Since a winter storm is sweeping half the nation, I figured now would be a good time to warm up by looking at some warm weather photos. Let’s check out Paradise Beach in Cozumel!
See also: Review: Star Wars Day at Sea (SWDAS) on the Disney Fantasy
Why We Chose Paradise Beach
My family visited Cozumel on a cruise a few years ago. On that trip, we went to Nachi Cocom for the day. It was paradise!
Nachi Cocom is all-inclusive and limits the number of visitors each day. Beach chairs are spread out with private palapas. We had great food, great service and a quiet, relaxing beach experience.
So why didn’t we go back? The pool was freezing! We visited in February, and the pool was not heated. Since our recent cruise was in January, I figured the pool would be just as cold.
As I researched other beach options in Cozumel, Paradise Beach caught my attention because it’s one of the few day resorts that offers a large, heated pool. It was just me and my daughter on this beach excursion (the guys opted to swim with manatees), and my daughter loves a nice pool.
Paradise Beach has a low entry fee ($3 per person) with a $10 per person food minimum. Reservations are not required, so we could see how the weather was when we docked and decide at the last minute if we should go.
The weather was great on our Cozumel day, so we were on our way to Paradise Beach.
Getting to Paradise Beach
The Disney Fantasy docked at Punta Langosta pier. Cruisers have to go up an escalator and across a pedestrian bridge into an outdoor mall. Then, we go down another escalator and walk through the rest of the shopping center to get to the taxi area on the street.
The cost of a taxi to Paradise Beach was $15 each way for up to four people (although on the way back I was charged $16). We left the pier around 9:00 a.m., and it took about 20 minutes to get to Paradise Beach from the pier.
Once we arrived, a staff member asked our party size and if we wanted chairs by the pool or beach. We chose the beach. He took our $3 per person and offered us the option of paying an extra $18 to use the beach inflatables (we declined).
The Beach Area at Paradise Beach
Since we arrived at Paradise Beach around 9:30 a.m., we had our pick of lounge chair locations. We chose the front row of chairs by the water. The beach area was fairly empty at this time in the morning.
We dipped out feet into the ocean, and found the temperature to be quite tolerable. The water was crystal clear. We saw several needlenose gar fish in the water. The sand at the beach was tan and coarse.
Next, we walked to the pier.
The beach is beautiful, no doubt. However, there is another resort right next to Paradise Beach, which made the area look very dense with people. The inflatables created a somewhat cluttered look in the ocean. Also, some vendors were right at the edge of the property line constantly encouraging us to buy their stuff.
Since there were six cruise ships in Cozumel that day, Paradise Beach filled up by lunch time.
The Heated Pool at Paradise Beach
The best feature of Paradise Beach is the large, heated pool. It did not disappoint! Even though it was warm and sunny, the warm temperature of the pool felt great.
Let’s face it: pools on cruise ships are tiny. The pool at Paradise Beach had plenty of room to spread out, even in the early afternoon when the beach was more crowded.
The only thing that could be better about the pool area would be the addition of a hot tub!
Service and Food at Paradise Beach
My daughter and I each ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri. We shared a plate of chips and guacamole as well as a cheese pizza. Our total bill was around $50. The food was decent and comparable to the food we had at Nachi Cocom.
However, I felt the service was really lacking. We waited at least an hour before anyone even asked us if we wanted to order anything. But all around us, other groups of heavy drinkers were getting served all the time.
Since it was such a busy day in Cozumel and at this beach, the staff at Paradise Beach may have been overwhelmed. But, the service was nowhere near the service we received at Nachi Cocom.
Overall Thoughts
My daughter didn’t seem to mind the crowds and didn’t notice the lack of service. She declared our day at Paradise Beach “the best day ever!”
However, I was mildly annoyed at the crowds and service. While Nachi Cocom was truly a tropical paradise, Paradise Beach was much more commercialized. But, I really can’t complain that much. The weather was gorgeous, and we were still at the beach in the middle of winter!
If we ever return to Cozumel in the summer, I would for sure pick Nachi Cocom. However, if we return in the winter, I’d be tempted to give Paradise Beach another chance because of the large heated pool. It’s hard to beat the price and convenience of not having to pre-book a beach excursion. It might be more enjoyable on a day when fewer cruise ships are in port.
Have you been to Paradise Beach? What did you think? What beach do you recommend in Cozumel?
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
We visited Paradise Beach in March of 2018 and after reading your review I have to wonder… were we at the same place?
We had an absolute blast and would return in a heartbeat if we find ourselves in Cozumel again. I believe there were four ships in port that day, and our family was waited on hand and foot. And it wasn’t because of the booze… we only ordered two drinks during our entire day at the beach. Food was excellent and served quickly. The $18 activity pass is a fair price for inflatables, water trampolines, kayaks, snorkel gear, and paddle boards. There were also optional upcharge activites: Jet ski rental, banana boat rides, parasailing, etc. And we were not hassled at all.
My only complaint would be the course sand, though that’s minor and is the case all over Cozumel. Otherwise, 5-star all the way.
@projectx It does sound like we were at different places, sorta. Our chairs were near the edge of the property, so the vendors on the edge were very close to us. I also wonder if we had been seated in a different section if the service would have been different. My older boys would have loved the inflatables if they had gone with us.