various schemes and plots since his arrival. Proud parents to a variety of rescue dogs and cats, Laura continues to be the bane of her traditional Mexican mother-in-law’s existence, as she muses her way through life in the Mexican Caribbean.
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Una ex yanqui de Connecticut quien llama hogar a Cozumel desde hace más de 15 años. Laura escapó al Caribe hace años, desplazándose de una isla a otra dando clases de BUCEO. Se dedicó a perder el tiempo en Jamaica y finalmente se detuvo en Cozumel para pasar unas vacaciones de 2 semanas que aún no terminan. Convenciendo a sus padres que pagaran una elegante universidad privada, obtuvo su título en Periodismo y Laura crea semanalmente Cozumel 4You, medios sociales y artículos promocionales sobre la Isla y también es moderadora en el grupo Cozumel 4 You en Facebook que actualmente cuenta con 25,000 miembros. Fabián, s umuy tolerante marido, desde hace mucho tiempo se resignó a no tener vida privada, pues se ha visto implicado en los diversos proyectos y planes que urde Laura. Son orgullosos padres de diversos perros y gatos rescatados. Mientras contempla su paso a través de la vida en el Caribe mexicano,Laura continúa siendo la pesadilla en la existencia de su muy tradicional suegra mexicana.

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