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 the 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 the city centre and the hotel zone, it grabs all the pictures because it has one of the colourful signs with the name of the city and because of its proximity to the square where the Monumental Flag of Mexico is located.

The best thing about Langosta is the extensive space of white sand it has and the shallow depth of its seabed, which transforms this beach into 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 city's inclusive beaches, 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 that runs excursions to Isla Mujeres.

Its aesthetics and climate are the opposite of the main beaches in the centre of Cancun. El Niño is characterised for being the secret of the locals and occupies a league of sand at the side of the road that leads to Puerto Juárez.

It is a beach suitable for the whole family, hence its name, because it has very calm waves 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 tends to be crowded on weekends, especially on Sundays, and has all the amenities, 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 bring your own umbrella, as the rented ones often sell out quickly, as well as cash to be able to eat at the beach stalls.

This beach has calm waves and shallow waters, but breaks the monotony of tranquillity of the beaches in the centre of Cancun with a variety of water sports and nightly parties.

In Tortugas it is possible to practice jet skiing, snorkelling 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 metres.

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

Tortugas beach is also the departure point for some of the ferry excursions to Isla Mujeres and is the meeting point for catamaran rides along the Cancun coastline.

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 kilometres 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 bear in mind that Delfines, which is far from the centre of Cancun, is oriented towards the open sea, so the swell is more intense and requires more precautions, not being a beach recommended to visit with children.

Delfines is also home to the most famous of the colourful signs that indicate the name of the city.

A detail to bear in mind is that this beach is far from the commercial circuits, so if you want to spend the day at 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.

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

The 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 made up of numerous bars and restaurants.

If you are looking for fun, the Gaviota Azul beach will undoubtedly provide it off the coast of one of the most beautiful places in the city. In its crystal clear, white sandy sea you can experience some of Cancun' s best snorkelling, scuba diving and kite surfing.

Gaviota Azul is the ideal choice for water sports lovers and for those who come to Cancun looking for more movement. If you are travelling 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 area of Cancun, near the traditional Kukulkan and La Isla squares.

If you visit Cancun in October you will be able to participate in the turtle release, which consists of returning these animals to the sea after nesting, which takes place previously between the months of May and September.

Playa Marlín has other services such as free parking, restrooms and beach umbrellas, chairs and sun loungers for rent.

Marlín, being located near Gaviota Azul, also has a large influx of surfers, although it is not noted for water sports like its northern neighbour, but rather for volleyball and beach football.

It is one of the beaches considered secret in Cancun, since to enter it you have 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 also lies in the turquoise colour of the water and the open position of the beach, which is virtually unshaded during the sunny 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 of the sea currents, as there are no permanent lifeguards on the beach.

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 neighbouring 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 photographs.

A few kilometres off 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 epicentre 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 on a glass-bottomed boat, snorkel or scuba dive, which I recommend you visit.

This beach is one of the most visited beaches in Cancun and is a favourite for tourists who like to go surfing or swimming 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 paradise and it also offers many dining options, especially seafood restaurants and cevicherias, although the area also has other international food alternatives.

This beach is one of the locals' favourites because, unlike the others, it retains its Mayan name.

If you visit Cancun in November you will be able to see the return of turtles 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 neighbours. It is a beach with calm waves and crystalline waters, making it ideal to visit with the family and children.

It is also one of the few beaches in the city where pets are allowed, so if you are travelling with a companion, nobody will give you any trouble at Nizuc.

This beach has a lookout point, free parking and a free palapa area where you can have lunch or a snack. There are commercial shops 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 Chichen Itza.

This is one of the most beautiful public beaches in Cancun, with its entrance in front of Plaza Caracol, a very popular place for tourists as it is where the Xcaret offices are located.

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 whole 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 car parks.

Playa Caracol is another of the city's inclusive beaches, 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 stretch of sand, ideal for group sports such as volleyball and beach football.

Access is difficult so it is never too crowded, even in the city's busiest months, so if you are looking for peace and quiet here is another interesting option.

The thick vegetation that surrounds the beach also protects it from the view from the road and the hustle and bustle of cars. You can also go scuba diving or snorkelling, taking advantage of the proximity of a coral reef. There are also off-road tours in the area.

If you decide to visit this beach you should bear in mind that the gastronomic offer in the area is not very wide and that there are not too many shops or commercial establishments, which contributes to the tranquillity of the place, but it will also force you to organise your visit so that you don't miss anything.