The Explorean Cozumel All Inclusive - 77600 San Miguel de

(Not hotel related but the shuttle from the airport to the Explorean was $9/person, paid at the airport. Taxi from the hotel to the airport was $25 total.) COVID: Words can't capture how disappointed we were that all beach service was discontinued (as of April 2022) - no beach bar, grill, chairs, beds, etc. That was a main perk of the hotel and was not available. Testing for return to the US was super simple. Our appointment was for the day before our flight and we had results within 30 minutes, with all necessary information for the airlines. Staff: Our first experience was with Rubi at check-in who is super friendly, helpful, speaks great English, and has an incredible memory for names. It is truly special to be greeted by name when passing her at the lobby desk. Food: Disappointingly, no bar serves alcohol before 10am, even for mimosas. Restaurant reservations at Fiesta Americana begin at 8:30am and were easy to get for 7pm every day. Each restaurant had enough options that we went multiple times without repeating dishes. The Explorean meals were a smaller selection but just as good. Facilities: The towels are extra large which is perfect for the pool or beach, and there's no hassle with borrowing them. The umbrellas at Fiesta Americana are horrendously worn, missing almost all the pins to keep them open and requiring some kind of knot tying to not snap shut. The umbrella arms have also ripped through most fabric holds so many don't open fully; many are also lacking proper bases so they tilt scarily, especially when windy. The Explorean is a sister of the Fiesta Americana - everyone staying here has access to the larger hotel, but not vice versa. This allows access to the party atmosphere when desire with an ability to retreat to the secluded forest pool and guest area when needed. The Explorean offers daily activities which I thought would be lame walks in the woods but were genuinely fun outings to see the island. We appreciated the printed sheet showing all of the activities during our stay, including a description and recommended items to bring. Buggy Tour: Note that you'll be driving so ensure you bring a license. Many cars are stickshift so keep an eye on which you grab. While it was quite an adventure driving the little buggies in Mexico, I'm not sure the stops were entirely worth it. After a highway stretch, first was a "panoramic view" which was just slightly interesting rock formations into the water. There was a little shop setup nearby with a bar and bathrooms. Then was an hour at an east-side beach club, with a better set-up of chairs, umbrellas, hammocks, and tables. Last was a stop at a local tequila shop, where the tour of how agave is grown and harvested lasted 5 minutes and the sales pitch to buy their tequila lasted 20 minutes, though with some tasting samples thrown in. The last bit of driving was more city-like with multiple roundabouts and turns across traffic, which delayed our return with so many different cars but the guides (Edgar and Francisco) were absolutely amazing and pulled to the side after every complicated turn to ensure everyone was together. Ecological Park: This was a relatively good trip, though the time-spent vs fun-had ratio is low. After a 30 minute bus ride, you arrive at Punta Sur where you may see some crocodiles and fish in a marsh and a very small Mayan ruin, followed by an optional $2/person boat ride that I wouldn't particularly recommend unless you're easily bored at the beach. Otherwise you spend about 1.5 hours at a beach club, with nice enough chairs, umbrellas, and servers with a full menu, as well as a shower and bathrooms. There is a solid shallow snorkeling area but it's mostly grass; despite this, we saw several starfish, a handful of fish, and a turtle. On the way out, you stop by the lighthouse which is a pretty view despite the difficult stair climb. There's a little shopping area at the base and bathrooms. Edgar and Ruben led this activity and they were amazing as always. They also had a cooler of drinks and small finger sandwiches.

We had a wonderful time. Staff was extremely friendly and VERY hard working. Adolpho took wonderful care of us. Same is true for Fiesta America staff. Rooms are very nice as well, clean sheets every day (if you desire),in the am they drop off fresh juice, muffins, and the best black coffee I've ever had. Lots of nice wildlife to see right off the porch. Cold ac. Fast wifi. The outings are great too, tour guides are alot of fun and seem to really love what they do. Food was much better than I expected, kitchen staff did a great job. Would love to come back!

*** 6 out of 5 *** This place was out of this world. I cannot say enough good about our stay -- we have told our friends and family about it and plan to bring them next time. Staying at the Explorean feels like staying in the middle of the rain forest. It is beautiful to hear the birds chirping and to see the butterflies flying in their habitat. A staircase away sits the bigger resort which you have almost full access to. Pool, games, buffets, bar, restaurants, gym, spa, etc. All of this is included in the price, so you do not have to pay any extra. The bigger resort puts on activities and, I imagine that if you have kids, they would have a ball! There is also a kids club where kids can go enjoy themselves. You, the adult, can check out billiards equipment, air hockey equipment to play right by the pool and buffet. The service was spectacular -- my husband came up with some funky milkshakes that the bartenders and waiters tried their hardest to make even if they weren't on the menu. Anything you wanted, they were there to accommodate. Extra towels, water, more soap. The lovely housekeepers SCRUB DOWN EVERYTHING -- not like here in the US where they do the bare minimum to make things "look" clean -- this place was CLEAN. Lastly, but certainly not least, the INCLUDED (yes, included) excursions were to die for. They were perfect to balance out your lounging time. Every day is a new excursion and experience. We did most of them with Francisco, who I can make anything fun. If there is an excursion with him -- DO IT! We cannot stress this enough. He made our excursions what they were. We did an excursion without him once and regretted it -- the other guides are great, but he is THE BEST!!! Ask for Francisco!!

Beautiful tropical property for a quiet getaway. Access to Fiesta Americana rounded out this all-inclusive location with multiple pool, restaurant and bar options. Inside/outside lobbies and restaurant make for such a nice environment. Definitely brush up on your Spanish before visiting!

My husband and I visited The Explorean in January 2022. We were SO pleased with the entire experience! We're actually sitting at our table right now, sipping out of coffee mugs we purchased during one of the daily excursions, and reminiscing about the wonderful week we had. The staff was friendly and attentive, the room was beautiful and clean, and the food was delicious! My breakfasts without chilaquiles now feel empty. ;) On our final evening, we told some of the wonderful staff that we were committing to learning Spanish. I want to pass along to them that we've now been consistently learning Spanish for over two months.

This is a quiet little resort tucked back in the jungle. The villas are clean and spacious, and are definitely made for couples. Not much privacy if you are traveling with friends or have a group of four in one room. The restaurant and lobby are all outside, but the weather was very nice, even in the middle of January. Roberto at the bar made our week very special and appreciate all the assistance of the staff. Loved the included excursions and the great food and drinks.

Wonderful place quieter than the resort, nice escape from the crowds but short walk to larger resort pools and beach front. Staff is amazing and very attentive, food was excellent, rooms are very clean and well maintained. Loved the morning door-side coffee and muffin each day to start the day! Take advantage of the daily activities and excursions with the staff!! Highly recommended!!

The Explorean is a lovely all-inclusive that has a quiet secluded feel but also gives you access to the Fiesta Americana, which is a much larger resort that feels more commercial. The service is absolutely incredible, all of the staff are very attentive and put in so much work to make sure you are happy with all aspects of your stay. The Explorean has an activity scheduled every day (included in the price), which was a great addition to our stay. The rooms create a relaxing atmosphere, ours had a huge bed and a balcony overlooking the landscape which has a tropical forest feel. The Explorean has a breakfast menu, three-course lunch menu that changes every day, and a three-course dinner menu. Of course, you can order as many dishes as you want. We also had access to Fiesta Americana's breakfast and lunch buffets, and their three dinner restaurants, Mexican, Italian, and Asian (you make reservations each day through the staff). Overall, the food was very good, especially for an all-inclusive, but I would not recommend the Asian restaurant. The only disappointment was that the beach club was closed, I am not sure if this was season-related or COVID-related, so we didn't have the option to lounge on the beach.