Cancun Beaches
Playa Las Perlas
Location: 2.5 km at the beginning of the Hotel Zone
Good place for swimming, relaxing and varied water
sports. You can also get the shuttle to Isla Mujeres here. There are
restaurants and bars located along the coast here as well.
Playa Linda
Location: 4 km in the Hotel Zone
Dive tours, the Submarine and shuttle to Isla Mujeres is located here.
Playa Langosta
Location: km 5 in the Hotel Zone
Swimming, water sports, restaurants and bars are located along this clean beach.
There is also a dock with shuttles to Isla Mujeres and dive/snorkel tours.
Playa Tortugas
Location: km 6 in the Hotel Zone
Swimming, water sports, restaurants and bars are located along this clean beach.
There is also a dock with shuttles to Isla Mujeres and dive/snorkel tours.
Playa Caracol
Location: km 6 in the Hotel Zone near Punta Cancun
This is a great beach for children because of the shallow flat sandy seabed. It
is also one of the most crowded beaches along the strip. There are restaurants,
bars and numerous activities here.
EAST SIDE BEACHES
The Cancun coast includes both an "ocean side" and a "lagoon side". By far
the majority of the hotels front onto the ocean. There isn't any beach to speak
of on the lagoon side. Swimming and tanning takes place on the ocean side, and
jet-skis, kayaks, and other rentals are featured on the lagoon side.
General beach conditions here are the same as northern beaches. The sand is
powder and kept clean of ocean debri. Unlike the northern tip which is somewhat
sheltered by Isla Mujeres this strip of coast-line is protected by nothing. This
means that the winds and currents come roaring up and produce very wavy
conditions some of the time.
This doesn't paint a very pretty picture of the eastern beaches however they are
really no different than many Florida beaches and if you like playing in waves
then these are the beaches for you.
Gaviota Azul
Good for relaxing, swimming and water sports.
Location: 9 km in the Hotel Zone near Punta Cancun.
Chac Mool
Location: 10 km in the Hotel Zone near Punta Cancun
Playa Marlín
Good for relaxing, swimming and water sports.
Location: 13 km in the Hotel Zone in between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc.
Playa Ballenas
A very popular beach in Cancun. Good for relaxing, swimming and water sports.
There are bars and restaurants.
Location: 14 km in the Hotel Zone in between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc.
San Miguelito
Good for relaxing and swimming. There are some Mayan ruins located here.
Location: 16.5 km in the Hotel Zone
Playa Delfines
Good for relaxing, swimming.
Location: 18 km in the Hotel Zone near Punta Nizuc
Punta Nizuc
Good for relaxing and swimming. Many of the more exclusive hotels/resorts are
located here.
Location: 21 km in the Hotel Zone
If you are looking for a secluded private beach try the beach at the Camino Real
Hotel which is located at the southern tip of the peninsula. The beach is
accesible only by walking through the property of the Camino Real Hotel (the
beach is federal property). There are no vendors, strollers, no music or
volleyball. The small beach is manicured daily.
SNORKELING
Snorkeling off the beaches of Cancun is not that good. It is mostly sand, which
does not attract a large variety of fish. This does not mean that the odd ocean
going animal does not frequent close enough to delight a child snorkeling near
the shore but for the enthusiasts you will not find your snorkel adventure along
these beaches.
There are however excellent places to snorkel around Cancun including caves and
cenotes. For more information visit Diving/Snorkeling.
The best snorkeling around Cancun off the beach is the public area near the
Westin Regina, in the southern tip of the hotel zone.
