The magnificent variety of beaches in Mexico
White sand, warm water, idyllic scenery - these are the reasons why Mexico is very popular with beach lovers. Which of the Mexican beaches are considered the best?
Tulum Beach
Tulum Beach is located about an hour drive from Cancun, Quintana Roo. It is a quiet sandy beach surrounded by rocky headlands. This is one of the most popular places for tourists, which is not surprising, considering that in addition to the excellent beach, these places are also known as the birthplace of some of the best Mexican cuisine in the world. It is also quite popular with surfers due to its steep waves and bohemian atmosphere.
When visiting Quintana Roo, keep in mind that since recently, all foreign visitors to this Mexican state must pay a tourist tax. The permit is issued by the Mexican government and is valid for the duration of your stay in Quintana Roo. A new tourist tax is payable by visitors from any other country over 4 years old visiting the country for tourism purposes, including the islands of Cozumel, Cancun or Tulum. You can find out the details on Visitax Cancun.
Despite its fantastic appearance, Love Beach, also known as Secret Beach, is quite real. It is located west of Puerto Vallarta, inside a cave with a huge hole in the middle. This unique beach is said to have originated from Mexican government bomb testing in the 1900s. One way or another, Love Beach is a magical place that is definitely worth a visit.
The main features of Playa Norte on the Isle of Women (Isla Mujeres) are crushed coral sand and warm, calm shallow waters. In addition, there are many whale sharks near the island, formidable in appearance, but not dangerous to humans.
The Costa Alegre
The Costa Alegre stretches across two states, Jalisco and Colima. A long coastline with a sandy beach very harmoniously coexists with sheer cliffs. Near the beach there is a resort and a huge nature reserve. The picturesque bay in which Playa La Boquilla is located is surrounded by rocky mountains and forested hills. The sea is calm and bright blue, and the beach has shallow waters ideal for snorkelling.
A beautiful and clean beach with a length of almost 7 kilometers is very popular with both surfers and families with children. In addition, there is a well-developed infrastructure nearby: restaurants, hotels, bars and so on.
The uninhabited island of Espiritu Santo is located in the Sea of Cortez, near La Paz. The island is distinguished by virgin exotic nature and snow-white beaches. A whole colony of sea lions also lives here.
For those who appreciate privacy, Mexico offers several suitable beaches, which we also bring to your attention:
Akumal beach
Akumal, in Quintana Roo on the Riviera Maya, is white sand and a breathtaking blue water, through which you can see fish scurrying among underwater rocks and algae. This is a bay that combines underwater caves and rivers, attracting divers from all over the world. Nearby is Yal-Ku Bay, you should go there to swim among the marine flora and fauna, and in the morning listen to the conversations of birds. And in Aktun-Chen Nature Park, 4 km from Akumal, you can swim underwater near stalactites and stalagmites. And a little further away are the archaeological sites of Tulum and Chichen Itza.
La Ticla
La Ticla Is located on the Pacific coast of Michoacán, in the municipality of Aquila, four hours drive from the city of Lázaro Cárdenas. There is fine sand and a blue sea with a greenish tint, with moderate to strong surf, trees with spreading crowns, tall cactus trunks, palm trees and bungalows. A real miracle, which is especially popular among surfers.
As on many other beaches, the main pastime can be walking along the coast, beach sports, board games. If you're into surfing or want to get started, then this is the place to be. And if you know how to swim in the open sea, go ahead! No doubt you will enjoy it!
There are a few bungalows on the beach and the second good option might be the Tikla Campsite, where the locals, the Nahua Indians offer a campsite and rooms, and in the restaurant you can find aguachiles (marinated shrimp with chili and lemon), spicy fish, and la diabla and other dishes.
Peña Hermosa Beach
Peña Hermosa, Veracruz in the municipality of Tatahuicapan, 2 hours drive from Coatzacoalcos, is a secluded, long beach of fine, light-colored sand with calm waters from which majestic rocks and cliffs jut out looking towards the high San Martin volcano. Here you can enjoy solitude and nature. If you enjoy writing, this is the place to immerse yourself in focused work while being inspired by your surroundings. You can go horseback riding, go to the San Martin volcano or just dive into the calm waters of the lake. There are usually few visitors here, who come mainly from the city of Coatzacoalcos for weekends or holidays.
El Madresal
El Madresal, Chiapas is located in the Soconusco region on the Pacific coast, in Tonalá. This is a beautiful place that can only be reached by water. In order to get to the beach, you need to sail on a boat the mouth of San Francisco. It preserves mangrove forests and a variety of aquatic life, such as shellfish, crabs, birds that feed on them, such as pelicans, bee-eaters and kingfishers, hawks and other amazing creatures. The beach itself, with light fine sand and a blue sea with moderate waves, is quite visited during weekends and holidays.
This place is home to the Madresal Ecotourism Center, which provides the opportunity to get acquainted with the local flora and fauna during boat trips, visiting the places where the crocodiles live. If there are children or teenagers in your company, they can be shown the ways of traditional fishing. Walking tours are organized at night in August to learn more about the period when young turtles are born.
Isla de la Pasión
Isla de la Pasión, in Quintana Rho in the north of Cancun, 15 minutes from Holbox Island, this wonderful place has to be on the list of the most desirable destinations for any traveler. This is a small piece of land, as if painted in the form of a spot of almost white sand, striking in its color, in the stunning azure Caribbean waters. The island is part of the Yum Balam Conservation Area. This island may remind you of the famous story of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, its protagonist and his planet, because you can explore it in a matter of minutes.
Here it is also recommended to get acquainted with the island of Isla de los Pajaros (“Bird Island”) and its feathered inhabitants. Here you can see the whale shark, the largest fish in the world, which this season comes to the shores of the region. We also advise you to go to the village after sunset and find a place where they cook lobster pizza and enjoy every bite.
There are several hotels here, and most of them try to respect nature, resort to the processing of resources in order to make the most of the available opportunities.
La Ventanilla beach
La Ventanilla on the coast of Oaxaca between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, 10 minutes from Mazunte.
This is a large beach of fine light sand and an open sea of deep blue with a green tint. The surf here is almost always strong and besides, sharks are found here. The rocky cliffs seem like a window through which the view of the sea opens, which is why the beach is called "window" in Spanish.
Here you can explore the coastal lagoon with thickets of red and white mangroves, and visit Ventanilla Island, where the crocodile nursery is located. The island is also inhabited by various bird species. If you come here in August, you can witness the birth of sea turtles from clutches that are protected by local residents and wish the little ones a happy journey on their first trip to the sea.
So, how can you describe the beaches of Mexico in one phrase - it's indescribable beauty, clean and warm water, curling waves and comfortable air temperature. Every beach lover is simply obliged to visit this magical country!