Just 10 miles from the Yucatan Peninsula in the sparkling Caribbean, the Mexican island of Cozumel is a beautiful holiday destination either on its own or as a quick trip from nearby Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum.
Among the dozens of all-inclusive resorts in Cozumel, Secrets Aura Cozumel is popular due to its secluded location on the south side of the island, generous all-inclusive packages, and affordable rates. (It’s the cheapest Secrets resort.)
So, what makes Secrets Aura Cozumel different from the other Secrets resorts in Mexico? We’ve scoured the Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews from previous guests to find out what its best features are and where some feel it can improve.
Read on for a complete review of Secrets Aura Cozumel.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Overview
Secrets Aura Cozumel is an adult-only all-inclusive resort in Cozumel, Mexico. Popular among younger adults, their clientele consists mostly of couples or groups of friends. It is known as more of a party resort and has its own nightclub plus theme parties on the beach and around the pool.
Secrets Cozumel is built on its own section of private beach, making it a popular choice for honeymoons and destination weddings in Mexico. The resort has an entire collection of romance packages available as well as suites with amenities like swimout entrances, rainfall showers, and private balconies.
Secrets Aura Cozumel has a spa, a fitness center, sports and game facilities, 3 swimming pools, 11 bars and restaurants, and a 24-hour concierge to arrange off-site excursions.
While Secrets Cozumel might not be the top choice if you’re looking for a low-key, relaxing getaway, there are a few areas where couples can enjoy some peace and quiet, especially if they upgrade to Preferred Club status. Additionally, guests of Secrets Cozumel are welcome to use the facilities next door at Sunscape Sabor Cozumel, Secrets’ family-friendly sister resort.
With a 4.0 rating on Google, Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews are mostly positive. Guests especially praise the friendly and helpful staff and the location. However, some of the more recent reviews are fairly negative, saying the resort needs updating and citing issues such as mold or bugs in the rooms, maintenance problems like broken air conditioners or lack of hot water, dirty pools, and food that wasn’t satisfactory.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Rooms & Suites
There are 266 rooms and suites here, and all offer views of the pool or ocean from a private, furnished balcony or terrace. Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews note that some suites are noticeably older and more run-down than others, particularly the buildings set further back from the beach, and some blocks do not have elevators.
Additionally, multiple guests found mold and/or bugs in their rooms, and some reviews said that they experienced maintenance issues like broken air conditioning and no hot water. Quite a few recent guests had to change rooms during their stay.
The most basic junior suites start at $154 per person per night and go as high as $275 for a swim-up oceanview room. These come with a walk-in shower, a minibar that’s refilled daily, and a comfy king-sized bed.
The nicest rooms are reserved for guests who upgrade to the Preferred Club. Prices for these rooms range from $160 – $300 per person per night. They come with amenities like large soaking tubs, separate living rooms, swim-up entrances, and beachfront access. Rooftop suites have ocean views, private plunge pools, corner terraces, and living rooms and start at around $330 per person per night.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Food & Drinks
Rates include unlimited meals, snacks, and drinks in 11 restaurants and bars plus 24-hour room service. The main restaurant is an open-air oceanfront buffet called the Market Cafe where regional Mexican dishes as well as international options are served three times daily.
If you want an a la carte option for breakfast, lunch and dinner there’s Oceana, a seafood restaurant with a lovely dining area that overlooks the ocean. There’s also the Barefoot Grill for lunch and share plates, located between one of the pools and the beach. For something light or a freshly made cup of coffee, you can get pre-made deli favorites at Coco Cafe.
There are three specialty restaurants for a romantic dinner at Secrets Aura Cozumel. Bordeaux specializes in French cuisine, Gohan Sushi Bar has an extensive sushi menu made with fresh catches, and Windows serves a little bit of everything in a beautifully lit outdoor dining room next to the beach. For an extra special evening, La Cava offers couples a romantic private dining experience complete with wine pairings.
There are also 5 bars at Secrets Aura Cozumel. Rendezvous, the lobby bar, is strategically placed where it can offer a direct view of the beach from bright orange stools. The swim-up bar, Manatees, is in The Waterslide Pool. Preferred Club guests have a private swim-up bar in the exclusive Preferred Club pool with premium spirits. For after-dinner drinks, there’s Sky Bar and Sushi, which delivers amazing views of the sunset, and Desires, the nightclub that’s open until 1 a.m.
Some Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews were disappointed with the long wait times and food quality at the restaurants, and some found the drinks to be watered down. Restaurants at the neighboring Sunscape Sabor Cozumel were said to be much better. Another complaint was that not all restaurants were open all the time. Also, guests note that there is a dress code for men for dinner at the a la carte restaurants, so be sure to bring long pants, collared shirts, and dress shoes.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Beach
Secrets Cozumel is the largest resort in the area and has its own section of private, white-sand beach lined with loungers and thatched umbrellas and a few palm trees scattered around. The water is calm enough for swimming and a long pier extends into the ocean, which also serves as the departure point for water-based excursions and doubles as a wedding gazebo.
Food and beverage service is offered on the beach, and there are beach volleyball courts set up and a shack where guests can borrow kayaks, snorkel masks, Hobie Cats, and other non-motorized watersports equipment. During the high season, a time limit is placed on equipment rentals.
Secrets Aura Cozumel is an exceptionally popular wedding destination, and guests are all but guaranteed to see at least one wedding during any week-long stay. Beach weddings are so common that some Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews said they were unable to enjoy the beach because it was often crowded with wedding guests. However, guests of Secrets also have access to the private beach at its sister resort right next door, Sunscape Sabor Cozumel.
Other reviews note that parts of the beach are rocky, especially in the water, so they recommend that you bring water shoes.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Pools
There are three swimming pools at Secrets Aura Cozumel, plus the Preferred Pool, which is the most luxurious but only available to Preferred Club guests. The smallest pool, the Relax Pool, is tucked between the lobby and the beach. It’s usually not very busy and isn’t located near the amenities, but if you want a break from the party or just want to sunbathe in peace it’s a nice place to retreat.
The Beach Pool is large and right next to the Barefoot Grill. A section at the front of the pool overlooks the beach. Towards the back, sections of it split off to form a lazy river that makes its way around a man-made island connected to the rest of the pool deck via a small bridge adorned with palm trees and a whirlpool.
The busiest (and loudest) pool deck is next to The Waterslide Pool, which is set furthest from the beach. The Waterslide Pool is where all the parties are hosted and has two small waterslides and the swim-up bar, Manatees. Staff regularly circulate the entire pool deck to offer food and beverage service at all three pools.
While many guests were pleased with the pools, recent Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews have said the pools are dirty and seem to have some damaged parts. Other guests note that they close at 8 p.m.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Activities and Entertainment
Secrets resorts are popular among young couples and groups of friends. Theme parties, bottomless drinks, and sunshine often result in some rowdy afternoons that extend into the evening. Several Secrets Aura reviews mention that the resort is often quite loud.
Even though nightly events like live shows tend to wrap up at a decent hour, guests in rooms near the nightclub are susceptible to disturbances by boisterous party-goers heading home at 1 in the morning. All this to say, if you’re looking for a more peaceful, relaxing experience, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun might be more up your alley.
Secrets also has a fitness center, a spa (next door at Sunscape), tennis courts, a baby turtle observation center, and a concierge who can arrange any off-site tours or excursions like deep sea fishing, visits to Mayan ruins, and scuba diving. Guests interested in giving scuba diving a try can take 1 free intro lesson in the pool before signing up for a course at the on-site PADI center.
Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews liked the fact that the onsite pier allowed guests to take some excursions without having to drive anywhere, but others said there wasn’t very much to do at this resort.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Romance Packages
Secrets resorts cater especially to couples and have romance packages available as well as destination wedding packages. Their standard wedding packages include event planning by a professional wedding coordinator, flower arrangements, a ceremony, and a small reception with a wedding cake. Packages can be customized to suit your desires and the size of your party.
Add-ons include breakfast in bed, discounts on spa treatments, and a free night if you celebrate your one-year wedding anniversary at Secrets. There’s also an elopement package that comes with a romantic candlelit dinner on the night of the wedding and the option to hire a wedding photographer.
Honeymoon and anniversary packages include a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, a couples’ massage and a second spa treatment of choice, breakfast in bed with mimosas on the first morning of your stay, one romantic candlelit dinner on the beach, and petit fours every evening of your visit as part of a romantic turndown service.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: What’s Included
At Secrets resorts, almost everything is covered, including unlimited dining and drinks, minibars in the room, Wifi, daily activities including nonmotorized watersports and tennis, and nightly entertainment (including entry to the nightclub).
Along with nicer rooms that come with upgraded minibar contents and bath products, Preferred Club perks include personalized check-in and check-out, access to exclusive areas, and additional restaurant and menu options including a continental breakfast every morning and hors d’oeuvres served every afternoon. However, some Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews said that upgrading to Preferred Club at this resort was not worth it.
If you choose to have your wedding or honeymoon at Secrets Aura Cozumel, you’ll get a ton of perks like spa discounts, breakfast in bed, and free bonus nights as a thank-you for celebrating at Secrets.
Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews note that tips are not included, so it’s recommended to bring cash for those.
Secrets Aura Cozumel Reviews: Location
Secrets Aura Cozumel is located on the island of Cozumel in Quintana Roo, just off the shores of the Yucatan Peninsula. There is an international airport on the island, making it easily accessible via plane. A direct flight is offered from Cancun if you’re coming from mainland Mexico, or you can take an hour-long ferry ride from Playa del Carmen.
The resort is built along the southern shore with not much else around it. There is only one other all-inclusive resort in the area, Secrets’ sister resort Sunscape Sabor Cozumel, and there are no other restaurants, shops, or bars within walking distance.
Most guests who visit Secrets are content to take advantage of all-inclusive rates and stay at the resort for their entire trip, but if you do want to get out and do some exploring you’ll need a car or a taxi to do so. Thankfully, there is free parking and valet service.
In terms of tourist sites, there is a dolphin discovery center about 10 minutes away. Cozumel’s main city, San Miguel, is a 20-minute drive from the resort, and Cozumel International Airport is 30 minutes away.
Now that you’ve read all about Secrets Aura Cozumel reviews, what do you think? If you’re not sure whether this is the best Secrets resort for you, here are some other articles that may help: 5 Best Secrets Resorts in Mexico, 10 Best Secrets Resorts, Impression by Secrets Isla Mujeres Reviews, Secrets vs. Breathless Resorts, and Secrets vs. Sandals.
You may also want to talk to a Secrets travel agent for expert guidance.
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He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.