Coral Princess, Cozumel - Purified water?

[Anne]

We will be at the Coral Princess in Cozumel in late November. Although we have been in Mexico numerous times, it is our first time on Cozumel. I am wondering if water is purified at the Coral Princess or will we need to use bottled water for brushing teeth, etc. Also, will we find that restaurants on the island have purified water?

 

[Judy]

The tap water in the units at the Coral Princess is not purified. You will need to use bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and washing vegetables. The resort sells bottled water in small or 5 gallon jugs, or you can buy it at the grocery stores. The cost is much lower than you'd pay in the US.
Every restaurant I've been in, in Cozumel uses purified water for drinking, washing food, and ice. But it never hurts to ask.

 

[ace2000]

Go down the street and shop at one of the two big grocery stores (you'll probably want other groceries anyway). And then lug that massive 5 gallon jug back to your room. If you stay for a week, you may have to repeat the process at least one more time...

 

[MuranoJo]

I have never had trouble with the water at any major tourist destination in MX. (I always drink from the faucets in hotel rooms and have never gotten sick, and I never take any special precautions with OTC or prescribed drugs before or during.) On the other hand, we were in MX with 3 other couples about 4 years back, and the couple who would only drink bottled water and refused to drink tap water were the only ones who got ill.

My only caution would be to watch out for buffets or 'al fresco' dining where they may not keep the food cool enough.

Each person is different in his/her tolerances to those bugs. I kind of compare it to sea sickness. Never bothers me a bit, but it doesn't suit my hubby.

 

[Judy]

In Cancun the municipal water is purified. Not so in Cozumel. Tourist hotels in some of the other major tourist destinations in Mexico have their own water purification systems. Not so at the Coral Princess (or other places I've stayed in Cozumel). There is no reason to drink the tap water in Cozumel. Bottled water is cheap. The locals use it. And they serve purified water/ice in the restaurants. You can see the "Agua Purificada" trucks delivering all over town.

 

[Anne]

Do you also wash dishes in the purified water or do you use the tap water for that?

 

[Judy]

We used hot tap water to wash the dishes and then dried them with a clean towel before using. I guess you could use bottled water for rinsing, but we were told it wasn't necessary.