The countdown has started for this year's Mayan canoe crossing from the mainland to Cozumel and back.

Some 300 paddlers in 30 canoes will take part in the 7th historic Travesía Sagrada Maya, or Mayan Sacred Journey, from May 23 to 25, 2013.

32 gorgeous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were in Cozumel, last month, for the squad's official 2014 calendar photoshoot.

Squad director, Kelli Finglass, told This is Cozumel, "Everywhere, we were greeted by spectacular scenery and gracious hospitality. It could not have been better."

This is the third time the Cowboys Cheerleaders have shot their calendar in Cozumel and continues a love affair with the island which started with the first squad visit back in the 1980s.

Many visitors to Cozumel fly to the island's own airport or stop for the day on a cruise ship.

However, there is a different way to get to Cozumel that makes for an interesting alternative.

Cozumel is set for 10 days of music, rodeos, feasts and more traditional fun, with the island's annual El Cedral Festival.

This year's historical celebration takes place from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, May 5, 2013.

Boosted by the Easter vacations, Cozumel airport was extra busy in March with 59,487 international passengers traveling through the terminal.

According to figures released last week by ASUR, the airport operator, this is a 2.4% increase in international traffic compared with March 2012, when there were 58,108 passengers.