Going on a cruise and looking for budget-friendly things to do in Cozumel?
We’ve been to Cozumel….ALOT. We’ve done many different things here and we know at the end of the day, we will be back again in the near future so that frees us to take chances and try out places and activities we may not have tried otherwise.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Safety
I’m often asked if Cozumel is safe. The Carnival cruise port especially given the impression you need to stay enclosed and sheltered. In over a dozen visits we have never once felt uncomfortable or nervous, unlike some ports where you feel like your head is on a constant swivel. We have even walked the nearly 3 miles on the main road from Puerta Maya to Punta Langosta without issue. The worst thing to ever happen to us was being double charged at a restaurant.
There are some areas of Mexico with a high violent crime rates but Cozumel generally has a low crime rate. The US Department of State Travel Advisory usually has Quintana Roo listed as either “exercise normal precautions” or “exercise increased precautions.”
Pier Location
It is important to note there are 3 cruise ship piers in Cozumel and where you dock may impact your cost of transportation. We actually choose what things to do based on where we are docked because we can eliminate transportation cost if we can walk. The southernmost pier is Puerta Maya and the cruise port built by Carnival where Carnival and Princess ships will dock. The middle pier is International and primarily used by RCL and Celebrity. The northernmost pier is closes to downtown Cozumel, Punta Langosta. NCL and MSC tend to use all 3 piers.
Form of Payment
US currency is accepted by most places in Mexico. In fact I’ve had some excursions require it as the form of payment. Be aware if the price is listed in pesos and you pay in USD, they can charge you WHATEVER EXCHANGE RATE THEY WANT. It’s usually not too far off from the official exchange rate but it will always be in their favor, not yours.
We bring enough cash for cabs and tips. Otherwise everything goes on a credit card that offers complementary currency conversion meaning we get the current exchange rate with no extra fees. We always specify, “Please charge in pesos” because some venues will automatically attempt to charge in USD when they see you’re American. Why wouldn’t they? Its extra money for them if they do.
I’ve had people tell me they won’t use a credit card in Mexico because they are worried their card info will get stolen. My answer to that is, so what? If you have a GOOD travel card it’s not really a big deal. It happened to us more than once and Capital One freezes our card and notifies us immediately. We have brand new cards in hand in a few days. In fact, they always catch fishy transactions well before we do. We’ve never been responsible for unauthorized charges.
THE MONEY BAR BEACH CLUB
When looking for things to do in Cozumel, most people want to have some fun in the sun and beach is priority. This spot is generally my go-to recommendation. It is located closest to Puerta Maya but still requires a cab ride. Last time we went, it was $11 each way for up to 4 passengers.
The Money Bar has clean bathrooms and nice outdoor showers. There is free WiFi too if you need to check in with home but be warned, it’s not always working. They don’t charge you a fee to use the loungers and umbrellas as long as you are ordering food and beverage. Menu prices are middle range.
It is water front and there is a small boxed area with sand but not a true beach. They have a ladder down into the water as well as one from the small dock. There is some decent snorkeling here so bring your snorkel gear. If you sit here long enough you will see this is where a lot of the snorkel boat tours actually stop. Just be watchful for sea urchins. Step on one and your vacation will be ruined real fast.
I’ve spent a full day here eating, drinking, sunning, and swimming and our bill was less than $100 for 4 people. Recently the prices have gone up (who’s hasn’t?) prompting us to look around for alternative options. However, I still consider this a budget friendly given all you get, especially if you don’t plan to order a big meal and multiple buckets of beer.
DELMAR LATINO BEACH CLUB
If you or your group are the sort who plan to drink quite a bit, your bill will start to add up quickly if buying a la carte. When looking for things to do in Cozumel, people often search for all-inclusive options.
We’ve done other beach clubs and, while generally beautiful they are crammed full of people. At $60 per person, we found ourselves constantly waving down a waiter at Mr. Sanchos and the drinks took forever to come. The ice was usually melted by the time it arrived. I hated that we had to walk sideways and yell “excuse me” to get around all the tables to find a path to the water. Add in the cost of transportation and it felt like an expensive and frustrating endeavor.
Not long ago we walked by Del Mar Latin Beach Club and felt the $39 price tag too be to good to be true. Research revealed pretty decent reviews prompting us to check it out for ourselves. To be honest we were impressed for the price point. This club is a 10 minute walk from Puerta Maya and only a 6 minute walk from the International pier. Better yet they limit it to 30 people per day. There is a small pool with great views of the ships as well as an access point for the sea. They have quite a few food and drink items to choose from and our waitress was always handing us fresh drinks.
GLASS BOTTOM BOAT SNORKEL
When looking for things to do in Cozumel, sometimes you want something more adventurous that a beach day. When we last did this excursion 5 years ago, it was only $25 and the boat wasn’t much bigger than a row boat with a motor on the back. The price has not gone up substantially but the boat appears to be upgraded. This tour will only set you back $30 per person.
Unfortunately we were not able to see much out of the Plexiglas mounted in the floor but what you get here is a 2 hour snorkel with 2 stops. They provide the gear, including a brand new snorkel tube for each person to use and keep. They also offer beer at the end as well as soft drinks and water. It is a short tour but allows you to have time to do other things if you have multiple plans in mind. It departs from El Cid La Ceiba Beach Hotel, literally right outside of the International cruise terminal.
THE MEGA
Having done the more mainstream touristy things, we are always in search of more unusual things to do in Cozumel, usually because we are getting sunburned and need a break from the sun worshiping. You should consider spending some time at the grocery store.
I know it sounds silly but going to the grocery store is one of our favorite things to do when we go to a different country and a quick way to immerse yourself into the culture. We’ve happily spent 2-3 hours reading and translating labels, browsing the snack and beer aisle, and looking for interesting things to bring home to share with our family and friends. You’re sure to see things that would never fly with food safety standards in the US (for instance the grocery store in Progreso with raw chicken sitting on a pile of melting ice with tongs and plastic bags to “bag your own.”).
We frequently refer to the Mega as a “Mexican Walmart.” They have the typical grocery store items but also a home goods section, liquor department, and even scooters by the registers for sale just in case that’s what you need. I chuckle every time I imagine trying to bring one of THOSE back on the ship. Be sure to check out the tortilla making machine in the back. There is also a small deli in the front where we usually grab hot wings.
We always take a close look at the liquor section. Here there is no tourist markup and you can find some unique spirits. There is a version of the high end whisky we like aged in tequila barrels you can only get in Mexico and we’ve found it at the Mega more than once (and bought it all).
Purses and bags aren’t permitted in the stores and security will place it in a locker for you free of charge. They also don’t provide plastic bags for your purchases. You can either bring your own reusable bags or purchase them there. The Mega is closest to Punta Langosta Terminal and only a 12 minute walk.
DIY DOWNTOWN FOOD TOUR
Given the downtown area is full of great food options, eating local food should be high on your list of things to do in Cozumel. Why not do a self guided tour? I did a google search of top rated restaurants and narrowed it down to options with only one “$”. Then I jotted down opening hours and put my picks in an order that made sense so we weren’t doing any back and forth.
This method actually worked out very well for us. We did 2 burrito stops followed by 2 taco stops and then ended our day at a local brewery. Since we had multiplestops we tried to share as much as possible. We actually had so much fun doing this we plan to try it again with completely different stops on our next cruise. Punta Langosta is very close to downtown and shouldn’t require transportation. If you’d like to try this from one of the other piers, you will need to be in the mood to do about 5-6 miles of walking or plan to get a cab.
New to Carnival cruises and looking for some general knowledge? Check out my post on tips for first time cruisers.
