A Typical Day in Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel. Mexico is literally the busiest and most traveled port in the Caribbean. Literally every single cruise that leaves from Galveston, TX, New Orleans, LA or Mobile, AL stops at Cozumel. In fact, unless the itinerary is to the EASTERN Caribbean, all Caribbean cruises from any port on the Eastern/ Gulf makes a stop in Cozumel. Due to this fact, we have been to Cozumel 13 times. It is our Caribbean "home away from home" and we LOVE it!
Morning
On port days we like to get as much sleep as possible and try to miss the crowds for breakfast. We usually wake up and try to do some exercise before facing the day! Then we are off to breakfast!
Depending on the hours your ship is at port, the Lido Buffet will be the busiest area for breakfast. This is typical for ALL ships and ALL port days but those days that have standard hours of 8AM-4PM seem to draw the most crowds to the Lido Buffet. Some ships offer breakfast in the Main Dining Room which is a much better option, in our opinion. Our general rule is to get to breakfast about 30 minutes to 1 hour after the ship has been cleared from customs. This allows the majority of the passengers to have already gotten breakfast and got off the ship.
In Cozumel, the cruise ships will dock at 1 of 3 different Cruise Piers:
Punta Langosta (downtown)- NCL and CCL (Princess or Holland America)
International- Royal Caribbean and Celebrity
Puerta Maya- Carnival
Punta Langosta is the furthest away from the main beaches, which means it will be the most expensive taxi ride to your beach day. However, even that far taxi ride is about $24 or less each way. This is for your entire party; although vans for 6+ passengers are more. Puerta Maya is the most built up terminal and has TONS of duty free shopping! We love this terminal and know exactly which shop to go to for the best deals. International Cruise Terminal is right beside Puerta Maya and share many of the same duty free vendors.
Puerta Maya cruise terminal, near the taxi area.
Since we have been to Cozumel so many times, we have a few excursions and locations that have become favorites as well as a few places that are excellent adventures but one time is enough.
Our Favorite Cozumel Excursions
and Experiences:
Chankanaab National Park
This beach club has SO MUCH to offer. This is one of Cozumel's dolphin aquarium locations called Dolphin Discovery and it offers swimming with the dolphins and even manatees. It also offers a dolphin show, HUGE pool and even a Starbucks! It is a short taxi ride ($18 each way) from the main cruise terminals and offers lots of different packages to choose from. There is a $21/ $14 (adults/ kids) entrance fee, which is one of the highest in Cozumel but this does include the sea lion show, access to the beach as well as the HUGE pool. The beach is not a typical beach and there is not a sand entrance but rather a ladder into the deep water. There is a small lagoon but it is not clear water and has a rocky entrance. The pool, however, is our favorite in Cozumel.
Chankanaab is close to the cruise terminal and you can see the ships parked at the Puerta Maya pier!
A view of the beach area. I love how spread out the chairs are compared to other beaches!
The beach entrance for swimming and snorkeling. There is only a ladder to get in and the water is over 6' deep. Kids will need a life vest for sure!
Carnival Valor 2016
Chankanaab also offers lots of smaller activities like snorkeling, scuba dive sights, massages and even zip lining. It is a very busy place with lots of tourists as well as locals.
We have been to Chankanaab for the dolphin swim and it is a great experience that I recommend EVERYONE try at least once in their life. The buffet that comes with the dolphin experience is... shady at best! I was not at all impressed and would prefer to order from a menu so that is a huge con for me!
Swimming with the Dolphins- Carnival Valor 2017
Overall, we will only go to Chankanaab for the dolphin experience as we just do not care for the food or the beach entrance and experience.
Ocean Club VIP
This is a beach club that is closer to the Cruise Terminals but is not as well known... or well kept. In summer 2018 while on the Liberty of the Seas, we wanted to try Nachi Cocom but it was sold out and since we did not have a reservation our taxi driver took us to this beach club. We had never been and I had never even heard of it but we took a chance. It turned out to be a decent beach club near most of our favorites and a short taxi ride ($15) from the terminal. It was all-inclusive for $65 and included a lounge chair under an umbrella and a few beach toys and inflatables. It is not very crowded while we were there but the service was just average in our experience.
I like this over the plastic umbrellas other beach clubs use!
Ocean Club VIP 2018
They offered some inflatables but not near as many as Mr. Sancho's or Paradise Beach.
A view from our lounge chairs.
They were not near as comfy as other beaches; in fact, Chris broke one!
They were not near as comfy as other beaches; in fact, Chris broke one!
Overall, we would visit Ocean Club VIP again, despite it not being our favorite. It is less crowded and not a party environment like some of the others, but still offers inflatables and beach toys so it is still a good option for families.
Mr. Sanchos Beach Club
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club is a short 15 minute taxi ride from the Puerta Maya and International Cruise Terminals and only 20 minutes from the Punta Langosta (downtown) Cruise Terminal. This taxi is approximately $17 each way and can be split with others. Don't forget to tip your driver... This is their livelihood.
Once at Mr. Sancho's, you can choose to do the All-Inclusive experience with all you can eat from their menu or buffet area as well as all you can drink. This is how we usually go to Mr. Sancho's and it is a great value at $55 per person. This does include a chair BUT we learned in June 2019 that if there are many ships in port, if you are a late arriving ship, you will not get a good lounge chair or have a chair in the shade. This was our first time to experience this at Mr. Sancho's and I was disappointed with the lack of lounge chairs and left with a sunburn! So if you are fair-skinned, like we are, be sure to think about that before you book.
Sancho's Coconut Shrimp! The BEST part of the All-Inclusive
This was the seating we were given in 2019.
This felt more like a restaurant and not a relaxing day at the beach!
This felt more like a restaurant and not a relaxing day at the beach!
A view from the ocean in 2019
If you are not a big drinker or eater, you may want to do the pay as you go option. If you choose to go this route, the workers at Mr. Sancho's will take you to the option end of the beach and give you a beach chair, umbrella (1 per 2 chairs) and a menu for $10. They do expect you to purchase $10 of food and beverage for each person but this is a cheaper option if you are not a heavy drinker.
The beach itself is very nice and have a fairly easy and non-rocky entrance. At the beach they offer inflatables out in the ocean, as well as kayaks and snorkeling equipment for rent. Be forewarned that none of these are included in the All-Inclusive option and have to be purchased separately. Mr. Sancho's only allows 200 people in per day so you will need to book online ahead of time! In fact, the taxi driver will ask to see your reservation! You book online HERE!
Natalie and Chris having fun on the inflatables- Carnival Triumph 2015
Carnival Dream 2019
Mr. Sancho's bar area- Carnival Triumph 2015
We like Mr. Sancho's but in our continuous trips to Cozumel, we have found other beach clubs that we like better. The combination of too many people, party atmosphere and lack of good seating make us look elsewhere.
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach has quickly become our favorite family beach in Cozumel. It offers a wide variety of equipment, activities and lounge options. This beach is MUCH better laid out than Mr. Sancho's, in our opinion, and offers quite a bit more activities if you are traveling with a family. This beach is also not as "party" heavy as Mr. Sancho's. Furthermore, we like the water and snorkeling better at Paradise beach than any others we have found in Cozumel. It is a $17 taxi ride from the main cruise terminals of Puerta Maya and International Pier.
A view of the beach and lounge chair area in 2017
They recently upgraded their service to now offer an All-Inclusive option as well as pay as you go. The All-Inclusive option is $63 and offers all you can eat and drink from their menu. The Mai Tai is AMAZING... trust me! The non all-inclusive is only $3 for a chair and a commitment to purchase $10 of food or drink per person. Again, this is a GREAT option for families!
Carnival Breeze 2017
Carnival Breeze 2017
This was our $30 food purchase in 2017, followed with a few drinks for the parents.
They also offer a FUN pass that includes all of the inflatables, kayaking, snorkeling gear and stand up paddle boards for only $18. The last several times we have gone to Cozumel with the kids, we go to Paradise beach.
Our spending looks like this:
Our spending looks like this:
$17- outbound taxi ride to Paradise Beach
$12- Beach Entrance
$36- 2 Fun Passes (for the kids)
$40- food/ drinks from the menu
$17 inbound taxi ride back to the ship
That is a $122 total for this very fun and adventurous day at a gorgeous beach. Even when we add the tips for the waiter and taxi drivers, we are looking at a $150-160 days. For four people, this is hard to beat! You check it out HERE!
Nachi Cocoum
This is our new favorite in Cozumel. It is quiet, peaceful and the service is easily the best we have experienced with an all-inclusive. We had heard about this FOR YEARS but just tried it for the first time in 2019 on the Liberty of the Seas. This is a less crowded and less "party" atmosphere but THAT is exactly what we are looking for in our older age.
A drone picture of Nachi Cocom taken in 2018!
Nachi Cocum offers an all-inclusive option ONLY for $59 and MUST be reserved online prior to your arrival. They only allow 100 passengers in per day and when Cozumel is busy with 6-7 ships, Nachi can sell out MONTHS in advance. It is a short taxi ride for only $15 from the main cruise terminal. It does not offer the play activities like other Cozumel beach clubs so it is not as family friendly but again, the service is top notch! It is our favorite in Cozumel and as mentioned above, our favorite all-inclusive beach experience in 18 cruises! You can book your day HERE!
This was EXACTLY what us tired teachers needed on Spring Break!
but again, the solitude is worth it !
Liberty of the Seas 2019
Sea Trek Helmet Dive
In summer 2015, while sailing on the Carnival Magic, Chris and I decided to be adventurous and try helmet diving in Cozumel. We didn't know what to expect but it was AMAZING. It was a little claustrophobic but it was incredible. The water was crystal clear and we saw LOTS of fish! This was held near Margaritaville Cozumel, near the downtown cruise terminal. The cost of this excursion (in 2015) was $75 per person and it was WELL worth it!
I LOVE You Chris Davis!
Carnival Magic 2015
Amazing Race- Cozumel
We did this excursion in 2013 while sailing on the Carnival Conquest. We wanted to do something out of the ordinary and this was surely it! We are HUGE fans of the Amazing Race TV show and this was set up to be like that in and around the island of Cozumel. We were a team of just the 2 of us and it turned out to be a lot harder than we originally thought. We ran up and down the main and side streets of Cozumel and clocked in over 4 miles of running and jogging. We also boarded a boat to go out to a dive site where Chris had to dive down and get a clue on a sunken ship! We ended at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Cozumel where we came in 6th out of 16 teams and earn our margarita! We enjoyed this excursion and would LOVE to try it again when our kids get older! I think they would LOVE it!
A briefing before we began. These were the flags we were hunting!
WooHoo... 6th place! Not too bad!
Time for margaritas! We earned them!
We spend the rest of our day and time in port at these locations, beaches or excursions and then try to get back to the ship about 1 hour before the all aboard time. This helps with the long lines getting back onto the ship! Also, keep in mind that there is only one main road to and from these beaches and the ship so that one road can and will get backed up. Plan accordingly!
Afternoon
Once back on the ship, we do one of three things: 1- Go back to our stateroom and shower and get ready for dinner, 2- Go straight to get food at on Lido Deck (or Sorrento's Pizza on RCCL) or 3- Go to activities on the ship such as the water-slides or FlowRider. Which choice we choose depends a lot on how busy our excursion was or if we had the kids with us. TIP- Be forewarned that the lines to get food at his time are CRAZY long! Most people follow this track for their day and over 60% of the passengers will be getting back on the ship at this time.
Luke having fun at WaterWorks- Carnival Breeze 2017
We like to watch the sail away from our balcony or an upper deck. Plus one of our favorite things is to watch for pier runners. Over our 18 cruises or so, we have seen a handful of late arriving guests but we have never left passengers on shore. This is a GREAT way to spend your afternoon and watching the ship leave the port is so peaceful... Unless your headed home of course!
All aboard time (3:30PM) on NCL Breakaway 2018
NCL Pearl 2018
Evening
As per typical for our port days, we try to eat dinner mid-evening to prepare for an on board with live entertainment. A lot of the shows and entertainment are dependent on the entertainers and we have found that around night 3-4 (or the 1st port day) is when there is very little live entertainment since this is when they usually change entertainers. Even if there are not many live entertainers, we still find a way to enjoy our evening on the ship. This can be with the on board movies poolside, the comedy clubs or more adults only pool and whirlpool time. Not to mention, our nightly viewing of the sunset! If all else fails, we meet new friends at the bar or learn about the life of our favorite bar tender. Plus, we never miss an opportunity for a late night snack! There is never a dull moment on a cruise ship and we LOVE it!
There is nothing quite like a sunset on a cruise ship! It does a mind and body good!
Carnival Valor 2016
Carnival Valor 2016
Late night fun with the assistant cruise director Fabio- NCL Pearl 2018
As I mentioned above, Cozumel is our Caribbean "Home Away from Home" and despite having been there over a dozen times, we love the aqua blue waters and the friendly locals. The snorkeling, scuba and beaches are some of the best in the Caribbean! And in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis where many are wondering when we will get back to cruising... dreaming of this gorgeous blue waters helps me get through this chaos. We will be back Cozumel!
Stay tuned for more Western Caribbean Port Days and tips and tricks for Western Caribbean favorites like Grand Cayman and Jamaica! Thanks for following along!
GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!
Want to see what the 14 trips to Cozumel looks like for Cruise Like a Davis?
Click on any cruise link below to check it out:
Cozumel- Enchantment of the Seas 2020
Cozumel- Liberty of the Seas 2019
Cozumel- NCL Breakaway 2018
Cozumel- Liberty of the Seas 2018
Cozumel- NCL Pearl 2018
Cozumel- GIRLS CRUISE Carnival Valor 2017
Cozumel- Carnival Breeze 2017
Cozumel- Carnival Valor 2016
Cozumel- Carnival Triumph 2015
Cozumel- Carnival Magic 2015
Cozumel- Navigator of the Seas 2014
Cozumel- Carnival Conquest 2013
Cozumel- Carnival Conquest 2006
Want to see what the 14 trips to Cozumel looks like for Cruise Like a Davis?
Click on any cruise link below to check it out:
Cozumel- Enchantment of the Seas 2020
Cozumel- Liberty of the Seas 2019
Cozumel- NCL Breakaway 2018
Cozumel- Liberty of the Seas 2018
Cozumel- NCL Pearl 2018
Cozumel- GIRLS CRUISE Carnival Valor 2017
Cozumel- Carnival Breeze 2017
Cozumel- Carnival Valor 2016
Cozumel- Carnival Triumph 2015
Cozumel- Carnival Magic 2015
Cozumel- Navigator of the Seas 2014
Cozumel- Carnival Conquest 2013
Cozumel- Carnival Conquest 2006
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