This Mexican island famous for its divingdue to the crystal clear waters and its corals, but the Cozumel beaches are also attractions worth visiting because they are some of the most beautiful in the region of Carmen beach.
I, for example, am not a big fan of diving and planned to visit Cozumel on a day trip to visit the beaches. At first it seems a little complicated, as the island is large and requires a certain itinerary. But in this post we give tips on the most beautiful beaches in our opinion.
THE ISLAND OF COZUMEL, IN MEXICO
As I said, Cozumel is famous for being one of the best diving destinations and snorkel from the Caribbeanin addition to being a stop for large cruises through the region.
We prefer Stay in Playa del Carmenwhere we stayed in Antera Hotel & Residences. But those who want will also find great options here, even resorts all inclusive.
+ See discounted hotels and resorts on the island
Even if you arrive by ship, Yes, you can discover it on your own the beaches. Another option, for those who like it, is to take some of the tours which include diving. There are options for all tastes (find out prices and how to book).
When I was on the island for the first time in 2010, I ended up taking a ride that left from Playa del Carmen and that included a boat and stops for snorkel.
This time, in 2020, I really wanted to go in search of Cozumel’s famous beaches, although not much is said about them. A The best way is to rent a car, as I say at the end of this post. Worth it!
BEST BEACHES IN COZUMEL
Below I share our driving itinerary in search of the most beautiful beaches. Unfortunately, some others have restricted or difficult access to large hotels or even water parks, such as the Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park.
But we did manage to visit beautiful places and most with free entry. A very common thing is that the beaches are named after their beach clubs more famous. It may seem a little confusing, but it’s not, it was a way they found to divide them.
Below you can see the map of the Cozumel beaches we visited.
THE MONEY BEACH
The beach is not the most incredible, but the beach named after the The Money Beach Bar It is a good option as it is very close to the center of Cozumel. In other words, you can easily get there by taxi or even by bicycle and many people spend the day here.
SKYREEF E PLAYA CORONA
These are two others beach clubs which give the beaches their name. But they they are practically glued to each other, so you can get to know them at the same time. The good thing is that it is easy to park on the road that passes in front.
O Corona Beach It’s much simpler, almost like a beach hut. Already the SkyReef It has a better structure and the sea is more beautiful. In any case, this is still a very popular region for those who want to spend the day at the beach close to the center or do some snorkelas there is still no strip of sand.
Next to the Skyreef is a little church, the Stella Maris Chapel, which is charming and has a beautiful view. Have you ever thought about a wedding in a place like this?
PALANCAR BEACH
Continuing to the south of the island, this is where the beaches began as we Brazilians like them, with fine sand and clear waters.
The structure of beach club palancar It is excellent for spending the day and there is parking.
CHUNCHACAB BEACH IN PUNTA SUR
From the beaches of Cozumel, the Chuchacab Beachnot park South Pointwas the one that we think it’s the most beautiful. The color of the water is jaw-dropping, blue and crystal clear. As the name says, it is at the south end of the island, when we start to turn around.
In reality, this is a natural park, with several attractions ranging from Mayan ruins to lagoons with flamingos and alligators. The entrance fee is expensive, but it’s worth visiting the beaches, which even have beach clubs and restaurants. We tell you all the details in the post about the Punta Sur Park.
It was the only private beach we visited and we had to pay to enter.
THE LOOKER
Heading east of Cozumel, El Mirador is a very common stop. The beach is small and surrounded by large rocks that guarantee a beautiful view, as the name suggests. And there is a certain structure, in addition to being easy to park.
SAN MARTIN BEACH
Following the good paved road, we arrive at Playa San Martín, which has an extensive strip of sand, waters ranging from green to blue and a good beach structure.
It’s also easy to park here, a positive point for those who have a car in Cozumel.
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PLAYA CHEN RIO
Almost at the end of the stay that goes around the south of the island, Chen Rio is one of the most famous beaches in Cozumel. It is public and has free parking.
The color of the water is surprising, especially in the area in front of the restaurant. El Pescador Seafood Restaurant, which has the best structure around here and works as a beach hut. The only problem is that the prices are steep.
From that point, we returned to the center of Cozumel. It took us all day to get around the island, of course with stops at the beaches. And yes, we know that there are many others along the way, but we count on the help of local residents and also our research to create this itinerary.
DO YOU NEED A CAR ON THE BEACHES OF COZUMEL?
As I said at the beginning of the post, unfortunately it was because of this that in 2010 I ended up knowing almost nothing about the island. You boats arriving from Playa del Carmen They anchor in the historic center, which is cute, but there are no good beaches nearby.
To discover the best beaches in Cozumel the way It’s easier to have a rented car. But it’s good to be careful because, as soon as you disembark, countless vendors have their stalls spread out offering rental cars, some at good prices.
It turns out that What the photo shows is not always reality. We, for example, rented a convertible that looked nice, but when we picked it up at the rental store it was falling apart, it didn’t even have a belt, no turn signal and even holes in the floor lol.
So try to check the car before paying and be suspicious when the price seems too low. Also pay attention to any surcharges and insurance to avoid problems. A Brazilian driving license is accepted and you won’t need and PID – International Driving Permit.
But you can also arrange with a taxi to make some stops, which comes out well affectionor even rent a bikewhich is quite common if you are somewhat prepared for the heat of the Mexican Caribbean.
+ Find hotels with discounts
+ How to get out of Playa del Carmen
+ All tips for enjoying the island
Rafael Carvalho
A native of Minas Gerais, a fan of chicken with okra and good beer, he currently lives in São Paulo. He has a degree in Radio and TV, a postgraduate degree in Journalism and has worked with Digital Content for over 16 years. He has worked for companies such as SBT and Jovem Pan FM. Passionate about traveling, he founded Esse Mundo É Nosso and travels around Brazil and the world all year round, always looking for tips to share.
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