Cozumel Palace All Inclusive Resort
Cozumel Palace is the all-inclusive on Cozumel for travelers who want great snorkeling and easy access to town in the same package. It sits on the waterfront at the edge of San Miguel, about five minutes by car from the Playa del Carmen ferry dock, so the main square, local restaurants and the Sunday evening gatherings in the park are close by. The real draw is the dock: you walk down the steps into clear water over living reef, and guests in 2026 describe snorkeling there almost daily with free gear, plus paddleboards and kayaks to borrow. The Palace Company spent $15 million renovating the resort between August and September 2024 and unveiled the results in October 2024.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Waterfront spot on the edge of San Miguel, about a five-minute ride from the Playa del Carmen ferry dock, so the town's shops, restaurants and Sunday evenings in the main square are easy to reach
- +Snorkeling straight off the resort's dock is the thing guests remember most: summer 2026 visitors describe going almost daily and seeing reef fish, an eel and rays without paying for a boat
- +Snorkel gear, paddleboards and kayaks are free to borrow, according to 2026 guests, so the dock works as your own private water-sports base
- +A $15 million renovation (works August to September 2024, unveiled October 2024) redid the lobby and lobby bar, refurbished rooms with smart TVs and whirlpool tubs, re-tiled the pool deck and added Walk Out Mezzanine Suites with direct pool access
- +Rooms come with Palace extras: double whirlpool tub, a bottle of wine on arrival, unlimited phone calls, complimentary Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service
- +The 2024 work doubled the size of The Playroom kids club (ages 4 to 12) and added a new outdoor playground, a real upgrade for families
- +Named restaurants rather than a single buffet line: Gondola, Momo and Bugambilias were refreshed in 2024 and Flamingos was added as an open-air spot
- +Staff are consistently praised in 2026 reviews, and the renovated Awe Spa and expanded gym with virtual workout equipment round out the facilities
Cons
- −The vacation club sales pitch is the one consistent negative: 2026 guests describe a persistent presentation in the lobby right after check-in and a softer one again at departure
- −There is no sandy beach. The shoreline is rocky, so swimming and snorkeling happen from the dock, and a traditional beach day means a taxi to a beach club down the west coast
- −Diving with the resort's dive specialists costs extra; the operator's own resort page footnotes it as an activity available at an additional cost
- −Premium drinks, spa treatments and some services sit outside the all-inclusive, and some guests feel the extras are not clearly explained at booking
- −The pool closes in the evening, which a May 2026 guest flagged as a letdown on warm nights
- −The waterfront road out front is busy, so street noise can reach some rooms depending on location
- −It is quiet rather than lively: a June 2026 honeymoon guest put it plainly that this is not a party place
That renovation touched most of what guests use: the lobby and lobby bar, refurbished rooms with smart TVs and whirlpool tubs, new Walk Out Mezzanine Suites with direct pool access, hallways, a re-tiled pool deck, the Awe Spa and an expanded gym. On the food side, Gondola, Momo and Bugambilias were refreshed and Flamingos was added as an open-air restaurant, and rooms carry 24-hour room service. Families get The Playroom kids club for ages 4 to 12, doubled in size in 2024, plus a new outdoor playground. Diving through the resort costs extra, and the pool closes in the evening. The friction points are well documented: a persistent vacation club pitch at check-in and again at departure, and no sandy beach.
Cozumel Palace works best for snorkelers, divers, families and couples who want to actually use the island rather than stay sealed inside a resort. The town location is a genuine asset for anyone who wants Cozumel's restaurants and local character, and the ferry makes a Playa del Carmen day trip simple. Compared with the more remote all-inclusives along Cozumel's southern coast, it trades a beach for walkable town access and step-in reef. It is one of the pricier stays on the island, so it makes the most sense if you will use the dock, the spa and the restaurants rather than spend every day at a beach club.
Common Questions
Can you really snorkel right from the resort?
How bad is the timeshare sales pitch?
Is there a sandy beach at Cozumel Palace?
How is Cozumel Palace for families with young children?
What changed in the 2024 renovation?
Is the location in town a pro or a con?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Bugambilias |
| Italian | Góndola |
| Asian | Momo |
| Steakhouse | Flamingos |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Playa Palancar25 min drive · 12 mi
Chankanaab Park10 min drive · 5.0 mi
Downtown San Miguel de Cozumel2 min drive · 0.9 mi
Museo de la Isla de Cozumel3 min drive · 1.1 mi
Punta Morena Beach25 min drive · 12 mi
25 min drive · 10 mi
More things to do (16)
- Playa Bonita · beach35 min drive · 18 mi
- Playa San Juan · beach11 min drive · 4.9 mi
- Ferry to Playa del Carmen · excursion4 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Punta Sur Eco Beach Park · nature50 min drive · 22 mi
- Playa San Martín · beach30 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa La Caletita · beach2 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Cozumel Sign · viewpoint4 min drive · 1.9 mi
- Playa Casitas · beach4 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Cozumel Planetarium Cha'an Ka'an · museum5 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Caleta Marina · marina7 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Playa Paradise (Cozumel) · beach15 min drive · 8.2 mi
- Playa Mezcalitos · beach20 min drive · 10 mi
- Selvas y Humedales de Cozumel Reserve · nature20 min drive · 9.4 mi
- Mirador Chumul · viewpoint25 min drive · 13 mi
- Laguna Colombia · nature35 min drive · 16 mi
- El Mirador (Km 31) · viewpoint35 min drive · 20 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Cozumel gets sargassum, typically worst May through August, and mostly on the east coast.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 1,713 reviews
“Stayed here with my family for a week, Joel at front desk is super helpful and pleasing, Luis at the gym is the best, I had a leg/core/upper body work out on every day I stayed, he is very knowledgeable and best, David and other members at snorkeling...”
“We had an amazing stay and honestly have nothing bad to say. The service was outstanding—friendly, personal, and attentive. The room and pool were great, and staying over Christmas made it even better with tons of fun activities. The food was delici...”
“Our family stay in Cozumel was nothing short of incredible. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and genuine hospitality by Vicente & Alex that made us feel right at home. The resort had everything we could have possibly wanted—bea...”
