Cancun > Attractions

Cancun Beaches

The Cancun hotel-zone accommodations offer stunning beaches and a variety of facilities; these include sun shelters, beach waiters, volleyball courts, aerobics classes, bars, restaurants, showers, restrooms, towels, and lifeguards. The Mexico hotels and resorts are oriented along the north coast and the eastern coast forming the shape of a "7". A walk along the white sandy beach in any direction will take you along some of the most stunning landscapes to be found anywhere in the world. Indulge your senses by taking a leisurely afternoon walk or romantic stroll at night. Cancun is renowned for its exceptional sand. The soft sand is a pleasure to walk on because it does not get as hot as other sands during the daytime. The ocean water temperature is warm even during the coolest times of the year. Don't forget your sunscreen; the sun shines very brightly in this tropical destination.

Many of Cancun's hotels have lifeguards. Resorts offer lifeguards who double as dive instructors, kayak guides, and overall water enthusiasts. You can be assured that beaches in Cancun and around Playa del Carmen are safe. The local police patrol the beaches at night.

NORTHERN SIDE BEACHES - Hotel Zone to Punta Cancun
These are excellent beaches for water sports and swimming. The waters are calm, the beaches are clean, and the hotels impress tourists with their luxurious interiors and attentive service. The docks from which the cruises, shuttles, and water taxis depart for Isla Mujeres are located on the north beach side.

Playa Las Perlas
Location: 1.5 miles at the beginning of the Hotel Zone.
This beach is a good place for swimming, relaxing, and various water sports. You can also get the shuttle to Isla Mujeres here. There are restaurants and bars located along the coast.

Playa Linda
Location: 2.5 miles in the Hotel Zone. Offering a variety of activities, visitors can enjoy dive tours or catch the submarine and shuttle to Isla Mujeres.

Playa Langosta
Location: 3 miles in the Hotel Zone.
Swimming spots, water sports, restaurants, and bars are all located along this clean beach. There is a dock with shuttles to Isla Mujeres and dive/snorkel tours.

Playa Tortugas
Location: 3.7 miles in the Hotel Zone.
Playa Tortugas offers visitors over 5 miles of quiet pristine beach. Take pleasure in walking or swimming on an uncrowded beach.

Playa Caracol
Location: 3.7 miles in the Hotel Zone near Punta Cancun.
This is a great beach for children because of the shallow flat sandy seabed. Be sure to get there early because the beach can get crowded. 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 are located on the ocean side. The lagoon side, while not a swimming spot is great for kayaking and jet-skiing. Swimming and tanning takes place on the ocean side. General beach conditions here are the same as northern beaches. The powdery sand is kept clean of ocean debris. Unlike the northern tip which is somewhat sheltered by Isla Mujeres, this area is not sheltered and therefore has stronger currents. Rent a surfboard or body board and enjoy these large waves.

Gaviota Azul
Location: 5.6 miles in the Hotel Zone near Punta Cancun.
This beach is a great place to relax for the day or enjoy water sports.

Chac Mool Location: 6.2 miles in the Hotel Zone near Punta Cancun.
Enjoy a cocktail and beautiful Caribbean sea views.

Playa Marlín Location: 8 miles in the Hotel Zone in between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc.
This beach is good for relaxing, swimming, and water sports.

Playa Ballenas Location: 8.7 miles in the Hotel Zone in between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc.
A very popular beach in Cancun that is good for relaxing, swimming, and water sports. There are bars and restaurants.

San Miguelito Location: 10 miles in the Hotel Zone.
There are some Mayan ruins located here and this is a great place to relax and swim.

Playa Delfines Location: 11 miles in the Hotel Zone near Punta Nizuc.
The beach is good for relaxing and swimming.

Punta Nizuc Location: 13 miles in the Hotel Zone.
Many of the more exclusive hotels and resort spas are located here.
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 accessible only by walking through the property of the Camino Real Hotel (the beach is federal property). There are no vendors, strollers, music, or volleyball. The small beach is manicured daily.

Swimming with dolphins in Cancun is an unforgettable experience. Cancun is one of the few places in the world where you can get to know these beautiful and intelligent creatures intimately. Swimming with dolphins in this beautiful setting is an experience not to be missed! It's possible to arrange dolphin tours to swim with dolphins at Xcaret, Xel Ha, Atlandida, and Isla Mujeres.

Scuba dive in Cancun's crystal clear turquoise waters to enjoy the Caribbean at its best. The reef stretches from Cabo Catoche in Mexico to the Bay Islands in Honduras; it runs parallel to the shore at a distance fluctuating between 300 feet and 120 miles. Cancun offers a variety of sites for snorkeling. Perhaps the best one is at Punta Nizuc, just past Club Med. The Nizuc Reef can also be snorkeled. Aqua World has made a floating island there. Many of the snorkeling tours take visitors to Isla Mujeres. Tavos Reef, Manchones Reef, and Manchones Xico are excellent sites that must be reached by boat. The sites of El Garrafon and Lighthouse offer wonderful snorkeling directly from shore. The best beach snorkeling is near Westin Regina, located in the southern tip of the hotel zone. Isla Contoy is also a snorkeling destination. Las Calderas, Ixlache Reef, and Barge Wreck are some of the most popular snorkeling sites here as well.

Hilton Park Golf Club - This 18-hole (par 72) championship course is open 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Playacar Golf Club Palace Resorts - Designed by Robert Von Hagge and open 365 days a year, 6:30 am till dark, the par is 72

Pok Ta Pok Club de Golf - Located in Cancun's Hotel Zone and designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., this 18 hole, par 73 golf course is 6,721 yards.

Cancun Oasis Golf Club - A nine hole par 27 course with a maximum length of 888 yards.

Cancun and the surrounding area can be described as a sport fishing paradise. At the end of World War II some U.S. war veterans started to practice sport fishing in Cancun. The activity became very popular in the southern states because Cancun was the favorite retreat for the war pensioners. Recently, fishing in Riviera Maya has reached its highest peak. Anglers from all parts of the world come year after year to practice this entertaining sport. Charter boat excursions can easily be arranged by hotels.

Xcaret, in Playa del Carmen, is a spectacular eco-archaeological park. Travelers can see underground rivers, coral reef aquarium, bat caves, manatee lagoons, and archaeological sites. Xcaret offers a sunset show called "Xcaret Mexico Espectacular" which is full of mysticism, traditions, legends and history. Nestled in the rainforest, Xcaret is an ecotourism hot spot that is worth a day trip from your Cancun hotel room.

Xel-Ha is an affordable eco-park located in the Riviera Maya. "Xel-Ha" translates to "where the water is born" in the Mayan language.

Garrafon, in Isla Mujeres is located on the edge of a small bay with a natural reef of more than 300 meters. Here you can snorkel, dive, visit the Mayan temple of Ixchel, or walk through the sculptural gardens at the South point. This Cancun adventure should appeal to those on a honeymoon, family vacation, or spring break trip.

Many ancient ruins and ceremonial grounds have been discovered in and around Cancun, Mexico. Mayan archaeological sites date back to ancient times. An adventurous exploration into the region's mysterious Mayan past would not be complete without a visit to its ruins of temples, pyramids, and sacred sites. While the Playa Del Carmen area is known for its turquoise blue waters and white silk sand, it is also a wonderful place to explore Mayan archaeology.

The greatest archaeological sites in Mexico are Chichen Itza and Tulum. Nevertheless, Cancun offers other interesting sites including El Rey and El Meco. There were Mayan settlements in Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and along the trade route between Tulum, Cozumel, and Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza Mexico is a vacation destination that you should include while enjoying your beach vacation.

Tulum: This ancient city is perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. Tulum, Mexico reached the height of its prosperity during the Post Classic period (900-1521 AD). This fascinating place is accessible by arranging a guided trip through one of the many Cancun tour companies or by driving a rental car (It is located 131 kilometers or 81 miles from Cancun on Highway 307). Either way, Tulum is a Mexican archaelogical destination not be missed!

Chichen Itza: Deep within the jungles of Mexico lies Chichen Itza, a UN World Heritage site. (Located 200 kilometers or 124 miles from Cancun on Highway 180). It is possible to see well restored ruins on a day-trip from Mexico. A large Mayan community thrived here between 700 and 900AD. Chichen Itza contains magnificent well preserved stone buildings which were formerly used as palaces, temples, markets, stages, baths, and ball courts.

El Rey: El Rey is located right in Cancun's hotel district. Dating from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, this site is quiet and peaceful. El Rey is an impressive example of Cancun archaeology because it has two main plazas and two main streets while almost all of the other Mayan sites only have one. The Mexican pyramid here is topped by a platform, and inside its vault there are several paintings on stucco. It is thought to have been a royal burial ground originally named "Kin Ich Ahau Bonil", Mayan for "king of the solar countenance". The site was also linked to astronomical practices in the ancient Mayan culture.

Isla Mujeres: Isla Mujeres is located only 5 miles from the bay in Cancun's hotel district, it used to be religious center dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of Fertility. You can still visit the temple on the south tip of the island. The temple served another purpose; it was also used as a lighthouse for the Mayan ships traveling along the coast. Isla Mujeres was part of a huge maritime road including Cozumel, Tulum.

El Meco: El Meco ruins are located on the North side of Cancun, on the way to Punta Sam. El Meco played an important role in communication with Isla Mujeres and belongs to the Post-Classic period. It is acknowledged as a departure point for the Mayans sailing to the island and is an important reference for coastal navigation, including navigation through the lagoons. The site has 14 structures with a main temple in good condition. There are no organized tours. Rent a car or hire a taxi to reach El Meco, Mexico.

Cancun is enticing to travelers on a budget. A good surprise for those who can not spend vacation without shopping is that Cancun is a duty-free zone city, with the lowest prices in Mexico for items such as perfume, spirits, and jewelry. Cancun has many malls, market places, shopping centers, and stores. With all of the great items, finding the perfect souvenir for friends and loved ones will be a difficult choice. Shoppers will find high-quality woodcrafts, jewelry, Mexican handcrafts, and pottery. Here is a list of the places recommended for shopping:

Plaza Kukulkan
This shopping center has more than 250 shops and boutiques in a close and safe environment. The Cancun shopping destination also offers 6 specialty restaurants, bars, cafes, as well as a Food Court. This Mexico shopping center showcases designer boutiques in spacious air conditioned areas with covered parking. Elevator service is available as well.

La Isla
La Isla Shopping Village is on the Nichupte Lagoon under a large canopy. It is a shopping center with more than 150 national and international stores. The Cancun shopping and entertainment center is the perfect spot to buy souvenirs.

Plaza Caracol
Located in the heart of the Hotel Zone, Plaza Caracol offers the visitor the finest in international and Mexican brands in an atmosphere designed to guarantee the best shopping experience. Plaza Caracol is the only mall offering the service of the U.S. and Canadian consular offices. Plaza Flamingo is another great shopping area.

Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is just 7 miles north of Cancun. Less than a mile wide and 5 miles long, this is a tropical paradise with palm trees and crystal clear waters. Today Isla Mujeres is a favorite destination for people seeking relaxation. Isla Mujeres, Mexico has more to discover if you decide to spend more than a day. Islanders are fishermen that have lived on the island for generations. It is surrounded by beautiful reefs where you can scuba dive or snorkel; there is also a small archaeological site dedicated to Ixchel, the fertility goddess. A pleasant surprise to visitors is the beautiful sunsets they are likely to encounter; the sun appears like a fireball falling into the sea. Your Isla Mujeres vacation will be something to remember for the rest of your life.