This tropical playground is one of the most blindingly beautiful coastlines in all North America.
Looking for thudding surf? Enchanting snorkelling escapades? Or castaway beaches that feel wholly removed from the region’s riotous party reputation? We handpick eight of the finest stretches of paradise to discover in Cancun.
Love life on Cancun’s beaches
Cancun: The most famous beaches in Mexico
Sun, sea, sand: A slice of heaven
Roll out a map of Mexico and point your finger to the east, to the Yucatan Peninsula that juts into the crystalline waters of the Caribbean to the south and the Gulf of Mexico to the north. Trace your finger to its tip and you’ll find Cancun. Long wild ribbons of sand skirt the coast, tempered by waters in all shades of turquoise. Here visitors lie back on sunbeds, gazing at the rhythm of the sea, tucking into zesty tacos, snorkelling above coral reefs. Some are quiet and serene; some are all out party HQs. And others are backed by all-singing all-dancing malls.
What to expect in Cancun
Life’s a beach
Once a sleepy fishing village, Cancun rose to fame in the seventies as a tropical retreat with all the frills. Fast forward 50 years and there’s no sign of its huge popularity wavering. The sand is just as white and as velvety soft as it was all those years ago, smoothed over by vivid waters in all shades of turquoise. Yet today, it’s immeasurably easy to wallow in lazy, hazy beach days just steps from your hotel. Or lounge in shady beachside restaurants where kitchens cook just-caught fish over coals and tacos loaded with guacamole using creamy avocados plucked that morning. And the thing about Cancun is that it has something for every type of visitor. Hover above the ethereal statues submerged below the surface beyond the shoreline of Playa Punta Nizuc. Gaze across to the golden hues of the sun’s last rays streaming across the sea on Playa Chac Mool. Order icy cocktails at one of the swanky beach bars lining Playa Forum. But if you’re after true seclusion on a beach that flaunts its raw, natural beauty, catch the boat across to Isla Mujeres and pad over the sands of Playa Norte.
8 of Cancun’s best beaches
Eat, swim, rave, repeat
Plotting your Mexican escape? Here are some of the best beaches in Cancun, from a white sand beauty with late-night parties to under-the-radar glittering stretches.
Playa Delfines
Loved by locals
20km from Cancun International Airport
Ask the locals where they go and often they’ll wax euphoric about this tranquil stretch of turquoise water. Surfers bob about offshore and swimmers lurch through waves crashing onto the ivory sands, pulling themselves out to doze in the shade of the free thatch-roofed palapas. It’s serene and laidback and a blissful world away from the razzmatazz of Cancun’s spring break-style beach clubs and pool parties.
Playa Norte (North Beach)
Beauty and a relaxing vibe
148km from Cancun International Airport
Just a few years ago, this curve of brilliant white sand on Isla Mujeres was talked about in hushed tones by travellers-in-the-know. Thanks to several high-end hotels springing up on the island – once considered a sacred site devoted to a Maya goddess – it might not carry the same off-the-tourist trail kudos. But there’s no getting away from the sheer beauty of the place that revels in its easy-come-easy-go vibe.
Playa Chac Mool
Sunsets, tacos and more
23km from Cancun International Airport
It’s not just the ribbons of white sand and piercing turquoise water that magnify the appeal of this beach. Chac Mool has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, from surf lessons and paddleboarding to jet-skiing and gazing across to soul-stirring sunrises. There are umbrellas for hire and when your stomach rumbles, beeline towards the cheap and cheerful restaurants behind the beach doling out zingy tacos and mole.
Playa Tortugas
Resplendent sands
18km from Cancun International Airport
If you’re catching the ferry to Isla Mujeres don’t miss this resplendent curve of sand. The sand is soft and bleached out and the water is ridiculously clear. And it’s one of the best beaches to avoid the seaweed which washes up on the shores of Cancun during the sargassum season between April and August. Bringing along the kids? Let them loose in the rocky outcrops lining the back of the beach.
Playa Forum
Party central
11km from Cancun International Airport
It’s no wonder the floodgates for new hotels on this lively beach opened with gusto back in the seventies and eighties. One look at its enviable setting and you’ll catch the brilliant white shores meeting bright, glittering waters of Caribbean turquoise. All backed by thrumming beachside bars where guests doze on sunbeds or sip margaritas staring at the passing crowds of partygoers.
Playa Caracol
Magical sunset
12km from Cancun International Airport
Arrive at this diminutive beach at sunset to capture its true magic, when the sun melts into the horizon, turning the sky as orange as a peach. It’s a great spot to bring little ones, where you can laze on a hired sunbed and gaze as they totter in and out of the calm, mellow waves. Plus, there’s a coral reef offshore for those who fancy snorkelling.
Playa Marlin
Perfect way to end the day
17km from Cancun International Airport
Nudging the Kukulkan Plaza shopping mall, Playa Marlin is the sort of beach you can drop your bags after a hectic shopping session and dive straight into the foamy swells. Gaze at the surfers, grab a body board to leap through the chaotic but joyous waters. And later, when your hair’s all tangled and salty, gather in one of its beachside joints for beers and fish tacos.
Playa Punta Nizuc
Arty snorkelling
10km from Cancun International Airport
The snorkelling at this isolated beach is a cut above. Not just for the clarity of water that’s fifty shades of turquoise. Or for the technicolour sea life darting amongst the coral. Hidden below the surface of the water is one of three underwater museums by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, a collection of eerie sunken statues smothered in coral.
Skyscanner top tips for a beach holiday in Cancun
- The sun can be intense. Wear high SPF suncream and seek the shade.
- Always respect marine life when swimming, snorkelling or diving.
- Pay attention to flag warnings about water conditions.
From the tranquil stretch of Playa Delfines to golden sunsets at Playa Maracol, lazy, hazy beach days on the shores of the Caribbean are guaranteed in Cancun. Grab your gear, slip on your swimwear, and go in search of Cancun’s best beaches.
Visiting Cancuns’ beaches? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals.
