Safari Inn

For the price, this place was perfect and very central. The people were all really nice, and the AC worked well and quietly. The WiFi wasn’t great. They gave us a small fridge, though most rooms don’t come with one, and the thin slatted wooden bathroom door didn’t offer much privacy. We also lost two towels and were charged $24 USD, which felt a little crazy, but that was my fault. Ha. I’d recommend it if you travel like me and only sleep at the hotel. If you go to Cozumel for the hotels, you’re doing it wrong. Go diving or snorkeling, rent a scooter or Jeep at HTL, I think that’s the name, and explore the beautiful other side of the island.

The people here were especially kind and helpful, particularly seňora Flores. We had a comfortable stay with a large bed, air conditioning, and a street entrance. They can arrange a snorkeling trip on site, and with the staff's permission we were able to leave our things there during the day.

I was told the divers would choose the site together at the start, but once we were underway, the crew said the locations had already been decided. We couldn't suggest any alternatives. The second site was the least interesting I've seen, just scattered coral outcrops among sandy slopes. Since I was diving alone, they paired me with a guide. I thought that was lucky, but he told me to go ahead because he needed to watch the other divers, so I ended up by myself. The leaders didn't check each diver beforehand and seemed to expect everyone to manage on their own. The staff were friendly enough, though the manager was rather rude. The gear was about what you'd expect from an ordinary dive shop. Their boat is large and slow, so for quicker trips to the sites, I'd look for a shop with a smaller boat that goes about twice as fast. This is a good example of why the shop closest to the main road isn't necessarily the best choice. There are better options in town.

The hotel and dive staff were excellent and friendly, and I would visit again. The Aqua Safari Inn is an older place, but it was clean and comfortable, right in downtown San Miquel near restaurants, bars, the ferry terminal, and the town square. Parking is very limited, though there is room for scooters. The pier is across the street for diving, snorkeling, and other boating activities. There wasn't a TV in the room, if that matters to you. Wi-Fi is available, but it was occasionally spotty.