If you’re not going to Hawaii this year, don’t worry! There are plenty of other beach destinations that offer you much-needed beauty and relaxation. Think of Mexico for your next vacation! With so many incredible coastal locations to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices for a vacation spot. This blog post will help you make the right decision by listing some of our favorite places with gorgeous beaches.
You’ll find everything here right next door in Mexico – beautiful blue water in tropical paradises like Tulum or Puerto Escondido; white sand beaches in places like Isla Mujeres; even small beach towns on the Pacific like Zijuatanjeo. Coastal spots all over Mexico have great watersports, delicious seafood restaurants as well as all the sand and sun you could want.
No matter what type of experience you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone! So pack your bags and check out our recommended Mexico beach vacation locations!
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Table of Contents
Tulum
Exotic location. Dramatic cliffside ruins. Amazing blue water. What’s not to love!
The closest airport to Tulum is the Cancun International Airport. From here you can rent a car, pick up a shared shuttle from the airport to Tulum, or reserve private transportation ahead of time. It’s about an hour and a half from the Cancun airport to Tulum. Grab our detailed guide about how to get the most out of a beautiful visit to the Tulum ruins linked here.
Isla Mujeres
Just far enough away from the city hustle, this quiet island small town is where drinks by the beach are top on the list of things to do. Golf carts and lazy days at the beachside bar await you here while the kids play in the surf. This is a perfect spot for a family trip.
The closest airport to Isla Mujeres is Cancun International Airport. From here you want to get to the Puerto Juarez dock. Again, you can get there by shared airport shuttle, private transportation. There is also an ADO airport bus that will take you to the dock.
Just a few minutes from the downtown Cancun area you’ll arrive at the dock. Boats leave every 30 minutes starting at 5:00 AM until 9:30 PM. After that, they run every hour until 11:30 PM. The ferry ride takes approximately 15 minutes.
Zihuatanejo
Gorgeous beachside cabanas in a small town show you exactly why Shawshank Redemption’s Andy Dufresne considered it the escape worth risking his life for.
The nearest airport to Zihuatanejo is Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport. Ixtapa is less than 10 miles from your destination. You can jump in a taxi or take a bus running on that route.
Puerto Escondido
Get away from the crowds of Huatulco and put your toes in these warm sands instead. Still host to a bounty of high-quality restaurants and friendly people, you will enjoy the best of coastal Mexico with your stay here.
You can fly into Oaxaca first, then catch your connecting flight to Puerto Escondido. You could also take one of the luxury buses available from Mexico City. Those do take 11 hours though so be ready to chill for a bit. If you have access to a private car, you can drive from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido in 7 hours.
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For other Mexico destinations from Mexico City check out our post on trekking to the Paricutin Volcano.
So now you know where to go in Mexico to get that fun-in-the-sun beach experience! We hope you enjoyed our list of Mexico’s best beach towns and that it helped answer any questions you had about where to go for your next vacation. Remember, the decision is yours! No matter what type of experience you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful country.
Pack your bags and make a beeline south of the border to see these gorgeous coastal spots first-hand – we can’t wait to hear which one was YOUR favorite!