The 16 Best Beaches in Mexico

You won't find more picturesque blue water and sparkling white sand than in the natural paradise of Mexico which boasts a variety of stunning beaches. Whether you are looking for quiet, unpopulated hideaways, scene-y gay beaches or activity-centered beaches for children, there is a beach for everyone.

April 01, 2022

By: Valerie Conners and Felicia Feaster

Make the Beaches of Mexico Your Next Getaway

A country known for hospitality, incredible food and a rich cultural heritage, Mexico is also famous for its world-renowned beach towns and beaches. Our travel experts run down some of the best beaches in Mexico to take in the sand and surf. Whether you are a surfer or a dedicated lounger, we have a beach for you.

Learn More: The 10 Best Beaches in America

Tulum Beach

Located on the Caribbean coast, Tulum Beach features plenty of shops and restaurants when you need a break from the sun. Tulum is the only archaeological site located along the Caribbean shores in the Mayan Riviera.

There is a small beach beside the Temple of the Descending God where you can swim and sunbathe beneath this ancient city — the same beach where Mayan trade ships would have docked at Tulum centuries ago.

Learn More: The Top 16 All-Inclusive Resorts in America

Maroma Beach

Quite possibly the most exquisite secret in Mexico, Maroma Beach in Tulum is a resort hideaway intent on preserving the ecology of its 500-plus acres of beach and rain forest, all the while taking individual service and luxury to unprecedented heights. Maroma is nestled into the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and lies a mere 30 miles south of Cancun, but thankfully, remains worlds away from this spring break hot spot's pace and lifestyle. Maroma's guests are immersed in a quiet world of warm azure waters, pure white sands and rich tropical foliage. This miniature Eden of stucco huts and thatched roofs, beachside serenades and sunset cruises, will rejuvenate both body and spirit.

Isla Espiritu Santo

Baja’s Isla Espiritu Santo, part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is a serene place to completely disconnect. Head to La Paz, the closest city, and book a trip with OARS to spend a week basecamping on the island in canvas wall tents close enough to the ocean to let the waves lull you to sleep at night. By day, go hiking and sea kayaking and watch pelicans dive for fish in the crystal-clear waters just offshore. Snorkel with sea lions, fish, and keep an eye out for whales and dolphins jumping alongside your boat. By night, take a stroll along the beach in the moonlight or lay out under the stars. There’s no better place to combine relaxation and adventure.

Learn More: 25 Best All-Inclusive Resorts

Punta Mita

A luxurious resort town on the Pacific Ocean, this 1,500 acre peninsula is home to some of Mexico's most high-end resorts including the Four Seasons Punta Mita and the St. Regis Punta Mita, so you know the beaches are wonderful.

Sayulita

Experience Puerto Vallarta like the locals. Catch some waves in the charming beach town of Sayulita, stroll along the Malecon — a 1-mile boardwalk in downtown Puerto Vallarta — and dine on authentic cuisine in the small fishing village of Boca de Tomatlan.

Playa del Carmen

The beaches of Playa del Carmen are most populated along Fifth Avenue (the main pedestrian throughway, it's flanked with restaurants, boutiques, luxury shopping and nightlife. The street runs parallel to the ocean, making it a popular meeting place after a day spent soaking in the sun) where many resorts are located. The crowds taper off the farther north you go from this bustling city center. Many resorts are not only beachside, but they have rooms that all offer views of water, be it the lagoon tributaries or the crystal Caribbean.

Shown here, a playground in front of the Mayan monument on the beach helps make this spot a family-friendly destination. This beachside city grew up just south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen is now the primary tourist destination in the Riviera.

Isla Mujeres

The Mexican island of Isla Mujeres features pristine white sandy beaches that face the gentle waves of the aqua blue Caribbean Sea and destination-worthy scuba diving, snorkeling and stunning coral reefs.

Puerto Escondido

Visit the low-key beaches of Puerto Escondido, located on the Oaxacan coast in Mexico. This tourist destination caters to surfers, backpackers and families. West of the town is a large lagoon and a popular area for fishing and birdwatching.

La Playa de los Muertos

La Playa de los Muertos (The Beach of the Dead) is one of Puerto Vallarta's most well-known beaches. This section of the large Playa de los Muertos, known as Blue Chairs, is the area's most popular gay beach.

Playa Delfines

This "dolphin beach" in Cancun is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico with stunning turquoise blue water. A favorite of residents, Playa Delfines has a very different vibe from the party culture of much of Cancun.

Troncones Beach

Located in Guerrero, Mexico the small beach town of Troncones is known for its golden sand and unspoiled, quiet beach.

Playa Los Cerritos

If you ask around, you'll hear there's no better place to take in the surf with its amazing waves or sunset in Baja than Los Cerritos.This secluded beach is located in Todos Santos on the Pacific Ocean.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Preserve

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Preserve protects a rich bounty of flora and fauna on the Yucatan Peninsula's east coast. While visiting the biosphere, visitors might spy some of the 300 species of birds that inhabit the region, and view tropical forests, a palm savannah, wetlands, lagoons, and mangroves. Meaning "Origin of the Sky," Sian Ka'an is comprised of 1.3 million acres of land stretching along 74 miles of pristine coastline.

Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is considered to be the gateway to the Mayan Riviera. Its warm, welcoming beaches match the temperament of its people. The main beach is in the center of town, with smooth, natural sand and cerulean waters. To the north and south of this are smaller, private stretches of sand belonging to resorts. The reef surrounding these idyllic beaches is a protected national marine park and houses tropical fish, dolphins, turtles and corals. It's the perfect place to snorkel and appreciate the natural beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Xcaret

Xcaret, located just south of the center of Playa del Carmen, is an eco-archaeological park brimming with culture, nature and adventure. The beach here is perfect: sugary, white sands meet the warm, crystalline waters of the bay. There are plenty of beach loungers in the shade of the palm trees, as well as inner tubes for rent if you want to lounge in the calm waters.

Lazing on the beach is the most relaxing activity Xcaret has to offer. Turn the adventure up by scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, diving in the underground rivers, exploring the coves of the lagoon, floating down Paradise River or taking a guided shark tour.

Akumal

At Akumal, offshore reefs protect the white sands and filter warm water through subterranean rivers.

Akumal features some of the most stunning beaches on Earth. Offshore reefs protect the silky, white sand and filter warm water currents through the coastal caves and subterranean rivers.

In the Maya language, Akumal means "place of the turtles." This natural refuge is still a popular spot for sea turtles to lay their eggs; see them between the months of May and November on the beach at Half Moon Bay. The protected reef is a favorite snorkeling and dive site. The Akumal Dive Shop has all the gear you'll need and is easily accessible from the main road entering town.

While enjoying Akumal's natural beauty, consider staying at the eco-friendly Del Sol Beachfront. Its green policies are kicked up a notch during the turtles' nesting season. Lights are removed from all the balconies, and the security guards are all environmentally certified to assist turtles nesting on Vista del Mar's stretch of beach.