Cancun vs Cozumel: Mexico All-Inclusive Vacation

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Mexico is an amazing place for a family getaway. From the beautiful beaches to the all-inclusive resorts and activities, there’s something for everyone. We often hear people ask where is the best place to vacation in Mexico and particularly within Quintana Roo, along Mexico’s eastern coast. Deciding between Cancun vs Cozumel (and even Riviera Maya vs Cancun) can be a tough decision. After several trips to the Caribbean side of Mexico, we have some insight to offer based on personal experience.

So whether you’re trying to pick the best vacation destination in the Yucatan Peninsula or the most kid-friendly resorts in Mexico, we have you covered with these tips.

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Determine a Budget for Your Family Vacation in Mexico First

If you’re planning a family vacation in Mexico, you’ll find that the options are almost endless in terms of resorts and amenities. (Whether you’re looking for a budget resort, a luxury resort or anything in between!) For that reason, deciding on a budget for a family trip to Mexico can help to narrow down the options.

As a general rule of thumb, moderate all-inclusive resorts in Mexico tend to be priced lower than many Caribbean destinations. This is primarily because there are so many resorts at different price points, opposed to smaller Caribbean islands with fewer resorts.

Prices depend on a number of variables including departure airport, time of year and resort type. It’s also possible to get package pricing that includes the resort, roundtrip airfare and airport transfers. Feel free to contact me, Amanda Emmerling, for assistance with planning and booking the best Mexico all-inclusive resort for your family. I’m a travel agent and would love to help you!

Cost for Children at All-Inclusive Resorts

Traveling with kids Mexico? There are many family-friendly all-inclusive resorts in Mexico that allow kids to stay for free. At the Grand Park Royal Resorts, for example, kids under 6 years old are typically free. That’s a great value when you consider that your kids may be able to travel to Mexico (and eat and play all week) for just the cost of a flight. Even if they’re not free, the rates for kids at all inclusive resorts are typically heavily discounted and can be a great value.

Decide on the Best Place for a Family Vacation in Mexico

Choosing the best place to visit in Mexico with your family can be overwhelming with so many options. If you’re looking for an easy and safe vacation, we recommend sticking to the more touristy areas in Mexico by the beach.

One thing to consider is whether you plan to spend a lot of time on the resort of if you’re looking to explore. For the purpose of this article, we’re specifically focusing on family-friendly destinations in (or near) the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Cancun and especially Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres, have some of the prettiest beaches in the area. Riviera Maya is also great for beaches as well as tropical jungle-like resorts and access to nearby excursions. Cozumel, on the other hand, is more limited on family-friendly and all-inclusive resorts, but it’s a great destination for diving given the coral reefs surrounding the island.

Keep reading for more information on Cancun vs Cozumel for a family trip to Mexico.

Visiting Cancun for a Family Vacation

Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo on Mexico’s eastern shore of the Caribbean. The beaches in Cancun are beautiful with white sand and blue waters. The Hotel Zone in Cancun is very close to the Cancun International Airport. That means you can easily access a number of nonstop flights to Cancun, especially during the busier travel seasons when routes are more frequent. If you’re looking for the best resorts in Cancun for families, I would love to help you choose the best resort for your family interests and budget! Contact me here to get started.

Is Cancun good for kids? We received this question a lot when sharing with others that we went to Cancun for a family trip. While it may be traditionally more known for the spring breakers and nightlife, Cancun is actually very kid-friendly. Cancun is close to the airport and the beach is beautiful. Plus, there are tons of kid-friendly resorts in Cancun as well.

Things to Do in Cancun for Families

The great thing about Cancun it’s close to a number of popular sights in the Yucatan Peninsula. Below are some ideas of popular things to do in Cancun, with kids or without. While we didn’t have a lot of free time on our most recent trip, I’m definitely looking forward to doing some of these Cancun excursions on future visits!

• See the some of the best Mayan ruins in Mexico at Chichen Itza.
• Swim with the whale sharks off the coast of Cancun.
• Visit Xcaret Park or Xplor Park for a day of adventure.
• Explore the best cenotes in Mexico along the Yucatan Peninsula with a guided tour of the Cenote Route.
• Discover Cancun street food with a locally guided food and art tour of Cancun.
• Sail to Isla Mujeres by catamaran from Cancun.
• Take a day trip to Tulum from Cancun to see Tulum’s Archeological Zone against the Caribbean Sea.

Visiting Cozumel for a Family Vacation

Cozumel is an island located off the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, right across the water from Playa del Carmen. With Cozumel being surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, it definitely feels more tropical than some of the neighboring towns in Quintana Roo. Cozumel is well known for its diverse coral reefs that make it great for diving and snorkeling.

Cozumel has a small international airport that you can fly into directly. You can also get to Cozumel from Cancun by driving to Playa del Carmen and taking the ferry from there. If you’re looking for one of the best Cozumel, Mexico all inclusive resorts, check out our review of the Grand Park Royal Cozumel.

For booking information and current rates for the Grand Park Royal Cozumel, feel free to contact me to get started!

Family-friendly things to do in Cozumel

Just like Cancun, there’s an endless amount of fun things to do in Cozumel. In addition to exploring the island itself, it’s also easy to get to the Yucatan Peninsula for day trips from Cozumel. Cozumel is known for its diving throughout several diverse coral reefs. When we were there, we met so many people who visit Cozumel frequently for the diving alone.

Below are a few excursion ideas for your next family vacation to Cozumel.

• Take a glass bottom boat tour in Cozumel for snorkeling in 3 different reefs.
• Visit Chankanab Beach Adventure Park for a snorkeling adventure and beautiful beach. You can find a day pass for Chankanab here.
• Take ATVs on a tour through Jade Cavern in Cozumel.
• Swim with the Stingrays at Stingray Beach.
• See a Mayan ball game and have a traditional Mexican fiesta at Kun Che Park.

Riviera Maya vs Cancun or Cozumel

Riviera Maya is also located in the Yucatan Peninsula, and it’s about equal travel time from Cancun and Cozumel. It’s known for its larger resorts that are often very secluded.

Riviera Maya or Cancun: which is better? This comes down to personal preference and resort amenities that are important to you. The resorts in Riviera Maya are typically more spread out, which can often mean more amenities but also a lot more walking. They are typically great for multi-family vacations in Mexico. The beaches can also get a little more sargassum depending on the time of year and exact location.

The Hotel Zone in Cancun, on the other hand, tends to have more compact hotel-like resorts. The beaches are beautiful but will often have public access, vs Riviera Maya resorts that are typically more secure. The Hotel Zone in Cancun is great if you want to access restaurants and other things to do off property, and it also has some of the best sunrises AND sunsets. If you want the prettiest beaches in the Cancun area, north in Playa Mujeres or Costa Mujeres is typically my pick for the best beaches in Cancun.

Cozumel is typically a great option if you have easy access to nonstop flights there, are interested in diving or have a cruise stop. We recently visited Cozumel on a Disney cruise and had a great time at an all-inclusive resort for the day. If you’re choosing between Cozumel or the Cancun area, however, I would typically pick Cancun for a family vacation given the better overall quality of resorts and amenities.

Where to Stay in Cancun and Cozumel

With so many resorts on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, here are some things I typically look for when choosing the best family resort in the Cancun area:

• Kids’ Clubs. Most family-friendly resorts will have access to kids’ clubs included in the rate, although some will vary in terms of the age requirements.
• Kids’ pool with water slides. This is huge when you’re visiting Mexico with kids. Many resorts will have splash pads for younger kids and bigger slides for older kids.
• Adults only areas. If you’re traveling with kids but still want some kid-free time, many resorts will have adults only pools. And if you’re traveling without kids
• Daily activities for kids and adults. In addition to the kids’ clubs, most resorts will have hourly activities and daily/ nightly entertainment for all ages. Be sure to ask about this if having a lively resort is important to you!
• A variety of food options including quick service meals. In addition to the buffets, most resorts will have several sit-down dinner options and quick cafes. Our favorite is unlimited lattes and ice cream!
• Easy access to excursions and activities. This can vary depending on the location, and Riviera Maya area tends to the best for access to activities.
• Access to beautiful beaches. Beaches around Cancun and Riviera Maya can vary widely in terms of the size and quality of the beach. If the beach is important to you, be sure to check this beforehand. (One of many reasons to use a travel agent for a Cancun all-inclusive!)

Some of my favorite resorts in the Cancun area include:

• Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo or Maya Suites for multi-family vacations in Mexico with access to the waterpark and tons of amenities.
• Dreams Playa Mujeres for a luxury family resort or Grand Velas for a high-end family resort in Riviera Maya.
• Atelier, Secrets & Impressions Moxche, Secrets Maroma, Haven or Valentin for adults only resorts

There are dozens more that I’ve booked and/or visited. As always, feel free to contact me for help with planning your next family vacation!

Best Time to Travel to Cozumel and Cancun

Fortunately, the weather in Cozumel and Cancun is warm all-year round. It typically hovers around 80 F, with the summer being warmer. The best time to visit Cozumel and Cancun is typically from mid-November until early June. July to October is not only very hot, but it’s also when hurricane season occurs in the Caribbean.

If you’re looking for the best prices and lowest crowds in Mexico, April, May, November and early December are typically best.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Mexico

I also wanted to take a minute to cover safety in Mexico. If you’ve gotten questions family or have concerns yourself, you’re probably wondering, is Cancun safe for travel? And is Cozumel safe to visit? When we first considered traveling to Mexico with a toddler, safety was definitely a consideration. We hadn’t been to Mexico in several years and things have changed. Plus, a lot of our family tends to be more conservative when it comes to travel.

While safety can’t be guaranteed in any location you travel to, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Stick to the touristy areas and make sure the area you’re visiting isn’t on the do not travel list for Mexico.
2. Prearrange transportation from the airport. You can find options for pre-arranged transportation from the Cancun airport here. 
3. Only do excursions through reputable tour companies.
4. Check for updates on the Zika virus in Mexico if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive.
5. Don’t drink the tap water at your Mexico resort unless it’s filtered.
6. Avoid places like night clubs outside of your resort late at night. (Usually not difficult when traveling to Mexico with kids!)

Cancun vs Cozumel: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re having trouble deciding between Cozumel or Cancun, consider visiting both. Getting from Cancun to Cozumel is fairly easy and affordable. Plus, the scenery in Cozumel and Cancun is SO different that you don’t even feel like you’re in the same area.

If you’re interested in splitting your time between Cancun and Cozumel, below are the steps to get from Cancun to Cozumel.

1. Book a transfer from Cancun to Playa del Carmen.
2. Book the Ultramar Ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel here. Note: There is not a direct ferry from Cancun to Cozumel.
3. Take a taxi from the ferry to your hotel. (Or prearrange a pick up from your hotel.)

Alternative, you can also fly from Cancun to Cozumel on airlines like MayaAir, but it’s typically not worth the time it takes to arrive at the airport and fly there.

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