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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Choosing a Beach Club in Cozumel
Regardless of your choice, all of the beach club (or in the case of Chankanaab, beach park) options are outstanding. They provide great value and a wonderful experience. Having been to all four of these, I can assure you that you can’t go wrong with any of them.
