Cross the Mexican Caribbean.
Professional open-water crossings between Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, with medical, nautical and technical escort to international standards. No crowds. No improvisation, unlike traditional events.
Two distances. One single demand: be prepared for the sea, not for a stopwatch.
27 km is the average for a high-performance athletic swimmer, not a fixed distance. The actual distance depends on the sea conditions of the day. Older swimmers have logged up to 38–42 km because of current drift. Younger, faster swimmers, between 25 and 28 km.
Cozumel → Riviera Maya, one direction. Formats: Solo · Duo · Triple · Multiple (4 swimmers) · Individual Relay (max. 4) · Pairs Relay (max. 3 pairs).
See Single Crossing requirements
Cozumel ↔ Riviera Maya, round trip, with 24/7 nautical and medical escort. Same formats: Solo · Duo · Triple · Multiple (4 swimmers) · Individual Relay · Pairs Relay.
See Double Crossing requirements
We know the channel because we study it, not because we assume it.
The Cozumel Channel — technical data
Water movement is dominated by the Caribbean Current and the Yucatán Channel.
How to Participate
Complete the form with your details and experience.
The system automatically shows a calendar with available times.
Submit your Single Registration Form with the 10% deposit; you will receive your confirmation within 15 days.
Key deadlines. Medical certificate: 2 months before the crossing (27K) or 3 months before (54K). Full payment: at least 15 days before the crossing. The remaining documents are due on the dates stated in your Quotation.
The Cozumel Channel doesn't forgive improvisation. Here's what you need before you register.
Solo, Duo, Triple and Multiple: minimum 5 continuous hours of swimming in open sea or lake (no pools), with proof of the route and logistics used. Relays: minimum 3 continuous hours, or 10–15 km of prior open-water experience per swimmer.
Minimum sustained speed: 3 km/h. Periodic speed checks in the pool and open water are recommended. For safety, our team may pull from the crossing any swimmer who cannot sustain the minimum speed.
A Medical Certificate with a "FIT" opinion is mandatory (2 months before the crossing for 27K; 3 months before for 54K), and swimmers must disclose any relevant health condition (cardiac, diabetes, etc.): swimmer safety depends on that information.
Adults register on their own behalf. The 54 km Double Crossing is for adults only. For the 27 km Single Crossing, MCS sets no minimum age for minors: we assess each case individually (age, experience, maturity, physical condition, medical opinion, distance and format) and reserve the right to accept or decline the minor. Participation requires the Parent/Guardian Authorization and Waiver and a responsible adult on board throughout the crossing.
| Speed | Estimated crossing time |
|---|---|
| 2 km/h | Not feasible |
| 2.8 km/h | More than 8 hours |
| 3 km/h | 7 to 8 hours |
| 3.5 km/h | 6 to 7 hours |
| 3.8 km/h | 6 hours or less |
Personalized guidance. Not sure of your level? Message us and we will assess it with you.
Message us on WhatsAppAt Mayan Channel Swim, crossing time is not an absolute measure. The current can favor one swimmer and work against another, however equally prepared they are.
We value the effort, determination and mental strength of everyone who finishes, no matter how long it takes.
The sea always has the final word. Even so, following international open-water best practices, we publish the ranking of every swimmer who completes the Cozumel–Riviera Maya crossing.
Ordered by time, shortest first. The sea is not a pool: the real distance changes with every crossing.
| Rank | Name | Age | Nationality | Date | Format | Distance | Time | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Crabb | 31 | United States | Jun 1, 2026 | Solo | 24 km 883 m | 4:41 | Men's record for the 27 km crossing: the fastest in the Cozumel Channel. A complete athlete of uncommon humility for his age, he honors the United States. Mayan Channel Swim escorted his feat: history for the Channel and for us. |
| 2 | Regan Billingsley | 49 | United States | Jun 15, 2026 | Solo | 27 km 568 m | 5:32 | Women's record for the 27 km crossing: the fastest woman in the Cozumel Channel. Strength, grit and a mind that overcame a one-kilometer-wide current. Mayan Channel Swim supported her feat with flawless logistics and carries her joy in its heart. We are proud. |
| 3 | Kathleen Wilson | 63 | United States | Jun 9, 2026 | Solo | 36 km | 7:03 | Affection and respect for Kathleen, who lives out her passions: dreams come true at any age. She crossed accompanied by her partner and taught us the strength of support that endures over time. Thank you for teaching us. |
| 4 | Fausto Adrián Buenfil Guzmán | 39 | Mexico | Oct 31, 2026 | Solo | 25 km 2 m | 7:12 | Crossed the Cozumel Channel on his birthday. Mexican national record for shortest distance (registration with WOWSA and MSF pending). An internationally competitive Mexican athlete with great open-water potential. A father with children and a baby on the way, he showed us there are no limits, athletic, mental or spiritual. Thank you, Fausto, for your trust. |
| 5 | Jill Jamieson | 59 | United States | Jun 14, 2026 | Solo | 42 km 199 m | 9:37 | A very special crossing. Through adverse seas and strong countercurrents, Jill showed an impeccable mindset, youthfulness and a warrior spirit, with the mental strength of an 18-year-old Olympic athlete. When she finished, the whole crew wept. She taught us that at her age, life is only beginning. |
| Rank | Name | Age | Nationality | Date | Format | Distance | Time | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Name] | [Age] | [Country] | [Date] | [Format] | [km] | [h:mm] | [Observations] |
| 2 | [Name] | [Age] | [Country] | [Date] | [Format] | [km] | [h:mm] | [Observations] |
| 3 | [Name] | [Age] | [Country] | [Date] | [Format] | [km] | [h:mm] | [Observations] |
Commemorative plaque and special recognition within the general ranking.
| Name | Age | Nationality | Date | Distance | Time | Reason for the mention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Name] | [Age] | [Nationality] | [Date] | [Distance] | [Time] | [Reason for the mention] |
| [Name] | [Age] | [Nationality] | [Date] | [Distance] | [Time] | [Reason for the mention] |
Mayan Channel Swim is not a standalone event. It is one stage of an open-water challenge ecosystem that takes swimmers from their first strokes to ultra-marathon distance.
Discovery and formation. The gateway into open-water swimming: introduction, technical formation, community culture and the first steps of progression.
First major challenges. Crossing experiences in the Mexican Caribbean — the natural bridge between initial formation and longer distances.
Private long- and ultra-distance crossings. Longer, more complex and more demanding crossings: 27K and 54K between Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, with the exclusivity, safety and professionalism that define the brand.
Next stage. Scaling up toward ultra-marathon challenges, under the concept Conquer the Three Mexican Crowns.
Discover (La Vuelta a Teques) · Develop (Cancun Isla Swim) · Cross (Mayan Channel Swim) · Scale and Conquer (Baja California Swim) · Leave a legacy.
About Us
To offer open-water swimmers an authentic, safe and professional experience crossing the Caribbean between Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, under protocols of excellence and expert escort, promoting respect and responsibility toward the sea.
To be recognized internationally as the most prestigious, safe and aspirational open-water organization in Latin America.
Service · Punctuality · Diligence · Responsibility · Sportsmanship · Personal and human development · Leadership · Respect for nature.
International open-water swimmer (Cancún–Isla Mujeres 10K, Strait of Bonifacio 16K, First and Second Atlantic Islands Crown), lawyer with graduate degrees in finance, economics and project management (ITAM) and a Master's in Real Estate Development (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). Spanish, English, French and German.
WOWSA Level 5 certified coach with more than 15 years of experience (2× Strait of Gibraltar, 2× Capri–Naples, 3× Escape from Alcatraz, 5× Ironman, among others). Spanish and English.
