Costa Maya vs. Cozumel

If one is only interested in a beach day, which is better... Costa Maya or Cozumel? Why? Which beaches/day-pass resorts would you recommend for the day?

Either-Or.

Both have pros and cons. Coz's beach resorts are separated with separate entrances and slightly longer taxi ride to get there. Most are pay-as-you-go, but many have AI options. Mr Sanchos, Playa Mia and Paradise Beach seem to be the most popular and all have various watertoys for use (extra charge). Chankanaab is the National Park beach and has an entry fee but has decent snorkeling along it's northern perimeter. For better beach snorkeling, look to the Money Bar, small beach and rocky bottom. For quieter beach, either select Nachi Cocum's AI or head further south to Alberts or Playa Palancar. Beaches are not the white sandy Caribbean beaches, as they are ont he channel side of the island and occasionally the water can be murky.

In Costa Maya, you can wander along the malecon(boardwalk) and select, or get "marketed into" by lounger hawkers, any facility you want. All on the same strip of beach, no division between. Better places here are Tropicante (you can make a reservation on line-info on this forum), El Faro next door, Black Pearl, or Pez Quadro. All of these offer massages on the beach at reasonable prices. These "beach resorts" are all a short $5 RT taxi ride from the port. A good AI along the malecon is Nohoch Kay, but you need to book through Island marketing as they limit # of guests. The beaches here are similar to Coz but the water can be shallow and due to currents can have an abundance of sea grass. There is a breakwater/ reef just off the shoreline and there is boat traffic between there and the beach. There aren't many watertoys available, mostly kayaks and catermarans. Tequila Beach, the first beach club stop for bus or taxi, tends to have more than others, including jet skis, but because of its location it and Corona Beach next door are the most crowded and have spotty service (IMO).

Further down the coast is Almaplena and Maya Chan. Both are AI and require advanced reservations as they limit the number of guest. The beaches for these two tend to be a little nicer than the malecon, again depending on the current/weather and time of year, and the sea a tad bluer and freer of sea grass.

All beaches mentioned here have threads in this forum or the Coz forum and many, especially the AIs, have websites.

Do a bit of research and find the place that looks best suited for your tastes and activities. Enjoy both ports.:)

Ditto what crewsweeper said. Talk about an all-inclusive reply! steve