Whether you're cruising and Cozumel is your port of call for the day, or you took the ferry over from Playa del Carmen, or you're enjoying resort vacation on the island, chances are, you'll want to experience at least one of Cozumel's amazing beaches.

Because the surf is rough and the undertow great on Cozumel's east side, activities are generally limited to sunbathing and other non-water beach activities. That means that the east-side beaches are sparsely populated -- a great place to go if you want to avoid the crowds off the beaten path.

On the west side, since the waves are much calmer, visitors enjoy snorkeling, swimming and other water-sport activities.

Playa San Francisco
This beach is located 10 miles south of San Miguel, the only town of any size on the island. Along this 200-yard beach are two outdoor restaurants each with a bar, dressing rooms/restrooms, a gift shop area, volleyball nets, beach chairs and water-sport equipment rental shops. The remote part of this beach stretches south three more miles before becoming Playa Palancar Beach.

Playa Sol
This beach is very popular with the folks coming off of cruise ships, so there are times when it is more crowded than others. This beach also has all the amenities of Playa San Francisco plus horse rental should you choose to ride on the beach.

Playa Corona
The beachside restaurant here serves conch, shrimp, cerviche and fajitas. It is less crowded than Playa San Francisco.

East coast beach. Photo by Ron Kness.

Punta Chiquero
This moon-shaped cove is also known by other names such as Playa Bonita, Playa San Martin or Tortuga Desnudo. The sea here is very rough so the palapas with chairs or loungers on the beach are very appreciated for sunbathing or just watching the wild surf. The Playa Bonita restaurant here serves fresh fish daily. They also have a bar on site for refreshments.

Playa Chen Rio
This beach is about 3 miles north of Punta Chiqueros. The clear water here is protected by a rock formation jutting out into the sea so the sea isn’t quite as rough as it is in other places along the east shore. With the thatched-covered palapas and beach furniture, it makes for a casual afternoon to sit and sunbathe or watch the waves come ashore. If you get hungry, the Chen Rio restaurant serves fresh fish, shrimp and lobster dishes and they have a bar serving all of your favorite drinks. Alongside the restaurant is a small gift shop selling locally made handicrafts at reasonable prices.

Playa Oriente
This beach is at the east end of the Cross Island Highway (Carreteros Transversal). This beach is pretty much the same as the others. The Mezcalito restaurant serves very tasty chicken tacos and beef nachos.