The best beaches in Mexico. Beaches of Mexico from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean Mexican beaches

Mexico (United Mexican States) is a country on the North American continent. The Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California wash the coast of Mexico to the west. The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico flow towards the shores of Mexico in the east of the country. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf on planet Earth with an area of ​​1.540 million square meters. km and a coastline length of more than 500 km. Mexico shares a land border with the United States in the north and east and with Belize and Guatemala in the southeast. The national currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN). The official language of Mexico is Spanish. In tourist areas, Spanish and English are spoken, and in the outback there are 59 local dialects of ethnic groups.

Visa to Mexico

Mexico is a federal republic with a population of more than 110 million people, consisting of 31 states and one federal capital district. The President is the head of the United Mexican States. Since 2017, a visa to Mexico for a holiday is not required for Russians, but its equivalent is needed - a tourist permit to enter and exit the country in electronic form (only for crossing the Mexican border by air). An electronic Mexican visa for citizens of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine for the purpose of a tourist trip is a form specially prepared for filling out on the website of the National Institute of Migration. A unique code on a printed document should be presented to the airline when purchasing an air ticket to Mexico. The flight time from Moscow to the resorts of Cancun is more than 13 hours. If you are flying from Russia with a transfer in the Schengen countries, you need to find out whether you need to obtain a transport visa for a transfer at airports in other countries.

The capital of the United Mexican States is the metropolis of Mexico City, with 16 districts, the highest population density in the world and 20 million inhabitants. Benito Juarez International Airport is Mexico City's main airport. Mexico is a country of five civilizations. Tourists will be interested in getting acquainted with the myths, legends and ancient cultures of Mexico before the time of Columbus, which were left to their descendants by the Olmecs, Autecs, Mayans, Teotihucans, and Toltecs. Mexico is the unofficial capital of silver in the mountain village of Taxco. Puebla is one of the country's major colonial cities and the culinary capital of Mexico.

Mexico is the legendary port resort city of Acapulco, the eco-archaeological zone of Teotihucan, the ancient Mayan Pyramids, swimming in the cenotes of Yucatan, and the natural and cultural attractions of the Yucatan Peninsula. Mexico is the fiery rhythms of Latin America, huge dance floors in the clubs of Acapulco and the disco bars of the Cancun resort area.

Mexico is a 35-meter cliff of La Quebrada with a narrow deep gorge, as if going into the bowels of the earth, and the picturesque town of Santa Maria del Tula with the widest tree in the world (40 meters) growing in these places and 2000 years old. The diverse country of Mexico has a unique natural phenomenon - the Yucatan cenotes. A cenote is a kind of well with clear blue water, which was formed as a result of the collapse of the cave roof. There is usually an underground river flowing in the vicinity. The deep Cenote Ik-Kil in Mexico with vines descending to the surface of the water is considered the most beautiful karst lake of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Gulf of Mexico, the warm waves of the Caribbean Sea and the expanses of the Pacific Ocean are the calling card of Mexico.

Resorts of Mexico

The climate of Mexico is different: subtropical predominates in the north, and tropics in the south of the country. In the hot summer, the thermometer rises above +35 C, and in winter it tends to reach +27 C. Mexico has several seasons in terms of precipitation: rainy (from June to September) and dry (November-April). Hurricanes occur in August and September.

The best resorts of the Caribbean coast in Mexico: Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.

Resorts on the Pacific Coast in Mexico: Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos.

All beaches in Mexico are public, free, sandy. For families with children, it is better to choose Mexican resorts with large green areas in the hotels of the Princess, Iberostar, Riu chain in the Riviera Maya resort or in Playa del Carmen. Hotels in the resort of Cancun are higher-rise, but with a small territory.

Resorts of Mexico on the Caribbean coast

The resorts of Mexico are located on the Gulf Coast, where you can explore the turquoise waters of the Rio Lagartos on amphibious boats, which is considered one of the most attractive nature reserves of the Yucatan Peninsula. Mexico is a tour to the former settlement of the Mayan civilization to the mysteries and antiquities of Ek-Balam. The tourist attraction of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is the ancient pyramids of the city of Tulum and the pagan rites of Coba. Tanca Park is the most amazing entertainment program for tourists and the fantastically exotic nature of Mexico. The Mexican Caribbean is the Island of Women (Isla Mujeres) with the ruins of a pirate estate and pelicans, the protected corners of Contoy Island and the island of Cozumel with its unusual diving. Resorts in Mexico include meeting whale sharks off Holbox Island on an ecological excursion (from May to September). Mexico's best resort on the Caribbean coast presents the Cancun Interactive Aquarium right in the Hotel Zone on Kos.

Sultry Cancun on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is a young Mexican resort that has matured and attracted numerous tourists from the beaches of Hawaii and Miami. It is important for travelers in search of exotic Mexico to unravel what is the secret of this success? Tourists are very welcome and loved in Cancun. Comfortable buses with air conditioning and TVs are everywhere here. Cancun International Airport is the first airport to welcome tourists to travel around Mexico. During the Christmas holiday season in Cancun the heat is +30 C, and in Canada, America and Russia there are snowdrifts. , which with its 140-kilometer resort area stretches along the Caribbean coast to the town of Tulum. The resort tourist area of ​​the Riviera Maya is extended by the Caribbean coastline south of Cancun with beautiful landscaped beaches and a whole scattering of luxurious 5* and less expensive hotels with green areas. The resort of Playa del Carmen is located five kilometers from the entertainment.

Thanks to investments in the Cancun project, one of the most expensive resorts in Mexico was built here on the site of a fishing village from scratch. A hotel room on the first coastline costs from $120. The Cancun resort shocks with its unusual beauty and wide sandy Spit in the form of the number 7. All tourists live in the hotel area on the Spit, washed on both sides by the Caribbean Sea. The entire Cancun Hotel Zone seems to have stepped right out of the pages of a glossy travel brochure. High-rise snow-white buildings of luxury hotels, luxurious well-groomed beaches, mowed lawns, cleanliness and order everywhere - this is how tourists see Cancun. All the charm of Cancun is in the warm Caribbean Sea: your feet themselves carry you to the gentle wave. The sea breathes and lives its resort life like an aquamarine gem that plays in the sun with all shades of blue. The rest of Cancun is poorer, non-tourist areas.

Mexico resorts on the Pacific coast

Mexico's resorts on the Pacific coast are the birth of a majestic melody of relaxation. Here tourists are possessed by a hidden reverence for the mysterious power of the expanses of the Pacific Ocean.

The port city-resort of Acapulco is a resort for chic shows and nightlife in Mexico. The tourist life of Acapulco is in full swing on the shores of the Pie de la Cuesta lagoon and the sand spit on the northern outskirts of the city, 25 km from the resort center. There are more than 20 wide municipal beaches to suit every mood.

Los Cabos unveils a new luxury resort on the Pacific coast. It's not as humid as Cancun. The Los Cabos resort is young and a little naive.

Capital Mexico City

Mexico City is the second largest metropolis in the world after Tokyo. Mexico City is the federal metropolitan area. Mexico City is a city with a special energy almost in the very center of the country. Mexico City is not on the coast, but at an altitude of more than 2200 meters above sea level in a high mountain valley. Mexico City is the capital of a state with an Olympic heritage.

Two Mexico City centers are World Heritage Sites:

  • Historical - with the Square of Three Cultures and the Square of the Constitution;
  • Ecological Park Xochimilco on the shore of the lake of the same name with its 170-kilometer ribbon of canals and floating gardens 18 km from the center.

The Palace of Fine Arts is the visiting card of Mexico City. Ultra-modern skyscrapers of Mexico City coexist with ancient Aztec pyramids. Mexico City will present the country's main tourist center.

The main attractions of Mexico City:

  • Zócalo Square – acquaintance with the historical center of the city;
  • Tenochtitlan – ruins of an ancient city and ritual center of the Aztecs;
  • Museum on the site of the Templo Mayor pyramid and the site of new archaeological finds;
  • National Presidential Palace;
  • Main Catholic Cathedral of Mexico;
  • The Mexico City Anthropological Museum is the largest collection of museum exhibits in Latin America and provides insight into the country's Indian past.

Holidays in Mexico give you the opportunity to bow to the time before the Columbus era and try to unravel the mystery of the ghostly flame. Improvise, color your life with new impressions of the country of Mexico and the bright colors of the Mexican summer!

Mexico resorts have recently attracted more and more travelers from different parts of the world. Some are attracted by the opportunity to discover a never-before-seen beach holiday, others like to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of an exotic country, and there are those who can’t wait to personally try the delights of local cuisine, which, according to rumors, may well be considered a real paradise for gourmets.

However, this article will not only describe the best resorts in Mexico. The reader will receive a lot of useful information on how to make your vacation even more interesting and educational.

Section 1. Why Mexico?

First of all, it should be noted that this is actually an amazing country, characterized by contrast. Today, extreme poverty and luxury of large cities are closely intertwined here.

Ideas about this state are quite diverse. For some, this is a vacation spot with gorgeous beaches and villas, famous resorts, diving and windsurfing. Others are attracted by the beauty of the tropics and the opportunity to plunge into the history of ancient civilizations, see mysterious pyramids and other mysterious monuments.

According to tourism brochures, this destination offers its guests the best coastal areas that meet world standards. The country is known for its cultural heritage, tequila, sombreros and passionate TV series.

Mexico is the homeland of the Aztecs, Olmecs, Mayans and Zapotecs, who had a huge impact on history and left behind many secrets. Some of them still remain unexplained. Most scientists believe that the ancient civilization arose due to an alien presence. One of the anomalous places in Mexico is the “Zone of Silence,” which exists at the same latitude as the pyramids of Egypt and the Bermuda Triangle. Strange phenomena occur in this zone, radio equipment turns off and the clock stops.

But for some tourists, the popular resorts of Mexico are also associated with poverty and slums in the suburbs of large populated areas. This is another part of the state and unprepared travelers definitely shouldn’t go there.

As we can see, almost everyone can find something they like. The only inconvenience for tourists is the country’s remoteness from Europe and the duration of the flight with transfers. But all this is easily compensated by the impressions received during the trip.

Section 2. What hotels offer guests the best resorts in Mexico?

Tourism occupies an important place in the country's economy. The classification of hotels by level of service is controlled by the state itself. Although this primarily applies to modern hotel complexes.

However, you should be prepared for the fact that in Mexico there are many non-standard hotels located in ancient estates or palaces. Their owners, however, offer comfortable rooms with modern equipment.

If you have decided for yourself the answer to the question of which resort in Mexico to choose, then it’s time to choose a suitable hotel.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the most budget accommodation option is accommodation in 1-2* hotels, where small rooms with modest decoration are provided. Such rooms, as a rule, do not have air conditioning, TV or comfortable furniture. Despite this, 2* hotels differ from 1* hotels. Many 2* hotels have swimming pools.

Hotels with a star rating higher than three are closer to the European category of service provision. When choosing a stopping place, read in advance the interior view of the apartment, the list of available services and reviews. In addition to traditional hotels, in the country you can find hotels with additional classifications - “grandtourist” and “special category”.

The first group includes expensive hotel complexes, located mainly in the resorts of Acapulco and Riviera Maya. The most expensive and elite in Mexico are the complexes marked with a “special category”, which offer their guests exclusive types of recreation.

Section 3. Let's taste the holiday

Resorts in Mexico, as a rule, are impossible to imagine without getting acquainted with local dishes.

In general, the country's cuisine is actually distinguished by its gastronomic diversity. However, one should also take into account the fact that each region has its own preferences in the choice of products and dishes.

Thus, in the northern part of the state, the main food of residents is beef and goat meat. The process of cooking meat is reminiscent of the American method (most often barbecue type). Central Mexico favors a variety of seasonings and dishes made from beans and corn. Meat is also included in the diet. The southern provinces are influenced by Caribbean cuisine, where they love spicy vegetables and chicken. The closer to the coast, the more popular fish and seafood.

But for centuries, chili peppers, corn tortillas and beans have remained unchanged components of the national cuisine. And the most favorite delicacy for Mexicans is “canas asadas” - a piece of fried sugar cane. The strong drink tequila brought real fame to Mexico.

Mexican wines, made mainly using European technologies, are also in demand. Other popular drinks include horchata (made from rice flour), iced hibiscus tea and champurado hot chocolate. The south of the country is famous for its excellent coffee.

From all of the above we can conclude: a holiday in Mexico, whose resorts are now extremely popular, will also be interesting for those who like to eat tasty and satisfying food.

Section 4. Which holiday is right for you?

The resorts of Mexico, descriptions of which can be found in almost all the most popular tourist brochures in the world, are distinguished by their diversity. Although, according to vacationers, they can, in principle, be divided into two main categories.

So, the main resorts in Mexico are located on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The most famous of them:

  • Acapulco;
  • Riviera Maya (Cozumel Island and Playa del Carmen);
  • Los Cabos;
  • Puerto Vallarta.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that each of them is good and interesting in its own way. In addition to beach holidays, these tourist destinations have their own characteristics.

For example, Acapulco is famous for its expensive hotels and monuments of Spanish colonization, night parties and discos, restaurants and water activities. Convenient beaches are ideal for families with children.

To get acquainted with the history of the Mayan civilization, you should go to the Riviera Maya. This resort has famous luxury hotels and the best beaches.

Still, Mexico is amazing and unique. The resort of Cancun, for example, in addition to its amazing beaches, is also notable for its ancient sights. The island of Cozumel is known for its coral reefs, which attract divers.

Section 5. Luxury vacation in Cancun

The large resort city of Cancun is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. This is a real paradise for lovers of nightlife - restaurants, night bars, casinos, discos and incendiary afterparties.

For tourists there are golf and tennis courts, bicycle rentals and other entertainment. The most beautiful corner of the resort is the Nichupte Lagoon, which separates the city from the hotel area. Here you can take yacht trips or spend time in a bar or restaurant. Their terraces offer magnificent views of the lagoon. In the north of Cancun there are ruins of ancient Mayan settlements.

Hotels offer lovers special programs for organizing wedding ceremonies, performed according to the internal laws of a state such as Mexico. This is why resorts on the Caribbean Sea are famous for their huge number of newlyweds. By the way, in order for this marriage to be recognized as valid, say, in America or Europe, it will simply need to be legalized in its home country.

Section 6. What awaits us in Acapulco?

The resorts of Mexico, reviews of visits to which are usually positive or even enthusiastic, are impossible to imagine without this locality.

Acapulco is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. It is not without reason that the city is considered the “night capital” of Mexico. It is a place of entertainment, casinos, bars and restaurants that comes alive as night falls. His fiery discos are known throughout Mexico. Famous DJs and artists from all over the world come here. In addition to entertaining shows, tourists can take excursion trips to historical attractions.

On the mountain is the Chapel of Peace Cathedral, built during the period of Spanish rule. Next to it stands a majestic cross, blessing sea travelers. In the 17th century San Diego fortress. There is a historical museum, and you can get acquainted with objects of Indian culture in the Museum of Archeology. There is a water park in the Papagayo National Reserve. Taking a boat trip on a glass-bottomed boat to Roqueta Island, you can see the statue of the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe (the patroness of sailors) under the water.

Section 7. The miracle called Riviera Maya

Mexico can offer its guests many unforgettable places. It is not without reason that the resort cities of this country are extremely popular. Here you can find something to suit every taste and budget, as they say.

For example, the snow-white beaches of the Riviera Maya stretch from Cancun to Tulum. The main settlements in this region are Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel. Mostly tourists from Europe vacation here.

It should be noted that these places are ideal for family holidays and diving. Free time can be devoted to sports games, SPA treatments or excursions. The resort town of Playa del Carmen, located in the center of the Riviera Maya, is popular among young people.

Mexico also attracts vacationers in this part with its beaches and coral reefs, the ruins of ancient Indian settlements (Chichen Itza, Ekbalam, Tulum), included in the UNESCO list. You should definitely visit the Shel-Ha nature reserve, famous for its unique karst lakes and stalactite dungeons.

In the ecological park Xcaret there is an aquarium museum, a turtle farm, butterfly and orchid parks, and an island of jaguars. Here you can frolic with dolphins, go scuba diving or swim along an underground river. Particularly striking are the flocks of pink flamingos that live in the bay near the fishing village of Rio Lagartos.

The newly opened Xplor Park invites visitors to experience extreme rafting along the warm rivers of the underground. The river leads to natural wells that served as a source of water for the Mayans. In addition, other adventures await you in the park: ziplining, jungle treks and walks along suspension bridges.

Section 8. Los Cabos - a place worth visiting

In fact, Mexico's resorts are diverse and unique. What to choose for your next vacation? Why not discover something new?

Between the cities of San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, the Los Cabos resort area stretches for almost 40 km. This relatively young resort is considered one of the most expensive. The climate of Los Cabos is different from other resorts in Mexico. Here it is drier, which creates favorable conditions for relaxation. Luxurious hotels surrounded by greenery, excellent sandy beaches and the sea are perfectly combined with the desert dunes.

Many hotels are part of global hotel chains with an all-inclusive system. Each of them differs in architecture and design. Golf courses, swimming pools, restaurants and bars are open to tourists, and various show programs are organized. From January to April, huge whales swim to the shores of Los Cabos, which can be observed right from the coast.

Section 9. Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel

On the shores of the largest Bay of Banderas is the colonial city of Puerto Vallarta. You should pay attention to the fact that the most fashionable hotels in the resort are concentrated in the Marina Vaillarta area, south of the center.

You can find the most affordable accommodation options in the area of ​​New Vayarta. Some of the hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis. Ordinary life here proceeds calmly and measuredly; organizations provide for a siesta in the afternoon. But with the arrival of darkness, the city comes to life, incendiary parties begin and evening trade opens. The settlement is especially good from October to May.

It is impossible to imagine Mexican resorts without the island of Cozumel, which is suitable for a relaxing and beach holiday. Thanks to its coral reef, it is popular with scuba diving enthusiasts. There are many inexpensive hotels here, mainly aimed at tourists involved in water sports and diving, who, as a rule, are not particularly picky and do not need luxury apartments.

For more discerning holidaymakers, there are luxury hotel complexes with accommodation in bungalows in the western part of the island.

Section 10. Diving and surfing

We have described all the main resorts in Mexico. What to choose depends on each individual traveler, or rather, on his tastes, preferences and financial situation.

The magnificent underwater landscapes and coral reef inhabitants of Mexico's coastal waters attract divers from all over the world.

On the island of Cozumel, in the Marine Coral Park, there is a coral reef that is the second largest on the planet in terms of its size. And the unusual Sea of ​​Cortez is home to many rare and exotic fish. The famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau dubbed it “the aquarium of the world.”

The Pacific and Gulf Coasts offer many interesting sites for wreck divers. The Yucatan Island attracts with its underground rivers. Mexican dive spots: Cancun, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen.

Almost all resorts in Mexico are suitable for walking on the waves. Surfing competitions often take place here. The most famous surf beaches are in Cancun, Merida, Riviera Nayarit, and Puerto Escondido.

). About which beaches are more convenient to live and swim on, about the best hotels in Cancun and about your impressions of visiting the Hotelier Zone. First, some background.

I was chatting a long time ago with my Brazilian friend. He traveled for a year in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

— Maicon, where is it better to go for six months? To Southeast Asia or to Latin?
- To Latina!
- Why not to Asia? You said Asia was cool
- Yes, it’s cool, but there are no Caribbeans there!

After this conversation, I still went to Southeast Asia for several months, but the dream of the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea was firmly ingrained in my brain. And if an idea appeared in my head, then it just won’t go away until the “achieved, accomplished, done” checkbox appears opposite it.

Therefore, today I am writing my reviews about holidays on the beaches of the Caribbean Sea. Let's start with Mexican ones. First in line - Cancun beaches.


As I already said in the post about, the entire territory of the resort is divided into the city of Cancun and the Hotelera Zone, also known as the Hotel Zone. The city is home to Mexicans and low-budget travelers.

Otelera Zone- this is a sand spit in the shape of a seven, completely built up with hotels. On one side the spit is washed by the Nichupte Lagoon, on the other side by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. It is home to tourists from America, Europe and Russia, vacationers and travelers whose budget allows them to rent more expensive housing.

Living in the city is cheap, but you will have to go to the sea by bus (20-40 minutes to good beaches, 0.8$ one way bus ticket R1 or R2). It’s more expensive to live and relax in the Hotel Zone (prices for housing and food are several times higher), but the beaches are nearby.

There are two types of Cancun beaches:

  • Beaches to Punta Cancun from 0 to 9 km, no waves
  • Beaches after Punta Cancun - 9 km and further - open sea with the waves

About 4 million people visit Cancun beaches every year! tourists, mainly from the USA.

The first people I saw when I got off the bus near the beach were half-naked American teenage girls who were carrying a case of beer onto the ferry and asked the ticket attendant whether it was forbidden to drink too much alcohol on the ferry to (of course, somewhere without beer) then at 11 am, and even at sea for a whole half hour!).

These are no longer the Pacific beaches of Mexico with cheerful pensioners. In Cancun, the party and drive are on a different level.

Many Mexicans go to Cancun to work, so the attitude towards tourists here is worse than on the Pacific coast. In Cancun they will speak English to you, offer exotic tours, accept dollars for payment, smile, but the flavor that can be found in Chiapas or on the beaches of Huatulco is not there at all. But there is the Caribbean Sea.

So, back to beaches without waves. In the north, the Cancun Spit is closed from the open sea by the Island of Women, so all beaches up to 9 km are completely calm and safe. If you are looking for a hotel in Cancun, keep in mind that no house numbers. The address usually states on what kilometer of Kukulkan Boulevard the hotel is located. For example, like this:

Kukulcan Boulevard Km 8.5 hotel zone, Cancun, Mexico

1. Playa Las Perlas – 2.5 km

Pearl Beach

City beach, which begins in the city of Cancun and stretches to 2.5 km of Kukulcan Boulevard. If anyone relaxes there, it is Mexicans with families and children on weekends and on Semana Santa days.

This area can’t really be called a beach. The sea is not at all like what you dream of seeing in the Caribbean. There is a wide strip of algae on the shore. There are no cafes or shops nearby. If you are looking for a place to stay in Cancun, I do not recommend Playa Las Perlas, although there are hotels there too.

2. Playa Juventud – 3 km

Youth Beach 2.5 – 3 km

It starts immediately behind Las Perlas beach and is not much different from the latter. The sea is also shallow, there are seaweeds on the shore, there is a pier and many boats. I wouldn’t choose it for a vacation in Cancun either.

3. Playa Linda— 4 km


Hotel Oasis Palm near the canal in Playa Linda

Playa Linda, which means “Beautiful”, is divided by a channel into two parts. The sea up to the canal is the same as on the two previous beaches, and then - beyond the fourth kilometer - the real turquoise Caribbean Sea begins.

If you want to swim at Linda Beach, go beyond the channel (the further east from the beginning of the spit, the better the sea). We entered the beach through the lobby of the Grand Oasis Palm hotel

There are shops, cafes and bars on Linda. This is where the bar in the shape of a pirate ship stands. Behind the canal begins the all inclusive hotel zone. When I was in Cancun, I lived on Playa Linda in an apartment for $50.

If I had not seen other beaches in Cancun, I would happily splash around on Playa Linda, as I did on my very first day in the Caribbean. However, the further you move away from the beginning of the spit, the more beautiful the beaches become. Subsequently, even though we lived on the Linda bathing area, we went to swim at the beaches 9, 12 and 15 km away - I’ll tell you about them below.

Playa Langosta – 5 km


If you move away from the hotels, you will get your own private beach. It's a pity you can't lie there for long because of the sun
There are plenty of people near the hotels

Lobster Beach, Spanish Playa Langosta

All-inclusive hotels are located here. The sea is so-so, there is algae, but the guys in the hotels are served free alcohol, there are a lot of American youth, no one really comes out of the pool. They seem to be having fun there.

Ferries depart from here to Isla Mujeres. If you move away from the hotels to the ferry station, you can find a shallow, knee-deep cove with clear water, where there are no buildings in the background. This is a rarity in Cancun.

There are almost no people. There is a public entrance to the beach. Nearest cafes and shops in Playa Linda.

5. Playa Pez Volador – 5.5 km

Flying Fish Beach, Spanish Playa Pez Volador

This is one of my favorite Cancun beaches without waves. The sea is shallow, the water is clean. The beach is partly sandy and partly rocky.

The water near the shore is clear. Ideal for a relaxing holiday with small children. Popular with foreigners. There are several hotels on the beach. There is entertainment. Closer to 6 km of Kukulkan Boulevard there are shops, parking, toilets and cafes with reasonable prices.

6. Playa Tortuga – 7 km


Algae on Tortuga Beach
There are secluded bays where it is very shallow

Turtle Beach, Spanish Playa Tortuga

Public beach popular with Mexicans. There is a public entrance to the beach and parking. Near the beach there are cafes with great prices and several shops. There are a lot of people, the music is blaring. The water is calm, the depth is maximum chest-deep.

If you want to feel the flavor of Mexico or listen to Spanish speech, then you can safely go to Tortuga. Here you can be among Mexicans, and not among tourists, as on most beaches in Cancun.

Compared to hotel beaches, Tortuga has more algae, which no one cleans up.

Hotels and apartments at 7-8 km in Cancun

  • La Villa du Golf - booking rating - 9.7 , price from 100$ , breakfast included. Location – 7.5 km. Across the road from the sea (10 min walk to the beach), very good reviews. You can go to Tortuga, or better yet, to Karakol beach. The distance is the same.

7. Playa Caracol, km 9-10


Karakol Beach is my favorite
Hotel Riu near the sea

Snail Beach, Spanish Playa Caracol

This beach is built up with hotels; foreigners stay in the hotels. There is an official public entrance to Caracol, so closer to the entrance, mostly Mexicans and hotelless guests of the country (like me, for example) hang out.

One of the nicest beaches in Cancun without waves. Ideal for swimming. There are no waves, the water is clear. Not deep, not shallow. The sand is whitest. One bad thing is that there are almost no places where you can sunbathe. Hotel sun loungers are located close to the water.

There are quite a lot of people - both tourists and Mexicans. From Karakol, if you wish, you can walk to the Coco Bongo discotheque. Near the beach there are a large number of shops, cafes, ATMs

If you are looking for a beach in Cancun without waves with white sand and the perfect color of the Caribbean Sea, you can safely go to Snail Beach at 8-9 km of the Hoteliera Zone. The best beach is at the Riu Cancun hotel.

Hotels and Apartments on the Hat of Seven in Cancun

All inclusive chain hotels at 9 km of Cancun:

  • Grand Fiesta Americana - booking rating - 9.1 , price - $319, location - 9 km. Five star luxury spa hotel. Only for adults. There is a spa, gym with ocean views
  • Riu Palace - 4*, all inclusive, rating 8.9 . It is located directly on Karakol beach. Popular with couples, wifi 9.3 Mbps

My reviews about Cancun beaches

The northern beaches of the Hoteliera Zone are closed by Isla Mujeres, so there are no waves there. They are suitable for families with small children and people who cannot swim. On some beaches you won’t even be able to swim even if you want to, because the sea is knee-deep.

My favorite of the Cancun beaches was Caracol (8-9 km). If you need a calm sea without waves of a comfortable depth and white sand without algae, then Karakol is ideal.

In second place are Pes-Volador and Tortuga. However, if you choose the ideal beach, then I still prefer beaches with waves that begin after Punta Cancun (after the 9th kilometer). There you can jump on big (and not so big) waves, and there are also significantly fewer people there.

A description and photo of the beaches located after the 9th kilometer of the Hotel Zone can be found at the link:.


My first ever Mample

P.S. My reviews of Cancun beaches are subjective and may differ from your own experiences. I personally know people who don’t like Cancun in any form – with or without waves.

Some people see the disadvantages of Cancun in the endless line of hotels, others don’t like the prices, and still others don’t like the company of Mexicans.

I have been to many cities in the Mayan Riviera, which start in the south after Cancun airport and stretch down to Belize. Objectively, the beaches of Cancun are clean, and the Caribbean Sea is the most beautiful in Cancun, starting from the ninth kilometer of Kukulcan Boulevard.

Mexico has not only Cancun, but also other cities whose beaches are no less beautiful. You can watch my 2-minute video about the best beaches in Mexico:

Warm sea to you! Sincerely, Mila Demenkova.

Beaches of Cancun without waves (1-9 km) - hotels, reviews, photos. Mexico


One of the most bustling, developed, fashionable and popular resorts in Latin America, Cancun is a sand dune in the shape of the number “7”, separated from the mainland by a lagoon and two narrow canals. Forty years ago, only a few knew about the existence of a stretch of land (21 km long and just over half a kilometer wide), but after the opening of the first hotels and an international airport in 1974, the coastal infrastructure began to grow rapidly, and by the 90s Cancun has grown into the largest resort in the Caribbean.
Tourists can enjoy many restaurants where they can taste dishes from all over the world, more than 2,000 shops, large shopping centers and souvenir shops, SPA centers and golf courses, water sports and diving centers, exciting discos and fashionable clubs, beach parties and concerts. world-class stars. The unique location and stunning white sand beaches allow visitors to Cancun to combine a beach holiday with excursions to Mayan ruins. In addition, from Cancun you can go on a boat trip on a yacht or catamaran, on a fishing or diving tour, on an excursion to the unique underwater sculpture museum or to the Island of Women. One of the most important resort centers in Yucatan is located 60 km south of Cancun. A few decades ago, Playa del Carmen was no different from a dozen charming but sleepy fishing villages on the Mexican Riviera. However, over time, divers began to arrive at local piers to take the ferry to the island of Cozumel. The beauty of the coast did not go unnoticed; more and more tourists stayed here to enjoy the serene beaches after the bustling Cancun, and today Playa del Carmen is one of the most popular resorts in Mexico.
The main attraction of the resort is the pedestrian street Fifth Avenue. There are many restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, shops, discos and other entertainment venues. In the evening, dancers and musicians gather on Fifth Avenue and put on spectacular shows for tourists. The resort is located 50 kilometers south of Cancun. Many of the Riviera Maya's beaches are considered some of the most beautiful in the world. The coastline, once dotted with sleepy fishing villages, retains its tropical charm today, but today there are numerous hotels built here, from small tropical bungalows right on the sea's edge to huge resort hotels. But, unlike the noisy, never-sleeping Cancun, the Riviera Maya has an atmosphere of calm and complete harmony with nature. You can relax here all year round: the winter months are characterized by sunny, mild weather, and July and August are considered the hottest and wettest months.
A holiday at the resort is ideal for those who are looking for maximum comfort combined with pristine nature and the opportunity to make excursions to Mayan ruins. Near the Riviera Maya are the Xcaret amusement park and the Xel Ha natural water park. In addition, tourists can visit the extreme adventure parks Explor and Selvatika.
The Riviera Maya is famous for the world's largest system of underground rivers and cenotes in the jungle and on the coast, of which there are about a hundred. The network of underground reservoirs of the Yucatan Peninsula has not been fully explored. Until now, scientists are discovering new rivers and caves that attract spelunking divers. A fishing village with hotel infrastructure (15 km south of Cancun International Airport, 36 km north of Playa del Carmen). Here you can spend carefree holidays with a bohemian touch: several artists, writers and artisans have settled in Puerto Morelos. Near the resort is the Crocotun crocodile farm, Botanical Gardens, a marine park with impressive coral formations, schools of tropical fish, dolphins, turtles, etc. In ancient times, Tulum was an important Mayan defensive and trading city, located right on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Among the buildings of the city, the fortress stands out - the tallest building in Tulum (from the top of the building a breathtaking panorama of the sea and coast opens), the central square where important ceremonies were held, the Temple of the Descending God, the Temple of Frescoes, the Temple of the God of the Winds, considered one of the incarnations of the god Kukulkan, and many others. Tulum is also famous for its cenotes (natural wells), which have supplied clean water to local residents for thousands of years, and its snow-white beaches. The mysterious Island of Women (Isla Mujeres), steeped in ancient Indian legends, is located 8 km from bustling Cancun. You can get there by ferry in just 30 minutes.
Beautiful beaches, the turquoise Caribbean Sea, dense tropical bushes, numerous narrow streets with colorful houses and souvenir shops, ruins and the historical heritage of the Indians, endless opportunities for lovers of snorkeling and diving (this is where the world-famous underwater sculpture museum and a wonderful dolphinarium are located) - you will find all this on an amazing small island. Cozumel is one of the largest islands in Mexico, it is located 20 km from the resort of Playa del Carmen. You can get here by ferry in 45-50 minutes or by small plane. Cozumel is a real mecca for divers, because the second largest barrier reef in the world is very close by. The main activities here are snorkeling and diving.
Also on the island of Cozumel, you can explore numerous deserted beaches of extraordinary beauty that fascinate even experienced travelers. Fans of excursions can visit national parks, a dolphinarium, the ruins of ancient Indian settlements, the island’s museum, and also stroll through the souvenir and jewelry shops of the local capital, the city of San Miguel.

Beaches of Mexico public and mostly free. However, beaches near large hotels, as a rule, belong specifically to these hotels and are intended for the use of guests. Such beaches are equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas, bars, and toilets. On the beach there is a selection of various water activities, rental of surfboards, parasailing, rental of jet skis, boats.

But besides the standard hotel beaches, there are several more Mexican beaches known throughout the world. These are beaches on the Caribbean coast and on the Pacific coast. Among the beaches of the Caribbean, perhaps the most popular are the beaches of Cancun and Riviera Maya. Caribbean beaches are protected by a strip of reefs, so the water there is calm, clean, the bottom and beaches are covered with fine white sand - ideal for families with children.

The most famous among the beaches of the Riviera Maya is Maroma beach. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And it’s well deserved, as the turquoise waters and white sand with palm trees leaning over the water are postcard-worthy scenery. The beach is long and therefore considered quite secluded, which certainly creates ideal conditions for a romantic getaway.

The next one is no less attractive beach – Akumal. The beach is famous for the large green turtles that live in the coastal waters. Anyone has the opportunity to swim with these ancient reptiles.

Next comes the ancient city of Tulum, where, in addition to the picturesque mysterious ruins, there is a truly paradise beach. Such picturesque landscapes of turquoise waters, snow-white sand and ruins attract here not only lovers of antiquities, but also those who want to watch the sunrise on the Caribbean Sea. deservedly considered one of the best in the country.

Stretches south of Cancun Puerto Morelos beach, on which a fishing village is located. This place is one of a small number of untouched beaches in the Riviera Maya. The beach attracts many divers from all over the world who come to appreciate the beauty and richness of the underwater world. A wide strip of reefs, located just half a kilometer from the coast, reliably protects the coastal zone from storms and high waves. In the state of Quintana Roo there is not a single reef strip located so close to the shores. Therefore, diving in this place is absolutely safe. In the late 90s, these reefs were declared part of the National Marine Park.

On the Pacific coast, perhaps the most famous is, one of the ten best beaches in Mexico. The beach is unique in that on one side it is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Cortez, and on the other side by the Pacific Ocean. The beach is located near the town of Cabo San Lucas. A large number of vacationers visit this beach every day; it can hardly be called a calm, secluded place.