Oceanfront Resort with Sunbathing Beach and Dive Shop

When filmmaker and famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau visited Cozumel in the 1960s, he proclaimed its reef-filled waters to be among the world’s finest for diving. His praise helped put the island on the map as a prime scuba-diving destination. The beauty speaks for itself, though; you can see the reef through crystal-clear water, as there’s up to 100 feet of visibility at some points. It’s inhabited by more than 200 species of fish. Fronting a beach on the Cozumel coast, Coral Princess Hotel & Resort has an onsite PADI-certified dive shop where you can sign up for guided snorkeling and scuba tours.

Fodor’s endorses Coral Princess, stating that “a relaxed family feel makes [it] a north-coast favorite.” The resort’s sunbathing beach embodies this laid-back ethos; it overlooks the Caribbean and is lined with thatch-roof umbrellas and lounge chairs. The oceanfront pool, meanwhile, has a swim-up bar that serves tropical drinks and features live music. You can also unwind with a massage at the ocean-view Spa Coral or head to the onsite karaoke bar to liven things up with a round on the pool table or Xbox Kinect.

Dining options include Coral Princess Hotel & Resort’s main restaurant, Buenaventura Terrasse, which serves a mix of traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine on an outdoor terrace. The resort’s also just minutes from other local restaurants in San Miguel, Cozumel’s only town.

Cozumel, Mexico: Relaxed Tropical Island with World-Class Diving

Cozumel, Mexico’s largest Caribbean island, lies just off the eastern coast of the Yucatán peninsula. Compared to Cancún—Mexico's spring-break capital, located 50 miles north—Cozumel is decidedly laid-back. Formerly a fishing settlement, the island remains blissfully free of high-rise resorts and other signs of overdevelopment. Visitors here tend to focus more on exploring the wilderness than on late-night beach parties. Adventure-tour companies arrange expeditions by land or by sea, including trips to ancient Mayan ruins and the island’s jungles, marshes, and dive sites known for deep canyons and tunnels.

More than 500 species of fish swim among turtles, rays, and countless other aquatic animals inside the coral formations at Palancar Reef, one of the dozens of diving and snorkeling sites encircling Cozumel. Another site, just off the northwestern coast, houses a 40-passenger Convair airliner. Sunk in 1977 for the filming of a Mexican disaster movie, the plane has become overgrown with coral and sea fans and is frequented by schools of colorful parrotfish. Above the surface, you’ll find white-sand beaches frequented by sunbathers.

There's only one city on the island—San Miguel de Cozumel, where street vendors on a waterfront promenade sell everything from jewelry to Cuban cigars. It’s also where you’ll find an assortment of clubs and bars showcasing live reggae-salsa fusion and jazz bands.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.