Costa Mujeres Guide: All-Inclusives, Things To Do And 5-Day Itinerary!
Hey there, just a heads up — This post has affiliate links. We earn a small commission, which helps us create better content and share amazing destinations with you at no extra cost.
On this page
Travel essentials we use
On this page
The Yucatan Peninsula on the northeastern coast of Mexico looks like the perfect holiday destination, and it’s not hard to see why.
Everything is amazing: the food, the culture, and amazing things to do...
Not to mention the stunning beaches with powdery sand and turquoise waters.
Yet, something has always stopped us from booking… until now!
That something was Costa Mujeres, a quiet stretch of sand just north of Cancun that we had never even heard of, and it turned out to be exactly the middle ground we had been looking for.
Key takeaways
📍 Costa Mujeres sits about 20 minutes north of Cancun and 30 minutes from the airport, so it feels secluded without being remote.
🏝️ It is a small, newer all-inclusive resort strip. Quiet beaches, clear water, far fewer crowds than the Cancun Hotel Zone.
🌊 The beaches here stay among the clearest on the coast during sargassum (seaweed) season.
⛴️ Best day trips: a short ferry to Isla Mujeres, snorkelling the reefs, the MUSA underwater sculpture museum, and swimming with dolphins.
🏛️ Mayan ruins and cenotes are all doable as day trips. El Meco is the closest ruin; Chichen Itza and Tulum are the bigger names.
Why we almost didn’t go
The most popular destination in the area is Cancun, famous for its Hotel Zone, a 22 km (14 mile) sandbar lined with holiday resorts.
While many of them look great, it just never felt like the kind of experience we would enjoy.
The area is super busy and sometimes even overcrowded with tourism.
We were worried it might lack the very charm and character that attracted us to Mexico in the first place.
At the same time, booking some hotel in the middle of nowhere didn’t feel right either.
Remote places have fewer things to do, meaning you’re really never sure what you’re getting.
So, we kind of just got stuck, unable to make a decision.
But everything changed once we discovered Costa Mujeres.
Is Costa Mujeres worth visiting?
Short answer: yes, if you want a calm, good-value Caribbean base that is still close to everything.
Costa Mujeres gave us the best of both worlds, and it is our honest pick over the Cancun Hotel Zone for the kind of trip we like.
Stay here if you want quiet beaches, clear water, and an all-inclusive resort, but you still want Cancun’s shops, nightlife, and the big attractions within easy reach.
Skip it if you want to walk out of your hotel straight into bars, clubs, and a lively boardwalk at night. Costa Mujeres is quiet after dark. For that, the Cancun Hotel Zone is the better base.
How Costa Mujeres gave us the best of both worlds
Costa Mujeres is a small, exclusive resort area situated about a 20-minute car ride away from Cancun (and 30 minutes from the airport).
It’s sitting right on the coast, with water and nature surrounding it at both ends.
So while it feels super secluded and quiet, it couldn’t be any more convenient in terms of location, close to Cancun’s shops and nightlife, as well as the famous Mayan ruins and Tulum cenotes.
Not just that, there is still plenty to do without even leaving Costa Mujeres.
The beaches are just gorgeous, with water so clear you can see your feet at chest depth.
You can go snorkelling over the reefs and see tropical fish!
Once you are ready to venture out, you can also hop on a short ferry ride to Isla Mujeres.
It’s a small, paradisiacal island with some of the most incredible viewpoints and the mind-blowing underwater sculpture garden.
Costa Mujeres vs Isla Mujeres: what’s the difference?
The names trip everyone up, so let’s clear it up.
Costa Mujeres is the resort strip on the mainland coast, just north of Cancun, where you actually stay.
Isla Mujeres is a small island out in the Caribbean, a short ferry ride away, that you visit for the day.
Confusingly, Costa Mujeres is technically part of the Isla Mujeres municipality, but the two are separate places: one is your beachfront base, the other is a day trip.
Book your hotel in Costa Mujeres, then hop over to the island when you fancy a change of scene.
Best things to do in Costa Mujeres: Summary
| Best things to do in Costa Mujeres | ||
| 🐠 Snorkel the reefs | ⛴️ Ferry to Isla Mujeres | 🗿 MUSA underwater museum |
| 🐬 Swim with dolphins | 🏛️ El Meco Mayan ruins | 💦 Cenote day trip |
| 🏖️ Beach days on clear water | 🏨 All-inclusive resort life | 🌆 Night out in Cancun |
Top things to do in and around Costa Mujeres
1. Snorkel the reefs right off the beach
What it is. The water in Costa Mujeres is calm and clear, and the reefs just offshore are full of tropical fish.
We spent an entire afternoon snorkelling here, and it was some of the best we have done anywhere.
You can see your feet at chest depth, which tells you everything about the visibility.
Summary:
💰 Cost: Free; the only cost might be the fins and the mask from your hotel.
🕒 Best time: Morning, when the water is calmest and clearest.
📍 Getting there: Straight off the resort beach. No transport needed.
2. Take the ferry to Isla Mujeres
What it is. Isla Mujeres is a small paradise island a short ferry ride away, with incredible views, calm swimming coves, and a relaxed town. It’s a perfect day trip from Costa Mujeres.
Summary:
💰 Cost: Ultramar ferry is around 220–250 MXN ($13–15 USD) round trip per adult.
📍 Getting there: The nearest big terminal is Puerto Juarez, roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive from Costa Mujeres. Crossing takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Dive the MUSA underwater sculpture museum
What it is. MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) is an underwater museum of around 500 life-size sculptures sitting on the seabed between Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
You can visit it by snorkelling, diving, or on a glass-bottom boat.
It is the underwater sculpture garden that makes the Isla Mujeres crossing so memorable.
Summary:
💰 Cost: Usually between $40 and $90 USD plus a marine park fee.
🕒 Hours: Daytime tours only, weather depending.
📍 Getting there: By boat from Cancun or Isla Mujeres.
See the sunken statues for yourself
Snorkel or dive tours take you right over the MUSA sculptures. Bring an underwater camera.
Book your MUSA snorkel or dive tour4. Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres
What it is. Even though we are not the type of people who will swim with dolphins in an aquarium, you can do so in Isla Mujeres.
KEEP IN MIND: This is on Isla Mujeres, not on Costa Mujeres!
Summary:
💰 Cost: Dolphin swim packages start from around $119 to $135 USD, plus a dock fee ($15 USD) and a small animal-activity tax.
📍 Getting there: On Isla Mujeres, so combine it with your ferry day.
Meet the dolphins on Isla Mujeres
Reserve your dolphin swim slot in advance to lock in the online price.
Book your dolphin swim on Isla Mujeres5. Visit the El Meco Mayan ruins
What it is. El Meco is the closest Mayan archaeological site to Costa Mujeres, and it is a genuinely cool one.
You get a real pyramid (El Castillo) and coastal ruins without the crowds of the famous sites.
If you only have a half day, this is the easy ruin to tick off.
Summary:
💰 Cost: Entrance around 100 to 145 MXN ($6 to 8.50 USD).
📍 Getting there: About 6 km (4 miles) from central Cancun, near Puerto Juarez, so a short taxi from Costa Mujeres.
6. Visit Chichen Itza and Tulum Ruins
What it is. From Costa Mujeres, you can still reach the headline sites.
Chichen Itza (one of the New Seven Wonders) and Tulum’s clifftop ruins are both full-day trips, and the region’s cenotes (natural swimming sinkholes) usually pair with a ruins tour.
The reason we chose an all-inclusive hotel
Now, we’re certainly not the type of travellers who spend the whole holiday in a hotel, but Costa Mujeres all inclusive stays just made perfect sense.
Neither of us wanted to spend this trip haggling with taxi drivers or looking for legitimate tour organisers.
Our hotel sorted all of that out for us, organising free airport transfers and helping us book day trips with trusted companies.
Of course, the convenience of having everything you need in one place is hard to beat.
The Ocean Hotel in Costa Mujeres features multiple pools, 7 themed restaurants, 10 bars, coffee and ice cream shops, theatre, disco, spa, gym, virtual golf, tennis court and even its own hair salon…
Everything you need is there, so all you have to worry about is day trips.
Suggested 5-day Costa Mujeres itinerary
Five days is the sweet spot for Costa Mujeres: enough to properly switch off, with room for two or three day trips without feeling rushed. Here is roughly how we would spread it out.
Day 1: Arrival and zero plans.
Land at Cancun airport, take the transfer, and do nothing but the beach and the pools.
Let the all-inclusive do its job.
Order a drink at the swim-up bar, watch the sunset, and eat somewhere easy.
The first day is for landing gently, not for ticking things off.
Day 2: Beach and reefs.
Snorkel the reefs in the morning while the water is calmest and clearest, then spend the afternoon slow: pool, book, a long lunch.
If you are staying somewhere with a spa, this is a good afternoon to use it.
An easy day close to base after the travel of day one.
Day 3: Isla Mujeres.
Head to the Puerto Juarez ferry and cross to Isla Mujeres for the day. You can combine the island’s viewpoints and calm coves with the MUSA underwater sculpture museum and a dolphin swim, since they are all on or around the island.
Day 4: Mayan ruins.
Pick your pace. For a relaxed half day, El Meco is the closest ruin and stays chill, leaving your afternoon free for the beach.
For the big-hitter, book a full-day Chichen Itza and cenote tour, starting early to beat both the heat and the crowds. Either way, you get a dose of Mayan history and a cool cenote swim.
Day 5: A slow finish.
Enjoy a last slow morning by the sea, pack at your own pace, and if your flight is later, head into Cancun for an afternoon of shopping or a final night out before flying home. End the trip the way it started, unhurried.
Costa Mujeres travel tips
Best time to visit
The dry, sunny window from roughly December to April is the classic best time: warm, low rain, and minimal seaweed.
The catch is that this is also peak season and peak prices.
The truth about sargassum (seaweed)
Sargassum seaweed washes up along this coast, mainly from April to October and heaviest June to August.
The good news for Costa Mujeres: it is one of the more reliably clear stretches, along with Isla Mujeres and Holbox, while Tulum and Playa del Carmen tend to get hit harder.
Getting there and around
Costa Mujeres is about 29 km (18 miles) and 25 to 30 minutes from Cancun airport.
There is no walkable town, so you will rely on hotel transfers, taxis, or tours.
Booking transfers and day trips through your resort saves the taxi haggling.
Costa Mujeres FAQ
Where is Costa Mujeres?
It is a resort area on the mainland coast just north of Cancun, in Quintana Roo, facing Isla Mujeres across the bay. It is part of the Isla Mujeres municipality but sits on the mainland, not the island.
Is Costa Mujeres part of the Riviera Maya?
No. Costa Mujeres is north of Cancun, while the Riviera Maya runs south of Cancun down to Tulum.
What body of water is Costa Mujeres on?
The Caribbean Sea, with the warm, turquoise, crystal-clear water the Mexican Caribbean is known for.
What is the climate in Costa Mujeres?
Tropical and warm year-round. The wet season runs roughly May to October, and November to April is drier and slightly cooler.
Can you swim in Costa Mujeres?
Yes. The water is generally calm and clear, which is exactly why we loved the beach here.
Is Costa Mujeres beach calm?
Yes, a lot calmer and more secluded than the busier Cancun beaches. Mujeres Beach stretches about 5 km (3 miles), so there is plenty of room.
Is the water clear in Costa Mujeres?
Yes, very clear, with great visibility for snorkelling and swimming. You can see your feet at chest depth.
How far is Costa Mujeres from Cancun airport?
About 29 km (18 miles), a 25 to 30 minute drive.
How long does the transfer to Costa Mujeres take?
Around 30 minutes by car or shuttle from Cancun International Airport, which is the airport you fly into.
Does Costa Mujeres have Uber?
Yes, Uber operates in Cancun including Costa Mujeres, alongside taxis and hotel shuttles.
Do you need a passport to visit Costa Mujeres?
Yes. International visitors need a valid passport to enter Mexico.
Are Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres the same?
They are next to each other, not the same. Playa Mujeres is the resort area immediately south of Costa Mujeres, and the two are often confused.
How long is the ferry from Costa Mujeres to Isla Mujeres?
The crossing to Isla Mujeres takes about 15 minutes.
Written by Laura & Alexander of Lost Between Oceans.
*Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on our site are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission of you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link.
We only recommend products and services that we use and love ourselves, so we know you’ll be in good hands. The commission we receive helps us to maintain our website and continue to provide high quality content for our readers.
Please check our affiliate disclosure policy for more details.
Your suppport is appreciated!
We share travel guides for couples who want a little luxury, a lot of heart and lifelong stories to tell!
Laura and Alexander
Founders of Lost Between Oceans
Reviews
Lost Between Oceans gave me and my husband the perfect tips and destinations to plan our dream honeymoon in French Polynesia, making the experience stress-free.
I never thought I’d dare to go diving in a cenote and surfing in Mexico. Their travel guides made me more confident and adventurous, overcoming my travel fear of the unknown. Thank you!
I looked up Lost Between Oceans for last-minute tips about my roadtrip in the Amalfi Coast. They showed me the best cliffside villages and hidden beaches. This saved me a lot of time researching everything myself!
Related Posts