The Best Cozumel All-Inclusive Beach Clubs
Discover the Best Cozumel Beach Club: Comparing the Options
One of the most popular attractions among cruisers porting in Cozumel is to enjoy a day at one of the many local beach clubs, with the most popular ones being Mr. Sancho’s, Paradise Beach, Nachi Coco, and Chankanaab. If you’re looking for a luxury beach club in Cozumel, there are generally your best options as they (well, three of these) provide an all-inclusive experience and personalized wait service.
While the island does offer some public beaches, the free access areas aren’t always desirable (they’re generally very rocky), and offer no amenities unless you pay to rent umbrellas and chairs from a local vendor. In which case, springing for a pass to a beach club may become a more appealing option. Most of the beach clubs are located just a 15 to 25-minute taxi ride from the three Cozumel cruise terminals.
Top Cozumel Beach Clubs
Which Cozumel Beach Club is best is a hotly contested question in the cruise world, but in my opinion, they’re all really good. 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. Note that most of them do not provide beach towels, 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.
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 all of them, 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.
Resort Day Passes in Cozumel
While the all-inclusive beach clubs in Cozumel are popular due in large part to the great value they provide, a resort day pass is another option to consider at this port of call.
The beach clubs exist exclusively to provide beach and pool access to visitors for the day, and they do not have hotels or properties associated with them. Most Cozumel hotels and resorts have amenities similar to beach clubs, so in addition to offering those amenities to their overnight guests, many also sell day passes for non-guests, which are a perfect option for cruisers.
I've spent a day at Playa Mia and Iberostar in Cozumel, both with resort day passes. Most of the resorts provide an all-inclusive experience and tend to be a bit more relaxed and less crowded than the beach clubs, which cater heavily to cruisers.
With resort day passes, there are also far more options. The huge variety of options and less crowded nature are the upsides of going this route instead of a beach club. The downside is that resort day passes tend to be more expensive than beach clubs.
If you want to explore a resort beach day pass, the best two options are:
Both contract with resorts willing to sell day passes and provide them for sale on their sites. Some of the properties overlap, meaning you'll find the on both sites, although some have exclusive partnerships with certain resorts, so it's worth checking them both out to find the best option for you.
Best Resort Day Passes in Cozumel
I've visited two resort properties with day passes in Cozumel. Playa Mia is not a favorite of mine, and I far prefer every other beach club and resort pass in Cozumel to this one, so I generally advise cruisers to steer clear of this one. The one exception is cruisers with young children, namely toddlers.
Of all the spots I've visited in Cozumel, Playa Mia is the only one that is toddler-friendly. They even have an entire pool area and a small waterpark designed with younger kids in mind. It's all-inclusive, but instead of personalized wait service, they provide food buffet-style, and in my opinion, it's not great. They offer towels but require a refundable deposit.
Some properties offer an option where transportation is included with the resort day pass. For example, here is the listing for Playa Mia with transfers included. On average, a taxi each way to Playa Mia will cost $25 for a car full of people, so consider that when weighing the higher cost of a resort day pass that includes transfer service.
For a solo traveler, the more expensive resort day pass that includes transportation is a better deal. For a group of 3+, however, it's likely a better buy to get only the resort day pass and pay for a taxi on your own.
Iberostar is my favorite of the two Cozumel resort pass experiences I've had in Cozumel. They also offer food buffet-style, but their food is excellent. They even have a custom taco station where staff hand-press fresh tortillas on the spot, and they also have a coffee bar, which I love. They also provide the use of towels, with no deposit required.
Iberostar has two pools and beachfront access, and of all the locations in Cozumel I've visited, I found it to be one of the calmest and most relaxing, with a vibe similar to Nachi Cocom. If it were not for the price factor—Iberostar is much more expensive than the beach clubs—it would probably be my go-to spot in Cozumel.
Another notable difference between beach clubs and resort day passes is the massages. The beach clubs generally offer exceptional low-cost massages. However, massages at the resort day pass properties are pricey ($130+).
Sargassum in Cozumel
Cozumel is home to some spectacular beaches, featuring clean sands and warm water, and these can be found at all of the island’s beach clubs. 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 and resorts 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.
Getting to Cozumel Beach Clubs
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, and nearly every taxi driver in Cozumel is at least conversational in English.
Travelers should always confirm fares before starting their journey to ensure they know what to expect. It’s also important to note that most taxis in Cozumel do not accept credit cards, although US currency is generally accepted. Tips aren't required but are appreciated, of course.
Taxi Prices in Cozumel
Taxi prices in Cozumel are government-regulated, fixed, and 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 recent visit to Cozumel, docking at Puerta Maya, for example, taxi prices for up to four passengers one way to some of Cozumel’s most popular destinations were as follows: downtown San Miguel, $10; Chankanaab, $15; Paradise Beach, $18; Mr. Sancho’s and Nachi Cocom, $20; Playa Mia and Iberostar, $25; and Palancar Beach, $30.
Choosing a Beach Club in Cozumel
Regardless of your choice, all beach club (or, in the case of Chankanaab, beach park) options are outstanding, and most resort day passes are very good. The beach clubs, in particular, provide great value and a wonderful experience. Having been to all of them, I can assure you that you can’t go wrong with any choice you make.
