Beaches · Cancún · Mexico
The best beaches in and near Cancún
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter Maas 16:07, 3 December 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Playa Delfines (Km 18 of the Hotel Zone). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 6
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 29°C (84°F)
The beaches
Km 18 of the Hotel Zone · Views and photos
1.Playa Delfines
A long public beach with a lookout point and the CANCÚN letters, turquoise water and often strong surf.
Km 5–7 of the Hotel Zone · Families with young children
2.Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas
Calm, shallow bay beaches with snack bars and ferries to Isla Mujeres.
Km 9–10 of the Hotel Zone · A swim between bars and restaurants
3.Playa Chac Mool and Playa Gaviota Azul
Public beaches next to the Punta Cancún party district, with open-Caribbean waves.
Km 13 of the Hotel Zone · A classic Caribbean beach day
4.Playa Marlin
A wide public beach near Kukulcán Plaza, with clear water and fewer people than the central beaches.
About 20 minutes by ferry · Calm swimming and sunsets
5.Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
Shallow, calm, turquoise water on the island's northern tip, lined with beach bars.
About 30 km north of downtown · Kitesurfing and solitude
6.Isla Blanca
An undeveloped sandy peninsula north of Costa Mujeres with almost no buildings.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C (79°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| March | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| April | 27°C (81°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| June | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| July | 29°C (84°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| August | 29°C (84°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| October | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| November | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| December | 26°C (79°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and beach
Northern Hotel Zone
From about km 3 to km 9 the Hotel Zone faces north onto the Bahía de Mujeres, where beaches such as Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas have calm, shallow water with little surf, ideal for children. Ferries to Isla Mujeres leave from here, and hotels tend to be smaller and better value than on the open Caribbean side.
- Good
- Calm water for children; Closer to downtown; Ferries to Isla Mujeres nearby
- Watch out
- Narrower beaches; Less of the famous deep-turquoise open sea
- Nearby
- Playa Langosta, Playa Tortugas, Punta Cancún, Isla Mujeres ferries
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — R-1 buses run the length of Boulevard Kukulcán through the Hotel Zone and into downtown around the clock, stopping on request at beaches and hotels.
- Ferry — Passenger ferries to Isla Mujeres run frequently from Puerto Juárez, north of downtown, and less often from piers in the Hotel Zone; a car ferry leaves from Punta Sam.
- Car — A hire car is the most flexible way to visit cenotes, Puerto Morelos, Valladolid and Chichén Itzá; the main highways are good.
- Train — The Tren Maya, opened in stages from late 2023, has a station near Cancún airport with services towards Valladolid, Mérida and the Riviera Maya; timetables are limited, so check before planning.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in July and November–May. The busiest of those is February, so book early.
Beach safety
The Hotel Zone and main tourist areas are heavily patrolled, but petty theft happens on beaches and drink spiking has been reported in party areas. Agree taxi fares before getting in and use official airport transport. On east-facing beaches, respect the warning flags: currents can be strong. Hurricane season runs from June to November. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Cancún have beaches?
Yes: Playa Delfines, Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas, Playa Chac Mool and Playa Gaviota Azul, Playa Marlin, Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres and Isla Blanca.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Cancún?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Cancún?
Playa Delfines: A long public beach with a lookout point and the CANCÚN letters, turquoise water and often strong surf.