Cozumel Lodging and other advice

jeffreyc · Since 23 Aug 2006 43 Posts

Has anyone traveled to cozumel recently and stayed at a place they would recommend? Also, Is the wind better on the mainland and is the trip over worth it?

Jeff

Nak · Sun Nov 13, 11 8:48 am

Search the forum for "Cozumel" lot's of great info.

See Adrian at: http://www.cozumelkiteboarding.com/default.asp Definitely the guy to hook up with. Great kiteboarding trips, and also owns the best restaurant in town!!

What do you want for lodging? Condo, or all inclusive? For condo: http://www.cozumeltom.com/default.cfm Great place, great guy.

For an all inclusive resort: http://www.meliacozumel.com/en/index.html Right on Country Club beach, relatively inexpensive, good breakfast and lunch, OK dinners. (That's OK 'cause you're going to want to hit town at night for partying and sampling the many excellent, reasonably priced, restaurants. ) Great unlimited liquor!

You WILL want a car on Cozumel. Reserve online BEFORE you go with one of the major auto rental companies. WAY more expensive to just show up and try and rent something.

On Northerly winds, the wind up North of Cancun at Isla Blanca is a bit more reliable. Incredible flat water spot. (Search here for my video of Isla Blanca.) Long damn day from Cozumel though. Get up, take the ferry, rent a car, drive to Isla Blanca, hike in--unless you have a 4WD--hike out, drive back, ferry. You could hit Tulum and save much of the drive and the hike, you'll have to hit up somebody else to see if it's worth it.

It's easy to get skunked at Cozumel, also easy to have great winds. Be mellow, accept what comes and have a great time. Lot's to do on Cozumellow!

Have fun!

Bettyboarder · Sun Nov 13, 11 11:22 am

We have been there several times and its awesome. If you want to relax and kite then stay at Tom's condo that Nak mentioned. If you want to go out at night at all think about staying downtown.

You should talk to Adrian he's a great guy, kiter and has an awesome restaurant.

How much do u want to spend? Going to mainland is a full day thing so it may or may not be worth it

A word of caution watch where you park the police will take the plate off your car if you park in the wrong place...then you have to go to court house to get it or pay $50 at car rental.

jeffreyc · Since 23 Aug 2006 43 Posts

Thanks. Great info. This will be my second trip, the first with the guys and this time with my wife. Shes a beginning kiter and hopefully we get more wind than last time. Maybe I'll get her a boat supported downwinder. Does Adrian have a boat.

Dec 9-20, if anyone else is going to be there let me know
Jeff

J_Matic · Since 14 Oct 2011 158 Posts InDaHo Stoked

North Cozumel there's a little place called 'isla de passion' and they have boat supported downwinders there too.

Had a blast riding shallow clear warm water with light but smooth winds.

As others said, look up Adrian--he's the go-to guy for all things Kiteboarding on the island.

Nak · Mon Nov 14, 11 11:05 am

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 597 Posts Addicted

I haven't been back recently. When we went, we stayed at Hotel Costa Brava. It was clean, had AC and a fridge, was far from fancy though. I guess it is the place where all the divers that are there year after year stay because its cheap and the price is right (was less thann $50 bucks a night double occupancy). This hotel is on the other side of the ramp all of the cruise ship tourists use to get in, and they all go the other way because thats where the shopping and all is. Great bar across the street called 'No Name'. It is where the cruise ship crew all go to party because the ship guests dont no about it, also a lot of the repeat crowd divers. Look it up, its rad. Hotel is also a block from the laundry and grocery store, and a very short walk from all the other typical stuff

If you can find a way to afford the extra bucks for adrian as a guide, it is worth it. When we were there, he was the only one that had access (as far as we knew) to a wildlife preserve type of place. It just so happened when we were there that this was the only place with the angle to launch for the wind we were getting. He can also use his boat to hook you up with some other really 'killKill' stuff that you wouldn't otherwise be able to access. I guess the short of it is that if you want to go there and enjoy cozumel and probably get to kite some, then you will be able to do it. If you want to go and probably kite a lot and it be killer, not have to worry about much, and get the inside track on everything go with Adrian.

heres the hotel info if you want it:

http://www.cozumel-hotels.net/costa_brava/

ericvs · Since 05 Jul 2008 133 Posts Stoked

Stay with Raul at the Casa Viento.

http://kitecozumel.com/content/blogsection/8/36/

Awesome place.

Have fun.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Adrian is pretty fun

http://www.cozumelkiteboarding.com/default.asp

Nak · Mon Nov 14, 11 11:34 pm

OK Gman, you can't just post that photo without a story! Very Happy

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1735 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hey jeff,
I was there back in late 2009 when hurricane ida came through.
I was there with jaz, kirsten and a couple of others.
we stayed at casa viento which is in the north country club area.
I felt pretty safe there during that storm. it made for a crazy night when the storm hit, but we faired just fine and had the best of wind the very next morning.
Jaz's father is raul, a former olympic windsurfer who now runs a kite school out of cozumel. check out www.kitecozumel.com and for accommodations you can check out http://www.casaviento.net/
When I go back, I'll absolutely go to Raul's place. He showed me a week of what can be done in Cozumel other than kiting, like exploring the island and visiting the crocs, paddleboard surfing, snorkeling, etc.
Yeah I'd love to check out PDC also and maybe tulum.