Playa de San Martin
Playa de San Martin
4.5
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  • Captain_Glen_D
    Fenwick Island, Delaware20 contributions
    This beach can be so nice I almost do not want to write this review says Captain Glen D. Smith.
    Yes, this is “Almost” an undiscovered beach. When conditions are right, this is one of the top three or even top two beaches on the island. Flat, clean (no rocks) firm bottom and you can wonder 50 yards into the ocean and be waist deep. I have been visiting Cozumel for over 20 years and 14 plus trips and somehow, I just found this beach a few years back. It has been built up for tourist over the past few years but unlike Punta Sur Eco Beach Park, there is no entry fee and the “Built up" part is “Off Beach".... You can rent a few beach chairs and umbrellas for typically 10 to 20 bucks (four chairs and two umbrellas) very negotiable. Staying for several hours pay the twenty bucks. Staying for just a couple of hours, tell the man and offer a few less bucks. The last time there we could still bring our own cooler with drinks and snacks. There is beach service also but it is a little spotty. So, you can also walk up to the big hut and purchase drinks and food and bring back to your beach chairs. Bit tip for you to know. If you are planning on spending the day in the water conditions will be best when the wind is out of the west. When the wind is strong and out of the east the wave get big (but fun) so plan on staying close to shore. There is lifeguard service at the beach. Also when the winds are strong out of the east you could have seaweed and entry and on the beach. With that said, if all you did was to go and see the beach, it will be a lasting memory. Captain Glen D. Smith.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 17, 2020
  • Angelika H
    4 contributions
    Diving
    with the Dressel Dive shop was a pleasure. The management (Naza) and the staff (Flo, Milly, Taylor and many more) are very friendly and competent. Simply: wonderful! We will definitely come back and dive with them again. The reef is in perfect condition with intact coral and plenty of fish.
    Visited October 2021
    Written October 26, 2021
  • John D
    2 contributions
    Beautiful little beach
    We rented a jeep and spent the day here. This beach is on the southeast of Cozumel, vey secluded beach and few little restaurants and bars along the road. Panoramics are great and water was just nice.
    Visited May 2021
    Written July 3, 2021
  • Brian L
    Amman, Jordan5 contributions
    Restaurant across from Playa de San Martin Cozumel
    We ate at the restaurant across the street from San Martin Cozumel. The restaurant bathrooms were very dirty. We went to eat and they gave us menus with US dollar prices. But after lunch they told us they could only charge my credit card in Pesos. In dollars it was $59 ($10 tip from me), however, the total amount in Pesos resulted in $91 dollars (17 Pesos to $1) . When I complained he told me to pay in dollars which I did not have. We found out they have two menus, one in dollars and one in Pesos.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 3, 2023
  • NicholasSG
    Rosemount, Minnesota298 contributions
    The Other Side Of Heaven
    Heading to Cozumel? First time? It's a must that you rent a Jeep and make your way to the other side of this beautiful island. This is one of several spots to stop at while you circle the island and it's where you'll find a vast beach, plenty of huge waves and time to relax. Along the way you'll have plenty of opportunities to grab some cold cervezas, a taco or two and some other delicious food. Take a good 4 - 6 hours and just enjoy what the other side of heaven has to offer, you won't regret it!
    Visited September 2013
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 21, 2014
  • SnorkelGang
    Los Angeles, California87 contributions
    A real gem of a beach
    Playa San Martin on the far side of the island. Rolling waves, wide sandy beaches (the waves are great for body surfing or bogie boarding, and the area is not strewn with rocks and boulders like almost every other beach on Cozumel). Playa Martin is a world class sandy beach, unlike anything else on Cozumel. We felt safe with our 5 and 7 y.o. kids at this beach. The waves were gentle and consistent. There were only a couple of other groups there. The cruise ship Jeep safari tours just passed right on by (yippee!). Food and drinks (and bathrooms) are reasonably priced at the Diablo restaurant across the road from the beach. There is also a trinket shop there with better prices than in downtown Cozumel. They even have a life guard station here (the restaurant owner said he pays to have lifeguards at the beach). I snorkeled out past the surf break. I did not experience any treacherous currents or other threats. I did not see many fish, but I saw several sting rays.
    Visited July 2012
    Traveled with family
    Written July 25, 2012
  • trav122
    Montreal, Canada45 contributions
    Beach paradise
    Cozumel has so many wonderful beaches. Each have their speciality. This one was great for body surfing and swimming. The sand was soft and the beach was clean and not crowded. Cant wait to revisit.
    Visited December 2019
    Traveled with family
    Written December 31, 2019
  • caribbeantravelcielo
    New Orleans, Louisiana448 contributions
    Most Beautiful Beach on East Side in Cozumel!
    This beach of San Martin (Tortuga Camp area) was our first time stopping in all the trips we've made to Cozumel. I wish we would have stopped here before - it was the most beautiful beach area I've encountered on the East side. The sand was very soft, it was the clearest of seaweed that week in Cozumel on the East side. There weren't any vendors, just beach sand and water. Very calming and relaxing - If we had brought a couple of chairs and umbrella with us, I could have stayed here all day. This is a definite stop if you are on the East side!
    Visited April 2018
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2018
  • riomar89
    Phoenix, Arizona3 contributions
    Best Beach in Cozumel
    I rented a vehicle to go around every single beach around the island. This beach is so pretty and not full of people making it nice to relax and enjoy the sun. I personally got engaged in this beach. The waves are a little stronger than other places but not too strong to not swim.
    Visited June 2014
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 18, 2014
  • BretF212
    New York City, New York17 contributions
    Great beach on the 'other' side
    Rent a Jeep and go to the other side of the island for a perfect beach day. San Martin is a favorite, there is a bar/restaurant across the street for cheap and good fish tacos, nachos and cold beer (MUCH better prices than Chen Rio). Also plenty of parking, restrooms, etc. Not crowded and a great way to spend the day. Big waves and sometimes rip currents but a lifeguard stand is on the beach. Recommend!
    Visited May 2014
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 10, 2014
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

4.5
234 reviews
Excellent
152
Very good
61
Average
12
Poor
4
Terrible
5

Brian L
Amman, Jordan5 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We ate at the restaurant across the street from San Martin Cozumel. The restaurant bathrooms were very dirty. We went to eat and they gave us menus with US dollar prices. But after lunch they told us they could only charge my credit card in Pesos. In dollars it was $59 ($10 tip from me), however, the total amount in Pesos resulted in $91 dollars (17 Pesos to $1) . When I complained he told me to pay in dollars which I did not have. We found out they have two menus, one in dollars and one in Pesos.
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NicholasSG
Rosemount, MN298 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
Heading to Cozumel? First time? It's a must that you rent a Jeep and make your way to the other side of this beautiful island. This is one of several spots to stop at while you circle the island and it's where you'll find a vast beach, plenty of huge waves and time to relax.

Along the way you'll have plenty of opportunities to grab some cold cervezas, a taco or two and some other delicious food. Take a good 4 - 6 hours and just enjoy what the other side of heaven has to offer, you won't regret it!
Written July 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SnorkelGang
Los Angeles, CA87 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
Playa San Martin on the far side of the island. Rolling waves, wide sandy beaches (the waves are great for body surfing or bogie boarding, and the area is not strewn with rocks and boulders like almost every other beach on Cozumel). Playa Martin is a world class sandy beach, unlike anything else on Cozumel. We felt safe with our 5 and 7 y.o. kids at this beach. The waves were gentle and consistent. There were only a couple of other groups there. The cruise ship Jeep safari tours just passed right on by (yippee!). Food and drinks (and bathrooms) are reasonably priced at the Diablo restaurant across the road from the beach. There is also a trinket shop there with better prices than in downtown Cozumel. They even have a life guard station here (the restaurant owner said he pays to have lifeguards at the beach). I snorkeled out past the surf break. I did not experience any treacherous currents or other threats. I did not see many fish, but I saw several sting rays.
Written July 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

trav122
Montreal, Canada45 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Cozumel has so many wonderful beaches. Each have their speciality. This one was great for body surfing and swimming. The sand was soft and the beach was clean and not crowded. Cant wait to revisit.
Written December 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

caribbeantravelcielo
New Orleans, LA448 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This beach of San Martin (Tortuga Camp area) was our first time stopping in all the trips we've made to Cozumel. I wish we would have stopped here before - it was the most beautiful beach area I've encountered on the East side. The sand was very soft, it was the clearest of seaweed that week in Cozumel on the East side. There weren't any vendors, just beach sand and water. Very calming and relaxing - If we had brought a couple of chairs and umbrella with us, I could have stayed here all day. This is a definite stop if you are on the East side!
Written April 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

riomar89
Phoenix, AZ3 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
I rented a vehicle to go around every single beach around the island.
This beach is so pretty and not full of people making it nice to relax and enjoy the sun.
I personally got engaged in this beach. The waves are a little stronger than other places but not too strong to not swim.
Written September 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BretF212
New York City, NY17 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Rent a Jeep and go to the other side of the island for a perfect beach day. San Martin is a favorite, there is a bar/restaurant across the street for cheap and good fish tacos, nachos and cold beer (MUCH better prices than Chen Rio). Also plenty of parking, restrooms, etc. Not crowded and a great way to spend the day. Big waves and sometimes rip currents but a lifeguard stand is on the beach. Recommend!
Written May 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Omar C
Mexico City, Mexico30 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
We were looking for a nice beach to spend Sunday afternoon. San Miguel's small rolling waves, bright blue ocean and tranquility convinced us it was an ideal spot. Less than a dozen tourists or locals accompanied us. A lifeguard kept close watch on swimmers and oriented them (this guiding us) towards a spot where a bid deposit of sand let's you walk on an on from the beach without getting swept by the waves. Felipe set us up with a few (free!) Sun chairs and 2 big umbrellas, and in exchange we ordered drinks and great ceviche. Turtle hatching spots were marked in nearby areas. It was simply a formidable afternoon in a semi-virgin stretch of Cozumel overlooking the Atlantic.
Written November 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary
White Mountains, NH134 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Clean beach- with lifeguards. It approximately 40 KM from town- 30 min scooter ride. Beach now offers lounge chairs and umbrellas-so bring cash. Across the street are vendors, bathrooms, bars and food. They deliver right to the beach. Very friendly people. It is more expensive for food/drinks than in town-but you don't have to purchase. We usually make the scooter trip 2-3xs in a week.
Written March 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

daniel j
Cape Coral, FL1 contribution
Feb 2019 • Family
Beautiful beach, no charge for parking or beach chair rentals, but you are expected to purchase food and beverage (slightly over priced, but locals only source of income). Good waves, incredible turquoise water, very peaceful especially in juxtaposition with the Port side of the island. Go if you need to escape hustle and bustle.
Written February 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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