Cozumel Hotels and Vacation Packages

Cozumel Beaches

The tropical island of Cozumel boasts many miles of white sandy beaches and the beautiful clear water and reefs located just off the island make it one of the top snorkeling and scuba diving destinations in the world.

Beaches are very different depending on which side of the island you are on. The leeward beaches on the west coast are sandy walk-in beaches with calm water. This is the most popular and most crowded side of the island where most of the hotels are located. The beaches are primarily located south of San Miguel, the only town on the island.

The windward, or east side of the island, is more rugged and is much quieter. Swimming is not recommended on most beaches on the east side, but the views are stunning.

Cozumel features many large beach clubs along the western coast. If the beach is not connected to a private hotel, it may charge a small fee to get in and there may be fees for towels, beach chairs and sporting equipment. Others have free admission if you purchase food and drinks. The beach clubs generally offer all of the amenities a tourist could want including souvenir shops, kayak rentals, food and drinks.

Leeward Beaches- West Coast

Carlos 'n Charlies
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 14.0, between Playa Corona & San Francisco Beach.
Amenities: Lounge chairs, umbrellas, showers, bathrooms, volleyball, souvenir shop and pharmacy. There is also a dive shop on site, featuring snorkel gear rental, snorkel trips by boat and diving as well.
Carlos and Charlies Beach Club is a great casual spot for fun and is run by the same chain that owns Carlos 'n Charlies restaurant in town, known for its party vibe. It is one of the newer beach clubs in Cozumel and features a long stretch of pristine white sand and gorgeous blue water. There are a wide variety of activities available including massage, henna tattooing, hair braiding, parasailing and wave runners. Entrance is free as long as you buy something.

Playa San Francisco
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 14.50, between Carlos 'n Charlie's and Paradise Beach.
Amenities: Snorkel rental, swimming pool, parasailing, waver runners, showers and toilets.
Open since 1970, San Francisco Beach was one of the first beach clubs on the leeward side of the island. The beach is known for its powdery sand and incredibly clear water, making it ideal for swimming and other water activities. The central part of the beach offers a palapa restaurant and bar and a water sports shop. There may be an entrance fee.

Sunset Beach
Location: Just past Villa Blanca Hotel on Carretera Costera Sur Km. 2.8 before Casa Del Mar Hotel.
Amenities: There is a bar, restaurant, scuba and snorkeling staging area.
Sunset Beach is one of the closest beaches to the town of San Miguel, which means it's conveniently located to shopping and sightseeing if you don't want to spend the entire day on the beach. There is a diving, scuba and snorkeling staging area at the beach, which offers some of the best snorkeling in Cozumel. Other conveniences include a bar and restaurant with plenty of chairs and shade.

Playa Uvas
Location: Past Fiesta Americana Hotel area but before Chankanaab at Km. 8.5
Amenities: Snorkeling, transparent plexiglass kayaks, restaurant, parasailing, shops.
Playa Uvas is a beach club near the downtown San Miguel area and the cruise ship piers. The beach's shallow waters extend fairly far out before getting gradually deeper so it's good for snorkeling and swimming. There is a bar, restaurant and sun chairs and umbrellas available.

Chankanaab National Park
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 9 past Fiesta Americana Hotel
Amenities: Two restaurants, a snack bar, gift shops, bathrooms with showers, lifeguard, three dive shops with equipment rental, lockers, hammock area, children's playground and other beach activities.
Chankanaab is a beautiful beachfront national park designated to protect the plant and marine life on the western coast of Cozumel. The park features botanical gardens with more than 350 species of tropical plants and a lagoon in the park is home to corals, fish and crustaceans. Guided tours of the park are available or you can wander on your own through the archeological park containing a Mayan village and replicas of other Mexican sites.

Paradise Beach
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 14.5 between San Francisco Beach and Playa Mia.
Amenities: Bathrooms, fresh water showers, changing rooms, cocktail bar, lockers, volleyball, a climbing iceberg, trampoline, coconut tree climbing, women's beach apparel shop, lounge chairs and kayaks.
Paradise Beach is a good snorkeling beach and a large beach club that offers dozens of activities for guests of all ages. Some of the fun activities here include a climbing "iceberg" in the water, water trampolines, floating beach mats, a climbing tree, floating climbing structures and more. There is a palapa bar on the south side of beach and a restaurant that serves everything from burgers to fresh seafood. Entrance is free with a minimum purchase. Passes can be purchased that include the use of the beach toys.

Playa Corona
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 10
Amenities: Palapas, restaurant, bar, showers, toilets.
Playa Corona is popular with snorkelers and divers. About 100 yards offshore of this sandy beach is the south end of the Chankanaab reef, which can be seen through the crystal clear waters. While there are not a lot of amenities at this beach, there is a small restaurant and bar with plenty of seating. Snorkel rental is available.

Playa Mia
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 14.5
Amenities: Swimming pool, showers, lockers, toilets, kayaks, paddle boats, volleyball, ping-pong, floating sun mats, trampoline, banana boats, parasailing, climbing iceberg, jet skis, three restaurants, bathrooms, showers.
Playa Mia is a large beach club that offers an array of amenities and activities. There is an admission fee that includes use of the facilities and non-motorized water sports. There are also three restaurants on site. Playa Mia often hosts groups from cruise ships that dock nearby. Activities at the beach club include a swimming pool, lounge chairs, a children's play area, volleyball, hammocks, kayaks, sailboats, a water trampoline, banana boat rides, water skiing and more.

Playa Palancar
Location: Carretera Costera Sur - Km. 19 - near the southern tip of the island.
Amenities: Dining, hammocks, snorkel rental, kayaks, showers, toilets.
Palancar is the last accessible beach on the western side of the island. The famous Palancar reef sits out in front of the beach, although it is a bit too far to swim to. Boat trips are available to take divers and snorkelers out to the reef. The beach's shallow sandy bottom area extends outward quite a bit before getting deeper so you can swim and snorkel this area easily. There is a dining area with plenty of tables and seating. This is one of the quieter beaches in Cozumel, popular with the locals. It is also located near a marshy area filled with wildlife. At the entrance of the beach area there is a large fenced lagoon area where crocodiles can be seen as well as flamingos and other birds.

Windward Beaches -- East Coast

Playa de San Martin
Location: 1.5km north of Playa Chen Rio
Amenities: Bar and restaurant
Playa San Martin is a good place to escape the crowds with its long stretch of pristine white sand and stunning views of the Caribbean. Swimming is not recommended at this beach due to strong currents and undertows. Playa de San Martin is the place where sea turtles come to lay their eggs in May and June and during the nesting season, tourists are not allowed on the beach. There is a restaurant and bar located just across the road from the beach.

Playa Punta Morena
Location: Costera Este Highway
Amenities: Changing rooms, dining area with seating, children's play set.
Punta Morena is a favorite beach among surfers and one of the few places to rent surf and boogie boards. It is not recommended for swimming because of the large waves and strong currents. There are thatched-roof, beach cabanas for rent that offer sleep and bath basics.

Playa Oriente
Location: Where the cross island transversal highway dead ends into the east coast highway called Carretera Costera Oriente. 
Amenities: Mezcalitos restaurant and bar, shops nearby
Playa Oriente is a peaceful beach on the east coast of Cozumel. Swimming is allowed but swimmers need to be aware of the rip tides. Surfing is occasionally done here depending on the conditions. Playa Oriente is famous for the Mezcalitos restaurant and bar located on the beach. The beach has a volleyball court area and there are local crafts are for sale in the shops located next door to Mezcalitos.

Playa Chen Rio
Location: Costera Este Highway
Amenities: Restaurant
Playa Chen Rio is the safest spot to swim on the windward side of Cozumel because it is protected by a large rock formation in the bay. The secluded beach is a long stretch of powdery sand and the calm water is about 4 -- 5 feet deep, ideal for snorkeling. There is a restaurant at Playa Chen Rio that is famous for its fresh fish and seafood.