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The Westin Cozumel is located on a small island off the coast of Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Living in Playa del Carmen, we can see Cozumel every day from the beach.

To get there, you take a 40-minute passenger ferry from downtown Playa del Carmen. Cozumel is a beautiful place with some of the cleanest beaches in the world!

Héctor and I had talked about visiting Cozumel for months. It’s funny how when you live so close to something, it’s easy to postpone taking action.

We always thought, “Well, we can go anytime! Is there any reason to hurry?”

The Westin Cozumel Hotel

Finally, my birthday came around. It seemed like the perfect time to take a mini-vacation. I was set to spend the rest of the month away visiting family in Canada and the US, so it was our last chance to have a little adventure together for a while.

The Westin Cozumel drew our attention due to its stunning beauty, luxurious amenities, and beachfront location.

The Westin Cozumel opened in March 2017 and, with 14 floors, it is the tallest building on the island.

We knew it would have fantastic views and that we’d have a wonderful opportunity to see the sunset!

Arriving at the Westin Hotel in Cozumel

As we drove toward the hotel, my anxiety piqued. I was concerned that our college student attire and the rusty rental jeep we were driving might lead to our expulsion.

When we pulled up to the valet stand, the contrast between the grand entrance of the Westin and the tattered Jeep was comical! I felt a little bit like a beverly hillbilly.

My worries were in vain, though. The valet attendant immediately greeted us with a friendly wave and a warm smile before we even stopped the car.

We felt immediately at ease.

“Let me get you some welcome drinks!” he said excitedly as he led us to the front desk.

Checking into The Westin Cozumel Hotel aka Paradise

Héctor and I looked at each other with eager anticipation. After a day of cruising around the island in the hot sun, a refreshing drink sounded amazing!

Moments later we were sipping on the most delicious chilled agua de melon I’ve ever tasted. We had a fantastic start, and the experience continued to improve!

The Westin lobby is beautiful, bright, and airy. It features a water fountain, a bar where you can order handcrafted cocktails, and most importantly, a prominent view of the ocean.

Just outside the lobby, there is a large patio area, and off to the left, you will find the main swimming pool. Below that is the beach area, complete with palm trees and loungers for sun tanning.

Before we completed check-in, I was already wondering if they offered monthly rates!

Introducing the Classic King Room

Finally, it was time to head up to our room. I wasn’t sure if we would have an ocean view, and honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if we didn’t. However, it turns out every room does!

As soon as we stepped out of the elevator on our floor, we were awestruck by the incredible view behind the hotel, looking out over the island.

We were up high enough to look down over the green jungle and spot pristine, white sand beaches in the distance. It was incredible.

It’s rare to see undeveloped beaches in the Riviera Maya, so this view was especially magical.

Then we opened the door to our room.

It was gorgeous! The turquoise ocean contrasted beautifully with the creamy linens and natural wood accents in the room.

We felt like we were in heaven. To be honest, we truly felt like we were in heaven!

We were excited to watch the sunset from our room that evening while enjoying a glass of wine.

Few places on the east side of Mexico offer ocean sunsets, so we wanted to see it.

We were not disappointed!

I don’t think I have ever slept more soundly than I did that night. The bed was an absolute dream.

The bed, adorned with layers of blankets, comforters, and fluffy (but not too fluffy) pillows, felt as if I was sleeping on a cloud. That’s why Westin calls it the “Heavenly Bed”!

That night was a glorious break from the trucks, sirens, and city commotion that we usually hear from our apartment in Playa del Carmen.

Dining at the Westin Cozumel

Las Gaviotas is the casual dining restaurant on the property. It features many delicious menu items. It is set right on the water’s edge, and you can easily spot pelicans out the windows in front of the dining room!

When we sat down for lunch, Las Gaviotas satisfied our hunger perfectly. Héctor’s arrachera was mouthwatering, and my fish tacos were delicious as well.

The service at Las Gaviotas was absolutely wonderful. Everyone went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable, and they even surprised me with a complimentary slice of birthday cake!

For dinner, we dined in the Cuzamil restaurant, also on-site at The Westin Cozumel. This fine dining restaurant is located just off of the hotel lobby, overlooking the pool and the ocean.

The patio is perfect for relaxing as you enjoy handcrafted cocktails (I recommend the Citrus Margarita).

The food was riquísima! The second slice of birthday cake was also delicious!

Amenities

The Westin Cozumel has a rooftop pool and bar, which, sadly, were closed during our visit. I imagine the view from up there is incredible!

The hotel also features a spa and fitness center. We primarily focused our visit on dining, so we didn’t utilize either of those facilities.

But we don’t mind because we can go back for the full experience!

If you’re as intrigued as we were, click through to see current rates!

Goodbye isn’t easy

We truly enjoyed our stay at The Westin Cozumel. Despite traveling frequently, Héctor and I rarely have the opportunity (or the excuse!) to stay in hotels.

That is the result of having friends and family available to host you wherever you go!

Because we were so exhausted from exploring the island all day, Héctor and I really just wanted to use our downtime at the hotel to relax and indulge ourselves a little.

The environment was so peaceful that all of our worries and stresses from everyday life melted away almost immediately when we arrived on the Westin property.

We didn’t visit the spa or even use the swimming pool, but we loved looking at the ocean and watching the palm trees blow in the wind.

We also very much enjoyed watching the pelicans fish offshore.

Héctor was particularly thrilled when we awoke in the morning to observe a massive cruise ship passing directly in front of the hotel. He had been hoping to see one up close!

The friendly hotel staff made our stay even more exceptional. Warm smiles and friendly faces greeted us everywhere we went in the hotel. We really felt at home… Maybe that was just wishful thinking!

We’ll definitely be going back!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)