The 16 best beaches in Mexico
Mexico is one of those well-rounded countries that offer a little bit of everything: food, culture, gorgeous landscapes, and some of the best hotels and resorts in the entire world. But at the end of the day, Mexico will always be known as a beach destination – and for good reason. The nation boasts nearly 5,800 miles of coastline, stretching along the warm Gulf of Mexico to the east and the wild, surfer-friendly Pacific Ocean to the west.
Perhaps the best aspect of Mexico’s beaches is their diversity. Regardless of the type of vacation you seek – a surfing adventure, a cultural immersion, or an off-grid retreat – you’ll find a stretch of sand to fit your needs. Case in point: We rounded up 16 spots that stand out for their unique activities, luxurious accommodations, and overall beauty, and there truly is something here for every traveller.
From popular vacation spots to hidden island gems, here are the best beaches in Mexico.
Courtesy St. Regis Punta Mita ResortPunta Mita, Nayarit
Punta Mita is a lush, private peninsula on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, about 10 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. This 1,500-acre enclave receives consistently warm and sunny weather, and its crystalline waters lend themselves perfectly to swimming and surfing. But the best asset of Punta Mita is its collection of luxury hotels and resorts: Take your pick from the newly opened Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection, or opt for other favourites like the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, and W Punta de Mita.
MattGush/GettyPlaya Balandra, La Paz
About 40 minutes outside of La Paz, Playa Balandra is arguably the most picturesque beach in all of Baja California. The idyllic spot lies on the eastern coast of the peninsula, overlooking a peaceful bay that spills out into the Caribbean-esque Sea of Cortez. You won’t find many better places in the area to go snorkelling and swimming – and the views of the desert meeting the ocean are truly second to none.
Victoria Bragg/UnsplashCabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Cabo San Lucas is known as a popular tourist destination – hello, spring breakers – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The resort city happens to have some of the best beaches in Mexico, including the remote Playas La Palmas (rent a 4x4 to get there) and Playa Acapulquito, a veritable surfer’s paradise. And then there are the resorts. You have tons of options here, but you won’t do much better than Chileno Bay Resort, featured on our 2018 Hot List. Aside from its beautiful and breezy villas, its location on one of Cabo’s most swim-friendly beaches can’t be topped.
Bernard Radvaner/GettyIsla Mujeres, Quintana Roo
While often thought of as a side trip from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a destination in its own right. The main beach of Playa Norte is made of crushed coral, has warm shallow waters, and is much quieter than the beaches across the bay. Scuba enthusiasts should take note: The island is home to the largest concentration of whale sharks on the planet.
jmalov/GettyIsla Holbox, Quintana Roo
Our US counterpart dubbed Isla Holbox, just north of Cancun, “one of Mexico’s last secret beach towns” back in 2017; and while it might not be such a secret anymore, it still dazzles with its stretch of beaches, aqua-blue water, and nature preserve. Spend your days browsing the markets and textile shops in town, and don’t you dare forget to visit the island’s famous over-water hammocks. Punta Caliza, a relative newcomer to the scene, is one of our favourite places to stay.
CassielMxPlaya del Amor, Nayarit
It looks like something out of a fantasy movie, but Playa del Amor (more commonly referred to as “Hidden Beach’) is a very real, albeit hard-to-reach, attraction. Part of the Marietas Islands (about a one-hour boat ride west of Puerto Vallarta), the beach is engulfed by a cave with a gaping hole in the roof – a hole rumoured to be the result of bombs from military testing by the Mexican government during the early 1900s. Sinister origin aside, the hole now serves as a unique skylight that opens the beach up for sunbathing and photo ops, but the extremely strong currents here make swimming a risky endeavour.
Bosco1944/GettyZihuatanejo, Guerrero
The Pacific Coast surf town of Zihuatanejo (often shortened to “Zihua”) has natural beauty that is equal parts alluring and hard to reach (hence the lack of crowds). We keep going back for the cliffs and ravines blanketed by mangroves, scooped-out bays, and a backdrop of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Zihua has four beaches that are reachable from the city centre, the best – and most remote – being Playa Las Gatas. The white sand and cyan lagoon are perfect for lounging with a beer, snorkelling, and maybe spotting a humpback whale on the horizon.
Courtesy CuixmalaCostalegre, Jalisco
The Costalegre spans Mexico’s Pacific Coast into the states of Jalisco and Colima, where luxury hotels stand adjacent to wild landscapes. One such stunning example is Cuixmala: Aside from its oceanfront infinity pool, private beach, and extremely luxurious suites, the estate has a 30,000-acre wildlife preserve literally in its backyard. How’s that for indulgence?
Jorge Nunez / EyeEmPlaya Los Cerritos, Baja California Sur
Five-mile-long Playa Los Cerritos is one of the safest swimming spots near funky Todos Santos, an hour north of Cabo on the Pacific. It’s a popular spot for surfing (and lessons are easy to find), shell collecting, and family outings. It is also one of the most developed beaches in the area: Aside from taking advantage of an on-site bar and restaurant, visitors can reach the hippie-chic boutique hotel from the Bunkhouse Group, Hotel San Cristóbal, via a short drive to Playa Punta Lobos.
Crisoforo Gaspar Hernandez/UnsplashPlaya Zicatela, Oaxaca
Playa Zicatela is one of the most famous surfing spots in all of Mexico, located on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca. The breaks here have drawn comparisons to Hawaii’s famed Pipeline, and you can often find major surfing competitions taking place on the beach. Even if you aren’t big on water sports, the surrounding town of Puerto Escondido will draw you in with its funky hotels, public artwork, and shoes-optional restaurants.
Simon Dannhauer/GettyPlaya Paraiso, Tulum
About an hour south of Cancun, Tulum has emerged as one of Mexico’s most beloved beach destinations, thanks to an abundance of white sand, warm turquoise water, and jungle-lined roads and ruins. Perhaps the best slice of paradise is the appropriately named Playa Paraiso, where folks flock for the aforementioned scenery as well as an abundance of activities, including snorkelling and scuba diving. There are even changing rooms and a beach club serving up cold drinks, so go ahead and plan on staying all day.
Daniel Sambraus/GettyIsla Espíritu Santo, Baja California Sur
Located in the beautiful Sea of Cortez, Isla Espíritu Santo is a short boat trip away from La Paz on the lower half of the Baja California Peninsula. The uninhabited island is full of red rocks, pristine white beaches, and many species of exotic wildlife. Swimming with a colony of sea lions is the highlight of many an expedition, followed by a relaxing picnic on the shoreline.
sofigaona/GettyTroncones, Guerrero
Formerly a quiet fishing village, 46 miles north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport, Troncones has become an under-the-radar escape for adventurous travellers. The three-mile-long beach draws surfers from all over the world, while eco-tourists love horseback riding on the sand and hiking in the nearby Sierra Madre mountains. Best of all, with a population hovering around 500-600 permanent residents, Troncones always maintains a wonderful sense of isolation.
Courtesy Excellence ResortsPlaya Mujeres, Cancun
Cancun may be one of Mexico’s more tourist-heavy beach destinations, but it’s hard to ignore the city’s postcard-perfect stretches of white sand and turquoise water – even if you do have to dodge some crowds during your visit. If you go a little off the beaten path, you may even get some sandy real estate all to yourself. We recommend heading towards Playa Mujeres (not to be confused with Isla Mujeres, which is about seven miles off the coast of Cancun), an idyllic resort community wedged between the Caribbean and a wildlife preserve, to enjoy some peace and quiet (bonus serenity points if you can book a stay at the adults-only Excellence Playa Mujeres).
RonBailey/GettyYelapa, Jalisco
Yelapa is only accessible via a 30-minute boat ride from Puerto Vallarta. Therein lies the appeal of this off-the-radar paradise, where the beach is long and the tourists are sparse. Step directly off the boat onto the crescent-shaped sand, grab some fish tacos and beer at the thatched-roof bar Angelina’s Gardens Beach Club, and spend the rest of the day swaying in one of the many hammocks strung up beneath the palms.
Thomas Davis/Thomas DavisPuerto Ángel, Oaxaca
The town of Puerto Ángel sits on a picturesque horseshoe-shaped bay, bookended by craggy rocks and surrounded by wooded hills. The waters here are calm and bright blue, although the town mostly serves as a small fishing port. The best beach scene is found at Playa La Boquilla, about three miles east of the bay, where the shallow waters make for excellent snorkelling.
A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveler US.