Mexico’s 12 Best Beach Towns in Yucatan (Besides Cancun)
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Picture this… Soft powdery sand, sparkling blue waters and palm trees swaying in the breeze – paradise, right?
Well, the Yucatan Peninsula is exactly that, and we’ve been lucky enough to visit several times. It’s a lovely area of Mexico, with come-hither beaches and some of the country’s top beach towns.
Plus, there’s no shortage of things to do, from snorkeling and diving to exploring fascinating Mayan ruins.
Just so you know, the Yucatan Peninsula is home to three Mexican states – Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche – plus parts of Belize and Guatemala.
This guide covers Mexico’s best beach towns in the Yucatan Peninsula, from popular hotspots in the Riviera Maya (like Playa del Carmen and Tulum) to lesser-known gems. But don’t expect to see Cancun here – we’re focusing on smaller, more laid-back towns.
Ready for some beach bliss?
1) Tulum
Located on the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Quintana Roo, Tulum is about two hours south of Cancun. It’s blossomed into a seriously trendy, boho-chic beach destination along the Riviera Maya.
The Tulum ruins, perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean, are a highlight.
Once a thriving Mayan port city, the ancient ruins offer a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the Mayan civilization. And after wandering through them, you can make your way down to the beach below for a swim.
Of course, Tulum is renowned for having some of the Yucatan’s most famous beaches. With miles of white sand beaches and shimmering blue waters, it’s no wonder this once-sleepy town has become an international magnet for beach lovers.
While prices have gone up, the luxury options have too. Whether you want to stay in Tulum Town or right on the beach in the hotel zone, there’s no shortage of chic hotels – we’ve got a soft spot for those with private pool suites!
And then there are the cenotes – magical sinkholes filled with cool, fresh water – like Gran Cenote (ideal for swimming ) and Cenote Dos Ojos (great for snorkeling and scuba diving). Exploring the cenotes was an experience we’ll never forget!
The only downside with Tulum (besides those steep prices) is that you may encounter sargassum seaweed on the beach, making it unpleasant to swim in the sea.
We expected it, so we weren’t too fussed – and simply enjoyed more time by the pool instead.
2) Playa del Carmen
On the Yucatan’s Caribbean Coast, Playa del Carmen is about an hour’s drive south of Cancun.
Like Tulum, it’s also exploded in popularity in recent years. But it boasts 20 miles of beautiful beaches, so it also knows how to deliver!
Take its luxurious all-inclusive resorts, like:
- Grand Velas Riviera Maya (see our review)
- La Casa de la Playa (adults-only)
- Palafitos Overwater Bungalows (Mexico’s only overwater bungalows in the Caribbean)
There’s more too…
Wander down lively 5th Avenue, where buildings are decorated with colorful murals and boutiques are bursting with souvenirs.
Hungry? You’ll find plenty of options, including tasty Mexican fare and Michelin Guide-approved spots like HA, where the multi-course tasting menu is as delicious as it sounds.
And when the sun goes down, Playa’s nightlife scene lights up!
For adventure, don’t miss the nearby cenotes of Kantun Chi (where we waded through watery caves, dripping with stalactites) and Cenote Azul, perfect for a cool swim.
3) Akumal
Situated halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Akumal is a great place if you’re searching for a more unspoiled beach scene.
In Akumal, you get all the Riviera Maya’s iconic beauty – crystal-clear turquoise water, dreamy white sands and colorful tropical fish – but with fewer people. Plus, it’s a renowned spot for snorkeling with sea turtles!
North Akumal is also the place we first tasted fresh (real!) tamarind margaritas – at La Buena Vida. This too-good-to-be-true beach club is on Halfmoon Bay, about a 15-minute walk from Playa Akumal (the main beach).
We had a super fun day here, sipping zinger cocktails and noshing on fish tacos, dipping our toes in the pool, checking out the “crow’s nest” tables (reached by climbing a ladder) and dozing in hammocks.
If you want nightlife, Akumal’s not the place. Head in either direction to Playa del Carmen or Tulum. But it is the perfect spot for a slower-paced vacation and is also excellent for families.
4) Bacalar
Once you’ve enjoyed the tourist attractions on tap up north in Quintana Roo, head south to Bacalar for an even more chilled-out experience.
As one of Mexico’s magical towns (Pueblo Magicos), Bacalar truly stands out.
Located about six miles from the coast (near Chetumal and the Mexico/Belize border), its stunning lagoons in Lake Bacalar – reflecting brilliant shades of aqua and blue – are its claim to fame.
Boat tours of the lake take you to beautiful cenotes and hidden islands, and in a few places you can jump off straight into the calm waters.
Swinging in a hammock over the water is famously pleasurable too.
And don’t miss Los Rapidos (Bacalar Rapids), where you can float down a lazy river – or whoosh downstream, depending on the water levels.
Back in town, Bacalar is a quaint kind of place with colorful buildings and a few excellent local eateries.
Fun fact: The town of Bacalar was raided by pirates in the 17th century, thanks to a small canal that connects with the sea. This canal is now known as the Pirates’ Canal.
5) Isla Mujeres
You can’t have a list of the best Yucatan beach towns without thinking about some of the islands off the peninsula’s coast.
Take Isla Mujeres.
When you’re tuckered out by all of Cancun’s energy and want to experience a more relaxed side of Mexico, tiny Isla Mujeres makes the perfect day trip (or overnight escape).
First, to manage expectations, Isla Mujeres isn’t exactly an undiscovered island. As it’s just a 30-minute high-speed ferry ride away from Cancun, it’s quite touristy.
On the other hand, it has some of the very best beaches on the Yucatan Peninsula, with towering trees bearing Mexican fruit and colorful boats bobbing on the sea. So we’ve no doubt you’ll find it a breath of fresh air after being in chaotic Cancun.
Away from the beach, life on this small island centers around Avenida Miguel Hidalgo. This is where you’ll find shops to buy Mexican souvenirs and tour operators offering boat trips out to the coral reef.
There are also plenty of restaurants here. But be aware they’re the most expensive on the island. You’ll find more traditional food at cheaper prices a few streets away.
Bring cash.
After one fine lobster lunch on the island, we almost had to wash dishes because we thought we could pay with a credit card.
We managed to pay the bill with a mixture of Canadian money (which nobody wants!), US dollars and Mexican pesos.
6) Isla Holbox
Another fetchingly bohemian Yucatan island is Isla Holbox.
It’s known for its colorful street art, seductive beaches and charming small hotels (like the 5-star Nomade Holbox, where you can stay in a treehouse).
Located northwest of Cancun, this skinny island (26 miles long but only a mile wide) is reached by boat from Chiquila on the mainland.
If Isla Mujeres (#5 above) is too busy for you, Isla Holbox should do the trick. You ride a golf cart on the sandy roads, and all buildings are low-rise (they can’t be higher than 40 feet).
It’s one of the best places to go to do absolutely nothing. So nobody will blame you for doing just that on Isla Holbox. Grab a cold one, head to the nearest hammock and watch the sunset turn to fire.
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There is one thing that might tempt you out of your hammock though – it’s one of the world’s top places for swimming with whale sharks. The whale shark season on Isla Holbox is mid-May to mid-September.
Other activities (if you feel the need for doing something else) include taking a tour to see bioluminescent phytoplankton at night and exploring the island’s mangroves.
7) El Cuyo
El Cuyo is a real hidden gem.
The beach is a spit with a lagoon on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, similar to Celestun (#11 below). And like Celestun, if you venture into the lagoon, you have a good chance of spotting flamingos.
Back by the beach, El Cuyo is a vast stretch of white sand that’s popular with kite fliers and windsurfers, thanks to the often windy conditions here.
The small town itself has a few guesthouses – nothing uber fancy, but comfortable enough. La Casa Cielo is our top pick for where to stay in El Cuyo.
Restaurants like La Conchita serve up highly-rated shrimp, fried fish and other fresh seafood dishes.
8) Puerto Morelos
When exploring the Rivera Maya, most visitors jump straight from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, not stopping at Puerto Morelos. It’s positioned halfway between the two.
However, if you have the time, Puerto Morelos is one of the best beach towns near Cancun to laze about for a few days.
Unlike other towns on the Rivera Maya, Puerto Morelos still seems like a sleepy fishing village with a traditional town center. Prices generally are slightly lower and all attractions are less crowded.
Snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities are abundant, thanks to part of the Mesoamerican Reef lying just offshore. (The C-56 shipwreck of a 184-foot-long Mexican gun boat is a popular dive site.)
The waters around Puerto Morelos are also a haven for turtles, and there’s a local conservation project dedicated to protecting their eggs.
Visit at the right time, and you might just witness something magical – nighttime turtle hatching, as these tiny creatures make their first journey to the sea.
9) San Miguel de Cozumel
Hop aboard a ferry at Playa del Carmen, and within an hour, you’ll step onto the sun-drenched shores of Cozumel.
The island’s heart is San Miguel de Cozumel, a charming Mexican town bursting with colorful buildings and streets filled with taco joints. It’s a great spot to soak up the local vibe.
You’ll want to rent a jeep to get around – specifically, to drive the Cozumel Island Loop. This 40-mile scenic drive circles the island’s southern half, offering breathtaking views along the way.
Be sure to stop at Punta Sur Eco Park, located on the island’s undeveloped southern coast. Here, you can climb a lighthouse, wander down wooden paths to spot fish and crocodiles, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch at a rustic beach club.
A few beaches are close to town, but you’ll need to drive to reach our favorite spots, such as:
- Playa Palancar
- Punta Morena Beach Club
- Tortugas Beach Club
These sandy havens are ideal for relaxing in the sun or grabbing a drink with your toes in the sand.
Cozumel offers a slower pace compared to Cancun – there are way fewer bars, restaurants, fancy hotels and attractions.
But if you’re into snorkeling or scuba diving, it’s hard to beat. Cozumel’s coral reefs are part of the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second-largest barrier reef system, making it a paradise for underwater explorers.
We first visited Cozumel after earning our dive certifications, eager to put our new skills to the test. And its underwater world didn’t disappoint!
10) Mahahual
There was a time that Mahahual, close to the Belize border, would have popped up on your radar when searching for small Yucatan Peninsula beach towns.
But now, with a cruise ship dock, Mahahual sees its fair share of tourists. USD is more common than pesos, and lots of activities cater to visitors. (Consider timing your visit when there are fewer cruise ships in port.)
That said, Mahahual is still appealing. It’s a great blend of rural vibes and tourist amenities.
The town’s champagne-colored beaches, turquoise Caribbean sea and reefs accessed straight from shore reel in beach and watersports lovers.
Plus it has a variety of restaurants (try the seafood paella at Nohoch Kay, aka “The Big Fish”), along with plenty of places to stay.
And in the evening, after the day-trippers have left, the town is nothing short of magical.
11) Celestun
So you’ve been to several of the popular resort areas in the Riviera Maya. Now you’d like to visit some really non-touristy small beach towns in the Yucatan. We give you… Celestun in the state of Yucatan, about a 90-minute drive (60 miles) from the city of Merida.
Home to the UNESCO-listed Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, it’s located on a spit off the Yucatan Peninsula, sandwiched between a lagoon on one side and the sea on the other.
The lagoon supports an array of birdlife, including pretty pink flamingos. Up to 35,000 flamingos gather in the reserve during the mating season from November to February.
The best way to see them is to take a boat tour. You may also spot alligators lurking in the murky water. Don’t worry, though, the boats are safe!
Less than a mile from the lagoon sits the sweet beach town of Celestun. It caters mainly to Mexican tourists. So if you want to practice your Spanish, it’s just the ticket!
The beach isn’t quite as nice as those further south in the state of Quintana Roo.
But you can’t beat the seafood served in the thatched-roof beach restaurants. (Try La Palapa, which has tables on the sand.) And the atmosphere is very traditional.
12) Puerto Progreso
Playa Progreso is the stretch of beach that Merida locals and ex-pats escape to when the weather in the city gets too dang hot.
It’s part of the small coastal town of Puerto Progreso, about a half-hour drive from Merida.
It’s a cruise terminal, so most of its foot traffic is from passengers who disembark here to see Merida or some of the ruins in the area.
The resort town has a beautiful mile-long malecon. Maybe stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants here to tuck into some fresh seafood. Or pop in somewhere to sip a frozen margarita while taking in views of the ocean.
As for Progreso Beach, it’s perfect for sunbathing or paddling a SUP board. And it doesn’t get anywhere near as busy as those in Quintana Roo (except maybe when a cruise ship docks).
Now you know where to stay in Yucatan on the beach!
From Tulum’s stylish boho vibes to the off-the-beaten-path charm of El Cuyo and Celestun, the above towns embrace some of the finest Yucatan beaches. Each promises relaxed beach days and unforgettable experiences in Mexico.
Which one’s calling your name?
More of our Yucatan travel guides
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Hotels: Booking.com is perfect for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy!
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Cruises: CruiseDirect offers amazing deals on cruises (including Holland America, Viking Ocean Cruises, Seabourn and other lines we’ve reviewed).
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Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
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Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
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