Puerta del Mar Cozumel

We had a relaxing week, but we won’t be back. The beach felt secluded, with only a little foot traffic, and had soft white sand. There was quite a lot of kelp and churned-up water, though, so visibility was poor. We swam there once, then preferred walking down the beach to swim off one of the resorts. Our upstairs room on the right had an ocean view and plenty of space, but the long stairway was a challenge with luggage. The building could use a facelift. Breakfast was included but very minimal. To get warm water in the shower, you had to run the bathroom tap for five minutes. It never got hot, and the water pressure was low. The bed was good, and there was a fridge and small microwave in the room. The hot tub on the grounds didn’t heat up, and only one or two jets worked.

The area felt safe throughout, and the locals were friendly and helpful wherever we went. We even walked all the way downtown one day. It took about an hour, but it was a pleasant, relaxing walk. A taxi into town was around $15 US, and there were a couple of restaurants about a 20-minute walk away if you don’t want to cook. You can also buy a meal ticket at the Melia resort front desk, and I think some other resorts offer this too. We stayed in a large, spacious unit with a full kitchen, and we felt treated like family from arrival until the sad goodbye. The property is peaceful and sits almost at the end of the beach, so it’s a good choice if you want privacy and no crowds. Our housekeeper Gina was such a pleasant, thoughtful person, and the owner Raul was especially considerate and looked after us. We’d come back without hesitation.

You get a great sea view here, and the place is close to the water. The rooms feel more like Airbnb units, and they clean them every day, but the shower is in very bad shape and maintenance is an issue. There were spider webs on the ceiling too. Breakfast is included, but don’t expect more based on the number of guests. There were bananas and melon. We didn’t feel welcome, and don’t expect a smile from anyone at this property.

There were only three other guests while we were there, so it was very quiet. The pool was small but clean, and the beach was clean too, although the ocean looked a little murky. Behind the bushes, the lounging area gives you some privacy from people passing by. The host, whose name I’ve forgotten, was polite and helpful. The interior is beautiful and upscale, almost like a museum, which was a pleasant surprise. There’s no restaurant or bar, but plenty of options are a 10-20 minute walk away. If you like this part of the island and want to avoid crowded resorts, I’d definitely recommend it.