212 Best Sights in Mexico

Although the marina is the focus here, Puerto Aventuras's beaches are naturally stunning and seldom crowded. The main one, Fatima Bay, stretches nearly 3 km (2 miles) south between Chac Hal Al condominiums and the Grand Peninsula residence. Its shallow, calm waters are kid-friendly, especially inside the breakwater. Farther out the temperature drops, making for a refreshing swim. To the north is a smaller bay, known as Chan Yu Yum, used by guests of the Catalonia Resort; better beaches lie just south of Puerto Aventuras in the community of Xpu-Há. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The crescent bay on the north end of Akumal has shallow water and almost no current, making it a safe swimming spot for children; the snorkeling is also good here (you might even see the occasional sea turtle). Beach chairs and hammocks line the narrow, rocky shore at La Buena Vida restaurant, which has a pool, restrooms, and limited street parking for patrons. The area near Casa Zama is protected by an outer reef; however, the entry point is rocky, so bring water shoes. Bring an umbrella, too—Half Moon Bay is known for its white sand and clear waters, but the lack of trees means you'll have trouble finding shade. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Each of the nine islands set in front of Chamela Bay can be reached by boat. However, not all of them have such a beautiful beach as Isla Cocinas. Get a boat from Punta Pérula or Playa Chamela for as little as $15, and in 20 minutes you’ll be sunbathing on one of the most extraordinary beaches you’ve ever seen. The island is uninhabited, so privacy and quiet are guaranteed. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Off Punta Norte on the northwest coast, private Isla de Pasión has one of Cozumel's loveliest beaches. Most people arrive on organized excursions (from MX$1,300), but you can also get to the Isla dock independently (it’s at the end of the bumpy dirt road to Punta Norte) and come over for MX$150 per person. If coming as part of an organized excursion, your visit includes the short round-trip boat ride, a buffet lunch, soft drinks, some alcoholic drinks, and use of the extensive facilities. You can easily spend a whole day here strolling the strand, floating in the shallow water, swinging in a hammock, playing volleyball, indulging in a massage (for an extra fee), or even getting married in the island's chapel. This is a favorite stop for hordes of cruise-shippers, but the beach stretches for 4 km (2½ miles), so you can still escape the crowds. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the bay, La Lancha requires some effort to get to, which means fewer crowds. To reach it, you'll need to walk for about 10 minutes along an overgrown trail that gets very muddy during the summer months. It's a great surfing beach for beginners when the waves are small, and fantastic for advanced surfers when they're big. The sand is ideal for families with small kids—just keep an eye on them if there's some surf. Amenities: water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming

Located at Playa Xpu-Ha, this beach club is open year-round from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Guests of nearby villas are often lured here by the plethora of amenities—including showers, lockers, hammocks, umbrellas, chaise lounges, and a rental shop that has snorkeling gear, WaveRunners, boogie boards, and kayaks. In full beach club tradition, there's a restaurant and a bar with swings instead of stools. You can burn off your lunch with a game of volleyball, or opt for hair braids and henna tattoos. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

Located at the harbor entrance of the Puerto Los Cabos Marina, La Playita (meaning “The Little Beach”) is one of the most popular beaches among local families due to its shallow waters and an almost complete lack of waves. Kids can run, swim, and splash around, while parents (if they so choose) will enjoy the tranquillity of the beach, the small palapas available for rent, and the convenience of having shops and small food stalls in the area. Some locals (and a few expats) also come here to fish from the shore. Amenities: toilets; free parking; food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking; sunrise.

Rustic beach bungalows, tattooed hipsters, and Aussie surfers toting custom surfboards create a laid-back vibe at La Punta, a hip, golden stretch of sandy beach at the southeastern end of Playa Zicatela. If you plan to walk there midday, take water and wear a hat as the beach is wide and there’s no shade. Once you arrive, a string of palm-fringed beach palapa restaurants offer loungers free with a drink or food purchase. La Punta's surf break is more forgiving than Zicatela’s Mexican Pipeline, so it’s a good spot for beginners to go boogie boarding or learn to surf. But strong undertows and unpredictable wave patterns mean you should still exercise caution when swimming. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; water sports. Best for: walking; surfing; sunset.

Todos Santos is an oasis, meaning fresh water naturally runs through the desert into the ocean. Greenery blooms alongside cracking stretches of hardened sand, with palm trees and cacti living as neighbors. Within the heart of the oasis sits Playa Las Palmas, one of the only swimmable beaches in Todos Santos. You need to walk through a corridor of lush plant life (and potentially an ankle-deep stream) to reach the ocean, which feels so surprisingly out of place, you'd think it was planted by a gardener. It's a quiet, beautiful place to spend some time, although beware of horse droppings and sand fleas. There are no amenities, so bring your own umbrellas and snacks. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming.

This stretch of beach north of the ferry dock, from Constituyentes to Calle 38, is known to locals as Mamita's, although it also encompasses the Coralina beach club and the Hilton and Mahekal hotels. Independent of the main beach's drop-off (and the sandbags that are sometimes visible there), it's a lovely straight stretch of flat sand and clear water, which you'll share with lots of other visitors. The trade-off is that WaveRunners, which are largely absent from the main beach, are very present here. It's a good spot for fun in the sun, not seclusion. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming.

Accessible by way of Calle 28, this is Playa's hottest spot to catch some rays. You can rent an umbrella and two chairs (the smallest beachfront package) for MX$600; MX$3,500 will get you a plush, shady couch in the sand (and a refund of up to MX$3,000 if you purchase that much in drinks). Expect to pay around MX$165 for a cocktail and MX$60 for a beer. Guests can relax in the VIP area while a DJ spins trance and techno beside the freshwater pool. Facilities include three restaurants, four bars, two swimming pools, and a second-floor champagne bar. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers.

Situated on Dzul-Ha reef, the island's most upscale beach club has a small sandy beach, sunset views, and great food. Entry is free; once inside, you can pay for individual activities or choose an all-inclusive package that might cover anything from meals and massages to guided snorkel tours. (If you snorkel the fish-filled reef on your own, watch out for sea urchins on the rocks.) A water-sports center rents snorkel gear, kayaks, and small sailboats. Mingle with locals and sip frothy cocktails during the two-for-one sunset happy hour. There's live music and dancing on weekend nights. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

There's always something going on at Mr. Sancho's. Scores of vacationers come here to swim, snorkel, drink, parasail, and ride around on Jet Skis. The restaurant, which offers a number of meal options, holds a lively, informative tequila seminar at lunchtime. Grab a swing seat under the palapa and sip a mango margarita, or opt for a massage. Lockers are available and souvenirs are for sale. This is one of the few bars on the west side that is free to enter and also offers an all-inclusive package. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming.

This colorful beach club, exclusively for overnight guests and cruise-ship passengers who purchase a VIP beach club package, is the only one on the Mahahual strip with a pool. Bungalows start at $115 a night, and VIP Beach Breaks for cruise passengers are $135 per adult. Both will get you access to the club's pool, restaurant, beach chairs, umbrellas, showers, and changing facilities.

VIP guests can also expect all-you-can-drink cocktails, all-you-can-eat food, and transportation from the port. Margaritas can be delivered to you beachside, or you can escape the heat by grabbing a bite in the enclosed patio. Free Wi-Fi is also included. There's decent snorkeling right out front, and equipment is available next door at Gypsea Divers. Even if you don't get in the water, the four shades of turquoise are breathtaking. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; swimming.

There are more than nine palms here, but who’s counting? People who brave the dirt road to this off-the-beaten-track beach are here to surf the rippable right-hand point break. It's about an hour drive northeast from San José del Cabo, along with two other great surf spots, Shipwrecks and Punta Perfecta, which are clustered around La Fortuna and Boca de la Vinorama. The best time to surf is during the summer months, when southwesterly swells provide optimal conditions. But for those seeking only sun, sand, and breathtakingly beautiful views, Nine Palms is a year-round pleasure. Amenities: none. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

This beachfront restaurant on the boardwalk doubles as a beach club, offering a bar, lunch, beach chairs, umbrellas, and kayaks. There's no fee for using the beach chairs and equipment, but you'll need to consume at least $50 worth of food and drink per person. There are restrooms, showers, and an on-site massage therapist you can book for an extra fee.

The restaurant cooks up ceviche, tacos, sandwiches, and nachos, but most people opt for the fresh fish served with tortillas and homemade tartar sauce. Between tanning sessions, you can head to the outer reef on a private catamaran for a snorkeling tour. Cruise passengers flock to this simple beachfront hot spot, so reserve ahead if you want to be part of the action. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling.

Beachcombers, campers, and snorkeling snowbirds love Paamul (pronounced pah-mool), a crescent-shaped lagoon 21 km (13 miles) south of Playa del Carmen with clear, placid waters sheltered by a coral reef. Shells, sand dollars, and even glass beads—some from the sunken, 18th-century Spanish galleon Mantanceros, which lies off nearby Akumal—wash up onto the sandy parts of the beach. (There's a sandy path into deeper water in front of the restaurant—on the rocks, watch out for sea urchins.) Sea turtles hatch here June to November. If you'd like to stay on this piece of paradise, Hotel and Cabanas Paamul is a laid-back option.Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Home to one of the largest heated pools on the island, this club charges $3 for lounge chairs; a Fun Pass ($60) gives you all-day use of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkel gear, plus numerous large floats in the water. Parasailing equipment and Jet Skis are available for rent. Food at the club's three restaurant-bars is expensive, and there's a minimum per-person consumption cost ($6) that's easily reached. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

Playa Agua Blanca is about 30 minutes east of Puerto Escondido, at Km 172 of the road towards Mazunte. You'll see a sign for Agua Blanca pointing down a winding road. At the end of this road is a pristine beach with soft white sand, big waves, and lots of rocks with tidal pools perfect for children or cautious swimmers to take a dip in. Although this beach is becoming better known outside the local community and the restaurants are becoming more substantial, it's still a quiet spot to relax beneath a palapa and eat oysters picked fresh from the sea. Or enjoy a full lunch at any of the shady comedores that dot the beach. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

This club sits just north of the hotel of the same name. The beach is actually pockets of soft sand between limestone shelves; there's also a pool at the hotel that is open to club guests. The restaurant beneath a large palapa serves delicious ceviche and bountiful club sandwiches with a side of fries, and there's free Wi-Fi to boot. Live music on Sunday afternoon draws a crowd of fun-loving people. There's good snorkeling along the reef wall.Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunsets; swimming.

High red cliffs serve as the backdrop for this long, secluded beach west of town. The beach is situated at the bottom of a steep hill ringed by upscale housing and hotel developments and is best reached by taxi. Between July and November, Playa Bacocho is an important turtle-nesting beach, so if you're lucky you may witness the hatching of baby olive ridley sea turtles or a female coming ashore to lay her eggs. In the winter season you can often see dolphins and migrating whales close to shore. Cocos and Villasol beach clubs have restaurant and bar service, swimming pools, showers, and shade; access is MX$60 unless you're a guest of Posada Real or Villasol hotels.

Avoid swimming here. Although the waves aren't fierce, the rip currents are strong, and there are no lifeguards.

none.

solitude; sunset; walking.

A rocky point shelters a clear, warm bay at Playa Balandra, 21 km (13 miles) north of La Paz. Several small coves and pristine beaches appear and disappear with the tides, but the water is calm and shallow enough that you can wade between them. This is Mexico's most famous beach, so the most popular way to visit is with a boat tour, whose guide typically provides beach chairs, snorkeling gear, and lunch. If you go independently, there are some restrictions, as Balandra was named an ecological conservation site by UNESCO. There is an entrance fee of about $3 per person, and you can stay for up to a maximum of four hours during either a morning (8--noon) or afternoon (1--5) time slot. A maximum of 450 people are allowed to enter during each time slot, so if you're traveling during peak season (or even on a weekend), you may want to arrive and line up early to guarantee admission. You will be made to leave once your time slot closes, regardless of when you arrived. The most iconic site at Balandra is "El Hongo," a rock formation that looks like a mushroom. It's a photo op, for sure, but climbing on it is forbidden. There's also a 30-minute hike from the parking lot up to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. When walking in the shallow waters, you're advised to shuffle your feet, kicking up sand to disturb any potentially sleeping sting rays. Sand flies can be a nuisance on the beach, particularly between July and October. Amenities: parking (fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Also known as Whale Beach, this Blue Flag Beach is a raw stretch of sand and crystal water at Km 14.5 between the Hard Rock Hotel and Secrets The Vine. Jet Skiers often zoom through the water, and the strong wind makes the surf rough. The beach is open to the public; parking and beach access are at Calle Ballenas. Food and drinks are available at any of the resorts along this stretch, including the Hard Rock, Secrets The Vine, and Sandos Cancún—but keep in mind these all-inclusives cater only to hotel guests. Amenities: parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: sunrise; walking; windsurfing.

This beach of fine gray-blond sand is wide and flat, and it stretches for several kilometers. Gentle waves make it suitable for swimming, boogie boarding, and snorkeling, but beware the undertow. It's a great place for jogging or walking on the beach. The place goes completely bananas every year during one weekend in August when the International Beach Festival Boca de Iguanas takes place. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; surfing; swimming.

This V-shape, rocky bay lies at the mouth of the Río Horcones, about 5 km (3 miles) south of Mismaloya. Water taxis leave from Boca to the southern beaches. As far as most visitors are concerned, this is mainly the staging area for water taxis with nowhere else to hang out. However, this dramatic-looking bay lined with palm trees does have rustic appeal. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This wide, lengthy, and accessible stretch of beach is one of the longest along the Cabo Corridor, but is rapidly developing with new resorts. Reef breaks for surfers can be good, but the beach is also known for its riptides, making it unswimmable. It's a great beach for long, quiet runs or walks, and it's not uncommon to find locals with horses to rent for a beachside ride. Whales can easily be spotted from the beach from January through March. The small, man-made "Tequila Cove" between Hilton and Paradisus has calm waters, excellent for swimming. Here you'll find a tiny shack renting bodyboards and other water-sports equipment. Amenities: toilets; water sports; free parking. Best for: surfers; walking.

For a truly romantic spot you might want to visit Playa Caballo, a spectacular secluded beach of turquoise blue waters, calm waves, lush vegetation—and nothing else. Get a water taxi at Boca de Tomatlán or, if you are up for the adventure, start walking from Boca through a small pathway across the jungle all the way to this "Horse Beach." You'll be there in hour and a half. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Situated 5 km (3 miles) north of La Paz, half of Caimancito "belongs" to the locals (though anyone is welcome), with sun-shading palapas and some government signage. It's a good beach for families with young children, as the calm, shallow waters feel more like a large natural pool than ocean. The second half houses El Caimancito Restaurant & Beach Club, which is owned by the boutique hotel, Orchid House Baja. There are very cute day beds and wooden swings, plus a DJ and fan to keep cool in the heat. A $500 MXN ($25) consumption minimum is required for nonguests of the hotel. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: partiers; swimming.

On the southern peninsula in Old Acapulco, this beach and smaller Playa Caletilla (Little Caleta) to the south once rivaled La Quebrada as the main tourist areas, and were quite popular with the early Hollywood crowd Today their snug little bays and calm waters make them a favorite with Mexican families, and the newly renovated Boca Chica, one of Acapulco’s original hotels, keeps the glamour alive. Caletilla also has many small family-run restaurants serving good, cheap food. On both beaches vendors sell everything from seashells to peeled mangos; boats depart from both to Isla de Roqueta. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise.

This beach is just north of Playa las Gaviotas on the map but a couple of notches lower on the energy scale. Although hotels and sports concessions back both stretches, there's more room to spread out on this beach. It's also well protected from heavy surf by offshore islands. Most of the hotels have lounge chairs and umbrellas that nonguests can often use if they order drinks.