Scores at a Glance
Excellence Playa MujeresIberostar Waves Cozumel
Overall
9.2
8.6
Beach
8.6
8.8
Food
9.0
8.2
Service
9.3
—
Rooms
9.2
7.8
Luxury
9.1
—
Value
8.8
8.2
Romance
9.3
—
Scores out of 10 — higher is better
Quick Stats
9.2
Overall Score
8.6
5-star
Star Rating
5-star
4.9 (18,078)
Google Rating
4.7 (6,083)
From $251
Price / Night (pp)
Rates TBD
Yes
Adults Only
No
—
Kids' Club
Yes
Oceanfront
Beachfront
Near coast
Grand
Resort Size
Mid-size
25 min
Airport Transfer
25 min
All Scores
8.6
Beach
8.8
9.0
Food
8.2
9.3
Service
—
9.2
Rooms
7.8
9.3
Pools
—
9.1
Luxury
—
8.8
Value
8.2
—
Family
8.7
9.3
Romance
—
8.0
Nightlife
—
8.4
Quiet
—
7.8
Adventure
9.2
9.0
Wellness
—
8.4
Remote work
—
Vibes
Yes
Quiet
—
Yes
Romance
—
—
Adventure
Yes
Activities
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
dining
—
Yes
Water sports
Yes
—
Kids
Yes
Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Private beach
- 7 gourmet restaurants
- Spa with hydrotherapy
- Rooftop terrace suites
Iberostar Waves Cozumel
- 1 pools
- 5 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- 25 min from CZM
Pros — Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Adults-only beachfront setting with a strong couples focus.
- Seven pools and strong poolside infrastructure.
- Broad dining program with 11 restaurants.
- Large suite categories, including swim-up, rooftop terrace, and private-pool options.
- Strong recurring guest praise for service, cleanliness, food, and overall resort polish.
Pros — Iberostar Waves Cozumel
- True all-inclusive product
- Excellent snorkel/dive destination fit
- Family-friendly Star Camp programming
- Relaxed low-rise tropical setting
- Strong Expedia review coverage
Cons — Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Not family-friendly because the resort is adults-only.
- The beach is good but may not be the only reason to choose the resort over other Riviera Maya options.
- Premium room categories and Excellence Club can materially increase the price.
- Guests who prefer a small boutique atmosphere may find the resort large and polished rather than intimate.
Cons — Iberostar Waves Cozumel
- Rooms can feel rustic or older
- Remote from downtown
- Beach entry may be reefy in places
- Exact pool count needs verification