Top 20 most beautiful beaches in Mexico2026 ranking

I find the beaches in Cancun much nicer than those in Playa del Carmen. But you have to admit that the water is much calmer and therefore better for swimming in Playa del Carmen. It is an ideal destination for families. With friends, the beach will mostly be a chance to recover from your night of drinking the day before. The problem is that street vendors will constantly bother you during your nap...

Akumal Beach was a huge disappointment for me. It is tiny and packed with tourists who came to see the turtles. The water is warm and crystal clear, but you have to pay extra to go snorkeling to see the turtles. They are all concentrated in one spot, right along with all the tourists. It is worth it for those who have never seen turtles before, but I do not think it is worth the trip from Tulum. There are plenty of other wonders in Mexico and the Yucatan to go see.

Lagoon accessible after payment (reasonable price) and pretty quiet, not yet overcrowded, where kids and adults alike can easily discover the underwater wildlife. It is a natural pool protected from the waves where it is easy to learn how to use a mask and snorkel and where you can see tons of fish.

White sand for long stretches, sun, warm water... But there are a lot of lounge chairs, beaches are more or less privatized by the hotels along the shore, and the water is sometimes infested with sargassum, those brown algae that take over the water and make you not want to swim at all, especially since the seaweed washed up on the sand releases an unpleasant smell as it decomposes.

Located in a spot protected from currents, this little lagoon, which requires an entrance fee, lets you snorkel peacefully in calm and crystal clear water. The surroundings are nice, with those little rocky outcrops and turquoise water. You will see quite a few fish, but not a huge variety. In short, not bad if you are in the area, but I would not make a long trip for this place when Xel Ha is bigger and offers more things to do and see (though it is more expensive too).

Fine sand, warm turquoise water, coconut trees... And almost no one! Here, there is no concrete along the beach, just a few small cottages made of wood and natural materials. Super relaxing! And in the ocean, a few small rocky reefs where pretty fish live, easy to spot with a mask and snorkel.