Mexico is famous for many things. It’s ancient ruins, colonial architecture, and delicious food immediately spring to mind.
But perhaps the most iconic Mexican attraction is the nation’s beautiful beaches.
Mexico’s beaches offer an incredible mix of white sand, idyllic Caribbean waters, and fierce Pacific waves.
You can choose from remote beaches with nothing but seascape for miles or fully equipped beaches with bars, beach beds, and everything else you need for a great day out.
So which are the best of the best?
TripAdvisor has unveiled their Travelers Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches in Mexico, and these are the top five:
5. Playa el Chileno, Cabo San Lucas
In fifth place is Playa el Chileno, located in Cabo San Lucas.
This is considered one of the most swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas, which means it attracts both families and watersports enthusiasts.
There’s a dive shop located on the beach, so if you want to try your hand at diving or snorkeling then you’ll have everything you need on hand.
You’ll find a lovely mix of locals and tourists here, creating a relaxed and low-key vibe.
This beach is immaculately cleaned, and the facilities are well cared for, too. It’s a great choice for a water-focused day out.
Getting to the beach is easy, too. If you hire a car or take a taxi, the beach is a straightforward 15-minute drive from downtown Cabo San Lucas. Via public transport, you can take the Supercabos bus to the beach entrance.
4. Playa El Cielo, Cozumel
Cozumel is famous for its beautiful beaches but the one that really stands out from the crowd is Playa El Cielo.
Like all of the beaches on this list Playa El Cielo is a spectacular, visually stunning beach.
But what really makes this beach stand out from the crowd is what lies beneath.
This is an incredible beach for snorkeling and home to an abundance of sea life. Stingrays and starfish, in particular, call this area home, but you can also find turtles here.
It’s worth noting that the only way to get to El Cielo beach is by boat. You can take a combined boat ride and snorkeling tour of the beach with El Cielo snorkel tours.
These trips cost $69 per adult.
3. Balandra Beach, La Paz
Balandra Beach is a wonderfully unique horseshoe shaped beach located just outside of La Paz on the Baja California Sur peninsula.
You’ll find crystal clear, shallow water here, so much so that you can walk from one side of the bay to the other without needing to swim.
Its shallow waters make it a great place for swimming and snorkeling, and the rocky landscape surrounding the bay provides an incredible vantage point from which to appreciate the beauty of the undulating sand just beneath the water.
In fact, Balandra Beach is so special and unique that, due to its natural beauty and biodiversity, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte is the main beach on Isla Mujeres, which is a small tropical island paradise just off the coast of Cancun.
This is a wide expanse of breathtakingly beautiful beach, considered one of Mexico’s most visually stunning.
The sand here has an unusual tinge of pink as it is actually formed by crushed coral. This pink tone is even more visible at the shoreline when the sand is wet.
One of the things that makes Playa Norte so appealing is that the water is so shallow: even if you keep wading out, it will only reach your waist.
This makes it a great spot for intergenerational vacations, as it’s great for swimming and for children to play.
Getting to Playa Norte is a breeze too. Take a ferry ride to Isla Mujeres from Cancun with Ultramar, which costs $14.50 per adult.
1. Playa Delfines, Cancun
According to TripAdvisor, Playa Delfines is officially the best beach in Mexico. It isn’t the most well-known beach in Cancun, but it’s well worth making the time to visit.
When you imagine a picture-perfect beach, Playa Delfines is probably what you’re imagining. This is a free public beach that offers amazing panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea.
In fact, it’s a rare free beach in the Hotel Zone amongst a sea of private hotel beaches.
The sand here is a vibrant, bright white, and the water is a perfect turquoise blue. As an added bonus, this is where you’ll find the giant iconic ‘Cancun’ sign, an essential photo spot.
Getting here is easy too. You can either jump in a taxi or if you’re on a tighter budget then the R-1, R-2, or R-27 city buses all go to the beach from downtown Cancun or the Hotel Zone.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
