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The Explorean Cozumel All Inclusive

Cozumel, Mexico

4.6(1,737 reviews)

FamilyFiesta Americana Travelty

The Explorean Cozumel is the rare all-inclusive that actually earns the word 'adventure.' Built into the jungle on the Chankanaab road south of town, the 56-casita resort includes one guided outing per person for every night you stay: snorkeling at El Cielo, a beach day on the island's untouched east side with drinks and snacks, Punta Sur, kayaking, cenotes or a cultural walk. The team assigns the outing and plans it around weather and season, and guests get the schedule on arrival. Recent guests keep naming their guides, and that program, more than any facility, is what separates this place from every other all-inclusive on the island.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+One guided excursion per person per night is included in the rate - snorkeling at El Cielo with its starfish, a beach day with drinks and snacks on the island's wild east side, Punta Sur, kayaking, cenotes and nature and cultural walks - with guides, gear and logistics handled for you
+Just 56 rooms, all casitas with private balconies over the jungle, so it feels nothing like a typical all-inclusive mega-resort and you are never fighting for a pool chair
+Full access to the sister Fiesta Americana Cozumel All Inclusive next door, so the extra pools, beach and restaurants there are part of your stay too
+The guides are the reason people come back: recent guests name Nestor, Jassiel and Daniel, and say small groups and a schedule planned around weather and season make the outings feel unhurried
+Coffee and a few treats arrive in a basket at your door every morning, which you can enjoy on a balcony facing the jungle canopy
+Serious diving is easy to add: Dive House, a PADI 5 Star operator serving the resort, runs two-tank boat trips at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. plus night dives on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and picks divers up from the hotel piers south of town
+Dog friendly, with a welcome kit of a bed and bowls for your dog, which is rare for a Cozumel all-inclusive

Cons

−The resort sits back in the jungle rather than on the sand; its beach club is a three-minute walk, and the shoreline along this stretch is more rock than soft beach
−You do not choose your excursion from a menu: the team assigns the daily activity, it can change with weather or season, and it is subject to availability
−No TVs and no room service, by design - the resort pitches it as a digital detox, but some travelers find it a deal-breaker
−Only one restaurant of its own (Lool Kan, Mexican, cooked to order by the chef) plus a Lobby Bar, so dinner variety depends on walking over to the Fiesta Americana
−Nightlife is essentially nonexistent; evenings are quiet and early
−The jungle setting means mosquitoes, particularly at dawn and dusk, and a June 2026 guest still advised bringing repellent
−Diving is a paid extra, not part of the all-inclusive, so dive-heavy trips add up
−With 56 rooms, the property books up early for peak season and busy dive weeks

The resort itself is small and deliberately simple. Rooms are 37-square-meter casitas with private balconies, quality bedding and no TV or room service, and a basket of fresh coffee and treats lands at your door each morning. On site you get Lool Kan for Mexican food cooked to order, a Lobby Bar, a completely remodeled pool, a spa and a beach club a three-minute walk away. Everything else, from extra pools to more restaurants, is at the sister Fiesta Americana next door, where Explorean guests have full access. Divers can book Dive House, which serves the resort with 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. two-tank trips and night dives three times a week, at extra cost.

This resort is best for active couples, divers and families with school-age kids who would rather be out exploring than lounging at a swim-up bar. It is not the pick for travelers who want a sandy beach steps from the room, a long list of restaurants or late nights. Compared with larger Cozumel properties like Cozumel Palace or Iberostar Cozumel, The Explorean sits in a different category: less about resort amenities and more about using the island as your playground. Travelers who understand that going in tend to leave delighted.

Common Questions

What exactly is included in the daily excursion program?

Each night you book includes one guided activity per person, assigned by the resort's team and subject to availability, weather and season. Current outings include snorkeling at El Cielo, a beach day on the wild side of the island with drinks and snacks, a trip to Punta Sur, kayaking, cenotes and nature and cultural walks. Guides, equipment and logistics are covered, and you receive the schedule when you arrive.

Is there actually a beach at The Explorean?

Not at your door. The casitas sit in the jungle and the resort's beach club is a three-minute walk to the Caribbean. You also have full access to the sister Fiesta Americana Cozumel next door, and the included beach-day excursion takes you to the quieter beaches on the island's east side.

How does the diving work and what does it cost?

Diving goes through Dive House, a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort that serves The Explorean and the Fiesta Americana. Two-tank boat trips leave at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., usually one wall dive and one reef dive, and night dives run Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Boats collect divers at the hotel piers south of town. Diving is not included in the all-inclusive, so confirm current rates when you book.

Are the rooms comfortable without a TV or room service?

Travelers describe them as spare but beautiful: 37-square-meter casitas with king or two double beds, quality bedding and balconies over the jungle. The missing TV and room service are deliberate, and the morning basket of fresh coffee and treats delivered to your door softens it. Guests who expect an eco-lodge rather than a conventional hotel room tend to be very happy.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. The resort runs a Dog Friendly program and greets your dog with a welcome kit that includes a bed and bowls. Check the program's rules and any fees directly with the resort before you travel.

How does The Explorean compare to Cozumel Palace or other Cozumel all-inclusives?

They serve very different purposes. Cozumel Palace is a polished, amenity-rich resort with multiple pools, a swim-up bar and more dining in a central location, and it is the better all-round resort stay. The Explorean is smaller, quieter, jungle-set and built around guided outings rather than resort comfort. Travelers who have stayed at both often say The Explorean felt more memorable, while Cozumel Palace felt more reliably comfortable.

Restaurants (1)

Type	Restaurants
Mexican	Lool Kan

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 Palancar
20 min drive · 7.8 mi
Chankanaab Park
3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Punta Sur Eco Beach Park
45 min drive · 18 mi
Downtown San Miguel de Cozumel
13 min drive · 6.5 mi
Museo de la Isla de Cozumel
14 min drive · 6.7 mi
Punta Morena Beach
35 min drive · 17 mi

More things to do (17)

Playa Bonita · beach35 min drive · 18 mi
Playa San Juan · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
Ferry to Playa del Carmen · excursion15 min drive · 6.8 mi
Playa San Martín · beach40 min drive · 20 mi
Caleta Marina · marina9 min drive · 3.1 mi
Cozumel Sign · viewpoint9 min drive · 3.9 mi
Cozumel Planetarium Cha'an Ka'an · museum10 min drive · 4.2 mi
Playa Paradise (Cozumel) · beach10 min drive · 4.4 mi
Playa La Caletita · beach11 min drive · 5.1 mi
Playa Casitas · beach15 min drive · 7.4 mi
Laguna Colombia · nature30 min drive · 12 mi
Playa Mezcalitos · beach30 min drive · 15 mi
Selvas y Humedales de Cozumel Reserve · nature30 min drive · 14 mi
El Mirador (Km 31) · viewpoint30 min drive · 16 mi
San Gervasio Ruins · ruins35 min drive · 15 mi
Mirador Chumul · viewpoint35 min drive · 18 mi
Faro Celarain · viewpoint35 min drive · 16 mi

Amenities

Pets Allowed

Heated Swimming Pool

Bicycle Rentals

Diving

Kids Club

Swim-Up Bar

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Show 6 more amenities

Free Wi-Fi

Nightly Entertainment

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

QuietModern

Seaweed & sargassum

Cozumel gets sargassum, typically worst May through August, and mostly on the east coast.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Cozumel →

Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 1,737 reviews

Chris D.

2 weeks ago

“This is our third visit to the Explorean all inclusive resort, and there is a lot to love about being here. First off, the rooms are quiet and secluded. Personally, I love not having a TV and there is still WiFi if you want to watch something on your...”

Ryan H.

3 months ago

“Came here with my wife for our honeymoon and had an absolutely wonderful time. The place was beautiful, the staff was great, and we never ran out of things to do. The daily activities were very fun, though we didn't do them all (we passed on the long...”

Linda S.

3 months ago

“We stayed at the Explorean Cozumel in late August, 2025. We throughly enjoyed the relaxing, friendly atmosphere of this boutique all inclusive. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the food was great, and the service exceptional. We appreciated the...”