Cancun or Cozumel for families? Many people ask this question when planning a family vacation to Mexico. Both of these destinations are excellent places for a family vacation. But they are quite different from each other and offer exactly opposite experiences.
In this article, we have compared these two destinations with different parameters in order to help you to make the right decision for your family vacation.
Cancun is perfect for families seeking an action-packed holiday loaded with numerous activities, magnificent beaches, and vibrant nightlife, whilst Cozumel is ideal for families seeking a quiet vacation filled with serene beaches and true tropical vibes.
Cancun or Cozumel For Families
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Why You Should Visit Cancun Over Cozumel For a Family Vacation?
If your family loves a lively atmosphere and want to explore the endless touristic activities that Cancun has to offer along with bustling nightlife and gorgeous white sand beaches then choose Cancun over Cozumel for a family vacation.
Why You Should NOT Visit Cancun Over Cozumel For a Family Vacation?
Cancun is more commercialized and crowded as compared to Cozumel. That’s why even though it has gorgeous beaches, it doesn’t give the feel of a tropical vacation.
Why You Should Visit Cozumel Over Cancun For a Family Vacation?
Unlike Cancun, Cozumel has laid-back vibes. Cozumel is a slow-paced destination that offers a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Cozumel is the perfect choice for those families who want a relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Why You Should NOT Visit Cozumel Over Cancun For a Family Vacation?
Cancun has a plethora of activities ranging from upscale shopping malls to bustling nightclubs, but Cozumel is far less developed and thus has far fewer activities. Apart from beaches and snorkeling, there isn’t much else to do in Cozumel.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Which has Family-friendly Vibes?
Cancun and Cozumel both are great destinations for a family vacation. But even though they are close to each other they are quite different from each other. So before comparing both Cancun and Cozumel for a family vacation you should know what kind of family vacation do you want.
Cancun
Cancun offers cosmopolitan vibes. Cancun is a vibrant city surrounded by hundreds of premium resorts and restaurants. Cancun is Central America’s most popular tourist destination and a metropolis of over a million people, so it’s unsurprising that it’s busier and more crowded than Cozumel.
With its bustling beaches and vibrant nightclubs, Cancun is an ideal destination for families seeking a more lively vacation.
Cozumel
Cozumel is exactly the opposite of Cancun. It is known for its laid-back vibes. It is a little island located a few miles off the Playa del Carmen shore. Simply put, it is away from the city’s hustle and bustle, and that is what makes Cozumel so enticing. Cozumel, in contrast to overly commercialized Cancun, provides a more authentic taste of the tropical environment.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Which Location has more Family-friendly Beaches?
Both Cancun and Cozumel offer outstanding beaches which are quite different from each other and appeal to different kinds of visitors. Firstly, let’s find out which has beautiful beaches between Cancun and Cozumel.
Cancun has hands down, more beautiful beaches than Cozumel. Cancun is known for its soft, white sand powdery beaches surrounded by azure blue waters of the Caribbean ocean. In fact, Cancun’s picturesque beaches are the main attraction for most of the tourists who spend most of their time on Cancun’s beaches.
When it comes to Cozumel, it is not known for its white-sand powdery beaches. Unlike Cancun, Cozumel’s beaches are less developed, small, and rockier and are not as beautiful and pristine as Cancun’s.
Now, let’s see which has more family-friendly beaches between Cancun and Cozumel.
Cancun
Cancun’s beaches are highly commercialized so if you are on a family vacation you will easily find upscale resorts and restaurants right some distance away from the popular beaches.
However, you must know there are many beaches in Cancun which have rough waters. Such beaches with rough waters are not ideal for swimming and so not ideal for families with little kids.
But, fortunately, there are still many beaches like Playa Caracol and Playa Langosta with calm and shallow waters in Cancun which offer perfect conditions for families with little ones. Also, you will find lifeguard stations on nearly every beach in Cancun.
On the downside, due to its huge popularity, Cancun’s beaches are quite crowded and commercialized. And hence you won’t get a feeling of a tropical vacation in Cancun.
Cozumel
Cozumel, too, has good family-friendly beaches but you should know where they are!! Cozumel’s west coast offers beaches with calmer waters and great snorkeling. That’s why there are many family-friendly beaches on the west coast of Cozumel like Playa Mia Grand Beach Park and Playa Chen Rio.
But avoid going to the east coast of Cozumel as it is not suitable for families due to rougher waters. Cozumel’s beaches are quite underdeveloped, so unlike Cancun, you won’t find a series of hotels and resorts on their borders. Cozumel’s beaches are more relaxing, calmer, and more in touch with nature and hence give the feel of tropical vibes.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation, both Cancun and Cozumel offer attractive all-inclusive vacation packages. This all-inclusive vacation package includes nearly everything from flight costs to accommodation, meals, and various drinks.
That’s why these all-inclusive packages are a great option for families and honeymooners as they don’t need to spend extra cash except for outdoor excursions. Usually, for around $2000 you will find a good all-inclusive resort in both Cancun and Cozumel for a family of four.
Even though both Cancun and Cozumel offer great all-inclusive packages, still Cancun’s resorts are more cultivated. Also, Cancun offers a wide range of accommodation options as compared to Cozumel.
Cancun is highly commercialized that’s why you will easily find many high-end shopping malls, nightclubs, and restaurants just some distance away from your resort. Unfortunately, Cozumel is not as highly developed as Cancun. It is more suited for those people who love laid-back vibes.
Cancun vs. Cozumel: Which has more natural vibes ?
Cancun
The one thing I don’t like about Cancun is that it seems like a concrete jungle. Cancun has pristine white sand beaches but those beaches are bordered by hundreds of high-end resorts, restaurants, and shopping malls. Due to high commercialization, Cancun has lost its touch with nature.
So, if you are planning a vacation to Cancun, don’t expect the tropical vibes with palm trees. Another thing is that Cancun is very Americanized. Many North Americans come to Cancun expecting Mexican vibes but when they come to Cancun they get disappointed. In fact, it is hard to find genuine Mexican cuisines in Cancun.
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Cozumel
Fortunately, Cozumel still is in touch with nature as it is underdeveloped. In fact, a large part of Cozumel is covered in lush green forest. So, if your family loves nature then Cozumel is a better choice than Cancun. Also, unlike Cancun, Cozumel is not Americanized. That means it offers genuine Mexican vibes.
Apart from its pristine beaches, Cancun offers a wide range of water sports activities and excellent snorkeling spots to add more fun and adventure to your family vacation.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Nightlife
Cancun
It is no secret that Cancun is world-famous for its vibrant nightlife. Cancun is not just known for its white-sand beaches and upscale shopping complexes; it also boasts world-class nightclubs that will keep you engaged throughout the night.
Punta Cancun is the best place to experience Cancun’s nightlife. This area is densely packed with nightclubs and pubs where you could spend the entire night dancing and drinking.
The best thing about Cancun’s nightlife is that there is a Cancun party pass available. You’ll get free drinks and access to multiple Cancun nightclubs without having to wait in line with this party pass. Cancun’s party pass is a great option if you’re looking for a convenient and affordable way to party all night.
Cozumel
Unlike Cancun, Cozumel is not known for its vibrant nightlife. Clearly, Cancun outshines Cozumel in terms of nightlife. Cozumel, too, boasts modern beach bars and nightclubs known for their live music, cocktails, and stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. However, none of the nightclubs in Cozumel can compete with those in Cancun. Cozumel is often very quiet after 11 p.m. in comparison to other famous tourist destinations in Mexico.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Safety
Unfortunately, Mexico doesn’t have a good reputation when it comes to safety. And if you are -planning a family vacation to Mexico then obviously you may have some doubt about safety.
It is true that most parts of Mexico are not safe but fortunately, famous tourist destinations in Mexico like Cancun, Cabo, and Cozumel are quite safe as compared to other parts of Mexico. That is why tourism in Cancun and Cozumel continues to increase at a rapid pace.
We think Cozumel is safer than Cancun for family vacations. Cozumel is less congested than Cancun and is a small peaceful island separated from the mainland, which is why families feel more secure in Cozumel.
Also, the local people of Cozumel love and respect tourists. They want tourism to prosper in Cozumel so they try to help tourists in every possible way. Cancun, too, is a relatively safe location if you stay within the hotel zone.
There have been reports of violent crime in the area surrounding Cancun, so if you are considering a Cancun holiday, avoid venturing too far from the hotel zone.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Snorkeling
Cozumel
If you are a fan of snorkeling, undoubtedly head directly to the Cozumel. Apart from Cozumel’s beautiful beaches and laid-back vibes, snorkeling is another reason why so many tourists flock to Cozumel every year.
There is absolutely no doubt that Cozumel is home to some of the best snorkeling spots in the world. In fact, according to famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau Cozumel is one of the best places in the world for scuba diving.
The reason why Cozumel has good beaches for snorkeling it is located near the second largest coral reef named Mesoamerican Reef. This coral reef is brimming with colorful marine life and crystal clear waters.
Also, Cozumel’s rockier beaches offer an ideal habitat for marine creatures to thrive. You will find diverse marine life including turtles, stingrays, corals, crabs, and more than 250 fish species.
The joy of snorkeling in Cozumel’s crystal clear water while exploring its colorful and diverse marine life is unparalleled. There are many excellent snorkeling spots in Cozumel but Playa Palancar and Chankanaab Park are our favorites.
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Cancun
Cancun, too, is an excellent snorkeling destination. Cancun is home to numerous excellent snorkeling locations, including Isla Mujeres and Akumal. Especially, Cancun’s underwater museum, popularly known as ‘MUSA,’ is the world’s largest underwater museum and a must-see attraction.
Over 500 life-sized sculptures are housed in the Cancun’s underwater museum, which is located at a depth of ten meters beneath the ocean. This museum is accessible via scuba or snorkeling.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Family-friendly Activities
Cancun
When it comes to activities, Cancun is undeniably the clear winner. There are countless activities for families to explore in Cancun. You may spend time relaxing on Cancun’s beautiful white sand beaches or diving into Cancun’s refreshing natural swimming pools known as “Cenotes.”
Cancun also offers snorkelling, surfing, flyboarding, jungle boat tours, and scuba diving. The world-class retail malls in Cancun provide everything from designer jewellery to traditional Mexican arts and crafts, as well as family-friendly entertainment. Never forget Cancun’s exciting nightlife, where you can drink and dance all night.
Cozumel
Cozumel is best known for its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and world-class snorkeling. Unfortunately, Cozumel is not as developed as Cancun, so aside from its beautiful beaches and snorkeling, there isn’t much to do in Cozumel. As a result, there are far fewer world-class shopping malls and nightclubs in Cozumel than in Cancun.
Cancun vs Cozumel: Things to do with Family
Cancun
Swimming with Dolphin
This is a must-do activity if you are visiting Cancun with toddlers. Dolphins are highly interactive animals that children adore. There are numerous locations in Cancun, such as Playa Mujeres and Punta Cancun, where your children can swim with dolphins and engage with them. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
La Isla Shopping Village
There are numerous world-class shopping malls in Cancun, but we pick La Isla shopping village as our favorite. Numerous entertainment options are available here, including movie theatres, ice cream parlors, restaurants, shops, and an aquarium. It’s an excellent spot for entertainment.
Ride ATVs
Riding an ATV through the Yucatan jungle is a lot of fun. It’s an excellent way to explore the Yucatan jungle’s natural wonders with your family.
Captain Hook Pirate Dinner Cruise
Captain Hook Pirate Dinner Cruise is an excellent way to spend an evening in Cancun with children. This entertaining adventure will take you on a tour of the stunning Caribbean seas aboard a replica Spanish galleon from the 18th century. This expedition includes food, beverages, and pirate shows filled with fascinating past tales that children enjoy.
Xcaret Nature Park
Cancun’s best-kept secret is the Xcaret Natural Park. There are numerous family-friendly things to do in this location. Mayan ruins, an amazing underwater world, and a wide variety of species and ecology may all be found in this park.
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Cozumel
Snorkeling
Cozumel is one of the best snorkeling destinations in the world. So, if you are going to Cozumel don’t miss this opportunity. Snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Cozumel with the diverse and colorful marine life is an unforgettable experience.
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park
If you’re looking for some exciting water activities, head to Cozumel’s Playa Mia Grand Beach Park. Undoubtedly, it is the best spot in Cozumel for children. There are several activities available for adults and children alike.
Private Jeep Excursion in Cozumel
If you want to discover all that Cozumel has to offer in terms of natural attractions, take this private jeep trip. This tour allows you to discover Cozumel’s lush green jungles, Mayan ruins, and its white-sand beaches, and its fascinating history.
Visit the Cenotes
Dive into the Cenotes, popularly known as Mexico’s natural swimming pools. Cenotes are naturally occurring sinkholes found throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, including Cozumel. Cenotes have gained popularity in recent years as a result of their naturally refreshing waters. Even the Mayans believed cenotes possessed healing powers.
Is it worth going to Cozumel from Cancun?
Absolutely. Cozumel offers more authentic tropical vibes. It offers world-class snorkeling spots and relaxing beaches. Also, it is not Americanized and highly commercialized as Cancun and offers authentic Mexican vibes.
So, Which is better Cozumel or Cancun?
Cancun and Cozumel are both fantastic family vacation destinations, but they offer quite distinct experiences. Thus, it depends on the type of vacation you are seeking.
If you’re searching for a laid-back family vacation away from the city, Cozumel is a better option than Cancun. However, if you’re seeking a lively vacation filled with endless activities, world-class shopping, and vibrant nightlife, Cancun is unquestionably a better option than Cozumel.
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