10 Dream Beaches in the Mexican Caribbean

Image: Akumal Beach, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Simon Dannhauer/Adobe)

by Juan Antonio (Oso) Oseguera
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Tue May 14, 2024

When talking about the Mexican Caribbean, you immediately think of the turquoise color of the sea, the beaches of fine and soft sand, the jungle, and the great archaeological sites of the Mayan culture that, like Tulum, loom imposing perched on cliffs on the seashore.

If you are thinking about a trip to these beautiful lands, get ready to know some of the best beaches not only in Mexico but in the world. Are you ready?

North Beach, Isla Mujeres

This beach is considered among the 20 best beaches in the world. It is located on the northern tip of Isla Mujeres, just 45 minutes by boat from Cancun. At a depth of just 60 centimeters, you can walk offshore, and the water will barely reach your knees, making it ideal for children and non-swimmers. It is like being in a giant white sand and turquoise blue pool.

To get there from Cancun, you can take a boat at the Marina of Puerto Juarez or at the Embarcadero del Puente Calinda, at kilometer 4 of the hotel zone. There are also boats that cross to Isla Mujeres, and the price is about $4 per person.

It is also an ideal place to eat seafood and watch a beautiful sunset. After your visit to Playa Norte, you can tour the island on a motorcycle or rent a golf cart.

Akumal Beach, Riviera Maya

Akumal is a dream beach, ideal for taking a book, drinking?your favorite beer, and relaxing under a palm tree by the sea.

Akumal means "home of turtles," thousands of them come to these beautiful beaches every year to lay their eggs on the beach, so you must be careful not to rest or step on turtle nests, although they are always delimited. Its beaches are characterized by fine sand, and in front of these is one of the best reefs for snorkeling or diving. You will find facilities for these activities and other water sports.

To get to Akumal, you need to take Highway 307 from Cancun towards Felipe Carrillo Puerto, passing Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Paa-maul, La Gloria, San Lorenzo, Xpu-há and. About 27 kilometers before reaching Tulum, you will find Akumal.

There are cabs (the rate varies according to where you are in the Riviera Maya), but there are also second-class buses that you can take on the highway and ask to be dropped off in the town of Akumal.

Tulum Beach

The beaches of Tulum, both in the archaeological zone and in the town, are among the best in the world. Along these beaches, you can find small boutique hotels and cabins where staying is much more than a luxury because its natural environment invites you to reflect on life, walks, and how to rest more often.

Tulum is located 80 kilometers south of Cancun. If you visit the archaeological site simultaneously, you can enjoy its small but very nice beach (arrive early in winter to take advantage of the daylight). But if you prefer, you can also stay in Tulum and enjoy a few days in paradise.

Chankanaab Beach, Cozumel

Chankanaab National Park is considered one of the most important tourist attractions of Cozumel Island, as it occupies an area of over 155,000 square yards and also has a small but beautiful reef just 30 feet from the beach. It also has a lovely botanical garden, a?Mayan village, and the Chankanaab Lagoon, the only one in the world with coral life out of the sea. You can do it here if you are interested in scuba diving, snorkeling, or swimming with dolphins.

Admission to the park costs 21 dollars for adults and 14 dollars for children from 3 to 11 years old. It is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm. Some activities, such as swimming with dolphins, are not included in your entrance ticket. To get there, it is best to rent a car (for the price of the cab) or take a cab about 15 minutes south of downtown.

Maroma Beach, Riviera Maya

Playa Maroma is considered one of the ten best beaches in the world. You can enter this little paradise from the federal highway to Cancun Kilometer 55.3 between Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen (Marina Maroma). If you like water sports, you can enjoy activities such as scuba diving, fishing, ATVs, jet packs, snorkeling, camel rides, or swimming with dolphins.

Playa del Carmen

From being just a fishing village, Playa del Carmen has become one of the most important tourist spots in the Riviera Maya.

Located just an hour from Cancun, it has its glamour and charm, as all the tourist life is concentrated on the famous 5th Avenue, a pedestrian promenade with restaurants, bars, stores, and small hotels.

A beautiful day on the beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Of course, its beaches are the best, as small restaurants and beach clubs are open practically all day long to relax, dance, and cool off. But its most famous beach is Playa Mamitas, just two blocks from Constituyentes Avenue and near 8th Street. Be sure to visit it.

Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a beach for people with a bohemian spirit. It is located just 22 miles south of Cancun, and although it is a relatively small place, its beaches are spectacular and very quiet.

The main activity here is fishing but being in front of the largest barrier reef in the world, it is an ideal place for diving and snorkeling.

Also, near the main dock, you can find excellent options for eating fresh seafood (at amazing prices). And in the evenings, local people come out to enjoy the evenings with live music in some restaurants by the sea—the perfect option to visit with family or friends.

Xpu-Há Beach

Xpu-Há is a lovely beach in the Riviera Maya and also has a beach club where you can find everything you need to spend the day, such as hammocks, chairs, lounge chairs, lockers, bathrooms, kayaks, jet ski rentals, palapas, and restaurant.

It is located at kilometer 265 of the Federal Highway, between Puerto Aventuras and Akumal, just 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen.

On Saturdays and Sundays, there is live music, and they also offer facilities for camping nearby or resting in the cabins on site (you can call 984-1347257). The entrance fee is $5 per person, but you are reimbursed for a minimum consumption of $7.

Paamul Beach

After the port called Calica, where ferries and cruise ships dock, to the south is beautiful Paamul Beach, a bay and ancient Mayan loading and unloading port about 10 miles south of Playa del Carmen. It has lovely beaches bathed with turquoise blue sea, attracting travelers who escape the crowds and enjoy water sports.

Near this beach, there are cabins to stay in, seafood restaurants, and the nearby barrier reef will allow you to practice scuba diving or snorkeling.

Delfines Beach, Cancun (El Mirador)

Considered the best beach in Cancun's hotel zone, it is also known as "El Mirador" because there is a platform from which you can contemplate the immensity of the Caribbean Sea from a height of approximately 10 yards. It is located at kilometer 17 and can be easily reached by bus. Some services include restrooms, chair rentals, lounge chairs, and umbrellas so you can relax and enjoy your stay.

Any of these 10 options will give you peace and rest, as well as the opportunity to coexist with nature and surrender to the joy of disconnecting from everything.?

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