Best Cancun Beaches!

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    January 14, 2020

    These are by far the best Cancun public beaches! These Cancun beaches are safe for swimming making this one of the best beach vacation destinations in Mexico! There are 22 Kilometres of of beautiful sandy public beaches in Cancun so there should be one that will suit your taste! 

    About The Best Public Beaches in Cancun

    Cancun offers a few "Blue Flag" rated beaches. These are safe beaches for swimming. They also offer disabled friendly access to the water. Most of these beaches are perfect for sunbathing, but some may not be the safest for swimming due to high waves which are obvious but undercurrents (a current of water below the surface, moving in a different direction from any surface current) are not noticeable and can be dangerous - even the most easterly beaches.

    Color coded safety signs indicate beach conditions as follows:

    • Blue - safe conditions to swim.

    • Yellow - changeable, use caution and be sensible.

    • Red - unsafe and dangerous. Do not swim!

    Cancun beach repairsPost 2008 Beach Repairs

    Always have a safe and happy beach vacation. The type you want to remember for the right reasons!

    If you have not been to Cancun in a while there has been a beach restoration and maintenance project since 2008. This project ensures high quality beaches and it has increased the size of many Cancun beaches. So… if you cannot remember the beaches being as big as they are now that is the reason why! Much time and effort is made to keep the beaches in Cancun clean and seaweed free.

    Related pages:  Cancun Beach Hotels, Cancun Things To Do,  

    Best Public Beaches in Cancun 

    • Playa Las Perlas (Beach of Pearls) •

    At 2.5 km. of the "Hotel zone". This Cancun beach is safe for swimming. Blue Flag rated, the protected waters of this small beach make it popular with locals. If you're not staying at one of the nearby resorts, it may be difficult to access public facilities and water-sports equipment. 

    • Playa Linda (Pretty Beach) •

    At Km. 4 of the "Hotel zone".
    This beach is along the Nichupte Channel, so boat traffic and the ferry to Isla Mujeres can make it difficult and possibly not the safest beach for swimming. The scenery is lovely however, and you won't find a better people-watching place. A great place to book your submarine tour and diving tour and any kind of boat tours! 

    • Playa Langosta (Lobster Beach) •

    Playa LangostaPlaya Langosta

    At Km. 5 of the "Hotel zone".
    Possibly the most beautiful of Cancun beaches, but then again there are no ugly ones and each has its own features. Lobster Beach is calm, crystal clear waters and gentle waves make this beach a great place to swim, especially for families with children. This beach is one of the favorites with tourists as it is in close proximity with the resorts (particularly at spring break). It is also close to several yacht clubs, shops and restaurants. Tour boats will whisk you away to the more quiet Isla Mujeres and party cruise boats leave from the docks close by. Unfortunately there are no public facilities.

    • Playa Tortugas (Turtle Beach) •

    At 6.5 km of the "Hotel zone".
    Lined with cafes, bars and restaurants and plenty of sand you may not want to leave this beach! You may want to do some parasailing or rent a seadoo or kayak. Excellent swimming and facilities at both ends and even a few shops for the ladies to browse through. A good beach for those learning to scuba dive or snorkel. At the pier there is a platform for bungee jumping. It is rated as one of the best Cancun beaches for accommodations close by.

    • Playa Caracol (Seashell or Snail Beach) •

    Playa CaracolPlaya Caracol

    In the middle of the "Hotel zone" at Km. 8.
    This beach is calm and fairly safe when one is concerned about undercurrents. As its name suggests there are some seashells and small rocks on this beach so some protective footwear may be suggested. Rocks jut out from the water marking the beginning of Punta Cancun. You may rent sport activity gear from a few shops near this beach. A favorite beach due to its shallow sand bed. Sail boarding, water skiing and parasailing are favoured watersports at this beach. Playa Caracol is also close to the shopping district. Close to the Xcaret dock to take you to this wonderful attraction.

    **Please note**

    Starting at Km. 9 of the Hotel zone the waves of these Cancun beaches may start to get a little larger as there is no protection from from Isla Mujeres. The ocean truly gets its beautiful turquoise blue colour in this area and you also get fantastic sunrises!

    Here are the some of the best Cancun hotels on the beach with spa and fitness center. See why Cancun is Mexico's # 1 waterfront destination!

    • Gaviota Azul (Blue Seagull Beach) •

    Gaviato AzulGaviota Beach

    Located at Km. 9 of the "Hotel zone".
    Swimmers need to use extra caution in the waters of this scenic beach because of the large waves and strong undertow. Body surfers however love this beach for its waves. It's great for watersports, though! 

    • Chac Mool (Chac Mool Beach) •

    Located at Km 10 of the "Hotel zone".
    This Cancun beach is safe for swimming. Blue Flag rated, this is the first beach on Caribbean waters, and the warm, shallow water is great for walking in - just beware the undertow! A bit rocky at the northern part but much better a bit south. Public facilities are available at this beach. 

    • Playa Marlin (Marlin Beach) •

    Located at Km. 13 of the "Hotel zone".
    Safe for swimming. This Blue Flag rated Caribbean beach is extremely popular. The sand is simply perfect beach sand! This beach is great for water sports and you may be able to find rental equipment. This Cancun beach is very popular for tourists with easy access to great restaurants etc..  If you prefer quieter beaches you can easily find one by simply walking in either direction. 

    • Playa Ballenas (Whale Beach) •

    Playa Ballenas, CancunPlaya Ballenas

    Located at Km. 14 of the "Hotel zone".
    Blue Flag Rated, this is a very popular beach as well. Close as most, to restaurants and bars. You may also rent Jet rentals, parasailing and banana boat rides are available in this area. Just of few of the reasons Cancun beaches are so popular! They can be relaxing and exciting! 

    • San Miguelito •

    Located at Km 16.5 of the "Hotel zone".
    This is the beach to go to if you like lively crowds - its location near two public parking lots makes it very accessible. You may also visit some small Mayan archeological ruins.

    • Playa Delfines •

    Playa Delfines, Cancun beachesCancun, Playa Delfines
    Located at Km 20 of the "Hotel Zone".

    This Playa Delfines is outside the hotel zone. It is quite a ways out of the Cancun center, therefore not as busy. The sand is a bit darker and coarser. This being the case you will not find all the conveniences of being in front of the luxurious waterfront hotels. There are however restrooms, a small children's playground (as pictured) and you may rent chairs and umbrellas. There are lifeguards on duty a lot of the time but swimming needs to be done with extreme caution. Playa Delfines is the only beach that offers public parking. However, the buses could be easier than trying to find parking during busier days.

    • Isla Mujeres •

    Isla MujeresIsla Mujeres
    If you would like to get away from the crowds of Cancun we would suggest once again to plan a day at Isla Mujeres! Playa Norte is a beautiful white sand beach so soft it has been described as talcum powder! Here are the best things to do on this beautiful Island. There is plenty to see and do on this island but just relaxing on the beach is unforgettable.

    Cancun Waterfront Resorts & Vacation Rentals

    Beach Palace HotelBeach Palace, Cancun
    Many of the best resorts and hotels are basically right on the beach! Choose your resort carefully and have a real vacation by basically just stepping out onto the beach along the "hotel zone"! Follow this link for the best Cancun Waterfront Hotels with Spa as well as a gym or fitness center!

    Luxury Cancun Vacation RentalLuxury Cancun Vacation Rental
    A Cancun waterfront vacation rental will give you great flexibility, cooking options as well as privacy. Choose your Cancun Waterfront Vacation Rental for your family and extended family to share. Sharing the cost could save you a lot of money.

    Find more of the best Mexico beaches from this Cancun beaches page!


    Caribbean Resorts HomeAway.com - Vacations with more room.

    Photo Credits:
    Top photo - Bekins.com