If your cruise ship is visiting Cozumel, Mexico, then you will very likely be in the market for somewhere to cool off and enjoy the beautiful waters that Cozumel is famous for. Picking the right beach for your family is more a decision of what you want to do, rather than a scientific examination of which beach is superior.
For many years, Paradise Beach has been a popular choice for cruise ship visitors who want an inexpensive, yet uncompromising beach day in Cozumel. We decided to head back to Paradise Beach for that exact reason and see if the value proposition remains a compelling choice.
Description
Paradise Beach offers a simple approach, where each guest pays $3 admission and then everything else available is priced a la carte. Unlike many of the other popular beaches in Cozumel, Paradise Beach relies on offering a low-cost of entry to entice guests in.
The drive to Paradise Beach is fairly quick, about 10 minutes from where Royal Caribbean docks in Cozumel via taxi. The cost of our taxi ride was $30 for the six of us.
Upon entry, you have the choice to sit near the pool or beach. You can move freely between the two areas, but it is up to you where you want your family's "home base" to be located.
A vast majority of the seating is located near the beach, as most guests seem to gravitate towards a beach day. There is seating with or without shade, and the staff is quite accommodating as to where exactly you would like to sit.
The beach is quite nice and clean, although the left side of the beach has far more rocks than the right side. If you are interested in snorkeling, the left side is your choice.
Paradise Beach also offers an aqua park add-on option. Like many other beaches, you can buy full day access to the aqua park and enjoy the various inflatables. Unlike neighboring Mr. Sanchos, I did like that the inflatables seemed to be significantly closer to shore.
If the pool is more your fancy, Paradise Beach offers a rather enormous pool to enjoy. They advertise it as the largest heated pool in Cozumel.
Unlike the beach, there is not nearly as much seating with shade by the pool. If you are okay with a bit of sun, there are some seats underneath trees that should provide partial protection.
The pool is not very deep, and there are shallower areas that were probably designed for lounging, but younger kids will find it a good spot for them.
Spending the day at Paradise Beach, you are likely to want to enjoy some food and drink while visiting. As mentioned earlier, the food and drink is priced a la carte. There is a new all-inclusive option available, but compared to other all-inclusive options in Cozumel, I did not think it was a terrific value.
Chips & Guacamole, along with Bloody Mary
Chips and Salsa
Mexican Breakfast
Veggie and fish tacos
Chicken and beef tacos
You will be assigned a waiter for your stay at Paradise Beach, and your waiter can bring you any food or drink you need. Placing the order is done via the waiter's tablet device and then a few minutes later another waiter will bring your order.
There is a good mix of Mexican food, along with American favorites. Picky eaters should find plenty to enjoy, while there are still some good Mexican choices available too.
Comments
Paradise Beach remains a great beach option for those that fall into one of two categories: you only want to spend part of the day at the beach/pool and/or you are not interested in an all-inclusive experience.
The beach is well-maintained, offers ample seating with plenty of shade (or no shade) and the aqua park option should keep most families busy with things to do.
Their pool is massive and quite lovely. The fact it is heated stands out as a very nice option, as some of the pools we have been to around Cozumel are downright frigid.
We found the food to be pretty good, and on par for what you can find at most beach resorts on the island. The taco truck stand and mojito cart are particularly good choices if you want something a little better.
The biggest issue with Paradise Beach is if you happen to be there on a day when there are a lot of ships in port. Paradise Beach is one of the best-known spots in Cozumel, so it is no secret of what it offers. As a result, it has the potential to get crowded. On the day we visited, there were only three ships in port and Paradise Beach was doing pretty well with folks enjoying the experience.
If you want a beach/pool day and you are looking to really indulge with food or drink, you would be better off at El Cozumeleno or Nachi Cocom. But if drinking your weight in tequila, or eating a ton is not in the plans, than Paradise Beach is a very compelling choice. It is the perfect add-on if you perhaps want to go downtown first to shop and then cool off with some beach time.
How to book: No reservations required or available. Just show up. Website
