Where to Stay in Cozumel for All Budgets

I’ve written many articles about Cozumel ~ but I’ve never written an in-depth guide about where to stay in Cozumel.  Until now!  If you love to dive or snorkel: Cozumel is for you.  If you’re looking for a great family vacation spot that’s not as “wild” as Playa del Carmen: Cozumel is for you.  If you’re a solo traveler looking for a safe, relaxed place to enjoy perfect weather: Cozumel is for you.  If you just want to get wasted & party: Cozumel is NOT for you!  But for everyone else, here are my top picks on where to stay in Cozumel for all budgets… 

I thought I’d stay in Cozumel for three days. Lo & behold ~ I stayed a MONTH…& in about 10 different hotels. In this article, I’ll tell you where to stay in Cozumel for all budgets!

Author’s Note: The hotel in the cover photo isn’t listed here, but it’s another great mid-range option with a fantastic breakfast: Casa Mexicana ($78+/night).

Map of Cozumel Hotels

All hotels listed here can be found on the map below.  Most of the budget & mid-range hotels are located in town, while the luxury & all-inclusives tend to be further out of town.

When to Visit Cozumel

Cozumel’s weather is balmy year-round ~ with highs in the 80’s, & lows in the 70’s virtually all year.  The big difference is with humidity.  From May to October, humidity is higher because of more rainfall.  December to March is the driest, & weather is ideal.  Thus, this is the busiest season in Cozumel, when hotel prices are at their peak.  I visited during April & found it a great time to visit: weather was warm, but not too warm.  The warmest months of the year are July & August, when highs reach the 90’s. 

If it was me, I’d visit anytime between late November through the beginning of May.

This is the hotel in the cover photo: Casa Mexicana. Click on photo to check prices.

Where to Stay in Cozumel for All Budgets

Where to Stay in Cozumel for ALL Budgets: I’m putting accommodations into three categories: 1) Budget (under $50/night); 2) Mid-Range ($50-150); & Luxury ($150+).

Best Budget Hotels in Cozumel 

Best Budget Hotels in Cozumel: All hotels her are less than $50/night ~ & sometimes, cheaper than that.  I have three top picks: 1) Hotel Mary Carmen ($29+/night), 2) Suites Colonial ($45+/night), & 3) Villablanca Garden Beach Hotel ($38+/night).  I stayed in & would recommend all of them, but if you want to stay right in the heart of town (near all the restaurants & bars), stay in Mary Carmen or Suites Colonial.  

1) Hotel Mary Carmen is a basic hotel with a cute, central courtyard where they serve breakfast each morning ~ complete with their own turtles!  Just one-block off the main square, you can easily walk here from the main dock (where the ferry comes in from Playa del Carmen).  It’s not luxurious & rooms aren’t very big ~ but it’s cute, central, has fast Wi-Fi, & if you’re out diving all day ~ it’s a great choice for a simple, clean room.  Price = $29+/night.  

2) Suites Colonial is my personal favorite.  It’s located across from Mary Carmen, one-block from the main square ~ in a perfect location.  Rooms are clean, cool, & spacious (more spacious than Mary Carmen), with fast Wi-Fi, hot showers, & excellent maid service.  But the best part is their breakfast!  Walk three blocks over to their sister hotel, Casa Mexicana, for one of the best breakfast buffets in town.  SO GOOD!!  They have an omelette station, juicer, & basically anything you want to eat ~ with a killer ocean view.  Average nightly price = $45+/night.

3) Villablanca Garden Beach Hotel has beautiful grounds: with a central pool, meandering walkways, & gorgeous gardens, directly across from the ocean.  The only problem: you’re a 30-minute walk from town.  So if you want to be right in the action, this isn’t the place to go.  If you came to Cozumel primarily to dive though, Villablanca is a great choice: there’s a dive shop next door, along with chic restaurants, like Turquoise.  Rooms are a little older, but they have charm, & suites are spacious & well laid-out.  The main issue is their Wi-Fi: it’s so-so at best.  Price = $45+/night.

Villablanca is a little further from town, but its gorgeous grounds make it a peaceful & lovely spot. Perfect for diving & enjoying sunsets.

Best Mid-Range Hotels in Cozumel 

1) Hotel B Cozumel is located about a one-minute walk north of town, very close to the airport.  It’s situated right on the water, with a clean, contemporary vibe.  The highlight of this hotel is its kick-ass pool, which sits right overlooking the water.  If you want to be in a killer location on the ocean at half the price of luxury hotels, with an easy walk to town: stay here.  Price = $78+/night.  

Hotel B Cozumel sits right on the ocean, with a killer pool & a young, contemporary vibe.

2) The Flamingo Hotel has a hip vibe & awesome artwork in its communal areas, plus a rooftop hot tub & lounging area.  It’s not right on the ocean like Hotel B, but it is right in town, next to one of the best breakfast & coffee spots: Maple Bakehouse.  There’s a bar downstairs here, but some of the rooms are on the small side ~ so request one of their larger rooms if you decide to stay here.  Price = $58+/night.

3) Suites Turquesa has a view to DIE for, at a price that will NOT kill your bank account.  Rooms are clean, cute, & obviously have a turquoise vibe ~ & the pool location is AMAZING.  You’ve got a 5-minute walk into town along the boardwalk, air-conditioning (very important in Cozumel), & a smaller-hotel, boutique-y kind of feel.  If you don’t love big hotels & want a more intimate vibe: stay here!  Price = $59+/night.

Can you beat this view for under $100/night??

Best Luxury Hotels in Cozumel

Best Luxury Hotels in Cozumel: The hotels I’ve chosen in this category all have spas, beachfront access, great pools, & large rooms.  My picks are: 1) Cozumel Palace ($400+/night), 2) Presidente Intercontinental Cozumel Resort & Spa ($155+/night), & 3) Fiesta Americana Cozumel All-Inclusive ($250+/night).  Cozumel Palace is located right in town, but the other two are located about 20 minutes south.

1) Cozumel Palace is THE luxury hotel in downtown Cozumel.  If you’re looking for all-inclusive, oceanfront views, & top-of-the-line everything ~ this is your spot.  95% of guests who’ve stayed there recommend it, & it’s family-friendly.  So if you have kids who love the water: stay here.  It’s a 10-minute walk to downtown Cozumel, so it’s also easy to get around by foot or taxi.  The food is top-notch, & they’ve got an oceanfront spa….when you’re ready for that massage.  Price = $400+/night.

2) The Presidente Intercontinental has a nice, white sand beach ~ which is extremely hard to find in Cozumel (most good snorkeling beaches are dark & rocky).  And you don’t need to leave the resort to snorkel, dive, get a massage, or play a round of golf.  The adventure park Chankanaab is nearby, which caters towards families ~ so whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic getaway or an adventurous family: the Presidente is a great choice.  Price = $155+/night.  

3) The Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive sits right on the beach, has a beachfront bar, & a laid-back yet upscale vibe.  And it’s also close to one of my favorite beachfront bars in Cozumel: The Money Bar (one of my top picks for great snorkeling)!  There are five restaurants here, so even though the Fiesta isn’t right in town ~ you won’t need to leave, because you’ve got everything you need right at your doorstep.  Price: $250+/night.

Grab a drink at the bar & then head out to the beach, at the Fiesta Americana in Cozumel.

Where to Stay in Cozumel for All Budgets

Make sure to check out my guide to snorkeling in Cozumel ~ & bring dive booties!  Cozumel has some really rocky shores, but that’s also where the best snorkeling is: so come prepared.

xoxo Noelia

Read Next: Where to Brunch & Breakfast in Cozumel