Cozumel, Mexico Port Guide
About the Cozumel Mexico Cruise Port
The Cozumel cruise port, formally known as the “Port of Cozumel” in Mexico, is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and has much to offer cruisers. It’s an island paradise located off the Mayan Riviera coast. It is generally well-loved by cruisers, who appreciate the variety of things to do here, the tourist-friendly nature, and the ease and affordability of taxi service. Along with Costa Maya, it’s one of Mexico’s most visited cruise ports.
It’s also significantly developed, unlike another Mexcian cruise port, Progreso. Cozumel is entirely commercialized, and most vendors here speak fluent English and readily accept US currency. If you're visiting here, though, it's helpful to note which of Cozumel's three terminals you'll be docking, as this may impact your plans. For example, while you can walk to downtown San Miguel from Punta Langosta, you'll need a taxi from the other two, Puerta Maya and the International Terminal.
While it's officially pronounced “kah-zoo-mel,” most American tourists pronounce it “Cah-zoo-mel,” but don’t sweat it because generally, nobody will correct or mock you if you use either pronunciation.
The biggest town on the island is San Miguel de Cozumel, which can be confusing because most people refer to it as “Cozumel.” It's sometimes also referred to as "el Centro."
Language & Currency in Cozumel
Given its massive influx of tourists yearly, with more than four million cruisers alone, Cozumel is a cruiser-friendly destination. Spanish is the official language, but most vendors on the island speak Spanish or at least conversational English.
There’s no need to convert currency here. While the official currency here is the Mexican Peso (MXN), US currency is widely accepted. The symbol for pesos is the same as a dollar ($), which can be confusing.
While you don’t need to bring pesos, do bring cash as credit cards are not as universally accepted here, as they are at other large cruise ports of call. Most taxis, for instance, take cash only. Besides taxi prices, which are regulated and fixed, haggling is the norm here.
Cozumel, Mexico Cruise Terminals
As noted above, Cozumel is home to three cruise terminals: Puerta Maya, International Cruise Terminal, and Punta Langosta.
Cruisers can consult their cruise documents to determine which terminal their ship will dock at. It’s helpful to know where your ship will berth, as not only are they located in different parts of Cozumel, but each offers slightly different amenities. It's.
Puerta Maya
Puerta Maya is a busy cruise ship terminal on Cozumel’s western coast, and it’s exclusive to Carnival Corporation cruise ships, which includes several brands other than just Carnival Cruise Line. It’s modern, clean, and lush, with lots of plants and even a water feature with small wooden bridges where cruisers can view turtles living there.
It also contains many amenities similar to most other cruise terminals, including cruise mainstays like Effy and other souvenir shops. Of the three terminals, this one arguably has the best shopping, with over 65 stores and stalls.
Speaking of shopping, while being forced through a duty-free store isn’t uncommon at cruise terminals, one thing that I don’t love about the Puerta Maya terminal is that the store here is very long and narrow. A busy day, when the pier is at capacity with three cruise ships docked simultaneously, generally creates a major bottleneck.
For cruisers like me, who sail often and avoid shopping and souvenir-buying, this is a bit frustrating and can add quite a bit of time just traversing from the ship, down the long pier, through the very long and narrow (and congested) duty-free store, and through and out the terminal. Despite this minor quibble, this is a lovely terminal with a well-organized, albeit busy, taxi stand.
There isn’t much that’s walkable from the Puerta Maya cruise port once you exit the terminal, and of the three Cozumel cruise piers, it’s the furthest from downtown San Miguel de Cozumel, about 5 miles. Outside the cruise terminal area, there are standard cruise souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars, including a Hard Rock Cafe, and it's only about a 10-minute walk to one of Cozumel's other docking points, the International Cruise Terminal.
International Cruise Terminal
The International Cruise Terminal, or “SSA International Pier” as it is officially named, is used by several cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Norwegian, Princess, and others. Like Puerta Maya, it’s not walkable to downtown San Miguel, but it’s an easy taxi ride, only about 3 miles away.
This is the oldest of the three piers in Cozumel, but it’s still full of great shops, restaurants, and bars. Cruisers who love the bar scene will be happy to know that there’s a Margaritaville conveniently located at the end of the pier in the cruise terminal.
Besides food and shopping, there’s not much else to do at the International Pier, although it has the unique feature of a cenote, a natural sinkhole filled with groundwater, common in Mexico. It’s small and walled off, but it's interesting to take a quick peek at while walking to exit the terminal.
While the International Pier doesn’t have a pool or beach, there is a very small (and I mean tiny) area by Bubba Gump where cruisers can enter the water for a swim.
Punta Langosta
Several cruise lines, including Disney, Celebrity, and MSC, use Punta Langosta (which interestingly translates to “lobster tip”). If you’re docking at this terminal, you’re in luck. Of the three in Cozumel, it’s the only one in downtown San Miguel, which is Cozumel's city center.
Once outside the Punta Langosta cruise terminal, cruisers can easily walk to shops, bars, and restaurants right outside the terminal. After exiting the pier, cruisers must traverse an overpass to get to Punta Langosta Mall, a two-story shopping center offering the standard cruise shopping experience, with coffee shops, souvenir stalls, and jewelry stores.
From there, visitors can exit to the adjacent taxi stand, walk around the heart of San Miguel, and explore all the area offers on foot.
Beach Clubs in Cozumel
One of the most popular attractions among cruisers porting in Cozumel is to enjoy a day at one of the many local beach clubs. While the island does offer some public beaches, the free access areas are minimal and undesirable (they’re generally very rocky), and offer no amenities unless you pay to rent umbrellas and chairs from a local vendor. In sum, there aren't any good free beach options near any of the three Cozumel cruise terminals.
Given the lack of good free public beach options, many cruisers opt to visit an all-inclusive beach club when visiting Cozumel. Most of them are just a 15 to 25-minute taxi ride from the three Cozumel cruise terminals. They are a bargain, considering they provide all-you-can-eat food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, private beach access, pools, and other amenities.
Which Cozumel Beach Club is best is a hotly contested question in the cruise world, but in my opinion, the "Big 3" are all great, so you can't go wrong with any of them. Below are my top recommendations for Cozumel Beach clubs based on my own experiences.
Prices vary seasonally, so consult each club’s site for the most up-to-date pricing. Most do not provide beach towels, and if they do you'll have to pay a deposit, so you’ll likely need to bring your own from the ship. Taxis are readily available at each to take cruisers back to port at the end of their day. While not required, it’s customary to tip your wait staff at the end of your stay.
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is my favorite of all the beach clubs because it offers a more laid-back vibe. It’s all-inclusive and provides beachfront access for cruisers who want to enjoy a beach day, with a wide array of large inflatable obstacles, slides, and floats for guests to use (although this requires the VIP pass, which is an additional cost). The VIP pass also includes access to stand-up paddleboards and kayaks.
The pool is large and well-maintained, and there are numerous loungers and umbrellas, both poolside and beachside. The music is upbeat and pleasant, but not thumping bass, and the party crowd here is minimal.
Paradise Beach is family-friendly, and the club will even provide parents of children in diapers with their own small inflatable pool, so babies and toddlers can enjoy water activities.
The only thing I don’t like about Paradise Beach is that their pool does not include a swim-up bar, although the waitstaff does a great job of walking around to provide drink service to guests who want a drink without exiting the pool. They also do not provide any dessert options.
I generally find all-inclusive food to be quite “meh”, and this was the case on my prior visits to Paradise Beach, but as of late spring 2024, the club has a new chef and the food is significantly better now.
Optional amenities available for guests (at a cost) include banana boat rides, henna tattoos, and beachside massages. I always treat myself to a massage here, and they are literally some of the best massages I’ve ever had in my life.
Mr. Sancho’s
Mr. Sancho’s is perhaps the most popular of the Cozumel beach clubs, and I like it, but this is one that I prefer to visit when I’m cruising with friends, rather than with my children. Why? Because this is definitely the one most associated with a party vibe, compared to the other beach clubs. That being said, it’s not that it’s not family-friendly, and you’ll certainly find lots of families with children there, but it’s more of a loud music and drink-to-excess crowd. It’s also typically more expensive than the other options.
Like Paradise Beach, Mr. Sancho’s is all-inclusive (although they have a non-all-inclusive option) and boasts three pools, a buffet, and personal wait service. Admission includes access to a beachfront table, chairs, umbrella, food and drinks, and alcohol (but not the top-shelf stuff). Like Paradise Beach, Mr. Sancho’s offers a pass for an extra fee that allows guests to access an array of inflatables in the water. The advantages of this club are that they have more pools than the other options, and they offer personalized wait service and a buffet.
Other amenities available at Mr. Sancho’s for an additional cost include beach massages, horseback riding, jet skiing, and parasailing. Mr. Sancho’s offers towels to rent, at $5 for the day with a $10 deposit. However, these towels are quite thin, so I recommend bringing your own.
Nachi Cocom
Nachi Cocom is a hidden gem among the Cozumel beach clubs because it doesn’t seem to be as well known as the prior two. Admittedly, the facility here is much smaller and dated than the other choices, but it still has a lot to offer.
A big advantage of this beach club is its exclusivity, in that the facility limits admission to just 130 guests daily — so if you want to visit this one, be sure to book it in advance. It’s all-inclusive, so wait staff are on hand throughout your day there to serve you with whatever food and drinks you would like.
While Mr. Sancho’s offers the BIG experience… tons of options and that big, party-like vibe, Nachi Cocom is the opposite. This club is small and quiet. If you’re seeking a very chill, laid-back day at the pool or beach, then this is your spot (although Paradise Bach offers this experience, as well).
Of the options in Cozumel, Nachi Cocom is generally one of the most affordable ones, too. This is not the spot for tons of aqua activities and large water inflatables, although banana boat rides and parasailing are available for an additional fee, nor is the spot to party.
Nachi Cocom also offers towels for rent for $5 each, but they’re quite thin, and again, I recommend just bringing your own from the ship. Of the three main beach clubs, Paradise Beach, Mrs. Sancho’s, and Nachi Cocom, this one has the most limited food options, and I like their food the least overall. Still, though, for its price value, quiet experience, and exclusivity, it’s definitely a Cozumel beach club worth considering.
Chankanaab
Unlike the beach clubs detailed above, Chankanaab is more of a beach park than a beach club. This was my first-ever Cozumel experience, and I enjoyed it, but it’s not really comparable to the beach clubs detailed above. I almost consider this more of an excursion, and it’s generally geared more toward families.
The upside of Chankanaab is the snorkeling. In my experience, it’s far better here than at any of the beach clubs, especially given the sargassum that tends to cloud the waters of Cozumel. The downside is that this isn’t really a relaxing beach day experience that you’ll get at the true Cozumel beach clubs. While Chankanaab offers an “all-inclusive” option, it’s quite misleading and is nothing like the true all-inclusive nature of the beach clubs. Chankanaab’s inclusive option provides only a buffet lunch, with limited hours, and a set limit of beverages.
Chankanaab really is more of an amusement park. The grounds are beautiful, and it offers tons of adventure activities, including an eco-archaeological tour, sea lion show and manatee, snuba and sea trek tours, swim with dolphins tours, and others, but the experience here will differ from a day at a Cozumel beach club.
Which Cozumel Beach Club is the Best?
The answer to this question is quite subjective and depends on each cruiser’s specific needs (and budget). Having been to them all, I can assure you that they’re all really good and that you’ll have an enjoyable day, but it’s worth reading reviews and considering your options before making a choice.
Great Things About Cozumel, Mexico
There’s a reason that Cozumel is such a popular destination, not just with cruisers but also with other types of tourists and travelers. Here are the top three reasons to love this destination:
Pristine Beaches
Cozumel is home to some spectacular beaches, featuring clean sands and warm water. Depending on the season, the water can be crystal clear and vibrant turquoise. However, note that this area is prone to large amounts of sargassum, which makes its way to the shores of the Mexican Caribbean, including Cozumel, through complex ocean currents.
I can tell you from personal experience that when sargassum is present in large quantities, it makes for an unpleasant beach day experience. The water is cloudy, and the seaweed just feels gross on your body. This is why the beach clubs present a great option for cruisers; if you visit during a time when the beach isn’t at its best, the pools are a great secondary choice.
World-Class Snorkeling
Renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, Cozumel is a paradise for snorkelers and divers. The island’s underwater world teems with colorful fish, graceful rays, and even the occasional sea turtle.
With numerous dive sites to explore, including the famous Palancar Reef, Cozumel can be a great spot for cruisers who wish to get a glimpse under the sea. Note, however, that snorkeling conditions close to shore may not always be ideal due to the aforementioned issues with sargassum. If snorkeling is your thing, consider an excursion that takes you out on a boat further from shore where the sargassum isn’t as much of a hindrance.
Rich History and Culture
Cozumel is steeped in history, with a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. Visitors can explore ancient Mayan ruins, such as the temples of San Gervasio, and learn about the island’s fascinating past at the Cozumel Museum. And, of course, a visit to Cozumel just isn’t complete without enjoying an authentic Mexican meal.
Free Things to Do in Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel, Mexico, is a popular port of call for cruise ships, offering a wide range of free activities for passengers looking to make the most of their time ashore. Here are some of the best free things to do in Cozumel while on a cruise:
Explore the Terminal & San Miguel
Start your day in Cozumel by exploring the port terminal area, where you’ll find a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, all detailed above. Exploring downtown San Miguel can also be quite enjoyable, although remember that only Punta Langosta is in this area; if docking at the other cruise piers, you’ll have to take a taxi to get there.
Enjoy a Beach Day
As noted above, free beach options are pretty limited and generally in less desirable locations. Accessing basic amenities such as umbrellas and beach chairs will require renting from a local. That being said, a free beach day is possible. The closest public beach to the Cozumel cruise port is Playa Casitas. Specific to each pier, it’s closest to Punta Langosta, about 2.5 miles away.
Visit a Cultural Center
Imagine Cozumel’s rich history and culture by visiting one of the island’s cultural centers or museums. The Cozumel Museum, located near the port area, offers free admission and features exhibits on the island’s Mayan heritage, natural history, and marine life. Take a self-guided tour and learn about Cozumel’s fascinating past at your own pace. The museum is closest to Punta Langosta, about 1.4 miles away.
Taxis in Cozumel, Mexico
Taxis in Cozumel, Mexico, are readily available and offer a convenient way to explore the island. All three cruise piers in Cozumel have well-run taxi stands, where employees are on hand to help ensure that cruisers get to where they’re going.
How to Get a Taxi in Cozumel
Unlike other ports, such as St. Thomas or Grand Cayman where taxis are shared, taxis in Cozumel are private and only for you and your group. Like many other Caribbean ports of call, ride-share services like Uber are unavailable.
For cruisers traveling with a larger group, there are generally taxi vans readily available at the stands, offering a convenient and affordable option to get to all of the popular tourist destinations. To return back to port after visiting a beach or attractions, in most cases, taxis are on standby to get cruisers back to their ship.
Taxis are a reliable option for getting around Cozumel, whether heading to the beach, exploring downtown, or visiting local attractions.
Travelers should always confirm fares before starting their journey to ensure a hassle-free experience. It’s also important to note that most taxis in Cozumel do not accept credit cards, although US currency is generally accepted.
Taxi Prices in Cozumel
Taxi prices in Cozumel are government-regulated, fixed, and quite affordable compared to other popular cruise ports of call. The set prices should be readily available on signs near the taxi stands at each cruise pier.
On a May 2024 visit to Cozumel, docking at Puerta Maya, for example, taxi prices for up to four passengers one way were as follows to some of Cozumel’s most popular destinations: downtown San Miguel, $10; Chankanaab, $15; Paradise Beach, $18; Mr. Sancho’s and Nachi Cocom, $20; and Palancar Beach, $30.
Cozumel Cruise Ship Schedules
The cruise ship schedule for Cozumel, Mexico, including all three terminals (Puerta Maya, International Pier, and Punta Langosta) can be found here.
Cozumel, Mexico Time Zone
Cozumel, Mexico, is located in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) timezone. However, it observes daylight saving time, so it follows Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) during daylight saving time. It’s essential to check the current local time and any time changes before scheduling activities or making travel arrangements in Cozumel.
Exploring the Cozumel Cruise Port
