The All-Time Best Beaches To Visit On Your Next Trip To Cancun

Perhaps the most famous beach destination in Mexico, Cancún is known for its clear turquoise Caribbean Sea and silky soft white sand, a waterfront wonderland that half a century ago was undeveloped wilderness. Early mentions of Cancún have it written as Kankun, a Mayan term that means a nest of snakes, and the barrier island that is today's tourism paradise was, up until the late 1960s, pure nature, according to Quintana Roo Tourism. The beaches were there, but getting to them meant overcoming marshes, mangroves, and thick forests. 

Everything changed with the launch of a government master plan in 1969, which initiated the building of roads onto the island, hotel infrastructure, and the construction of an airport to support the imminent tourist influx. In 1974, the first resorts appeared, and Cancún's rise has since been unstoppable with millions now visiting every year (via Tourism Analytics). The beaches here are exceptional, with a number of them accredited Blue Flag, an award by the Foundation for Environmental Education that recognizes environmentally responsible beaches, marinas, and tourism vessels around the world. The main hotel zone part of the town extends along the long barrier island, and many beaches seamlessly merge into each other. While that might suggest that they are all equal, those below, working north to south and including some in neighboring areas, deserve special mention. 

South of Isla Contoy, and closer to Cancún, Isla Mujeres offers some of the natural charms of its northern neighbor with the added bonus of accommodations (there are no hotels on Isla Contoy). The island has a rich history, according to Isla-Mujeres.Net, once a refuge for the Mayan goddess Ixchel, hence the Mayan ruins and artifacts on the island. Another story claims the island name is derived from a much later era, when pirates plied these waters and left behind their women on the island. 

Today, the seas are more hospitable, welcoming tourists that enjoy the island's easy-going ambiance. Many fine beaches ring its shores, but perhaps the best is Playa Norte, where clear water and soft sand are guaranteed. This is an easy day trip from Cancún, while guests that want to linger over the island's attractions can stay at one of the many resorts here, visit the underwater museum MUSA, or take a snorkel tour of Garrafon Marine Park.

At the north end of the hotel zone, near the port and marina of Cancún, this is the first beach just off Boulevard Kukulcan, the strip known for its concentration of hotels and resorts. Since it's not in the thick of the action, Playa Las Perlas is a relatively quiet public beach, with easy access, restrooms, and a playground, making it a sound choice for families that want some tranquil together time. It's also popular with locals thanks to its proximity to downtown Cancún, the actual town that lends its name to the beach resort part. 

Sun worshippers will find a handful of thatch palapas and calm seas; the blog Traveling By notes that paddle board rentals are available nearby. The beach isn't very wide here, unlike those further south, and at high tide parts almost seem to be consumed by the water, but the lack of crowds easily compensates for the temporary paucity of any beachfront.

Still in the northern section of the hotel strip, with the de rigueur fine sand and calm water, this beach is the archetypal Cancún slice of waterfront magic, earning it praise from Lonely Planet. Visitors can expect seas perfect for kids, or for paddling around on a kayak (rental kayaks and boats are usually available at the waterfront). Otherwise, the main attraction here is to enjoy the sumptuous shoreline, from a lounge chair, under one of the beach palapas, or from a resort cabana. Families will find a small playground here, though this might be less of an enticement than the water. 

For a more memorable activity, book a dinner and sail aboard a galleon with Captain Hook — it's located at the western end of the beach. There are three boats here, replicas of 15th-century Spanish galleons, and the onboard experience not only includes a meal, but also an evening show, and the opportunity to hang out with a modern-day Jack Sparrow.

Just south of Playa Forum, this beach received Blue Flag global accreditation, attesting to its environmental, access, and safety protocols. What's more, unlike the placid beaches throughout the region, Playa Chac Mool has some decent waves, which is why you'll find surfers here. Though the conditions might not stack up to the barrels and breaks in other parts of Latin America, there's enough movement for wave riders to catch some thrills. Crowd-sourced blog Wanna Surf gives detailed directions on where to find waves here, with a breakdown of who the water is good for (all skill levels!), the directions of the breaks, and the expected size of the swells. 

A number of surf schools in Cancún take adventurers out on the water, but the closest to Playa Chac Mool is 360 Surf School Cancún, right across from the beach, and it offers board rentals and lessons to anyone ready to ride the gentle swells.

There aren't a lot of facilities by this public beach, but what Playa Delfines does offer is a long stretch of sand — four kilometers, or about 2.5 miles, according to Cancún Airport Transfers. Those comely dimensions mean that sun-seekers will always find a place to lay down their beach towels without fear of being sandwiched between strangers like sardines tightly packed in a tin. 

This part of the tourist zone is also where to find a lookout point, and from it, travelers will spy the vast Iberostar Selection Cancún to the left (when facing the sea), one of the most distinctive properties in the destination — a giant, white pile that resembles a three-armed pyramid, or a futuristic spaceship. Playa Delfines is well suited to beach purists, but golfers might also take notice of its location. It's the closest stretch of sand to the Iberostar Cancún Golf Club, where the 18-hole course set between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon extends over 150 acres, featuring native plants and fiendish water obstacles.

This former fishing village is only 20 minutes away from Cancún's international airport and the southern part of the hotel zone, but the feeling here is one of tranquility. Puerto Morelos maintains echoes of its sleepy past, with most accommodation concentrated in a compact section by the shore, and hotels are small in size, maintaining the town's intimate atmosphere (via Quintana Roo Tourism). The laid-back aspect of the town is apparent in the beachfront wooden eating shacks, and the bizarre El Faro Inclinado, or leaning lighthouse, an iconic landmark that looks like it might topple into the water at any moment (it won't). 

The beach here is as alluring as in Cancún, while a reef just offshore affords swimmers great opportunities for snorkeling. Water lovers will also delight at the many cenotes, or underwater caves, that pepper the area, with more than 50 dotted around the Cenotes Route. Fishing continues to play a key role in current-day Puerto Morelos, with fishing tournaments hosted here throughout the year.

The blog Ocean Breeze Akumal considers this tame beach, where tourists are often in short supply, an undiscovered gem. Pronounced Ish-Pu-Ha, this part of the coast promises calm seas thanks to the long Mesoamerican barrier reef just offshore, which also makes the water here a hugely satisfying spot for snorkelers. The scene here is certainly not high octane, with a scattering of palms, some low-key restaurants, and a few water-sports operators. 

For some refreshments, La Playa Restaurant & Beach Club serves meals with a focus on seafood (ceviche is a popular choice), drinks to patrons seated on swings by the bar, and features an area for relaxing with shaded hammocks where guests can catch some shut-eye during the mid-day siesta. One group of visitors, however, does ensure that this beach is never empty — turtles. The beach is a nesting site during the season, typically from May to November.

Beaches along the Riviera Maya — the stretch of coastline that extends south from Cancún to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere — are stunning, and visiting any of them will produce an excursion to remember. What makes this beach at Tulum stand out is its proximity to the famous Mayan ruins, an image that has adorned many a regional tourist brochure or hotel website. 

The walled complex of faded stone structures set against the brilliant blues of the Caribbean Sea makes for an exceptional snapshot. The drama here is definitely all down to the setting — the site sits on a cliff more than 30 feet above the sea. The former settlement was key for trading, according to Tulum Ruins, with jade and obsidian exports earning the Mayans huge fortunes. At Playa Ruinas, the views of the ruins are spellbinding, but they are only available with entry to the archaeological park.