The Explorean Cozumel

Every room at The Explorean is a casita of about 37 m² with a private entrance, a minibar and a balcony looking into the jungle. Guests describe two-storey buildings of four units each. Choose a king bed for up to three or two doubles for up to four; the stand-alone version adds a separate living room. There is no TV in the rooms, though the Wi-Fi works for your own devices.

Mid-January was the priciest date we checked. When we checked on November 12, 2026, three nights for two in a refundable Casita Lock Off, all-inclusive with taxes included, cost $1,325 in early December 2026, $1,440 in mid-January 2027, $1,377 in mid-February, $1,253 in mid-March and $1,119 in mid-June, plus about $14 paid at the hotel. Non-refundable rates were only $2 to $3 cheaper, so the refundable rate is the better buy. The same casitas also appeared as a "Standard Casita" for up to about $570 more, so compare the rate names. Late February showed no availability at all.

Enter everyone's real ages. One family with teenagers of 15 and 17 was charged for an extra room at check-in because the hotel counted them as adults. Guests also note that you should not flush toilet paper, that shower pressure and hot water can be weak, and that the morning coffee basket arrives only if you hang the card on your door by the time given.

Across 347 reviews, The Explorean holds a 9.2 out of 10. The 120 most recent reviews, from December 2025 to late August 2026, average 9.5, with 103 perfect 10s; there are none newer than August 25. Many are short reviews of the included El Cielo trip naming the guides, so we gave the longer stay reviews more weight.

The included excursions are the reason people book. Guests describe a boat trip to three snorkel stops with turtles, nurse sharks, rays and the starfish of El Cielo, ending in shallow water with stingrays, plus ceviche, tuna sandwiches and beer on board. Guides win praise for coaxing first-timers, non-swimmers and small children through it. The boat ride back is about 90 minutes, and sunscreen, even reef-safe, is not allowed. Other outings include a self-drive buggy tour to Punta Sur and an east-coast beach club with a tequila tasting, a bike ride to a cenote, a guided Chankanaab visit and a drift snorkel back to the resort.

Guests love the quiet and the people. They describe immaculate grounds, a pool and hot tub that never felt crowded, and Lol K'aan, The Explorean's own open-air restaurant, as their favourite place to eat. Next door at Fiesta Americana they enjoy La Cevichería for seafood lunches, the beach club with Bali beds, the breakfast buffet by the water and shows such as a circus and a fire show, then walk back to the calm of the casitas.

The complaints are consistent. Several guests were pitched a vacation membership, some at check-in and again around the resort. Three found their casita damp or musty, and one had a ceiling leak. Several found the restaurants and the cocktails hit and miss, and two vegan guests found the advertised vegan menus did not really exist. One June 2026 guest returning after nine years found service slow and several restaurants under construction. The excursion schedule is set for your week with no choice, one guest's El Cielo trip was cancelled for wind and not rebooked, and one found too few bikes and buggies for the group, with manual gearboxes on the buggies.

The Explorean is at Km 7.5 on the coast road south of San Miguel, on the jungle side behind Fiesta Americana Cozumel, between town and Chankanaab park. Guests put it 20 to 30 minutes from the airport, and the shore and Fiesta Americana's beach club are a few minutes' walk away. See our Cozumel airport transfer guide, or our Playa del Carmen to Cozumel ferry guide if you are coming from the mainland.

Our Cozumel snorkeling guide covers the reefs beyond the resort, and our Cozumel boat tours guide covers other trips to El Cielo if you want a second visit.

Not sure The Explorean is the right fit? These are four other well-rated Cozumel hotels, from Cozumel Palace, the island's top-rated all-inclusive by town, to Fiesta Americana next door, which shares its facilities with The Explorean. For all 12 hotels we rank, see our guide to the best hotels in Cozumel, and our guide to the best things to do in Cozumel covers the rest of the island.

Want a sandy beach close by? Presidente InterContinental Cozumel at Km 6.5 has one, though it is room only.