Escape To Paradise At Iberostar Cozumel And Experience One Of The Most Famous Coral Reefs On Earth

From the moment my son and I stepped off the boat onto Cozumel Island our life in paradise began. Many people visit Isla Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, via cruise ship but this incredible destination deserves more than a few hours while your boat is docked. So if you really want to relax, unwind, and explore the sea, plan to stay awhile.

We were whisked to Cozumel Island from Playa del Carmen in about 30 minutes via Ultramar ferry and you can buy tickets online or at the ferry port. The boat ride itself is quite impressive with live music, snacks, restrooms, and a first class indoor seating area for an additional five dollars. Or sit outside and admire the turquoise blue water in all directions. We were arriving from another hotel in Riviera Maya so taking the ferry was the best option for us. But there is an airport on Cozumel Island and several commercial airlines fly directly into Cozumel International Airport including WestJet and Delta. Upon arrival take a taxi or rent a car to get to your hotel, there is no Uber.

Iberostar Cozumel, a five-star all-inclusive sustainable resort, was our home for the next few days. We chose it because we have stayed at other Iberostar resorts and love that they actively work to protect the oceans and improve coastal ecosystems. This family-owned Spanish hotel chain launched Wave of Change in 2017, proving their commitment as leaders in responsible tourism. Iberostar has no single use plastic at any of their resorts, they help conserve mangroves, and actively work to restore coral reefs. On the island they are starting to compost organic remains in the gardens and reuse water for irrigation. There are signs throughout the resort about sustainability.

After a refreshing welcome drink we walked to our adorable bungalow-style suite just steps from the beach, pools, and restaurants. We were immediately greeted by lounging iguanas, a stunning peacock showing off his feathers, and several friendly coatis curious to meet travelers from Ontario. We literally could not stop smiling.

Fully equipped villas are cozy and adorable in pretty colors like red and yellow. Each villa comes with a private hammock so you can spend your days reading, lounging, and soaking up island life as palm trees gently blow in the breeze.

Iberostar Cozumel is the perfect size – it has all the amenities you would want in a five-star all-inclusive resort including a relaxing spa, pools, fitness room, dive center, several bars, three themed restaurants and a buffet restaurant, and a kids club called Star Camp. But it’s not too big that you need a golf cart to get around. Additional hammocks are scattered throughout the property as well as a large wooden swing facing the ocean.

Here are a few more details about the resort.

Relaxation, Wellness, Pampering, And Fun

Visit SPA Sensations for a relaxing massage, exfoliating body treatment, facial, manicure, pedicure, or special treatments for kids. After your treatment destress in the hot tub sipping chlorophyll water. Iberostar hotels offer Aliveness, an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, nature and the environment. Cozumel must have magical powers because I convinced my teen to join me at sunset beach yoga. Classes are small and provide a wonderful opportunity to practice your Spanish. Other activities include volleyball, beach Zumba, archery, darts, water basketball, dance lessons, Pilates, and a big assortment of kids activities such as arts & crafts, bingo, face painting, and capture the flag.

The fitness room includes cardiovascular and resistance machines, spinning bikes, treadmills, free weight equipment, medicine balls, elastic bands, and a barbell so you can stay in shape while on vacation or create new habits to take back with you.

Healthy, Nutritious, And Sustainable Island Meals

The food is next level incredible and some of the best meals we ever had. Cozumel Buffet is a fresh fruit paradise with mango, pineapple, papaya, berries and citrus fruits. If you have special food requirements, simply inform staff in advance of your stay. My son and I are vegan and the Chefs prepared high quality and exciting meals such as oatmeal with fruit, nuts & seeds served in a coconut shell; vegan pancakes; unique salads with couscous, tofu and veggies; fresh spiralized zucchini pasta loaded with plant-based protein; and dishes created with healthy and sustainable grains.

Cozumel Buffet serves a different cuisine nightly including Mexican, Italian, Caribbean, and international. Other dining options include El Cedral buffet grill with live cooking demonstrations and delicious pasta and veggie dishes; Las dos Marías Mexican restaurant serves authentic and tasty meals in a Mexican cantina atmosphere; and La Pagoda Japanese restaurant has Asian-based dishes (vegan sushi is available). If chilling on the beach and crave a fancy cocktail look no further than the Beach Bar for a refreshing drink to sip under the sun.

Diving, Snorkeling, And Making Waves Of Change

Iberostar Cozumel is perfect for scuba divers and snorkelers. Dressel Divers are on site with their own boats and the dive center is always buzzing with excitement. You can snorkel right off the pier and swim among the fish.

Divers have a morning training session in the pool from a skilled PADI instructor (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) to learn how to equalize their ears and sinuses and become familiar with crucial hand signals while underwater, and by the afternoon divers are ready to explore under the sea. My son went to two diving spots with a small group and saw colorful fish, sea turtles, a stingray, beautiful coral, and many other aquatic creatures.

Also under the sea is the Wave of Change coral nursery. As part of Iberostar’s reef restoration efforts their coastal health team maintains coral nurseries. We had previously visited a Wave of Change above ground coral lab in Punta Cana and learned how scientists are attempting to protect coral from bleaching, diseases, hurricanes. Healthy coral reefs are crucial because they provide food, habitat, and spawning grounds for over a million species.

Restoration projects like these are more important than ever as hurricanes and storms magnified by climate change impact reefs in Mexico. As tourists we can all do our part by not disrupting nature or touching wild animals in the sea or on land and leaving only our footprints on Cozumel Island.

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