Ventanas Al Mar

Here's the deal. It is primitive. If you like swim up bars and loud music with crowded buffets, this is not the place for you. It is on the non populated side of the island. There is very poor internet and cell phone coverage most of the time. The beaches are not groomed and sea weed can be problem in areas. On the other hand if you are tired of the same old all-inclusive hotels and you want to experience Cozumel's natural beauty this hotel will fill the bill. My wife and I have been to Cozumel dozens of times-- always at one of the all inclusives. We have always been facinated with this side of the island. The beaches are absolutely beautiful. (better than any on the tourist side). This is the only hotel on this side on the island. The room was simple, with some nice features and some features that were kinda odd. Our shower was open to the room. There was a small room with nothing but a toilet and the sink was on a countertop in the front of the room. It provided what we needed but it was a little awkward. The room is not air conditioned until 9.00 PM then AC powers off about 8.00AM. Every room has a patio that opens to the sea. If you open your front door the wind blows thru nicely. I absolutely loved this place but we were only there for a few days. They have a very small staff but they were great. You order from a menu. The food was great and the prices were fair. There is a bar with just the basics and I was completely happy with it. The pool is small but very nice. There was only one other couple there besides me and my wife. I felt like a multi- millionaire enjoying my very own private villa. I will count this experience as one of the best and most memorable. If you decide to come, please do not bring your own music just relax and enjoy. Cheers.

I give the hotel 3 stars not because it was disappointing but because it's a 3 star experience. It's not the Ritz, but it ticks all the important boxes for a comfortable & pleasant stay. The pros: * The rooms were extremely clean and in good repair. This exceeded my expectations and I was very impressed with this aspect. This probably had the most significant positive influence on my experience. * Though the A/C was only available from about 21:30-08:00, the room was generally comfortable (keep in mind I visited in February). From 08:30-10:00, it got warm since the windows face the sunrise, but if you open the patio door and the front door, the breeze flows through and feels comfortable. * The in-room wifi was actually very good, though it seemed to reset every morning at 8am and was down for 15-20 minutes. * The beach was pretty clean, though if you're expecting to swim, you'll be disappointed. The sargassum was not too bad, though it was piling up on beaches to the north. The water is generally too rough for swimming or snorkeling, as should be expected all along the coast that faces the open water. * The breeze was usually nice, though sometimes overbearing. One morning, I opened my curtains with the intent to sit on the patio to watch the sunrise, but it was so windy and salty I just couldn't motivate myself to go out and face it. * Water availability. When traveling to Mexico, purified water is a big deal for me. Many hotels will only provide 1-2 500ml bottles of water per day, but this hotel provided a glass decanter in your room and would refill it (or your own container) at the front desk. * Remoteness. This is both a pro and a con. The serenity & seclusion was what I came for, but it would've been nice if there was an easy way to get to the other side of the island without renting a car or getting a $90USD R/T taxi. I ate & drank at Coconut's several days, just because it's convenient. El Pescador is also an easy stroll, but any other restaurant is may be too far for walking. I hoofed it to Punta Morena one day, and was pretty sweaty by the time I got there. Worked up a thirst for some tasty margaritas, though! The cons: * Food. I was very disappointed with this aspect, since I had read multiple reviews that raved about the food and the chef. Maybe the previous chef has moved on, but I had several meals that were subpar. Since it wasn't easy to get to alternative dining locations, this had the most negative impact on my overall experience. For example, my lobster bisque was full of bits of soft but inedible lobster shell. One night, I asked for the wine list. Omar walked away for 10 minutes and came back to offer me a single Chardonnay selection. When I accepted the option, he brought the bottle out at room temperature and I had to wait 15 minutes for it to chill, while my dinner service continued. Even the 2200+ peso/person special Valentine's Dinner was underwhelming. The duck croquette & octopus were tasty, but the other courses were unimpressive, and most of the wine pairings were a miss. Also, beware that if you order water at dinner, they'll bring you a 16oz plastic bottle for 50 pesos, instead of a glass of the free water that's available all day. * Towels. Beach towels were in short supply. Of my 8-day stay, they had no beach towels available for 3 days, and 2 other days I finally learned my lesson and re-used my towel from the previous day. I don't understand how hard it can be to keep a couple dozen beach towels on-hand at a hotel that's located on the beach. Also, while we're on the topic of towels, the bath towels in the room smelled fine before use, but smelled sour once they got wet. I'm assuming that's a sign of mildew in them and is probably not healthy. * The shower area was small (maybe 1m x 1m?). Big folks will feel claustrophobic, and even small people are going to end up splashing/spraying water all over the bathroom area. The rainfall shower head was nice, though. * Double-decker patio. I mostly enjoyed sitting on my patio and watching the waves, but I was on the ground floor and there was a wooden deck above me. It was not solid flooring and was probably old construction, so it creaked when anyone walked on it, and sand & dirt falls through the cracks (and into your drink) when they move around. My patio was sticky when I arrived, which I suspect was due to a previously-spilled margarita from the deck above. I'm glad I wasn't sitting under it when that happened. * Service was hit or miss. At dinner one night, I ordered a Negra Modelo (after specifically asking whether they had Especial or Negra and being told they had both) and was brought a Bohemia instead... presumably due to the fact that they actually don't carry Negra Modelo. I ordered egg enchilada at breakfast and received chicken instead... so I guess now I know which one came first. The hefty guy that worked the front desk was generally helpful, but only had a cheerful attitude when the lady (manager?) was present. I actually found that comical, and still thought he was nice enough and enjoyed interacting with him. I think those are the important points that I can recall. As I said, it's a solid 3-star hotel, but I had exactly the relaxing stay I'd hoped for. Be prepared for the seclusion and you'll enjoy it, too.

We spent a full month in February 2026 at Ventanas al Mar, and it remains one of the most peaceful places we’ve stayed in Cozumel. The hotel sits on the island’s east side, often called the “wild side.” It’s a funny name because the “wild” part really refers to the surf and waves, not the atmosphere of the hotel itself. In reality, the property is incredibly relaxing, with constant ocean breezes and a calm rhythm that makes it easy to unplug. The staff make this place special. Omar, Miguel, Cynthia, and Moises were incredibly welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. Their kindness and hospitality are a big reason we continue returning. The beach is beautiful and well maintained, with plenty of palapas for relaxing. One thing we noticed during our longer stay is that even though the east side can have strong surf, there are occasional calm days perfect for swimming or snorkeling around the hotel. There were many fish near the rocks. If the surf is too strong, you can walk about ½ mile south to Chen Rio, where a natural rock formation creates a protected beach area that is usually safe for swimming or snorkeling. One of our favorite simple moments was sitting under a beach palapa in the afternoon with a cold cerveza, listening to the wind and waves while the rest of the island felt a world away. A few travel tips that may help future visitors: ATM & Money • Use an ATM card that refunds ATM fees (look for international type cards) • When the ATM asks about currency conversion, decline the ATM rate so your bank performs the exchange • The Santander ATM on 3rd South Street worked very well for us, as there were many restaurants near by, and there is public parking behind the bank for 25 pesos/hr. No need to hunt for street parking. Driving & Fuel • Ventanas al Mar is about 30 minutes from downtown San Miguel on the main east-west road. • If renting a car, fuel up at the Pemex station in the middle of the island, it is not as rushed as the others. • At the pump simply say “Lleno por favor.” (Fill it up please). Ask to check the air in your tires as well. Cash • Carry smaller peso bills (20 / 50 / 100) • Many places may not have change for large bills If you are looking for a quiet place to disconnect from the busy west side of Cozumel, Ventanas al Mar is a wonderful choice. Watch the sunrise. After spending a full month here, we really appreciated the quiet rhythm of the east side, the sound of the waves at night, and the genuine hospitality of the staff. Ventanas al Mar remains one of the most relaxing places to stay in Cozumel.