bguppies

We had seen heavy Sargassum on one of our previous trips to Nachi, but if I remember, it was a trip in the springtime, so after many stops at Nachi in Dec-Feb, I was just surprised at the Sargassum so soon. Didn't impact our day, but just thought I'd mention it, so it wouldn't be a shock to a first timer to one of the beach clubs.

Went to Nachi this past Thursday and the Sargassum was pretty heavy on the beach. Don't know if it was from the storm that diverted us from Grand Cayman to Key West, but the shoreline was pretty deep in Sargassum earlier than we've seen in previous years. Just a heads up for anyone traveling to Cozumel in the near future.

Sorry I couldn't get a shot of the board this trip, as by the time we arrived at 10AM, the Jubilee and Glory had been in port for two hours and the taxi line was wrapping back and forth through the covered area and all the way back out to Los Cico Soles. (took about an hour from start to cab) But I did notice some destination changes, as Paradise Beach used to be lumped in with Playa Mia, Sanchos and Nachi, Now is in a separate group with Chankanaab for $18 from Puerto Maya and Playa Mia, Sanchos and Nachi were still grouped together for $20. Also, not taxi related but Sargassum was heavy. (maybe from the Nor'easter that wiped out our Grand Cayman stop.)

You might have to book an AI unless you try one of the hotels near the pier that offer daypasses. (not sure how lively or how much music they will have. Realistically Mr. Sanchos sounds like the perfect spot, but I thought they had gone to 100% AI like Nachi.) We are going to be in Cozumel this coming Thursday , with only 6 ships in port, and people in our facebook group for the tiny little Carnival Paradise, have been saying for the past week that Nachi, Sanchos and Paradise Beach have been sold out for over a week.

All in a row on the same bit of beach, Paradise Beach, Playa Mia (lots for kiddies to do), Mr. Sanchos and Nachi Cocum. We do Nachi everytime we go, but we are looking for a less crowded, quiet, relaxing day, which is what Nachi delivers in spades. Very few kids, very little music, no more than 130 people with plenty of space between groups and their loungers. As a matter of fact gonna be at Nachi Thursday, for the first time on a sold out day. Hope you find a beach club to your groups liking.

Been there a few times in February and other than the time we left Tampa with snow flurries and low 70's in Cozumel, it has always been in the low to mid 80's. Going back next Thursday and I'm pretty sure the forecast was for like 80/81 degrees when I chedked last week.

Thanks for the heads up. I will check in....

☹️Thanks for answering. Now I won't waste any time in port looking.

2 ships in port in Cozumel is an incredibly light day. (I don't think we've ever docked with less than 5 and the most was 9) But more tmportantly would be WHICH two ships are docked. The Mardi Gras and Oasis of the Seas will discharge more passengers than 6 older ships from the fleets. But without knowing which two ships you are speaking of, I'd be pretty confident Paradise Beach will be happy for your business on a slow day for ships.

High winds will cancel them. I've gone twice where it was a calm day, where it rained for a bit after we went to Stingray City and we just kept going. (you are in the water, with your head under, so getting a little wet from the air isn't a worry) I know a few years ago DW went on a girls cruise and it was windy enough they had to dock at Spott's instead of downtown. She had booked with Stingray Sailing like usual, and Captain Chip drove down to Spotts and picked them up there and they still went out and did the excursion (although he gave them the option to cancel if they had wind concerns) and they had the usual great time.

Thank you. Captain Marvin's is definitely probably our number 1 choice as a backup.

Might help people answer depending on when you are visiting Cozumel. And what you consider to be "sweltering". DW thinks anything over 75 farenheit is sweltering. To me its anything over 85 farenheit. 75-85 is what I enjoy. Right now it should be in the upper 70's- 80's. By April - May you will probably melt.

Try to check google before you go. Someone had posted a nice aerial shot of the beach area with the reef areas clearly circled on the picture, that helped me get right into the reef area immediately. Definitely the best shore snorkeling I've done from a sandy beach, (which DW enjoyed for hours while I snorkeled)

If you do decide to go to one of the beach clubs, they might have a boat take you out by the reefs to snorkle. DW always has to go to Nachi Cocum to relax poolside or ocean side for the day. I did a snorkle tour from there that took me out in a small boat to the reef area and we just snorkled above. Was pretty good. Like has already been stated, any of the popular beach clubs with the nice sandy beaches will be terrible for snorkeling from shore. Now if you are on a Western itinerary, Grand Cayman has multiple nice beaches with snorkeling close to shore. Or if you are going to Roatan, West Bay beach had the best shore snorkeling I've ever done at the south end by the rocks. The reef comes right up into the shallow water there and has tons of incredible fish.

Thanks for chiming in... We booked with Stinfgray Sailing as usual, but after a month its just our group of three pre-booked for that day and I don't think they go out, without at least 10 people. Hoping with three ships in port, all at 8AM, we can pick up 7 more at the port, but trying to find a reliable backup, just in case. So your input is very much appreciated. Nativeway is the only highly recommended company from before the shutdown that I'll never use again.

Thanks so much... I've been checking in here, but reviews are so few and seriously far between. Before the shutdown I used to come in here and find 3-4 reviews of many different companies per day. Since I started checking back in here since I found out we were going back to GC in February, there has been 1 review of Captain Marvin's in 5 weeks. No mention at all of any of the other multitude of companies, but I'd assume the shutdown, especially as it took GC a bit longer to restart, killed off, even some of the larger, more reputable companies. Thank you very much for your help. It seems most of the cruise information and discusiion has moved over to FB, so I guess I'll have to suck it up and join the evil empire if I want to get up to date information.

I've been trying to find out what my options next month are, but this is the only review I've been able to find in here the past two months... I've done stingray city with two different companies that used to be highly recommended in here before the shutdowns. (haven't been back to Grand Cayman since the shutdowns. I can't remember the name of the first company I tried, but it wasn't a bad excursion, just a little unfocused (we had to keep stopping to try and swap passengers who had apparently gotten on the wrong excursion, they had 3 different stingray city excursions. We wasted at least an hour, stopping in the middle of nowhere and swapping passengers, then wound up fetting back to the pier less than 15 minutes before the last tender.) Went with Stingray Sailing after that, many times, and have had a great experience every time. Not sure if they run on Sundays but I'm sure it would say on their website. https://stingraysailing.com/ Best of luck in your hunt.

Nice picture showing the space on the beach at Nachi versus the packed in loungers at Mr. Sanchos and Paradise beach. Sanchos Paradise

Crickets...... OK anybody recently used...... Old School excursions.... Moby Dick or Captain Marvin's? One's I've never heard of before..... Crystal Charters? George's Watersports? Franks Watersports? Anchor Tours? Get Bent Charters? Nick's Charters? Happy Day Charters? Any help out there?

Unfortunately, I think alot of the posters have moved on to other social sites for info swapping. (I prefer the set up in here, but there is a thousand times the engagement elsewhere) I posted over on the Grand Cayman board to get some up to date info since we haven't been there in almost a decade, and crickets over there. At least a few people try to help people with whatever limited info they have.

Been buying Los Cinco Soles for more than a decade since you had to make the trek to the original location downtown. DW loves using it in all her baking and its been making my pancakes taste great since we found it. Just bought some more last month while there to resupply.

I know they have a massage tent just off the pool area at Nachi Cocum beach club, but I don't think the prices are negotiable, or as cheap as in Costa Maya. (I'd imagine the massuses work for the club or pay a piece of each massage back to the club)

Trying to see which excursion companies that do Stingray City survived the Covid shutdown of the island? Done Stingray Sailing many times and know that they made it through and I've seen some reviews of Captain Marvins so I know they made it. But haven't seen much of anything on any of the other multitudes of companies that used to go there. Any information about current prices, links, phone numbers would be appreciated.

Nachi Cocum 1. YES was $20 each way cabfare for the two of us a few weeks ago. (actually I think it is for up to four each way per cab, but its usually just the two of us.) Fees are clearly printed at the cab stand where you'll catch your cab. When you are ready to leave Nachi just let your assigned server know and they'll have a cab ready when you are. 2. No - I've done the additional cost from a boat at Nachi once. They pick you up on the pier right by the restaurant and run you out to two spots over reefs a few miles out. The beach at most of the southern beach clubs are sandy, at Nachi just a few fish to be seen swimming down by the pier. 3. YES There are two beach beds with cover next to the pool, three tables with umbrellas next to the pool and plenty of thatched palapas on the beach with four chairs under each. (there is also some of the palapas back closer to the jungle, so plenty oif shade to be had) The restaurant is well covered with a giant palapa if you need to retreat for some shade and that day every other seat is taken. (I've yet to experience it full yet)With a 130 person limit each day it never gets crowded and packed in like some of the other clubs and I've never seen in my many times there, seen them run out of palapas. 4. YES All right there by the pool where you first walk in. (we almost exclusively use the swim up bar in the pool, so we have never waited for drinks ever) They have a man and woman cleaning the restrooms constantly all day as people use them. You will be assigned a server when you arrive. He will bring you drinks where ever you decide to stay for the day. We usually sit poolside, so he will bring you your food or drinks right to your seats all day. If you choose a palapa on the beach they will bring anything you want to your palapa or if you choose to eat in the large restaurant, he will be your server in there. 5. YES This is the main reason we choose Nachi everytime. The 130 person limit per day keeps the crowds and noises down. They play lightly in the backround some music at the edge of the pool/restaurant area. In previous years it might be some mexican music playing. This past December it sounded like they had an 80's music playlist from Spotify or something playing all day. Its so quiet I had to keep asking DW what song she was hearing. As for no screaming children I don't think any of the beach clubs have a no children rule. Nachi tends to have much less than anywhere else, as they don't have any of the kiddie pools are inflatable toys the other clubs do. A few weeks ago there was one group of 3-4 families with a kid under five in each. They made a tiny amount of noise, but nothing irritating. I forget how many times I've been to Nachi, I think that is only the 2nd or 3rd time I've seen kids there and I don't remember them or any adults being disruptive. If the snorkeling is that important to you, Chankanaab, and the steep rocky water entry definitely would be better for you. Mr.Sanchos will have bigger crowds and louder music for sure. Playa Mia will probably have the most kids, as it is geared towards them. Paradise beach is a very middle of the road place (compared to the other clubs, a bit of all of them) that caters to families, so more kids. Nachi, Sanchos, Playa Mia and Paradise are all along the same section of sandy beach. Best of luck in your hunt.

I have to say if they tried to close early because only a few people stayed after 3, that is bad business.