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Cozumel

Paradise Beach Club in Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel, Cruise Tips, Excursions, Mexico

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 Cocom, 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.   Most of Cozumel’s beach clubs offer massages (Bathing Suit: Pink Halter Bikini) Book paradise beach 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. book Mr. sancho’s Nachi Cocom Many Cozumel beach clubs sell activities like banana boat rides. 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. book nachi cocom

A replica Carnival cruise ship statue at the Puerta Maya cruise pier in Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel, Mexico

What You Need to Know About the Cozumel, Mexico Cruise Port

The Cozumel cruise port, formally known as “Port of Cozumel,” in Mexico is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and has much to offer to cruisers. It’s an island paradise located off the Mayan Riviera coast and offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. Along with Costa Maya, it’s one of Mexico’s most visited cruise ports. It’s also significantly developed.Unlike other Mexican cruise ports like Progreso, and very touristic – although this isn’t necessarily a good thing, depending on what you like when you travel. Pronounced “Coe-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. San Miguel de Cozumel is the arrival point for most visitors. It is the largest town on the island. It can be confusing because most people usually just refer to it as “Cozumel”. I love this port because there’s much to do that is affordable; namely its popular beach clubs, detailed further below. Unlike other ports, where taxi prices are overly inflated (I’m looking at you, Puerto Plata), taxis here are quite affordable and easy to access. Language & Currency in Cozumel Given its huge influx of tourists yearly, with more than four million cruisers alone, Cozumel is a tourist-friendly cruise port. Spanish is the official language, but most vendors on the island speak Spanish and at least conversational English. Cozumel is one of the world’s busiest ports. There’s no need to convert currency here. While the official currency here is Mexican Pesos (MXN), US currency is widely accepted. Note, though, that the symbol for pesos is the same as a dollar ($), which can be confusing. While you don’t need to bring pesos, however, 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, accept cash only. Besides taxi prices, which are regulated and fixed, haggling is the norm here. Cozumel, Mexico Cruise Terminals There are three terminals in Cozumel: Puerta Maya, International Cruise Terminal, and Punta Langosta, and cruisers can consult their cruise documents to determine which pier they will visit if Cozumel is on the itinerary. It’s important to check this, as all the piers are different, not just in where they are located in Cozumel but also in the amenities that they offer. Puerta Maya The Puerta Maya terminal in Cozumel, Mexico. 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 a dozen or so turtles that live there. It also contains many of the amenities of 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, and it can get congested. 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 duty-free store, and through and out the terminal. This is especially true when the pier is at capacity, accommodating three ships simultaneously. Otherwise, though, 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. International Cruise Terminal The International Cruise Terminal, or “SSA International Pier” 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 right 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 a pretty cool cenote. It’s very small and walled off, but it is an interesting sight to see while you’re walking through the terminal. Photo Credit: This is Cozumel While the International Pier doesn’t have a pool or beach, there is a very small (and I mean small) area by Bubba Gump where cruisers can enter the water for a swim. Punta Langosta Punta Langosta (which interestingly translates to “lobster tip”) is used by several cruise lines, including Disney, Celebrity, and MSC. If you’re docking at this terminal, you’re in luck. Of the three in Cozumel, it’s the only one located right in downtown San Miguel and is a gateway to Cozumel’s bustling city center. From the Punta Langosta cruise terminal, cruisers can easily walk to shops, bars, and restaurants right outside of the terminal. Located in the heart of downtown San Miguel, Punta Langosta allows cruisers easy access to stroll along the waterfront promenade, browse local shops and galleries, and sample delicious street food. Once cruisers exit the pier, they will traverse an overpass to get to Punta Langosta Mall, a two-story shopping center offering the standard cruise shopping experience. From there, they’re in San Miguel and can explore all the area offers. 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 aren’t always desirable (they’re generally

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