Area Code 987 – Cozumel, QRO

Overview of Area Code 987 (Cozumel, Quintana Roo)

Area code 987 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the island of Cozumel and its surrounding mainland areas within the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) but uses Mexico's country code +52. The code serves the municipality of Cozumel, including the city of San Miguel de Cozumel, as well as nearby localities on the mainland such as Playa del Carmen (partially), Puerto Aventuras, and Xcaret. The region is a major Caribbean tourism hub, known for its cruise ship ports, scuba diving, and Mayan ruins.

Dialing Formats and Call Routing

For international callers, the number must be dialed as +52 987 XXX XXXX, where the first digit after the area code is always '8' or '9' for landlines (as per Mexico's dialing plan). For example, a landline in Cozumel might be +52 987 872 3456. When calling from within Mexico, the national long-distance prefix '01' is required: 01 987 XXX XXXX. However, for local calls within the same area code, only the seven-digit subscriber number is dialed (e.g., 872 3456).

It is important to note that Mexico's dialing plan underwent a reform in 2019, eliminating the need to dial '01' for national calls when using a mobile phone, but landline users still require it. Additionally, all numbers in Mexico are 10 digits after the country code, and there are no overlay codes in this region; 987 is the sole area code for the area.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The area code 987 covers the entire island of Cozumel, which is a separate municipality from the rest of Quintana Roo. The mainland portion includes the northern part of the Riviera Maya, specifically the area between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, but not the city of Cancún (which uses 998). The region is part of the state of Quintana Roo, with its administrative center in Chetumal, but the 987 area is governed locally by the municipalities of Cozumel and Solidaridad (for the mainland portion).

Caller Instructions and Considerations

For foreign callers, always use the international prefix of your country (e.g., 011 from the US/Canada) followed by Mexico's country code 52, then the area code 987, and the seven-digit local number. For example, from the US, dial 011 52 987 123 4567. For local callers within the 987 area, simply dial the seven-digit number. For callers from other parts of Mexico, dial 01 987 followed by the number. Since the area is a tourist destination, many businesses also have toll-free numbers (e.g., 800) for customer service, but those are separate from geographic numbers.

VoIP and mobile users should note that while geographic numbers are tied to a physical location, they can be forwarded to any destination. However, for emergency services, always dial 911 (which works nationwide in Mexico).