If your family is taking a nice, well-deserved vacation on a cruise, and you’re ship stops at the Cozumel port, you will have many options for fun things to do. But the beach may be one of your best choices. You’ll find plenty of Cozumel beaches near cruise port that are family-friendly. They offer lots of great deals for fun, food, and drinks. But, which one is the best one for your family?
This list will break down the benefits and downsides of each of the top family-friendly Cozumel beaches for cruise passengers.
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Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park
Out of all the beaches that line the shore in Cozumel, Chankanaab is the most crowded, but it also has the most to do for tourists. There are a lot of cruise ships that offer deals or sell tickets to visit Chankanaab, which is not your typical beach day. You’ll also find a variety of Chankanaab packages from other tour operators. It is a beautiful beach where you can enjoy the water and warm weather.
Chankannab is close to the cruise port and is about a $15 taxi ride to and from the beach. The park is only open between 8 a.m. and 4 a.m. It is closed on Sundays.
Activities at Chankanaab Beach
There are two areas on the beach. The first one includes swimming, snorkeling, and food and drinks. This is a beautiful part of the beach, but it can become overcrowded with tourists. When multiple ships are in port, there are always crowds of people hitting the sand and enjoying the sun.
The water is always clear and calm, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the ocean. But, the reef makes it not a great place to see fish or coral. The mass amounts of people who hit the beach every day drive the wildlife away and have killed most of the coral.
In the second area of the beach, you can also do new things like interacting with dolphins, sea lions, and manatees. In the Dolphin Discovery area, you can see dolphins and sea lions! You can pet them, take pictures with them and swim with them.
Photos range from $53 with a sea lion to over $200. If you would like to swim, interact and get the photo package with dolphins. There are various reviews when it comes to the animals at the beach. Some visitors believe it’s not right to have the dolphins in caged pools for humans to interact with, while others feel that the animals are happy and are treated well.
How Much Does it Cost?
If you want to get to the beach, ticket prices start at around $23 for adults and $16 for kids. The general admission tickets do not include food, drinks, snorkel equipment, or other opportunities.
What About Food?
The $28 adult ticket and $21 child ticket include admission and snorkel equipment. The $33 and $26 tickets include the lunch buffet, admission, and snorkeling equipment. Lastly, the $38 adult tickets and the $31 kids tickets have everything the last tickets do, plus non-alcoholic drinks.
Paradise Beach Club
Paradise Beach is, well, a paradise for families! It is near the other beaches we will discuss in this article. It will take about 15 to 20 minutes to get from the cruise port to this family-friendly beach. A taxi can take you there for around $15. Cozumel has its taxis that are regulated.
The cost of rides to popular destinations, including Paradise Beach Club, are posted at the port taxi stands. They are prominently placed, so you can’t miss them! At the end of the day, there will be plenty of taxis waiting at the beach to take you back to the port. So, you don’t have to worry about being stranded or left behind!
Activities at Paradise Beach Club
When it comes to activities at the beach, you can go to the water park and water trampolines. You will also have access to kayaks, snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and other toys for $14 per person. What’s included if you get it with the all-inclusive package. There is so much fun at Paradise Beach Club!
How Much Does it Cost?
The beach, its food, and its activities are pretty reasonably priced. If you get the all-inclusive option for an adult, it’ll cost $63. For teens between the ages of 12-and 17, the price is $44. For children between 5-and 11, the cost is $35. Children under the age of 5 are free. If you want to get the all-inclusive package for your entire family, you purchase it in a bundle.
For those who may be looking for a cheaper option, Paradise Beach offers an a la carte option for $3 per entrance fee. That one ticket will get you a lounge chair by the beach or pool and access to all the facilities. However, if you want to get food or drink, it’s requested that you spend at least $10.
What About Food?
The sandy area offers an all-inclusive experience perfect for adults and kids. If you choose this package, you will be able to order from two restaurants, a taco truck, or the comfort of your chair.
Beverages are offered, including soda, alcohol, frozen drinks, beer, non-alcoholic drinks, and water. If you don’t want to go with the all-inclusive option, you will be able to order items separately.
Mr. Sancho’s Cozumel Beach Club
Mr. Sancho’s Cozumel Beach Club is one of the most fun and family-friendly beaches. This is the place for adults and their children to make great memories! It has a fantastic all-inclusive experience that includes food, drinks, a lunch buffet, and water activities. Alcohol is included for anyone over age 18 who has a valid ID. You can make advance arrangements for an all-inclusive day pass.
You can get all of that just with the general admission ticket. What a deal, right?
If you would like to go on an ATV ride, banana boat, parasailing, go to the water park or do another premium experience, you will need to pay extra. Please note the water park isn’t necessarily for young children because it usually appeals to older children. Life jackets are required. It is a bit of a swim out to the play area.
Activities in Mr. Sancho’s Cozumel Beach
The area has so much fun for families! The ocean is warm, clear, and relatively safe. However, if you are looking for a beach to snorkel at, this isn’t the place. Other things are going on in the area, and other places are better for snorkeling. Besides swimming in the ocean, there is also a large free-form pool for all guests.
There is also a fun water splash area with slides, a pirate ship, and shooting water. This is fun for kids of all ages. If parents are worried about their young children, please note that the splash section is watched closely by staff, who reinforce a maximum height restriction. This keeps older kids out of the area. Two water slides are side-by-side.
Almost anyone can use them and race the person on the slide next to them. There is, however, a height minimum that people need to reach to use the slide. There is lots of family fun here!
There is also a water adventure course. It costs $12 per person. The course has several huge inflatable towers, climbing areas, and platforms for people to have fun. You have to wear a lifejacket while on the course.
You must be comfortable with swimming because the course is a fair distance from the sandy beach and the water is deep! Older kids and adults can enjoy the area while younger kids wait until they are a little bigger and older.
How Much Does It Cost?
It will cost you about $20 for a taxi ride from the cruise port to the beach club. Please note that Mr. Sancho’s is closed on Sundays. An all-inclusive day pass will cost anyone over the age of 18 $60. Teens between 12 and 17 can get in for $40. Children between the ages of 4 and 11 cost $35 for a day pass. Anyone aged 3 or younger gets in for free.
What About Food?
Even though there are a lot of fun activities for kids and adults at the beach club, the food can be rated lower than other clubs in the area. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the food or that it isn’t fresh. The low rating has more to do with the fact that the food is “Americanized.”
You will find hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers or fries rather than tacos, burritos, and other Mexican favorites. The drinks, however, are always there when you need them. They are brought out to you quickly and flow freely. Please note that guests are not allowed to tip the staff, and gratuity will be requested at the end of the day. Make sure to come with paper money!
Playa Corona Beach Club
If you and your family are looking for a great place to snorkel at the Cozumel beaches near cruise port, Playa Corona Beach Club is the best place. It is vital to know that the beach club is not the best to snorkel and not the cleanest beach. A club is a convenient option for tourists looking to spend an hour or two at the beach.
Playa Corona is usually less crowded than other beaches mentioned in this article.
Excursion companies launch their tours here, and, sometimes, large groups will depart on a snorkeling trip from this area. If you are looking for a place with a big beach, there isn’t much of a sandy area.
So, if you want a big beach to lounge on, you may want to go to another beach. You will not find a great place to layout or bury your toes in the sand. Playa Corona is only a fun place for snorkelers.
Activities in Playa Corona Beach Club
Playa Corona is one of the best places to snorkel near the cruise port. If you take a cruise excursion from a company, you could be charged around $45. This includes getting you to the location, getting the equipment, and the actual snorkeling. If you just go to Playa Corona, you take out the middleman. You can just go there yourself!
The cost of snorkel gear will cost you less to buy than the fee from the company. Especially if you are buying snorkeling gear for the entire family! Save yourself some money and go snorkeling at Playa Corona.
How Much Does It Cost?
If you are looking for a convenient beach near the cruise port, Playa Corona is a fantastic option. It is southwest of the port. You will only need to pay about $13 for a one-way taxi ride. The stay in Playa Corona is among the cheapest in Cozumel. For only $5 dollars, you can watch the sunset, walk along the quiet shores and rest easy as long as you want.
What About Food?
Playa Corona is a cheap place as well to dine in. Although it requires a minimum purchase of $5 dollars per person, still, you’ll likely end up spending more than that if you plan to pass the time for more than a few hours.
Nachi Cocom Cozumel Beach Club & Water Sport Center
If all you and your family want from a beach day is lounging out in the sun, then Nachi Cocom Cozumel Beach Club and Water Sports Center is just the place. To get a peaceful, relaxing afternoon at this sunny oasis, you will need to make a reservation ahead of time.
The beach club only allows 130 guests per day, allowing the place to remain relatively quiet and serene. If you have young, rowdy kids, this may not be the best place for your family. Children are not discouraged in any way. But, maybe wait until they are a little older so everyone can enjoy the peace.
Activities in Nachi Cocom Cozumel Beach Club
Nachi Cocom is primarily a beach and pool club. There isn’t much entertainment for younger kids, meaning there are no slides, splash pads, or other water activities. Nachi Cocom is all about relaxation and peace!
The lack of things to do can either be a drawback or draw you to go to this beach club. Hair braiding, an hour-long snorkel trip to Palancar Reef, and beach massages are available. These, however, come at an additional cost. Snorkeling gear is included in the snorkeling fee.
How Much Does It Cost?
General admission to the beach club includes food, drinks, and beach chairs. What a deal! At Nachi Cocom, anyone over age 16 is considered an adult. It costs $55 per adult ticket. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 15 costs $39, and children between the ages of 4-and 11 can get in for $19.
All kids who are age three or below can get in for free. As for the taxi ride, that will cost you $20: from the cruise port to the beach club and from the beach club back to the cruise port. The club is only open during the day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
If your ship arrives at the port at noon, the closing hour is extended until 6:30 p.m. for your group. Nachi Cocom is only closed on Sundays.
What About Food?
Food is served restaurant-style, not buffet-style, at Nachi Cocom. You are welcome to order whatever you like and as much as you wish. Even though there are prices on the food menu, you can ignore those because the food is included in the day rate. Many favorite Mexican dishes are available for order, along with some classic American foods.
If you want a drink, those will be served by staff, or you can walk up to the bar. Staff will come around periodically to you at the loungers and pool area to check if you want a drink.
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park has one of the largest selections of activities and fun for families. The park is located close to Mr. Sancho’s and is similar. However, it does offer unique additional activities. Tickets for those excursions can be bought either when you arrive at the resort or beforehand through various tour packages.
This fun-packed place is open at 9 a.m. six days a week and closes at 6 p.m. Playa Mia Grand Beach Park is closed on Sundays.
Activities In Playa Mia Grand Beach
You can enjoy many different activities at Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, including lounging at the beach, swimming in the ocean, napping on a lounger, the twister water slide, and Buccaneer Bay splash area for kids, the pool, the jet tubs, and so much more!
There are also kayaks, small sailboats, ping pong, floating mats, slides, non-motorized water equipment, and volleyball. In addition, visitors can attend several tours offered by Playa Mia, including ATV rides, snorkeling, and the Jade Cave Tour.
How Much Does it Cost?
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park is priced reasonably, but they charge differently than other beaches. Anyone aged 12 or above will have to pay at least $30 to get into the park. If you would like a Beach Day Pass for an adult, that will be $30. For a child under 12, it’s $25.
What About Food?
If you want to include the buffet in that price, the costs will go up from $30 to $45 and $25 to $35. If you would like the Beach Day Pass, Buffet, and Open Bar, the cost will be $60 for adults.
Adding transportation to that list of benefits will cost you another $15. If you do this, the drivers will meet you at the cruise docks right outside the shopping center. Drivers will depart every hour on the hour starting at 9 a.m. If you don’t get the transportation, a taxi could cost you around $40. Additional excursions will cost you extra money.
Sunset Beach
If you need a beach close to your Cozumel cruise port, then Sunset Beach is the place to be. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the area and offers a unique experience for visitors. There is technically no entrance fee, but most tourists will eat and drink there.
A Sand Dollar Sports and Snorkel Shop is also located on-site, so you can rent gear to snorkel and scuba with. Not only is this beach a great place to stop and eat, but it’s also perfect for water sports.
Activities in Sunset Beach
Since the beach is close to the ports and is a great place for snorkeling, it can get crowded when many ships are in port. There is also not a sandy beach area at Sunset Beach. Instead of sand, you’ll find steps to lead you straight out to the beach. This is a great place for your family if you want to eat and explore the ocean!
But, if you are hoping for a beach where you can lounge and play in the sand, this is not the place for your family to visit. It’s popular for snorkeling and has beautiful views from the restaurant.
How Much Will it Cost You?
Again, there technically is not an entrance fee to this beach. But it will cost you a little money to get a taxi. The ride will cost around $8 one-way. That does not include a tip.
You can rent snorkeling and scuba equipment from the little shop on site. Scuba tours, snorkel tours, and other water-sport options are also available. The snorkel tour, for example, will cost you around $24 per person.
What About Food?
One of the strengths of Sunset Beach is its delicious food. Visitors rave about the Shrimp Nachos and the Shrimp Caesar Salad. Drinks are also part of the appeal here. Their margaritas have a ton of credit to themselves, and they also serve any cocktail you could imagine.
Conclusion
Now that you know about all these great beaches, it’s time to choose the perfect one for your family. Whether you want to relax on a secluded beach or enjoy some water sports, there’s something for everyone near the cruise port in Cozumel. Soak up the sun and enjoy your vacation!
