The Best Resorts in Cozumel, Mexico

Here’s the definitive all-inclusive luxury resort in Cozumel, with turquoise waters and white sands galore. Even standard rooms are bigger than certain hotel suites, all with simple, fresh, modern decor that lets nature beyond the window take center stage. You’ll get access to four varied restaurants, including the alfresco El Caribeño, an oversized thatched palapa. Regional dishes make the most of the seafood from the waters surrounding the island. The resort is also within walkable distance of the cafes in town.

What a refreshing alternative to ordinary Caribbean resort offerings. Buildings in a jungle setting pair wood with other natural materials, and there are no TVs. The open-sided restaurant and bar merge with the lush tropical surrounds, so you switch from frantic to romantic, watching wildlife in the trees. It’s owned by Fiesta Americana, which has a livelier, family-focused resort just a two-minute walk away, so you can dine at any of the restaurants and use all the facilities.

This adults-only, 266-room all-inclusive Cozumel resort lies on the livelier west coast of the island. Check-in, and you can expect to be royally entertained – there are organized theme nights and beach parties as well as regular gala shows. The spacious rooms are refuges of pared-back luxury – many of them with mesmerizing ocean views. Ground-floor suites edge onto the pool – you step directly from your terrace into refreshing waters that elegantly wrap around the resort.

All 169 luxurious suites at Cozumel Palace look out onto the kind of azure waters that define Caribbean holidays. But the two-level loft suites are special. They come with a king-size bed, double whirlpool tub and private bath with shower on one floor and a second bedroom with its own private bathroom and shower on the other. There’s a balcony with a hammock for enjoying the sea breeze, too. The all-inclusive package even gets you snorkel gear to explore the vibrant reef the island is known for.

The Spanish hotel giant Barceló makes its stylish mark on Cozumel with this all-inclusive resort set in front of powdery sands. Rooms are spare, decorated in white and have a Mediterranean feel – although furnishings are more plantation-house-like (dark wood, big sofas) in the suites. Add five restaurants, including a top Japanese spot with a teppanyaki grill; five drinking spaces, including a Disco Bar; and five pools, featuring a children’s water park with sea-facing hot tubs for the parents. Result!

Families are in heaven at this great resort in Cozumel. The Star Camp – Iberostar’s fun activity program for 4- to 17-year-olds – lays on cooking classes, treasure hunts and outings in filmmaking. For younger guests, there’s a kids’ pool and a special menu at the international buffet. Book one of the fresh, simply furnished bungalow suites: you’ll get easy access to pools, the spa and the beach. And don’t forget to use the excellent babysitting service.

The simply decorated rooms are decent enough – the focus, at this multi-level 348-room colossus, is on what takes place outside. Grand by name and by nature, this is a winner with families. The all-inclusive package includes hourly activities hosted by the staff: choose yoga, water aerobics, dance lessons or guided snorkeling. The open-air amphitheater at the heart of the resort is the focal point for nightly entertainment.

This all-inclusive resort in Cozumel is right next to the island’s Country Club and Golf Course, which welcomes both pros and amateurs. It’s also right on the brochure-beautiful beach, so it’s a win-win for all members of your party. The rooms are standard fare, simply furnished, and guests can add the “golf package” to the larger rooms to receive unlimited green fees. There’s also an 18-hole mini-golf course for kids, a children’s driving course, an Xbox zone and a games room for teens.