15 Best Beaches in Mexico in 2025

Just a short water taxi ride from the popular resort area of Cabo San Lucas sits one of the best slices of the beach (and arguably the most photogenic) in all of Mexico – Playa Del Amor.

Playa Del Amor, or Lovers Beach as it is also called, is a pristine sandy cove nestled among towers of rock formations. These rock formations are the most emblematic sight in this area, and Playa Del Amor is right in the heart of this truly spectacular marvel.

To best enjoy this beach and the amazing photo opportunities it provides, take one of the earliest boats out that you can. This way, you can avoid the crowds of people that tend to flock and lay on the beach later in the day.

In addition to providing stunning backdrops, the rock formations help make the water in the cove fairly protected and safer to swim than other Cabo beaches. They also provide great shade from the sun. This is a fantastic day trip for anyone visiting the area and definitely, the best beach experience you can hope for in the area.

Tulum might be lined by beautiful ocean, but reaching a public beach can be more challenging than you might think. Many resorts make it hard for the public to access certain portions of the beach, and other long stretches are slightly blocked by the dense Yucatan jungle. But there are some public beaches that are easy enough to access, and the best among them is Playa Paraiso.

Playa Paraiso has the stunning baby blue water and soft white sand Tulum is known for, and it has so much more. You can simply lay out with other beach bums or opt to rent a daybed or cabana at one of the many beach clubs along the water. These places range anywhere from about 100 pesos to 500 pesos.

This beach stretches all the way to the Tulum ruins. So if you feel like an epic beach walk, you can arrive at Playa Paraiso early, walk to the ruins, and then walk back. Best of all, if you get tired or hot, the ocean and ample restaurants are just a few steps away.

Puerto Escondido, on the shores of Mexico’s Oaxaca state, is a stunning and lively stretch of beach. It starts in the city of Puerto Escondido itself, which is filled with fishing boats, locals, and seafood restaurants on the beach. Further down, the beach becomes vast and stretches on for over a mile, providing a stunning and sparsely-populated beach until it ends at La Punta, Puerto Escondido’s hidden gem.

La Punta is anchored by a towering cliff, which provides a stunning backdrop and some more tranquil conditions in these Pacific waters. The beach is great for swimmers and surfers alike, and it is always filled with gorgeous young people sunning themselves, playing sports, and listening to music.

The town of La Punta is a quintessential beach shack town, almost out of a movie set. Surfers mingle with locals, and most bars and restaurants are built on sandy ground, with palm fronds for roofs. The sunsets here are almost a spiritual experience, and when the sun goes down, expect long evenings of live music, drum circles, and dancing. This is the perfect spot for those who are young or young at heart and in need of an authentic off-the-grid beach vacation.

While Mexico has its share of public beaches, it is the privately-owned beaches that often garner the most attention. While some of these beaches are overrun with tourists, there are some private communities in Mexico whose exclusivity is worth the price of entry. There is perhaps no better example of a private beach in Mexico that is worth the entrance fee than Punta Mita.

Punta Mita, located about 10 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, is an exquisitely manicured 1,500-acre private peninsula that serves as the home of some of Mexico’s most impressive hotels and private properties. Some of the hotels here include the world-famous Four Seasons and the St. Regis. Staying at one of the properties in Punta Mita is definitely a splurge, but you can also visit for the day instead of paying expensive resort rates.

The beaches here are incredible. It has a good surf break for beginner and intermediate surfers, with surf lessons available. There are great swimming and snorkeling beaches and several lovely beachfront restaurants. This spot is all about pampering yourself, so if you are looking for the perfect Mexican beach where you can also have a spa day and tranquility, consider Punta Mita.

Another amazing beach in Mexico that looks like it came out of a dream is Balandra Beach. This beach has some of the most protected and enchanting waters in all of Mexico, which makes it perfect for families with small children. So it is no surprise why this is also a highly sought-after beach.

In order to maintain its pristine and natural beauty, the number of visitors and cars is limited. With two entrance times (8 a.m. and 1 p.m.) there is always a line to get in here. But those who arrive early are treated to one of the most incredible and tranquil beach experiences you can imagine.

Snorkeling and kayaking are superb here. But if you forgot your mask, don’t worry, you can see through the water so easily here that you can walk along the sand bar and easily spot fish swimming by. This beach is a great way to experience the stunning beauty and life within the sea while in the company of the whole family.

There is no other beach in Mexico, or possibly on the entire planet, quite like Playa Zicatela in Zipolite on the remote western shores of Oaxaca. This long beach has many stunning hidden coves, a great surf break for expert bodyboarders, and ample beach shacks serving up local seafood and chilled coconuts. But it is the people that make this beach so fascinating.

This beach blends local culture with the health-conscious, off-the-grid transplants that also now call this region home. Playa Zicatela and Zipolite is a hippie-friendly, clothing-optional, and absolutely gorgeous stretch of beach that has even become a favorite within the LGBTQ+ community. Locals and tourists alike often bare all and walk this long stretch of beach – some resorts here are even clothing optional.

This area is liberating and refreshing, and great for open-minded visitors who are looking for something out of the ordinary, but are particularly keen on enjoying a beach vacation somewhere stunning and relatively remote. Best of all, because of its remoteness and slow-growing popularity, you can find some good deals on accommodation.

Riviera Maya has no shortage of water activities, but for a truly memorable day at the beach, consider heading to Akumal Beach. Akumal is a private beach along Riviera Maya, between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum, and it is known for its booming sea turtle population.

Akumal has a sandy beach and a sandy bottom, with a wide bay that is protected by a reef. This makes it an ideal spot for veteran and novice snorkelers to enjoy – including children. Keep in mind that as the day goes on, this bay gets busier, and the visibility tends to decrease. So if possible, aim to arrive in the morning.

After you have had your fill of swimming with sea turtles you can enjoy a meal at a beachfront restaurant or just lay out on the beach. If swimming with these gentle and endangered creatures has always been a dream of yours, Akumal is a fantastic place to almost guarantee to make this dream come true.

Quintana Roo has no shortage of stunning island destinations, but none has such lovely swimming and incredible beach access as Isla Holbox, which is located just outside Riviera Maya to the north of Cancun.

Isla Holbox is an ocean swimmer’s paradise. The water is clean, unbelievably blue, and reliably calm. There are several stretches of long sandy beaches with ample palm trees and umbrellas for shade. Snorkeling and other water activities are popular here as well.

The island is easy to walk around and has a generally laid-back and welcoming beach atmosphere, making it great for families, couples, and all beach lovers. This is even a great beach to witness bioluminescence at night, so the waters that amaze by day continue to amaze visitors in the dark of night.

Isla Espiritu Santo is a stunning red mountainous island located a short boat ride away from La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. This island has no inhabitants, only visitors who come to appreciate the stunning beauty of its red cliffs juxtaposed against white sand and crystal blue waters.

Isla Espiritu Santo is an absolutely marvelous sight to behold. It has several shallow sand bar areas great for swimming and exploring, but the real highlight here is the remoteness. There are few islands left in these incredible waters that are not filled with luxury resorts, and this island also happens to be one of the most beautiful you will ever step foot on.

A trip to Isla Espiritu Santo is an essential day trip for anyone visiting La Paz or the Cabo San Lucas area for an extended period of time. There are few places that give you such deep appreciation for this rich and significant body of water as this island does.

Huatulco is not talked about or visited nearly as much by international tourists as places like Cabo San Lucas or Riviera Maya, but it has some of the most incredible beaches in the entire country. Best of all, since this area remains under the radar for most American and European tourists, some of its beaches are nearly completely void of people. There is no better example of an awe-inspiring beach with nearly zero visitors than Cacaluta Beach.

Arriving at Cacaluta beach is like visiting a surreal island movie set, which is fitting as it was the location for a pivotal beach scene in the award-winning Mexican film “Y Tu Mama Tambien.”

The white sandy beach stretches on like a desert into deep clean blue waters. There is a remote uninhabited island off the coast that shields bigger waves, providing great swimming opportunities at this beach. In order to arrive at this beach you can bike or hike for about a mile from the main road, or you can take a private or small group boat charter.

For those visiting Baja California and looking for a stunning surfing beach, there is perhaps no better place than Playa Cerritos. This spot has a long horseshoe bay with a stunning cliff face and peninsula that sticks out, which provides a great surf break as well as protection from unwanted wind and choppy conditions.

The water is cold in the winter, but stunning to view, and the beach is great for sunbathing and setting up umbrellas for longer stays. There are vendors here selling blankets, snacks, and even massages. Nearby there are some delicious fish tacos and vegetarian-friendly restaurants a short walk from the beach.

This beach is also a short drive from Todo Santos, which is a charming Mexican village with upscale shops and restaurants. Combining a beach day at Playa Cerritos with a trip to Todo Santos is an ideal day trip for those with a car looking to explore authentic areas outside the touristy Cabo San Lucas.

Zihuatanejo is the most beautiful beach area in the entire state of Guerro. Some may know these idyllic white sandy beaches from the famous ending of “The Shawshank Redemption,” but they still remain elusive to many who visit Mexico. There are many great white sandy beaches in this area, but Playa Las Gatas is arguably the best.

Playa Las Gatas is a small but beautiful stretch of coastline that is accessible by a 20-minute walk along a footpath from nearby Playa La Ropa, or by taking an affordable (80 pesos) boat ride from the Zihuatanejo municipal pier. With the slightly challenging arrival methods, the crowds here are usually not too bad, with the exception of major holidays.

The beach itself has great white sand and is a snorkeler and paddler’s dream. The water visibility is great, with lots to see. The beach is a well-protected sandy cove, making it perfect for those who like casual swimming, kayaking, or SUP boarding. This beach is perfect for those looking for a remote and tranquil beach day while visiting Guerrero.

Located just 40 miles west of busy Puerto Vallarta there is an almost untouched 70-mile stretch of various beaches, with the most incredible and pristine beaches grouped on a cape called Cabo Corrientes.

Cabo Corrientes is situated at the Southernmost point of the stunning bay called Bahia de Banderas and has several beautiful and varied beaches. Many of these beaches have few to no people visiting them, partially due to the out-of-the-way location. But this is a worthy road trip for anyone visiting the Mexican states of Jalisco or Nayarit, as they offer an idyllic and tranquil beach experience that is a world away from the resort beaches in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta.

Some of the most notable beaches at Cabo Corrientes include Las Caletas, a gorgeous small cove surrounded by cliffs and lush jungle, and Las Animas, which is a long stretch of beautiful white sand beach with very few visitors.

Isla Mujeres might be just a brief ferry ride from the bustling resort city of Cancun, but its island vibe is a world away from that of city life. There is no better example of Isla Mujeres’s stunning beauty and tranquil aesthetic than its pristine and famous Playa Norte.

Playa Norte has the beautiful teal and turquoise waters that Riviera Maya is known for, and the powdery white sand to match. While there are some resorts in the area, this beach is not as much of a party scene as Cancun or Playa Del Carmen and allows visitors the chance to embrace the more natural side of Riviera Maya.

Many watersports and recreation activities are available, from boat tours to snorkeling, as well as unpretentious yet delicious food establishments. The area around the beach is also welcoming and walkable, making this a perfect day trip from Cancun and a perfect beach day while visiting Riviera Maya.

For less than $20 you can take a round-trip boat journey from lively Puerto Vallarta and transport yourself into a magical jungle environment, that also has one of the best beaches in all of Mexico – Playa Yelapa. Playa Yelapa is known for its backdrop of lush jungle mountains, complete with waterfalls, as well as its stunning beaches.

The water here is cool in the winter but still crystal clear, and the beach is great for swimming or just lounging. There are also ample vendors selling all the necessities you may need, like local snacks and cold beverages, in order to make your day at Playa Yelapa a perfect Mexican Beach day.

There are very few places in Mexico where you can experience a great beach and a fantastic jungle adventure all in one day. The fact that Playa Yelapa can be reached with such ease from one of Mexico’s most popular tourist hubs makes this beach an even more precious gem. There are not many day trips or beach days in the Jalisco region more rewarding than a visit to Yelapa.