Cozumel represents exactly what many people imagine when they think about the Caribbean Sea: white sandy beaches and crystal clear warm turquoise water.
Every place in Cozumel is just a treat for your senses!
The Most Amazing Beaches with Clear Water in Cozumel, Mexico
Being that Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea, almost every beach here (and there are plenty) is astonishing. But, as in everything, there are always some that stand out from the rest.
I have created a ranked list for you (from last to first), of the top beaches in Cozumel where you will find amazing white sands and clear water!
10. Playa San Francisco
Playa San Francisco is located on the west side of Cozumel (map), near very famous beach clubs as are Mr. Sanchos and Playa Mia.
It is one of the more crowded beaches, but it’s a lot of fun. There are lots of water toys you can rent and also you can have a great lunch there.
Playa San Francisco is also famous for offering the best piña coladas in Cozumel. Don’t forget to try one!
Although it’s number 10 on my list (because I prefer more tranquil spots), it’s definitely worth the visit.
9. Playa Bonita
Punta Bonita or Beautiful Beach in English is located on the east part of the island (map).
It’s almost never crowded and the water there has fantastic shades of different colors.
History buffs love this beach because it has a small Mayan ruin.
The Mayans believed that this place was the end of civilization because it was the farthest place to the orient that they knew.
Insider Tip: After a hurricane, the beaches on the east side of Cozumel lost their electrical power, so everything you purchase there must be paid with cash. Credit cards aren’t accepted.
8. Playa Encantada
Playa Encantada or Enchanted Beach is a bit of a lonely beach located to the southeast point of Cozumel island.
It’s also very near an archaeological zone called El Caracol, which would also be worth your visit.
7. Playa San Juan
Playa San Juan is a white sandy beach with beautiful turquoise water.
Its soft waves make it an ideal place to practice some water sports such as windsurfing, diving, and snorkeling.
This place is surrounded by nature, so if you are into trekking, you will be able to find some great opportunities for this.
6. Playa San Martín
Playa San Martín is just south of another beach on this list (Playa Chen Río), on the east side of Cozumel (map).
The waves on the east side of Cozumel are more intense, so be cautious and responsible when visiting this beautiful beach.
Cozumel is an Eco-Friendly and Eco-Conscious Place!
Cozumeleños (as locals are called) are very proactive in trying to make Cozumel a more sustainable place.
The authorities in Cozumel are always promoting campaigns in favor of the environment.
At the moment, the coral reef (which is one of the most beautiful and biggest in the world), preservation is of utmost importance in Cozumel.
“Cozumel is the most spectacular diving site in the world.”
Jacques Cousteau
You can no longer use any kind of sunblock or sunscreen in Cozumel, it must be biodegradable in order to protect the coral reefs.
5. Punta Sur Eco Beach Park
Located at the south point of the island (hence its name: Punta Sur = South Point) (map), Punta Sur is one of the 4 government-owned and promoted parks in Cozumel.
Although Punta Sur is a government-owned beach, there is an entry fee, you can check operating hours (they close on Sundays) and prices on their webpage.
It’s a beautiful place with white beaches and clear water.
This beach is a treat for snorkeling!
Aside from the magnificent beach that you’ll find there, you have the added bonus of being able to visit a museum lighthouse, a crocodile viewing area, and some small Mayan ruins. You can also have a good meal at this gorgeous beach.
Beautiful Beach!!
We rented a jeep and ended up in Punta Sur. There is a big beautiful beach with great snorkeling! We snorkeled for a couple of hours, ate at Papitos, and then snorkeled for a couple more hours…it was that good! We saw lobster, sting ray, starfish, conch, lionfish, barracuda, sea turtles, and many other fish.
Tristan W (Trip Advisor Reviewer from Forest Lake, Minnesota) 5 Star Review
4. Playa Chen Río
Playa Chen Río, on the east side of Cozumel (map), is in my opinion, the best beach on that side of the island.
It’s a special place because there are naturally formed tide pools in which the sand and water are just amazing!
Another cool particular thing about Chen Río is that many locals visit this beach, and tourists and locals blend in perfect harmony.
This is also a great place to eat because there are several restaurants and bars around the area (don’t forget that on the east part of the island bringing cash is the best option).
Cozumel´s Average Water Temperature
The average year-round temperature of the Caribbean Sea around Cozumel’s beaches is 80.6 °F.
Cozumel Year-Round Weather (In Detail)
As you can see, the water temperature in Cozumel is great year-round.
There’s another article on this website, where I go in-depth about Cozumel’s year-round weather, in case you are interested.
And now for the Top 3 Best Beaches in Cozumel with Crystal Clear Water…
The top 3 best beaches with crystal clear water in Cozumel Mexico are Palancar, Isla de La Pasión, and El Cielo
3. Playa Palancar
Playa Palancar (map) is an astonishing public beach in Cozumel that’s open all year long and free to visit.
There are several restaurants in Palancar beach where for reasonable prices you can have a great meal and drinks.
Also, it has one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world where you can snorkel and get to see the most colorful and beautiful species of marine life.
With any luck, you might even get the chance to swim with a Hawksbill Sea Turtle!
2. Isla Pasión (Passion Island)
Isla Pasión (Passion Island) is located to the north of Cozumel. It is a small island (still part of Cozumel) to which you have to get to by boat. It’s totally worth it!
It’s a privately owned 2 km long place where the white sand and turquoise water are just spectacular!
Considered the most romantic place in the Mexican Caribbean, if you are in Cozumel with your romantic partner, this place is a must.
How to get to Isla Pasión Cozumel
The only way to get to Isla Pasión in Cozumel is by boat. You can take a small boat that you can hire in the north part of Cozumel, but the easiest way is by booking a tour.
There are 2 tours (both of them about 5 hours in duration) that can take you to Isla Pasión that I would recommend:
1. El Cielo, Cozumel
It’s amazing that so few people know about this spectacular unforgettable place!
Without a doubt, it’s the most amazing beach with clear water in Cozumel!
It by far deserves the number one place regarding clear water beaches in Cozumel and certainly is in the top 3 in all of the Mexican beaches in the Caribbean Sea!
So why is this amazing beach in Cozumel called El Cielo? It’s called El Cielo (The Sky in English), because of the amazing clarity of its water and the wonderful amount of starfish (alluding to stars in the sky) that you can find in its bottom!
Standing in crystal clear water, sandy bottom
Very relaxing, boat captains bring drinks and snacks for you. Stingrays and coffin fish swim around you. It is gorgeous and a real gem.
John P. Trip Advisor reviewer from Virginia. 5 Star Review
Heaven on earth!
This place is Caribbean dream location, it’s hard to believe that all those shades of blue exist in one spot!
It’s name “ el Cielo” is easy the understand “Heaven”, but actually it’s the “Sky” because of the thousands of sea stars that live here.
Maurice Elen van Kralingen (5 Star Trip Advisor review)
This is a place you can’t miss!
To conclude…
I hope you enjoyed this picture-filled article about stunning clear water beaches that Cozumel has to offer!
If you’d like more articles similar to this one please let me know.
Your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.
If you go to any of the beaches I recommended here, you will most likely have a great Cozumel Day!
Photo Credits Cover Image courtesy of Fernando Jorge All images embedded from Instagram belong to their respective owners.Fernando Jorge Jakob Owens Clem Onojeghuo Matthew T Rader