Above all else, beaches are what define the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula -- soft, blinding white strands of sand embracing clear turquoise waters; shores that curve into calm lagoons, coves, and inlets; waves that crash against cliffs. Coastal destinations are varied and eccentric. Puerto Morelos has the relaxed atmosphere of a Mexican fishing village. Playa del Carmen is filled with resorts -- some of them all-inclusive -- that are as glitzy and hectic as those in Cancún and Cozumel. The beaches here, from Punta Tanchacté to Tulum, are beloved by scuba divers, snorkelers, bird-watchers, and beachcombers.
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