Iberostar Waves Cozumel

“A Jungle Paradise That Completely Won Me Over”

I've been fortunate enough to travel to Mexico more than 20 times, and Iberostar Cozumel has become one of my favorite resorts I've visited. The most important thing to know is that this is not a Cancun-style high-rise resort. It's a peaceful jungle retreat, and that's exactly what makes it so spe… more

I've been fortunate enough to travel to Mexico more than 20 times, and Iberostar Cozumel has become one of my favorite resorts I've visited. The most important thing to know is that this is not a Cancun-style high-rise resort. It's a peaceful jungle retreat, and that's exactly what makes it so special. If you love nature, wildlife, snorkeling, and a more relaxed atmosphere, you'll absolutely love it here. Food & Drinks The food exceeded expectations for me when it comes to all-inclusive. The Smokehouse had fantastic brisket, Pagoda served some of the freshest sushi I've had at an all-inclusive, and the shrimp Pad Thai was so good I wanted another bowl immediately. The Mexican restaurant was another favorite, especially the incredibly fresh seafood, homemade salsa, and guacamole. Even the horse saddle bar stools added to the fun atmosphere. The buffet deserves special recognition. Every breakfast had an incredible variety, and I found myself wanting another plate every morning. Dinner features a different theme each night, so there's always something new to try. Maria's taco stand quickly became my favorite lunch spot. The tacos were fresh, delicious, and Maria herself was so kind. I had read mixed reviews about the snack bar beforehand, but I honestly don't understand them. It's exactly what it's supposed to be: quick comfort food when you need it. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, fries, salads, desserts … there was always something satisfying. One thing worth mentioning is the alcohol selection. Like most all-inclusive resorts, the liquor and wine selection is fairly standard. If you're looking for Grey Goose, a nice Sauvignon Blanc, or an extensive top-shelf selection, you probably won't find it here. That said, the bartenders made consistently great drinks with what they had, and we were never disappointed. Rooms & Beach The rooms are simple but clean, comfortable, and exactly what we needed. I will say, the rooms are much smaller than others we have stayed in, and could use a few renovations here and there. But you’re not vacationing in your room here! you'll want to spend all your time outside enjoying the resort. I especially loved the hammock on every patio. For a jungle resort, the bugs were surprisingly manageable, and I appreciated that mosquito repellent was provided in every room. The reusable water bottles, refill stations, and stocked mini fridge were thoughtful touches as well. The beach is very rocky, so don't expect to walk straight into soft sand. Instead, use the pier to access the water. The reward is incredible snorkeling right off the property!! we saw tropical fish, stingrays, and conch shells. Many excursions also leave directly from the pier, which made everything very convenient. For our excursion, we booked with Explora and had an INCREDIBLE time!!! Edwin, Angel and Caesar were wonderful! Entertainment This was, without question, the best entertainment I've experienced at any resort in Mexico. During the day, Jocelyn and Humberto kept everyone engaged with fun games and activities without making anyone feel pressured to participate. My husband LIVED for the activities like beach and pool volleyball, various crazy games by the pool, spike ball, kan jam, corn hole, you name it! We also participated in a lot of the fitness activities. The personal trainer who does Pilates and yoga, as well as water aerobics, is absolutely incredible!!! Every night, the theater put on incredible productions! from classic rock shows featuring music from the '60s through the 2000s to Hollywood-themed performances and authentic Mexican cultural shows. The talent was unbelievable. Not to mention, the magic show ROCKED haha! A huge thank you to Alexi, Christian, Faridhe, Jocelyn, Humberto, and the entire entertainment team (who deserve to be named as well, i just didn’t see their name tags in time!). You made every evening unforgettable. Wildlife If you love animals, this resort is magical. There are flamingos (and adorable turtles), iguanas everywhere, coatis wandering the grounds, hummingbirds, peacocks, and even a few friendly cats and kittens. The wildlife is one of the things that makes this resort feel so unique, and I loved every minute of it. They also have parrots, who meow and chit chat with you! The People What truly sets Iberostar Cozumel apart is its staff. From the servers to the bartenders to the entertainment team, every employee worked incredibly hard to make our vacation special. A heartfelt thank you to Maria, Hector, Manolo, Armando, Reyes, Arturo, Raymundo, Elisandre, Angel, Kevin, Liz, Ana, Jocelyn, and Humberto. Your kindness, hospitality, and hard work did not go unnoticed. You are the reason this resort feels so welcoming. Suggestions The only area where I think the resort could improve is the nightlife after the evening shows. Ironically, the nightly entertainment is phenomenal, but once it ends around 10 p.m., the resort becomes very quiet. I completely understand this is a family-friendly resort, but many adults vacation here as well. Even something simple like live music, karaoke, trivia, or a DJ in the lobby would keep the fun going for another hour or two. This is a family-friendly resort. My husband and I typically go to all-adult resorts, but this was a family vacation so we made the sacrifice haha. I do wish there were more “adult-only” spaces, even just one pool. The splashing and crying got a little more than tiring by the end of our stay. Final Thoughts Iberostar Cozumel left me genuinely sad to leave. No resort is perfect, but this one comes incredibly close. Between the outstanding food, amazing snorkeling, beautiful jungle setting, unforgettable entertainment, incredible wildlife, and some of the kindest employees I've ever met, this resort created memories I'll never forget. If you're looking for a relaxing, nature-filled vacation with exceptional service and some of the best entertainment in Mexico, this is for you! We'll absolutely be back.

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“Was amazing will be coming back”

Entertainment was amazing. All the activities were amazing and everybody was really funny and they have some good singers. Humberto was overly funny and we will for sure be coming back.❤️

“best activities workers !”

hunberto es el mejor when it comes to the activities in the beach and the pool super fun

“Wonderful Relaxing Vacation”

My husband and I visited this resort to just relax. It is a beautiful eco-park with lots of wildlife and a focus on sustainability. The staff was amazing. Food was great, Erika the food service manager spoke with us almost every day, she was so personable, we would come back just to visit her. Rufi… more

My husband and I visited this resort to just relax. It is a beautiful eco-park with lots of wildlife and a focus on sustainability. The staff was amazing. Food was great, Erika the food service manager spoke with us almost every day, she was so personable, we would come back just to visit her. Rufino was very informative and gave us the lay of the land. This is a resort mostly for diving or just relaxing. If you are looking for wild partying this isn’t really the place. It is not crowded. It is simply beautiful.

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