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Home » Destinations » Central America » Mexico

Cozumel Day Trip: An Afternoon at Playa Palancar

Modified: Jan 20, 2024 · Published: Dec 2, 2013 by Dave Lee |

Where do we go now? It was the question on all our minds after disembarking the ferry from Playa del Carmen, surviving a gauntlet of touts trying to rent us cars and scooters, and reaching the end of a shop-lined pedestrian street in San Miguel de Cozumel.

Boarding the ferry for a Cozumel day trip in Mexico.
Boarding the ferry to Cozumel

Under the intense mid-day sun, Will and Renae were looking for a quick answer, but I didn't have one.

Getting us to Cozumel was the easy party, requiring only that we pay $25 for a roundtrip ferry ticket at Playa de Carmen's tiny port.

Where to go once we arrived? That was the real challenge for the lackadaisical traveler.

Approaching Cozumel
Approaching Cozumel

Located a mere six miles off the coast of Mexico, Cozumel's small size and turquoise waters have been attracting divers, cruise ship passengers, and Spring Breakers for years.

Taking a day trip to Cozumel was my idea, yet I hadn't found much information for independent travelers online. I figured we'd arrive, and the answers would magically present themselves. They didn't.

We approached a nearby taxi and asked about our beach options. He said there were only a few public beaches on the island and recommended Playa Palancar on the southwestern edge of Cozumel.

It was about a 20-minute drive and would cost us each about $5 (or $15 total, one way).

Playa Palancar is one of the few public beaches
Playa Palancar is one of the few public beaches.

Upon arrival, we asked our driver to wait while we scoped out the beach. It was perfect, so we paid him and took shade under one of the thatched umbrellas.

The beach may have been public, but you're expected to spend some money on drinks, if not food. We hadn't eaten lunch by then, so it wasn't a tough sell.

Restaurant menu at Playa Palancar
The restaurant menu at Playa Palancar

I ordered (three) chicken tacos, fresh coconut water (served in the coconut), and at least one other drink. Including tips, the total came to $18. They only accept cash, so come prepared.

Beers, including Corona and Modelo, cost $2.30 apiece, which still isn't bad by Western standards. A pina colada and most other mixed drinks will run you double that, or $5.45.

Playa Palancar, Cozumel
Playa Palancar, Cozumel

After lunch, we all went for a swim. The water was a little murky right along the beach, but we were told it could be crystal clear on a good day.

We'd gotten a late start to the day in Playa del Carmen, so by the time we'd eaten lunch and taken a quick dip, the staff at Playa Palancar were beginning to close up shop.

A few taxi drivers had been camped out in the parking lot, so we were quickly able to get a ride back to the island's main city, San Miguel de Cozumel.

Related: 24 Hours in Tulum, Mexico

The perfect places to watch the sunset
The perfect places to watch the sunset

As we closed in on the pier in San Miguel, I asked the driver if there was a good place to grab a drink and watch the sunset.

He dropped us off at one of several thatched-roof beach bars facing west toward Mexico.

We had the place to ourselves, and the staff even allowed me to plug in my iPhone so we could listen to some Bob Marley.

Sunset
Sunset

One of the night things about Mexico's Pacific coast and beach towns like Sayulita and San Pancho is the ability to watch beautiful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean on a nightly basis.

If you're making a day trip to Cozumel, I recommend sticking around long enough to catch the sunset.

Statues along the boardwalk
Statues along the boardwalk

Once the sun faded below the horizon, we began walking back to the pier along the boardwalk.

Along the way, a series of interesting statutes appear all the more dramatic against a colorful sky.

The smallest Hard Rock Cafe in the world
The smallest Hard Rock Cafe in the world

Last but not least, we poked our noses inside Cozumel's very own Hard Rock Cafe, billed as the smallest Hard Rock in the world.

The inside was decorated with the usual music memorabilia, including a white Fender Stratocaster signed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it was by no means small.

In retrospect, our day trip to Cozumel was a relaxed approach toward doing things on Mexico's Riviera Maya.

More ambitious visitors might be inclined to rent a car or scooter and drive around the entire island, visiting as many beaches and points of interest as possible. We were happy to take our time and enjoy one.

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. lucy says

    December 11, 2013 at 5:43 am

    Great pictures and fabulous post.One of the things I’m most looking forward to when I visit Cozumel is catching the sunset.

  2. Barbara says

    December 12, 2013 at 10:06 am

    That sounds like my kinda day! Loved the photos and that Hard Rock really looks interesting!

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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