Is Playa Mia Beach Park Worth It?

View of Sea from Playa Mia Beach Break, Cozumel

This past April my wife and I took a Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Magic that had Cozumel as a port-of-call.  We had no problem picking our on-shore activities in Grand Cayman or Montego Bay, but couldn't come up with anything for Cozumel.  All we really wanted to do in Cozumel was sit on the beach and relax. We finally decided to go to the Playa Mia Grand Beach Park because it had a beach, drinks, and was relatively cheap.  Carnival offered two options for Playa Mia Beach Park.  The basic option, called "Playa Mia Beach Break at Leisure" cost $46 and offered admission to Playa Mia, free drinks (alcohol included), and use of the parks facilities.  "Playa Mia Beach Break Deluxe" cost $75 and had everything "at Leisure" offered plus transportation and a buffet lunch.  We decided to take a chance and go on our own without booking through Carnival to see if we could save a little money. 

What to Expect 

Taking a taxi is very easy in Cozumel because all the taxis are all regulated by the government with predetermined costs (that are posted) for every destination on the island.  The ride to Playa Mia from the port cost us $15 .  Though the taxi we rode in was small and did not have air conditioning, it was completely safe and dropped us off at the entrance to Playa Mia Beach Park.  The cost at the door was $40 per person, and it included admission and use of all facilities in the park, a beach chair and umbrella, and all the beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that we could drink.   It did not include use of the snorkel gear, towels, lockers, or food.

Playa Mia Beach Break, Cozumel

We were glad that we arrived early in the day because we were able to snag lounge chairs at the edge of the water.  After a couple of hours, the Playa Mia was crowded, and the only open chairs were away from the beach.  Throughout the day, we simply laid out while the waiter delivered us as many drinks as we wanted without question.  We ordered some nachos and  guacamole which, were surprisingly good and moderately priced (everything on the menu was less than $20).  Compared to the buffet that was set out for those who had paid the "deluxe" fee, we got the better deal because the food was fresh. The downside to Playa Mia was that if felt like what it was; a budget all-inclusive beach in Mexico.  The water wasn't crystal-clear, the drinks were watered down, and it was crowded.

Was Playa Mia Grand Beach Park worth the visit?  No, probably not.  Is it an ok excursion if you just want to lie on the beach and have a few drinks?  Yes, it probably is.  We probably could have had more fun and gotten a better deal by striking out on our own.  One Carnival employee later said we should have gone to Paradise Beach instead. For a similar cab fair, Paradise Beach admission is free and lounge chairs only cost $2.  Though you have to pay for drinks, it probably would have been a better deal.

Just the Basics

Location: 77600 Cozumel, Quintana Roo, México
Hours: 9am- 6pm 

Playa Mia Swimming Pool

Cost: $40 ($45.99 if booked through Carnival)
What's Included?  Beach chairs, umbrellas, drinks, water adventure park, swimming pool, showers and bathrooms
What costs extra?  Food, snorkeling gear, locker, massage, hair braiding, towels
Transportation: Taxi from cruise port is approximately $16
Playa Mia Website: http://www.playamiacozumel.com/
Carnival Excursion Link http://www.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/304025