Why Stay With We’ve Gone Coastal in Cozumel?
A stunning view from the condo’s balcony, showcasing the vibrant, crystal-clear blue of the Caribbean Sea, with a peaceful horizon and gentle waves. The perfect spot to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze at We’ve Gone Coastal.
When Jefé and I started We’ve Gone Coastal, we didn’t just want to give our guests a beautiful place to stay. We wanted to share the Cozumel we love and make it easier for our guests to experience the island for themselves.
That means I’m here before your trip if you have questions. It means sharing the restaurants we actually eat at, the dive operators and local businesses we know and trust, and the places we take our own family and friends. And once you arrive, you’ll have one of our personalized guest guides with the practical information and local tips you need without having to spend your vacation figuring everything out.
You also get to choose between two very different Cozumel experiences: our beach villa at Costa del Sol on the quieter south side or our oceanfront condo at El Cantil in San Miguel. Both give families, friends and dive groups plenty of room to be together while still having their own space.
And one thing that’s important to me: we don’t accept referral fees from the local operators and businesses we recommend. If I send you somewhere, it’s because it’s a place or person we know, use or trust - not because someone is paying me to send you there.
Here’s what staying with We’ve Gone Coastal looks like and why so many of our guests come back.
More Than a Place to Stay
When you stay with us, you’re not booking a property from someone who disappears once the reservation is made. I’m here to help before you arrive, while you’re in Cozumel, and whenever you have questions along the way.
Over the years, Jefé and I have built relationships with people on the island we know and trust - from dive operators and private drivers to tour guides, restaurants and private chefs. I’m happy to share those connections with our guests and help you figure out what makes sense for your trip.
I also know that some people love planning every detail months ahead while others would rather show up and decide what sounds good tomorrow. I’m good with either! My goal isn’t to plan your vacation for you. It’s to make it easier when you want help.
Before your trip, you’ll receive a personalized We’ve Gone Coastal guest guide with information specific to your stay. It puts arrival details, property information, recommendations, things to do, dining ideas and other helpful Cozumel tips in one place so you don’t have to hunt through old emails or spend your vacation searching for answers.
And if there’s something you can’t find? Ask me. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you. If I don’t, I’ll usually know who to ask.
Our Cozumel Favorites Become Yours
One of the best parts of owning our homes in Cozumel has been getting to know the island—and the people behind so many of the experiences we love.
When a guest asks me where we like to eat, who we dive with, who I’d call for a private driver, or what we’d do with a free afternoon, I’m not pulling recommendations from a generic “Top 10 Cozumel” list. I’m sharing the places and people we actually know, use and recommend to our own family and friends.
That might mean sending you to one of our favorite local restaurants, helping you connect with a dive operator, recommending Clemente with Go Tour Cozumel for a private island day, or suggesting a private chef dinner when you’d rather stay in and enjoy your vacation rental.
And because our two properties are in very different parts of Cozumel, my recommendations can be different depending on where you’re staying. At El Cantil, you can walk into San Miguel for restaurants, shopping and everyday essentials. At Costa del Sol, you’re on the quieter south side, closer to beaches, reefs and many of the places we love to explore by car.
I want you to find your favorite Cozumel places—not just ours. But sharing the ones we love is a pretty good place to start.
Two Homes, Two Different Ways to Experience Cozumel
One of the things I love about our two We’ve Gone Coastal properties is that they don’t give you the same Cozumel vacation.
If you picture yourself on the quieter south side of the island, close to the beaches and reefs with plenty of room for family or friends, our 3-bedroom, 3-bath beach villa at Costa del Sol may be your kind of place. You’re steps from the Caribbean and beach, with access to Costa del Sol’s oceanfront infinity pool and private community pier. It’s the location I’d choose when the goal is to slow down, dive, explore the south side and enjoy being away from the busier part of town.
If you’d rather be closer to the everyday energy of San Miguel, our 4-bedroom, 4-bath oceanfront condo at El Cantil gives you Caribbean views along with a heated saltwater pool, hot tub and private community pier. You can walk to restaurants, shopping and groceries, which makes it especially nice when everyone in the group doesn’t want to do the same thing at the same time.
Neither one is the “better” choice. I usually tell guests to think about how they picture spending their week in Cozumel. Do you want the quieter beach-and-reef feel of the south side, or do you want an oceanfront home base with San Miguel right outside your door? That’s usually the easiest way to figure out which one feels more like you.
Dory, Eliot, and Jefe’ stand in awe as they explore the rugged Cozumel blowholes, with the powerful sea spray shooting up from the rocks, framed by the stunning coastline and clear blue sky.
Explore Cozumel Beyond the Usual Stops
Some of our favorite Cozumel days are the ones when we get in the car without much of a schedule and see where the day takes us.
Over the years, Jefé and I have collected plenty of favorite stops—from the wild east side and little local restaurants to beaches, roadside bars and places we probably never would have discovered if we had stayed in one spot. Now we get to share those discoveries with our guests.
If you want ideas, start with my Hidden Gems in Cozumel guide. And if you’re trying to figure out how to fit diving, beach time, San Miguel, the wild side and some downtime into one trip, my 7 Days in Cozumel itinerary can give you a starting point.
I say starting point because I don’t think anyone needs to schedule every minute of a Cozumel vacation. Pick the things that sound like you, leave some room for changing your mind, and don’t be afraid to stop somewhere simply because it looks interesting. Some of our best island days have happened exactly that way.
Room to Be Together — and Room to Spread Out
Some of my favorite Cozumel trips are the ones when our kids, grandkids or friends are with us. I love having everyone together—but I also know that togetherness is a whole lot more enjoyable when everyone has a little space of their own.
That’s one of the things I appreciate most about both of our We’ve Gone Coastal homes. Bedrooms have their own bathrooms, there’s room to gather for coffee or a meal, and nobody has to spend the entire vacation sitting on a bed because that’s the only private space they have.
A full kitchen gives you options, even if the only thing you make all week is coffee and breakfast. Having a washer and dryer means you can pack a little lighter. And separate living and sleeping spaces can make a big difference when someone wants an afternoon nap, the kids are ready for bed, or the early riser in the group is up watching the Caribbean with a cup of coffee. For families, groups of friends and dive groups traveling together, those little things can make the whole week easier.
Add the Extras That Make Your Trip Yours
Unwind with a professional in-villa massage, letting the sounds of the ocean complete your ultimate Cozumel relaxation experience.
One of the things I like about staying in a vacation rental is that you can add the experiences you want without having to buy a package of things you may never use.
Want someone else to cook dinner one night? We can connect you with a private chef dinner right at your rental. Want a massage without going anywhere? An in-home massage can turn an afternoon at the villa or condo into a pretty great spa day.
If you’d rather spend the day exploring, I can also help connect you with people we know and trust, including Clemente with Go Tour Cozumel for a private island tour. Clemente can even arrange pickup from the community piers at both Costa del Sol and El Cantil, which makes starting your day especially easy.
The point isn’t to fill every day with activities. It’s having the option to make your trip as relaxed, adventurous—or delicious—as you want it to be.
If a chef dinner sounds good, I’ve put together a guide to choosing between a private chef, dining out and cooking at your Cozumel vacation rental based on how we actually travel and eat on the island.
Dive Cozumel Your Way
Scuba diving is a big part of our Cozumel story. I’ve been diving since 1987 and became an SSI Open Water Instructor, and Jefé and I have spent a lot of time underwater here. So when guests ask me about diving in Cozumel, it’s definitely a subject I’m happy to talk about.
One advantage of staying with us is that you’re free to choose the dive operator that fits the way you like to dive. We’ve gotten to know several Cozumel dive operators over the years, and I’m happy to share our experiences and help you sort through the options.
Where you meet your dive boat depends on both where you’re staying and the operator you choose. Some operators offer pier pickup from Costa del Sol or El Cantil, while others use a marina. I always recommend confirming pickup arrangements directly with your dive operator because policies can vary.
If diving is part of your trip, start with my Best Diving in Cozumel guide, where I share some of our favorite reefs and dive sites, what Cozumel drift diving is like, marine life you may encounter, and other tips from our own time underwater here.
What We Hope You Get From Staying With Us
We know there are a lot of places to stay in Cozumel. We don’t expect We’ve Gone Coastal to be the right fit for every traveler—and that’s okay.
What we hope to offer is something a little more personal: a home where your family or friends can settle in and be comfortable, along with the benefit of everything Jefé and I have learned from spending so much time on this island.
I want you to know who you’re renting from. I want you to feel comfortable asking me a question before your trip. And when I recommend a restaurant, dive operator, driver, tour or local business, I want you to know it’s because it’s someone or someplace we genuinely trust—not because we’re being paid to recommend them.
Most of all, I hope our homes give you a place to make your own Cozumel memories. Some of our favorite memories have happened here with our kids, grandkids and friends, and getting to share a little bit of that with our guests is one of the best parts of We’ve Gone Coastal.
Still deciding whether a vacation rental is right for your trip? I put together an honest comparison of staying in a vacation rental vs. a resort in Cozumel that walks through the differences in space, cost, dining, location, diving and family travel.
Beach Villa at Costa del Sol
3 bedrooms, 3 baths, steps from the beach and Caribbean Sea, with access to Costa del Sol's oceanfront infinity pool and private community pier.
Explore Our Costa del Sol Beach Villa →
Oceanfront Condo at El Cantil
4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Caribbean views, a heated saltwater pool and hot tub, private community pier, and an easy walk to restaurants, shopping and groceries.
Explore Our Oceanfront Condo at El Cantil →
Ready to Find Your Cozumel Home Base?
Choose the quieter south-side setting of Costa del Sol or the convenience of an oceanfront stay in San Miguel at El Cantil. Whichever feels more like your kind of Cozumel, we'd love to welcome you.
Check Availability & Book Direct →
Wondering why we offer direct booking? See my comparison of booking direct vs. Airbnb and Vrbo in Cozumel and what to compare before you reserve.
Meet Dory (Shannon Coleman)
I’m Shannon Coleman—better known around here as Dory. I’m a longtime scuba diver, former SSI Scuba Instructor, Cozumel travel blogger, and one half of the husband-and-wife team behind We’ve Gone Coastal.
Jefé and I have spent years exploring Cozumel above and below the water, and today we love sharing what we’ve learned with our guests. From the restaurants we return to and the people we trust to the little places we’ve discovered along the way, everything you’ll find here comes from our own experiences on the island.
