Want to enjoy the best beaches in Cancun with a cocktail in hand?

It’s a great idea! As you know, there are several criteria to consider when looking for the ideal beach.

Can you get there by car? Is there public access? Are the currents dangerous? Can you eat nearby? Can you rent a beach umbrella? Can you practice water sports?

My 10-day stay in Cancun, the advice of my local friends, and the analysis of thousands of opinions on the internet helped me to answer these questions.

Grab your sunglasses, and let’s get going.

👉 Don’t hesitate to read our Cancun guide to plan your vacation and not make any more mistakes. You will find all our articles about this destination.

Best beaches in Cancun: The map

Best beaches in Cancun: mini-reviews

This section gives you an overview of all the beaches in Cancun.

1# Isla Blanca Beach

Accessible by a dirt road, the lovely and peaceful Isla Blanca beach (except on weekends) is ideal for escaping the hustle and bustle of Cancun for a while and enjoying a sunset. 

The site is pristine, so bring your picnic and umbrella, and remember to take your rubbish with you.

The beach is exposed to the Sargasso, with waves on the east side. On its western face, the water is shallow and calm.

☑️ Infos about Isla Blanca Beach

• Where: North of Cancun | Map
• Parking: Yes, close
• Popularity: 2/5
• Facility: 2/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 3,5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Hotel Riu Dunamar
• Good restaurant nearby: Mar House Restaurant (dinner – seafood)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Not easily accessible by public transport (only 3 departures per day: 7 am, 11 am, and 4 pm; from here), and then you have to walk. It’s better to rent a car.

2# Costa/Playa Mujeres

Access to the vast white sand beaches of the narrow Playa/Costa Mujeres peninsula is private and restricted to the resorts in the area. Planted with palm trees, their calm and shallow waters are ideal for peaceful bathing rather than swimming.

Well protected from the Sargasso, the beaches of Costa Mujeres do not have the turquoise color of the Hotel Zone further south.

☑️ Infos about Costa/Playa Mujeres

• Where: North of Cancun – Private | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 4/5
• Facility: 5/5
• Water sport activity: Yes (Resorts)
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Atelier Playa Mujeres

💡 Tips & Remarks

Access to the beaches of Playa/Costa Mujeres is exclusively for guests of the area resorts.

3# Playa del Niño

Playa del Niño is a lovely little public white sand beach mainly frequented by locals. Public toilets, palapas for sunbathing, and a calm, clean sea make it a good spot for a family swim.

There are various restaurants nearby, as well as drink and buoy vendors.

Sargasso can occur during the season.

☑️ Infos about Playa del Niño

• Where: Puerto Juárez | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 4/5
• Facility: 5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Dream Vista Cancun Spa & Resort
• Good restaurant nearby: Marbella Fish Market

4# Playa Perlas

Playa Perlas is a small, well-maintained white sand beach with public toilets and palapas. Its waters are calm but not very clear due to algae, so it is not ideal for swimming. Bring your picnic, as there are no sales points on the beach.

There can be a lot of Sargasso.

☑️ Infos about Playa Perlas

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 2.5 | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 4/5
• Facility: 3/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina
• Good restaurants nearby: Centro Comercial Marina Puerto Cancún

💡 Tips & Remarks

Nice spot early in the morning for jogging or watching the sunrise.

5# Playa Linda

A beautiful little white sand beach with palapas and a relaxed vibe, Playa Linda is ideally located at the beginning of Cancun’s hotel zone, close to various amenities. This quiet beach is well maintained; there are no waves and very little Sargasso. The clear blue waters are ideal for swimming.

☑️ Infos about Playa Linda

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 4.0 | Map
• Parking: Yes (Marina)
• Popularity: 4,5/5
• Facility: 4,5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Temptation Cancun Resort
• Good restaurant nearby: Deli Barlovento The Home Made Taste of Mexico (affordable and delicious chilaquiles

💡 Tips & Remarks

Admire the beautiful view of Cancun from the Torre Cancun, a revolving panoramic tower on the beach.

6# Playa Langosta

Playa Langosta is a long white sand beach with beautiful, calm, shallow turquoise waters, popular with tourists and locals on weekends. It is relatively well protected from the Sargasso.

With street vendors on the beach and restaurants nearby, it’s easy to find something to drink or eat.

Playa Langosta is one of Cancun’s best beaches for family swimming.

☑️ Infos about Playa Langosta

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 5.0 | Map
• Parking: No
• Popularity: 4,5/5
• Facility: 4,5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa

💡 Tips & Remarks

Possibility to find a more quiet and shady spot at the end of the beach or to mix with the locals near the dock.

7# Playa Tortugas

Lovely white sand beach, very crowded and quite noisy, not always clean because of the high frequency of visitors. Affordable bars, grocery shops, and restaurants with a nice sea view are nearby. Its generally calm waters are perfect for kids. Still, there can be currents. The beach is well protected from Sargasso. Sun loungers and parasols are not always available.

☑️ Infos about Playa Tortugas

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 6.0 | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 4,5/5
• Facility: 3,5/5
• Water sport activity: Yes (Bungee jumping, snorkeling)
• Safety: 4/5
• Good hotel nearby: Casa Tortugas Boutique Suites
• Good restaurant nearby: Krudo Raw Bar & Grill (cocktails)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Playa Tortugas is located next to the pier where the ferries to Isla Mujeres leave.

8# Playa Ancha

A beautiful narrow white sand beach whose access is restricted to the guests of the resorts in the area. Playa Ancha is relatively quiet and well-maintained. Its waters are quiet and of a lovely turquoise blue. There are no waves and very little Sargasso. One of the most beautiful beaches in Cancun.

☑️ Infos about Playa Ancha

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 7.0 | Map
• Parking: No
• Popularity: 4,5/5
• Facility: 2/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Beachscape Kin Ha Villas & Suites
• Good restaurant nearby: Kosher Italian Gourmet KMD (Pizza)

💡 Tips & Remarks

If you are not a guest of one of the hotels in the area, Playa Ancha can be reached by walking from Caracol beach (east).

9# Playa Caracol

Playa Caracol is a pretty and popular beach with umbrellas and sun chairs, white sand, and turquoise waters. The beach is clean and supervised, and the sea is calm, with occasional swells. Two beach clubs sell food and drinks. There may be some Sargasso in season.

☑️ Infos about Playa Caracol

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 9,5 | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 4,5/5
• Facility: 4,5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 4/5
• Good hotel nearby: Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun
• Good restaurant nearby: Casa Rolandi (Carpaccio & sunset)

10# Playa Gaviota Azul

Playa Gaviota Azul is a beautiful, public, relatively quiet, white sand beach with shallow, clear blue waters. It is relatively well preserved from the Sargasso. It is generally enjoyable to swim in, although there can sometimes be waves and currents depending on the strength of the wind (January, February).

There are supermarkets nearby selling food and drinks. There are no showers or palapas on the beach.

☑️ Infos about Playa Gaviota Azul

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 11,5 | Map
• Parking: No
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 2/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 3,5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Hyatt Ziva Cancun
• Good restaurant nearby: La Bastille (French)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Playa Gaviota Azul is close to the Forum By the Sea, a large and busy shopping center.

11# Playa Forum

Playa Forum is a beautiful white sand beach with calm, shallow waters. Located in a lively area of the Zona Hotelera and close to several clubs, it is a busy place with a festive and musical vibe. Drinks and food are easily available in the surrounding area. In season there may be Sargasso. No showers, sun beds, or parasols.

☑️ Infos about Playa Forum

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 9,5 | Map
• Parking: No
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 2,5/5
• Water sport activity: Surf sometimes
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Hyatt Ziva Cancun
• Good restaurant nearby: Restaurante Hacienda El Mortero (Mexican)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Playa Forum is close to the famous Coco Bongo Club and Plaza Forum, a vast shopping center.

12# Playa Chac mool

Playa Chac mool is a beautiful white sand beach with amazing waters and medium waves, suitable for swimming. Although very popular, it is not overcrowded during the week. It is clean and supervised and has public toilets and showers. Bring your picnic, as there are no sales points on the beach. There can be a lot of Sargasso during the season.

☑️ Infos about Playa Chac mool

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 10,0 | Map
• Parking: Yes (until 4 pm – free)
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 3,5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 4,5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Le Blanc Spa Resort
• Good restaurant nearby: La Bamba Mex-Seafood (Mexican)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Playa Chac mool is a sea turtle nesting site; during the season (July to September), the sea turtle conservation program is watching.

13# Playa Marlin

Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular beaches in Cancun, Playa Marlin is known for its soft sand and beautiful turquoise waters. Being wide, it is possible to find a quiet spot even if it is frequented. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent. It is clean and supervised. There can be waves with strong currents and ebb. You can find Sargasso in season.

☑️ Infos about Playa Marlin

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 13,0 | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 4/5
• Water sport activity: Parachute ascensional
• Safety: 2,5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Live Aqua Beach Resort
• Good restaurant nearby: El Fish Fritanga (Seafood)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Although offering a paradisiac face, it is better to be careful when the sea is rough.

14# Playa San Miguelito

Playa San Miguelito is a beautiful white sand beach with turquoise waters that is not very crowded except during the peak tourist season. The view is gorgeous, and it is ideal for relaxing and swimming. There can be waves, and the Sargasso rather well spares this quiet beach. There is a small supermarket nearby where you can buy supplies, but there are no toilets or showers.

☑️ Infos about Playa San Miguelito

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun – Riviera Maya | Map
• Parking: Yes (come early to have space)
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 2/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 4/5
• Good hotel nearby: Kempinski Hotel Cancún
• Good restaurant nearby: Puerto Madero (steak and seafood)

💡 Tips & Remarks

It is common to meet people walking their dogs.

15# Playa Ballenas

Playa Ballenas is a beautiful, quiet beach with turquoise blue waters and white sand. Moderately crowded and supervised, it is well-maintained and has toilets, showers, and palapas. It is a pleasant place to swim, although there can be large waves and some Sargasso in season. There are no sales points on the beach, so bring your drinks or picnic.

☑️ Infos about Playa Ballenas

• Where: mid-Zona Hotelera Cancun | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 3,5/5
• Water sport activity: Surf and Jet Ski
• Safety: 3/5
• Good hotel nearby: Secrets The Vine Cancun
• Good restaurant nearby: Porfirio’s Cancún (Mexican)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Playa Ballenas is a spot for surfing lovers; be careful in case of strong waves.

16# Playa Delfines

Certainly one of the most incredible beaches in Cancun, Playa Delfines is a top-rated beach with tourists and locals alike. Very clean and supervised, it is so large that it is easy to find a quiet spot by walking a little. If you arrive early, you can sit under a free palapa. Or you can rent umbrellas and sunchairs; the view is magnificent. Its beautiful waters can be agitated by waves and currents. In season, you can find Sargasso.

☑️ Infos about Playa Delfines

• Where: Zona Hotelera Cancun km. 16.5 | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 5/5
• Water sport activity: Surf, snorkeling
• Safety: 3/5
• Good hotel nearby: Villas de las Tortugas
• Good restaurant nearby: Benazuza (“Fusion cuisine”)

💡 Tips & Remarks

Possibility to take surfing lessons. Known as the dolphin beach, these animals are now more challenging to observe.

17# Playa Coral

Playa Coral, with its palm trees and palapas, is one of only two dog-friendly beaches in Cancun; they can swim and run on the sand at their pleasure. You could even say that it is made for them! There are benches with bowls. Toilets for their owners are available too.

The beach is not very busy, and the water is calm but not very clear. In season there can be a lot of Sargasso and unpleasant smells.

☑️ Infos about Playa Coral

• Where: Cancun – Punta Nizuc | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 4/5 (dogs lovers)
• Facility: 2,5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Nizuc Resort & Spa
• Good restaurant nearby: Rio Nizuc

💡 Tips & Remarks

Remember to take your rubbish home and pick up the poop of your beloved companions!

Best beaches near Cancun

You can also find beautiful beaches a bit further away from Cancun. Here are 2 options.

18# Beaches in Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos has a beautiful white sand beach with calm, shallow waters and easy access. It is a peaceful beach town, ideal for relaxing with family and friends. The beach is also well-equipped, and you can eat and drink in one of the beach bars for a reasonable price.

Well protected from the Sargasso, it is particularly appreciated for the fauna and flora of its coral beds.

☑️ Infos about Puerto Morelos

• Where: Puerto Morelos (40 min, South of Cancun) | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 5/5
• Water sport activity: Yes, snorkeling
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Hotel Amar Inn
• Good restaurant nearby: Blue Morelos (tacos)

💡 Tips & Remarks

It is better to arrive early to choose your spot and enjoy the shade of a palm tree. The reefs are protected, so it is necessary to take a guide to accompany you to the most beautiful sites.

19# Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres

White sand, splendid, calm, shallow, crystalline waters, and palm trees all along make Playa Norte a small paradise that is impossible to miss during a stay in Cancun. This beautiful beach is perfect for a family day or a day with friends.

It’s often crowded due to its popularity, especially at weekends. You might find that parasols and sun loungers for rent are too close to each other.

Well protected from Sargasso in season.

☑️ Infos about Playa Norte

• Where: Isla Mujeres (20 min by ferry from Cancun) | Map
• Parking: Yes
• Popularity: 5/5
• Facility: 5/5
• Water sport activity: No
• Safety: 5/5
• Good hotel nearby: Hotel Secreto
• Good restaurant nearby: Green Demon Beach Club

💡 Tips & Remarks

Stay in the evening to watch the sunset. Possibility to rent golf carts to visit the island. Many ferries leave from the different ports in Cancun.

Best beaches far away from Cancun

Cancun is just one of many places to find great beaches. Here is a short selection of the most beautiful ones in Quintana Roo.

Playacar Beach

Playacar Beach is a lovely, easily accessible beach with calm waters suitable for swimming and is about a 1h30 drive from Cancun.

It is picturesque and attracts a mixed population, creating a lively and relaxed vibe. Lined with palm trees, resorts, restaurants, and shops, it is ideal for a day out with friends. Although very popular, it is never overcrowded.

Tulum beaches

Tulum has several beaches ranked among the most beautiful in the Cancun area, with stunning waters and palm tree-lined white sand, including the iconic Playa Paraiso.

Located 2h drive from Cancun, they offer the advantage of being in a more preserved environment than the Zona Hotelera. Although very famous, it is easy to spend a quiet day there.

Playa Maroma

Playa Maroma is one of the Cancun area’s most beautiful beaches. Its atmosphere, size, white sand, and amazing azure waters contribute to its fame. Ideal for a leisurely day, it is also a popular spot for snorkeling.

It takes about 1h from Cancun by car.

Akumal Beach

Akumal Beach, a quaint white sand beach lined with palm trees, is ideal for turtle-watching. During the nesting season, at nightfall, the females come and lay their eggs.

Protected by a cove, the clear and very calm waters are ideal for swimming. Akumal Beach is also a scuba diving spot.

It takes 1.5 hours to get there by car from Cancun.

Xpu-ha Beach

Xpu-Ha Beach is a lovely beach south of Playa del Carmen, about 1h30 by car from Cancun.

It is famous for its clear, warm, and calm waters, ideal for swimming and scuba diving. It is not usually crowded, and its atmosphere is family-friendly.

There is a fee to enter. It can be windy.

X’cacel Beach

X’cacel Beach is a splendid white sand beach in its original state, located on the Riviera Maya, about 1h45 from Cancun. The sea can be rough, but it is calmer and more suitable for swimming on its western side. It is a turtle sanctuary and home to a cenote.

Usually not very touristic, it is more frequented by the locals on weekends.

Be careful; bring something to protect you from the sun.

Holbox

A small island in the Gulf of Mexico, Holbox is known for its charming beaches with white sand and warm, shallow waters. Not overcrowded, it offers a casual vibe with many facilities. You can reach Holboxby by ferry from Chiquila (a town located 2.5 from Cancun), in the northern state of Quintana Roo.

What you must know about Cancun beaches

Some valuable things to know to help you enjoy Cancun beaches.

All beaches are public, but it might be hard to access them

The fame of Cancun’s beaches is not overrated, and they are certainly among the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Although all the beaches in Mexico are public, many of Cancun’s beaches have been annexed by the resorts of the Zona Hotelera.

In theory, you can’t be denied access, but resort security guards are mostly inflexible in practice. If you manage to enter, not being a resort guest, you will not be able to enjoy the services and facilities of these private beaches.

But don’t worry, you can enjoy the idyllic waters of the Caribbean Sea and the white sand on the many public beaches.

Their entrances, which are few, are not easy to find within the series of buildings and they are often badly indicated. To find easy beach access to the public beaches, mind the blue panels with white characters from the Fonatur Foundation (attached to the Mexican Tourism Administration) along Kukulcan Boulevard.

Cancun’s most famous public beaches include Playa Delfines, Playa Las Perlas, Playa Tortugas, Playa Chac Mool, Playa Marlin, Playa Ballenas, Playa Langosta, and Playa Gaviota Azul.

The choice is yours!

Beaches areas in Cancun

The beaches, sand quality, and ocean color differ depending on the area.

Costa Mujeres

Costa Mujeres is a coastal paradise located on a narrow peninsula in the north of the state of Quintana Roo, in front of Isla Mujeres.

Although more isolated and quieter than the Zona Hotelera, it is only 30 minutes away from the main festive places of Cancun. The resorts are more spaced out, and the vegetation is dense and gorgeous.

The beaches are beautiful and suitable for swimming, but the waters are less turquoise than in the Zona Hotelera. They are private.

North of the Zona Hotelera

The northern part of the Zona Hotelera is where you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in Cancun.

With pristine sand and incredible blue shallow and calm waters, they are ideal for enjoying the Caribbean Sea in tranquility.

The most famous public beaches at the beginning of the Cancun hotel zone are Playa Tortugas, Playa Linda, Playa Langosta, and Playa Ancha.

The middle Zona Hotelera

This part of the Cancun Resorts area is a narrow peninsula bordering the Nichupté Lagoon and forming the large bar of the number “7”.

Its beaches are just as impressive as the northern part, with white sand and turquoise waters. Depending on the weather, and the further south you go, there can be waves and currents.

They are usually quite popular and sometimes lively, especially those close to the party center of Cancun, known as Punta Cancun.

They include Playa Gaviota Azul, Playa Chac Mool, Playa Marlin, Playa Ballenas and Playa Delfines.

Punta Nizuc

Punta Nizuc is a headland at the southern end of the Cancun Zona Hotelera.

It is known for its beautiful crescent-shaped beach with calm, shallow waters. Known for its coral reefs, it is ideal for snorkelers.

Located in a hotel zone, the beach is private. It is better to be a guest of one of the hotels in the area, as the security of the resorts is very strict.

Puerto Morelos

Located south of the Zona Hotelera, Puerto Morelos is a small port town full of charm, with its beaches and friendly ambiance. It’s the ideal place to stay away from the hustle and bustle of Cancun.

Close to the coral reef, its waters are calm, clear, and very popular with snorkelers.

Puerto Morelos is very close to Playa del Carmen, the famous seaside resort of the Mayan Riviera.

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a small paradise easily accessible by ferry from Cancun to laze on its beaches or scuba diving.

Its most popular beach for its calm and crystal clear waters is Playa Norte, one of the most beautiful beaches in Quintana Roo. It is a public beach that, although significant, is very crowded.

Cancun’s sand

Cancun owes its reputation to its turquoise blue waters and fantastic white sand. This sand comes from the coral reefs that border the Yucatan Peninsula and has the comfortable property of not retaining the sun’s heat.

The beaches of Cancun, especially those in the Zona Hotelera, are subject to erosion due to the effect of the movements of the sea. These idyllic beaches are inevitably being eaten away by this natural phenomenon.

In addition to the waves ebb and flow, the beaches’ shape can change abruptly during a hurricane.

Recently, the Mexican government has launched a program to save its beaches. They are regularly resupplied with sand.

Sargasso in Cancun

Sargassum is a species of brown seaweed that moves in floating mats, which can be huge. They drift according to the currents and can invade the coast. Their decomposition releases a very unpleasant smell.

This phenomenon, which appeared about ten years ago, is thought to be the result of a disturbance in the natural balance of the forests and mangroves in the Amazon. Scientific researches lead us to think that it originates north of the Amazon river mouth off the Brazilian coast.

The beaches of Cancun are not spared by this problem, which affects the fauna and flora and interferes with tourism.

However, one can observe seasonality. To avoid Sargasso, it is better not to go to Cancun between April and October, which is the period when there are more of them, in quantities and every day.

It is also important to know that although all the beaches of Cancun can be affected, in general, the further north you go, the less you find. The upper bar of the “7” of the Zona Hotelera and the western coasts of Isla Mujeres are better preserved.

Seasons in Cancun

→ Water temperature: Cancun is bathed by the Caribbean Sea, whose waters are rather mild in terms of temperature. The average water temperature in Cancun is 27.6°C (81-82°F).

It is in August and September that it is the hottest (average of 29,20°C – 84-85°F), and in January and February that it will seem the coolest to the most chilly of you (average of 25,9°C – 78-79°F).

In other words, whatever the month is, it’s pretty easy to get into the water!

→ Sun: Mexico is a tropical country, so it often rains. The rainfall can be intense, but it is usually short.

There are two main seasons, the dry season and the wet season.

The dry season starts in December and ends in May. Temperatures are around 28°C (82°F), and nights are pleasantly cool (20°C – 68°F). The days are sunny, warm, and dry, fairly nice.

The rainiest months are June to October, with July being the least rainy.

During the wet season, temperatures are warmer (32°C – 90°F), and humidity levels are high and may feel oppressive. Cloud cover is more frequent and heavy; the sun shines less.

Officially the hurricane season lasts from June to November (mainly September and October), with a higher probability of thunderstorms and consecutive rainy days between August and October.

Bottom line: Favorite Cancun Beaches

The beaches of Cancun are beautiful but sometimes difficult to access because of the hotels. If you plan to spend most of your vacation on the beach and relax, I suggest you book a hotel in Cancun with direct access to the beach. It will be much more enjoyable.

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