With almost 10,000 kilometers of coastline, Mexico has no shortage of sun, surf, and sand. Almost 500 beaches and scenic islands are beautifully laid out across four bodies of water.
The country’s land touches the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Sea of Cortez. Like a magnificent master plan of nature, the weather is sunny and the waters reflect a turquoise hue.
So whether you’re looking to bask in the sunshine with a nice blue backdrop, or explore the many side trips these places offer, there is a Mexican beach destination that is perfect for you.
We admit this list had a LOT of close calls, differentiated only by the occasional historic ruins or some minor detail, so forgive us if your favorite gets outvoted.
But then again, we just want you to head there and see things for yourself.
Table of contents
10. Acapulco, Guerrero
Long before the rise of Cancún and Cabo – Acapulco was the “Pearl of the Pacific” attracting the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and even John F. Kennedy.
With amber beaches and vibrant nightlife. It’s a popular weekend getaway for European travelers, with a more international vibe.
One of the most popular beaches in tourist-friendly Dorado, the Golden Zone, is Playa Condesa. Often packed with families engaging in a wide range of water activities.
9. Manzanillo, Colima
This lovely resort and port town along the Mexican coastline offers much more touches of civilization than the others on our list. But it gives visitors two bays to choose from.
The main bay, Bahía de Manzanillo, has nice beaches like Playa La Boquita and Playa Miramar, a boardwalk, and a wharf. As such, this is a great spot for fishing and diving.
Manzanillo is the sailfish capital of the world. But if you’re looking for a calmer scene while watching a spectacular sunset, then that’s the beaches along Bahía de Santiago.
Soft sands and shallow waters are sure to ease your worries away.
8. La Paz, Baja California Sur
Limitless adventures await you in La Paz. About 100 miles northwest of the touristy Cabo San Lucas, La Paz overlooks the Gulf of California.
A short trek from the city center, you’d find Playa Balandra, with its long stretches of white sand, and warm, shallow waters that are ideal for families. With its clear azure waters, colorful tropical fish are easily visible with a simple snorkel.
The beach which resembles a lagoon is also arched perfectly, making for a picturesque view from above. The contrast of the water against the white sand and the arid backdrop is a spectacle. A 10-minute swim away is the famous Mushroom Rock.
You can also visit the more remote Ensenada Grande beach on Isla Partida.
7. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular resort towns in Mexico. It is a charming place with an old town filled with traditional architecture, cobblestone streets, local shops, and plenty of restaurants.
Nestled along its shoreline is a string of beaches and sheltered coves backed by the Sierra Madre Mountains. These make for great snorkeling, whale watching, and even deep-sea fishing.
When the pandemic struck, millennials who are into remote work, flocked to this strip of paradise, because few other places offer such a relaxing atmosphere while grinding away.
Check out El Malecón, a beachside promenade with contemporary sculptures, bars, lounges, and nightclubs.
6. Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo
This idyllic island has been revered for centuries. Considered sacred by the ancient Mayans from 1500 years ago, as the sanctuary for Ixchel, the goddess of the moon, happiness, medicine, and fertility.
A temple to honor Ixchel was known to exist on the southern tip of the island. These days though, the island is revered by modern visitors for its tranquil environment, gorgeous beaches, and delectable food.
With a serene feel that is in sharp contrast to the party culture of its neighbor, Cancun. Playa Norte is a highly recommended beach dotted with roofed cabanas, which are great places to enjoy the spectacular sunsets from.
The highlight though is if you come early in the day and you’ll have a chance to see whale sharks in the water. Perhaps the largest near-beach gathering of whale sharks in the world! It’s a magical experience.
5. Mazunte, Oaxaca de Juárez
It’s all about outdoor fun when you’re in Oaxaca. Playa Mazunte, the main beach in the similarly named town of Mazunte, is a quiet stretch of sand known for its laid-back atmosphere and rough waves that bodysurfers love.
Surrounded by rocky headlands that give much-needed shade in the afternoons, Playa Mazunte is also a great place for a swim. The coast is dotted with seafood shacks perfect for a refreshing drink after some time in the water.
Parasols are available for rent for cheap. As a treat, you can visit the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, a local turtle sanctuary.
Mazunte offers the occasional sighting of turtles, dolphins, and even whales. And while you’re there in Oaxaca, get the chance to see the Oaxaca Valley filled with a number of well-preserved Aztec ruins.
And a short distance away, Monte Albán is one of Mexico’s most breathtaking ruins, continuously inhabited over a span of 1,500 years by the Zapotec, Mixtec, and Olmec peoples.
You can also visit the Templo de Santo Domingo, a gorgeous church with an accompanying museum full of pre-Columbian artifacts, and a lush ethnobotanical garden at the back.
4. Cancún, Quintana Roo
A list of Mexico beaches would not be complete without a mention of Cancún. With a 14-mile stretch, it has one of the most popular beaches in the country.
It also remains one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Western Hemisphere, that’s why it’s a go-to for spring breakers.
The powder-soft white sand, and turquoise sea, are matched with numerous restaurants and entertainment venues that exude a party vibe. You can also try jet skiing or parasailing.
This area is also close to one of the most recognizable sites of Mexico – Chichén Itzá, a large Mayan archaeological site that is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. This is also where you embark if you want to go to Isla Mujeres, one of the spots mentioned earlier
3. Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo
You can duke it out with the crowds at nearby Cozumel or the distant Cancun, or you can find peace and quiet here at Isla Holbox.
With deserted beaches, including a white coral beach on its north side that offers excellent conditions for windsurfing. The water level is also shallow and crystal clear, tempting you to take a long swim.
It is also a protected ecological reserve due to a large seabird population that calls this island home. So if you love nature for both the site and its wildlife, this is it.
There are a number of hotels and guesthouses on the island. And you can just while away the time while lazily swinging in one of the island’s famous over-water hammocks. Isn’t it cool?
2. Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
This resort city in Baja California Sur is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Cabo San Lucas is filled with beaches, scuba diving locations with vast underwater vistas, seaside resorts called balnearios, and geologic features like El Arco de Cabo San Lucas.
You should check out Medano Beach, a busy stretch that offers swimming, jet skis, parasailing, and lots of bars and cafés. See dramatic rock formations contrasted by the blazing blue skies.
Primo tip though, do not leave your items unattended when you go swimming. Also, check out Cabo’s most famous natural landmark, El Arco.
But if you want to find out why we placed this at our number two spot, then head to Playa del Amor or Lover’s Beach. Where else in the world will you find something as marvelous as that!?
A beach, covered by a cave, but with a gaping skylight where the beautiful sunshine pierces through. It’s like a fairy-tale. Rumors say, in the early 1990s, this particular spot was used to test bombs and this sensational beach is the result.
To get to this pocket of paradise, you will need a boat though, but don’t worry water taxis are available. And to get to the actual beach, you need to swim through a tunnel. Ain’t that an adventure!
1. Tulum, Quintana Roo
At the far southern end of the Mayan Riviera, about two hours from Cancun, Tulum’s beach is not only picture-perfect but also historically rich.
Mesmerizing white sands backdropped on one side by the azure waters of the Caribbean, and on the other, jungles and cliffs that are marked by 13th-century Mayan ruins.
No wonder both luxury travelers and bargain hunters adore this pristine part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Its most picturesque beach is Playa Ruinas, where a single click of your phone camera can capture a quaint stretch of sand, a turquoise sea, and on top of imposing cliffs, ancient Mayan ruins!
Now imagine yourself in the middle of that beautiful snapshot. Oh, and don’t be surprised if there’s an iguana sunbathing next to you, wildlife love this piece of paradise.
And speaking of that, visit Paradise Beach. Adjacent to Playa Ruinas, a few meters away from the ruins but still visible, it offers a stretch of sand as far as the eye can see.
Bookended by swaying palms and rugged cliffs, this is a picture-perfect beach. There are also nearby cenotes and biological reserves. Indeed, the paradise you’re looking for. These are our 10 top Most Incredible Beach Towns in Mexico.
