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Cozumel: Paradise found in Mexico
In the news, it seems we most often read of a Mexico that is unsafe to visit. Always with an eye on the safety of their passengers, cruise lines have modified itineraries for ships that call at Mazatlan on several occasions. While frequent visitors to Mazatlan stand up for it as a testament to it being safe, it seems the place just can't get over the safety issue. Travelers want to go places to have fun, not to get robbed, beat up or shot at. Still, to discount the entire land of Mexico as unsafe would be wrong. There are some very safe places to visit in Mexico and Cozumel is one of them.
Cozumel is an entirely different place and to think for even a minute that it is unsafe to visit because it has a Mexico after it's name is about as wrong as saying Martin Sheen is crazy because Charlie is.
First, let's get our bearings straight. Cozumel is the biggest island in Mexico, located on the Yucatan Peninsula on the eastern, Caribbean side of Mexico. Mazatlan is on the west side of Mexico, way far away from Cozumel. It is separated from the Yucatan Peninsula by the Yucatan channel which is 12 miles wide.
The town of Cozumel is called San Miguel with a population of about 95,000 people. Most of the population of the island is in the town of San Miguel, on the west coast of the Island facing mainland.
On a land vacation, there are plenty of luxury hotels, first class facilities and services. Cozumel International Airport (CZM) is easily accessible from most major cities by many airlines and not far from hotels, beach and other attractions. Cozumel is world renowned for its diving because it hosts one of the largest coral reefs in the world, a big attraction for SCUBA freaks and snorkelers.
On a cruise vacation, one of the most attractive parts of the deal is that you unpack once but get to visit multiple destinations. As your floating hotel goes from place to place, you can choose to go ashore to get up close and personal with wherever it is you are visiting or stay on the ship. In most cases, it's worth getting off the ship but if you've been there before there is a temptation to stay on board and enjoy the ship while most passengers are gone.
Cozumel, Mexico is one of those places that no matter how many times you have been there, the order of the day is to get off the ship. If you cruise much, odds are you will be seeing Cozumel from time to time and that is a very good thing.
That said, let me introduce you to a place I found in Cozumel years ago and return to almost every time we visit.
Paradise Beach is a short cab ride from the cruise terminal and a must-do destination when visiting either by land or sea. It's a day at the beach like no other with crystal clear water and some of the best food and drink on the island.
Located 5 miles from the International Cruise Ship Pier, it's about a $10 cab ride each way and there are plenty of cabs available. Once there, one of the first things you notice is how very clean the place is. From the parking lot to pretty much every square inch of the 300 foot-wide sandy beach, the place is spotless, much like you might find in a 5 star beach resort.
The next thing you'll notice is that it is free. There is no admission here like many other beaches and prices for optional services, food and beverage are reasonable. You could probably just come here and sit in the sand on the beach for free but that would be a mistake. They have some of the best food and beverages on the island which really add to the whole experience.
Chairs are available to rent for only $2 (I paid $15 on Miami Beach not long ago) and the array of toys they have to play with is considerable. A trampoline, 14 foot-tall climbing iceberg, full snorkel gear, floating mats , kayaks, 10ft water slide, a Jungle Joe floating multi-tiered climbing structure, paddle boards, coconut trees to climb or a spacewalker bungee can be had for $12, unlimited use, all day.
It's a good idea to get there early but only because more time at Paradise Beach is just a good idea. Once settled in, someone will be by to attend to your every need. They will bring you food from an extensive menu that does not get any more authentic than this. Try the Chicken Quesadillas or Guacamole and Chips. You will thank me later. Everyone does.
The town of Cozumel is called San Miguel with a population of about 95,000 people. Most of the population of the island is in the town of San Miguel, on the west coast of the Island facing mainland.
On a land vacation, there are plenty of luxury hotels, first class facilities and services. Cozumel International Airport (CZM) is easily accessible from most major cities by many airlines and not far from hotels, beach and other attractions. Cozumel is world renowned for its diving because it hosts one of the largest coral reefs in the world, a big attraction for SCUBA freaks and snorkelers.
On a cruise vacation, one of the most attractive parts of the deal is that you unpack once but get to visit multiple destinations. As your floating hotel goes from place to place, you can choose to go ashore to get up close and personal with wherever it is you are visiting or stay on the ship. In most cases, it's worth getting off the ship but if you've been there before there is a temptation to stay on board and enjoy the ship while most passengers are gone.
Cozumel, Mexico is one of those places that no matter how many times you have been there, the order of the day is to get off the ship. If you cruise much, odds are you will be seeing Cozumel from time to time and that is a very good thing.
That said, let me introduce you to a place I found in Cozumel years ago and return to almost every time we visit.
Paradise Beach is a short cab ride from the cruise terminal and a must-do destination when visiting either by land or sea. It's a day at the beach like no other with crystal clear water and some of the best food and drink on the island.
Located 5 miles from the International Cruise Ship Pier, it's about a $10 cab ride each way and there are plenty of cabs available. Once there, one of the first things you notice is how very clean the place is. From the parking lot to pretty much every square inch of the 300 foot-wide sandy beach, the place is spotless, much like you might find in a 5 star beach resort.
The next thing you'll notice is that it is free. There is no admission here like many other beaches and prices for optional services, food and beverage are reasonable. You could probably just come here and sit in the sand on the beach for free but that would be a mistake. They have some of the best food and beverages on the island which really add to the whole experience.
Chairs are available to rent for only $2 (I paid $15 on Miami Beach not long ago) and the array of toys they have to play with is considerable. A trampoline, 14 foot-tall climbing iceberg, full snorkel gear, floating mats , kayaks, 10ft water slide, a Jungle Joe floating multi-tiered climbing structure, paddle boards, coconut trees to climb or a spacewalker bungee can be had for $12, unlimited use, all day.
It's a good idea to get there early but only because more time at Paradise Beach is just a good idea. Once settled in, someone will be by to attend to your every need. They will bring you food from an extensive menu that does not get any more authentic than this. Try the Chicken Quesadillas or Guacamole and Chips. You will thank me later. Everyone does.
Filed under: Food and Drink, North America, Mexico, United States, Budget Travel, Cruises, Caribbean, Luxury Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carl Hancock Apr 9th 2011 11:44AM
Paradise Beach? If your idea of Paradise is trucked in sand, over priced Americanized mexican food and giant blow up attractions floating in the water. Get there early? Definitely because by noon the beach is packed in wall to wall with not an inch of clear sand available.
The sand? Trucked in. Cozumel has a rocky coat, they don't have natural sandy white beaches.
If you want Paradise Beach hop on the Ferry and go to Playa del Carmen. Better yet, then take a taxi to Akumal. Or if you have the time... all the way down to Tulum. Now THAT is Paradise.
Cozumel has world class diving, but everything else is a tourist trap designed to cater to the cruise ship crowd. They really don't know what they are missing just a Ferry ride away from Playa del Carmen and the rest of the Riviera Maya along the coast of Mexico. AND it's just as safe as Cozumel.
Taking a cruise to Cozumel? If you aren't going diving, do yourself a favor and hop on the Ferry instead of hanging out on Cozumel.
Cozumel Islander Apr 9th 2011 2:16PM
Carl, while I'd agree with you that Paradise Beach wouldn't be my number one spot in Cozumel either, I have to correct you about the sand.
The sand on the island's beaches is natural, it certainly hasn't been trucked in and majority of the island does not have have a rocky coast.
Cancun and Playa del Carmen, on the other hand, do have some beaches with sand that has been trucked or shipped in. For example, the beaches on Cancun's hotel strip are a completely man-made creation.
When hurricanes have swept Cancun and Playa del Carmen's beaches away in the past, they have resorted to extracting sand from off the north of Cozumel island to replace it. (Something that is still a hot political subject locally.)
I could go on and explain how the geography of Cozumel's sheltered south-west coast tends to lead to a natural build up of sand, whereas the north of the Riviera Maya is more exposed, so tends to lose sand... but that might be a little boring.
I do also agree with you, however, about the Riviera Maya south of Playa del Carmen towards Akumal, Tulum and Xcalac. That area is still largely natural and has some beautiful beaches. But it's to far to easily do as a daytrip from Cozumel.
If you think Cozumel is a tourist trap only for cruisers then you should really go around the island to the East Coast next time, it is not in the slightest bit commerical and doesn't even have electricity, and the beaches are 100% natural and stunning...!
guiritraveller Apr 9th 2011 2:20PM
Just to back up my comments about Cozumel not being a tourist trap above, I found this article online about the island's east coast so people can judge for themselves :)
http://thisiscozumel.com/content/view/524/2/
Aleida Apr 10th 2011 10:24AM
Sounds like a lovely time though my heart will always belong to Puerto Rico. That's where my roots are.