Best Beaches of Cancun

Cancun is one of the most visited destinations in the state of Quintana Roo and in all of Mexico, and this is largely due to the beauty and versatility of its beaches. Moreover, unlike those of the Riviera Maya, Cancun's beaches are mostly public, so access to them is completely free.

Some of the city's beaches are internationally famous and others are a secret of locals or regular visitors, but in any case, whichever one you visit, touring the different beaches is one of the must-do activities among the things to see and do in Cancun.

This is possibly the most famous beach in Cancun for the average visitor. Located very close to downtown and the hotel zone, it grabs all the pictures because it has one of the colorful signs with the name of the city and because of its proximity to the square where the flagpole with the Monumental Flag of Mexico is located.

The best thing about Langosta is its extensive white sand and shallow seabed, which makes this beach a safe environment to visit Cancun with children.

It also has playgrounds, parking with private security, restrooms, umbrella rental services and is one of the inclusive beaches of the city, with ramps and access for people with reduced mobility.

From the small pier located at the head of the beach there is a ferry service for excursions to Isla Mujeres.

Its aesthetics and climate are the opposite of the main beaches of downtown Cancun. El Niño is characterized for being the secret of the locals and occupies a league of sand on the side of the road leading to Puerto Juarez.

It is a beach suitable for the whole family, and hence its name, because it has a very calm surf and shallow waters.

This beach is ideal to practice sports and to experience the local atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel chains and the tourists waiting at the pier to take one of the boat rides around Cancun.

El Niño is usually crowded on weekends, especially on Sundays, and has all the services, including restrooms open to the public and free parking.

El Niño also has some seafood restaurants where you can try delicious fish. If you plan to visit this beach I recommend you to bring your own umbrella, as the rented ones often run out quickly, as well as cash to be able to consume at the beach stalls.

This beach has calm waves and shallow waters, but breaks the monotony of tranquility of the beaches of downtown Cancun with a variety of water sports and night parties.

In Tortugas it is possible to practice jet skiing, snorkeling and bungee jumping, an activity that consists of a person jumping into the void from an elevated platform with an elastic rope tied to the torso. On this beach the platform is located at a height of 25 meters.

Tortugas also has a very particular natural beauty, because the calm waters are complemented by a mountainous and rocky environment that only highlights the blue of the Caribbean Sea. It is a beach very visited by groups of friends and couples and during the evenings there are parties with Caribbean music sponsored by the surrounding stalls.

From Tortugas beach also depart some of the ferries for excursions to Isla Mujeres and is the meeting point for catamaran rides along the coast of Cancun.

This beach offers an experience unlike any other. As its name suggests, here you can see dolphins at any time of the year, sometimes even from the sand, but it has many more attractions.

Among other things, it is the longest beach in Cancun, with more than 30 kilometers of coastline. It also has a viewpoint to contemplate the sea and a large number of palapas that can be used free of charge.

It is important to keep in mind that Delfines, which is far from downtown Cancun, is oriented towards the open sea, so the waves are more intense and require greater precautions, not being a beach recommended to visit with children.

In Delfines is also located the most famous of the colorful signs that indicate the name of the city.

A detail to take into account is that this beach is far from the commercial circuits, so to spend the day in Delfines you will have to carry everything you need.

However, it is also located in the area near San Miguelito, an archaeological site ideal for walking, as it is not usually included in Cancun tours and excursions.

If you visit Cancun in May, the beach will be closed for turtle nesting, which may last until September, preventing visitors from entering the water.

It is one of the most famous beaches in the hotel zone and the starting point of the Cancun circuit for surf lovers. Although it does not have rough waves, it has a constant tide that favors the practice of nautical sports.

Locals also call it El Playa Forum, due to its proximity to the shopping plaza of the same name, and it is the head of a promenade with numerous bars and restaurants.

If you are looking for fun, the Gaviota Azul beach will undoubtedly give it to you off the coast of one of the most beautiful places in the city. In its crystalline sea of white sands you can live some of the best snorkeling experiences in Cancun and you can also go scuba diving and kitesurfing.

Gaviota Azul is the ideal option for water sports lovers and for those who come to Cancun looking for more movement. If you are traveling with friends or are looking for nightlife, this beach is the perfect place.

This is a more private option, less crowded, but with very strong waves. The water is crystal clear and the sand is white, and it has a sector of restaurants where you can have lunch with an open view of the Caribbean Sea.

It also occupies a very important tourist sector of Cancun, near the traditional Kukulkan and La Isla squares.

If you visit Cancun in October you can participate in the release of turtles, which consists of returning these animals to the sea after nesting, which happens previously between the months of May and September.

Playa Marlín has other services such as free parking, restrooms and rental of umbrellas, chairs and sun loungers.

Marlín, being located near Gaviota Azul, also has a large influx of surfers, although it does not stand out for water sports like its northern neighbor, but for volleyball or beach soccer.

It is one of the beaches considered secret in Cancun, since to enter it is necessary to walk along a narrow street called San Miguelito until you reach it.

It is the ideal place if you are looking for experiences with more movement such as paragliding or jet skiing, all activities that can be done on the beach. It is also a perfect beach for surfing when the weather permits.

Located in Cancun's Hotel Zone, between the Oasis and Ritz Carlton hotels, it is very close to the Mayan Museum and the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone, which contains some of the most important Mayan vestiges in the area.

The beauty of the beach, moreover, lies in the turquoise color of the water and the open position of the beach, which is practically unshaded during sunlight hours.

San Miguelito is hidden behind a very important area of vegetation, so it is advisable to use insect repellent at all times and to be cautious with the sea currents, since there are no permanent lifeguards on the beach.

With no room for euphemisms, this beach is located at the tip of Cancun, right at the corner of the hotel zone, at the last land point of the city.

To get there you will have to walk from the neighboring beaches and pass by the Hyatt Ziva hotel, but once inside you will find the lighthouse, a breakwater, a rocky area and an infinite turquoise sea that will give you the scenery for the best pictures.

A few kilometers from the coast you will also find the Chitales reefs and on clear days it is possible to see Isla Mujeres.

On the other hand, Playa Punta Cancun is also the epicenter of the city's nightlife, with nightclubs and trendy bars often visited by international musicians.

Playa Punta Cancun is also very close to the Cancun Underwater Museum, a museum of underwater sculptures that you can tour in a glass-bottom boat, snorkeling or scuba diving, which I recommend you visit.

This beach is one of the most visited beaches in Cancun and is a favorite of tourists who like to surf or swim for adrenaline. It also borders Cancun's Hotel Zone and is ideal for jet skiing.

But it also stands out for its proximity to Frog's and Coco Bongo, two of Cancun's legendary nightclubs. In short, Chac Mool seems to have it all.

The turquoise waters and white sand make the beach a paradisiacal place and also offers many dining options, especially seafood and ceviche restaurants, although the area also has other international food alternatives.

This beach is one of the locals' favorites because, unlike the others, it preserves the Mayan name.

If you visit Cancun in November you will be able to see the turtles returning to the sea after nesting, which takes place between May and September.

If you are looking for peace and quiet and away from the crowded tourist areas, this beach will offer you the solution.

Located in the south of Cancun's Hotel Zone, it is little known and therefore little visited, but no less beautiful than its neighbors. It is a beach with calm waves and crystal clear waters, making it ideal to visit with family and children.

It is also one of the few beaches in the city where pets are allowed, so if you are traveling accompanied, in Nizuc no one will give you problems.

This beach has a lookout point, free parking and a free palapa area where you can have lunch or a snack. There are commercial stores at the entrance to the beach.

Punta Nizuc, as well as San Miguelito beach, is close to the Anthropological Zone and the Mayan Museum, where you can visit works of Mayan culture rescued from archaeological sites such as Comalcalco and Chichén Itzá.

It is one of the most beautiful public beaches in Cancun, with entrance in front of Plaza Caracol, a place very visited by tourists since the Xcaret offices are located there.

This is a beach of calm waves, with sandbanks that highlight the shallow waters and one of the widest open views of the Caribbean Sea in the city.

Playa Caracol is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the city, although its good reputation also means that it is often too crowded, especially if you are visiting Cancun in December or if you have decided to travel to Cancun for Christmas.

This beach is very convenient for visitors because it is located very close to supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and private parking lots.

Playa Caracol is another inclusive beach in the city, with ramps and access for people with reduced mobility.

Away from the Hotel Zone and downtown Cancun, Playa Mujeres offers a calm sea and crystal clear waters on a wide strip of sand, ideal for group sports such as volleyball or beach soccer.

Its access is difficult so it is never too crowded, even in the busiest months of the city, so if you are looking for tranquility here you have another interesting option.

The thick vegetation surrounding the beach also protects it from the view from the road and the bustle of cars. You can also practice scuba diving or snorkeling taking advantage of the proximity of a coral reef. In the area there are also off-road tours.

If you decide to visit this beach you should take into account that the gastronomic offer in the area is not very wide and that there are not too many stores or commercial establishments, which contributes to the tranquility of the site, but will also force you to organize your visit so that you do not miss anything.