Restaurante Chen Rio

Chen Rio is the exception on Cozumel's windward shore. A natural rock arm curves out from the beach and knocks the swell down, creating a shallow protected pool behind it, and the restaurant sits right on the sand above it serving whole grilled fish, ceviche and cold beer. For anyone driving the east coast with children, this is the stop worth planning the day around.

The Beach And Water

The rock barrier makes the inner cove at Chen Rio calm on most days, and it is generally considered the safest swimming and the only real snorkelling spot on the east coast. That protection is relative, not absolute: outside the rocks the open Caribbean runs hard, currents pull along the shore, and there are no lifeguards anywhere on this side of the island. Stay inside the sheltered pocket, watch the water before you get in, and keep children within arm's reach.

Day Pass And What's Included

No day pass or entry fee. Buy food and drinks and use the tables, chairs and shade. Prices are moderate. Carry cash, as card payment on the east coast is unreliable.

Good To Know

Bills have occasionally caught visitors out, so ask prices before ordering. The beach itself is public.

Getting There

Playa Chen Rio on the Carretera Costera Oriental, roughly 40 minutes from downtown via the cross-island highway.