Our Cozumel Shore Excursion at Carlos n' Charlies Beach Club

Over the years, Cozumel has become one of the premier cruise destinations in Mexico with the busiest days having up to 10 ships docked there at once. There are tons of things to do there, from ziplining, horseback riding, wine tasting, petting zoos, and more (most of which I have done and have written about in other blog posts), but sometimes a simple beach day is just what the doctor ordered. During our most recent visit in November 2024, we spent the day at Carlos ‘n Charlies Beach Club at Paradise Beach and had one of the most fun and memorable beach days I can remember!

What’s included?

This wasn’t an excursion we had planned prior to arriving at Cozumel, but it was easy to find a taxi at the pier willing to take us! I believe we had negotiated $20 per person with children included free (my parents tried to get me included in that deal, but the taxi driver wasn’t buying it with my full beard). Once we got to the club, we were welcomed by the enthusiastic staff who took a picture with us in the restaurant area and expressed how excited they were to party with us! Beach chairs and umbrellas were provided free when we ordered some delicious chips and guacamole, and we were free to use the two aquaparks floating just off the beach. We also had access to clean restrooms, a beach volleyball court, a pool table, and even kayaks they let my cousins use for free! The beach was beautiful and not crowded, the water was cool and clear, and everyone was super helpful in making sure we had an amazing time! 

What’s not included?

Paradise beach is home to more than just Carlos n’ Charlies, meaning there are a lot of other activities and experiences you can pay extra to do. Just to the right of the Beach Club is a Jet Ski rental stand, and my Stepdad, my little brother, and I paid ~$200 to take 2 of them out for 45 minutes. There are also massage areas, shopping, and other restaurants all within walking distance if you are looking for more things to do!

Should You Take This Tour?

Beach Days are not my typical go to shore excursion, so trust me when I say that Paradise Beach at Carlos n’ Charlies was an amazing way to spend your day in Cozumel. For how affordable and easygoing it was, the level of service, the quality of the food, and the myriad of fun activities all within walking distance was unbeatable compared to other beach clubs I have visited (including our Beach Day at Costa Maya the day before which was much less enjoyable). There is something for everyone to do. At one point, the kids were playing on the aquapark enjoying trampolines and slides floating in the ocean, the parents were either getting a massage or laying out on the beach, and I was playing pool with one of the employees! I will share some more fun stories from our beach day below, but I think everyone should spend a day at Carlos n’ Charlies!

Who is This Tour For?

Solo Cruisers	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Groups	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Young Kids	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Teens	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adults	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seniors	⭐⭐

Excursion Category

Culture	⭐
Adventure	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Relaxation	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shopping	⭐⭐

Highlights of our Cozumel Shore Excursion!

Playing on the Aquapark

Floating just off shore were over 15 different inflatable slides, trampolines, and towers to climb with a good mix of easy to access areas for young kids and difficult obstacles for the older ones. It was fun to watch my little brother Jack (he has downs syndrome and has the time of his life no matter what he’s doing) jump around on the trampoline with his cousins who each took turns lifting him up onto a 10 foot slide that dropped you straight into the water. There was also a 20 foot tall tower that we spent almost an hour hoisting each other up on to so we could cannonball back into the ocean. Aquaparks like this are always a blast, and this was one of the few times I have seen one so large and well maintained while not costing a fortune to use!

Playing Pool in the Club

I play in a pool league back home, so it was fun for me to see a full size pool table in the restaurant that wasn’t coin operated. I decided to shoot around for a minute just to experience the novelty of potting balls while looking out over the ocean when one of the employees asked if I wanted to play. Neither of us had gloves, so we both wrapped our fingers in napkins and shot a few racks. I can play pool anywhere, but what made this experience so cool was the fact that an employee took the time to just hang out with us in a way that didn’t feel forced or awkward. From the time we got there I really felt like I was surrounded by friends who were all having a great time which isn’t always the case at other beach clubs where you are fighting for chairs and being nickel and dimed for everything. Notice how many times I have said “free of charge” in this post? That isn’t a common phrase on a shore excursion!

Riding Jet ski’s

Reed and Jack floating back to the beach

Sadly, these were not free of charge, but it was still a blast. I have ridden jet skis in multiple ports but the machines they had in Cozumel were much higher quality than what I am used to. They were powerful, clean, and stable which meant I felt comfortable whipping around the ocean trying to catch as much air as possible from the wakes of the parasailing boats going by. We were instructed to try and stay between two piers on the beach so we didn’t get too far from help if something happened, but I was having so much fun that I immediately forgot that rule and rode into the distance giggling like a 12-year-old. I heard later that my little brother thought it was hilarious to push the kill switch on his jet ski to frustrate my stepdad, so I guess I am proud to say that both of us managed to stress him out even though I am in my mid-20s!

Spending time with Family

The entire reason we took this particular cruise was to spend Thanksgiving with our extended family, and we had a great time at Carlos n’ Charlies together. The adults ordered some great Mexican food and ate around a large table on the sand while the kids played in the water. It was great to watch cousins who don’t get to spend a lot of time together bond while everyone caught up on each other’s lives. This is the perfect shore excursion for large groups of people who want to spend the day doing their own thing while enjoying each other’s company!

Lifting my cousin onto my shoulders in the water