15 Spectacular Mexican Beaches Perfect for a Mid-Winter Getaway

Mexico is one of the world’s best beach destinations, with 5,800 miles of spectacular shoreline. And with that much coastal opportunity comes a tremendous amount of variety. Searching for isolated strands of white-sand bliss? Mexico. Prefer to post up at an all-inclusive with a margarita in hand? Mexico. Hankering for cultural immersion, soaring adventure, hanging out with turtles or eating your weight in shrimp? Mexico. Cleansing your soul? Partying? Surfing? Being seen? Disappearing? Mexico!

Mexico’s best beach towns are located along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and no two are the same. Some are laid-back surf hubs steeped in history. Others cater to luxury travelers and Instagram-savvy globetrotters, and many are changing at a rapid pace as developers rush to meet the demands of all those thirsty beachgoers. 

These are the beaches that put Mexico on the tourist map, from rustic gems to bustling tourist magnets whose job is just—you guessed it—beach.

Many people see Cancún as the platonic ideal of a Mexican beach town. And that’s by design—literally. Prior to 1970, this part of the Yucatán Peninsula was basically a beach backed by hundreds of miles of jungle and mangrove forests. Then in the ‘70s, Mexico began the Cancún resort project, the construction of hotels and tourist establishments that would eventually extend 93 miles along the Caribbean Sea. 

Today Cancún is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, with a busy airport bringing international travelers in and out of Mexico within minutes of the city’s nearly 200 hotels. It’s a place that has been growing and changing daily for the past 50 years, meaning each visit brings something new. 

Most people who visit Cancún tend to stay in one of the many all-inclusive resorts that line the shorefront, but lately travelers are expanding their horizons to discover what else the surrounding area has to offer, from nearby islands like Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox, to Mayan archaeological sites like Chichen Itza, to smaller surrounding beach towns like Puerto Morelos. But Cancún proper is absolutely known for its widespread hotel offerings, popular tourist restaurants, bars, clubs, and, of course, a stretch of powdery white sand as far as the eye can see.

Everyone knows about Cozumel, but Mexico actually has multiple islands in the Caribbean Sea. One of the most beautiful is Isla Holbox, off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. This tiny, car-free island is only accessible from a quick boat transfer from the town of Chiquila. Once you hit the shores, you’ll disappear into Robinson Crusoe mode.

Popular with yogis, backpackers, and Mexican tourists, this slice of Caribbean paradise has hotel accommodations for most budgets (everything from backpacker-friendly to small-scale boutique luxury), as well as restaurants that serve ocean-fresh seafood and delicious cocktails with a side of live music. It’s also one of the best spots in Mexico to go swimming with whale sharks—a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you absolutely cannot miss. Peak whale-shark season runs from June to September.

After Cancún was "Cancún" and before Tulum was "Tulum," there was Playa del Carmen. Two decades ago Playa del Carmen was just another sleepy Yucatán fishing village just down the coast from Cancún. But that idyllic existence was upended once visitors started migrating south to discover bleach-white beaches, turquoise waters, and seaside palapa huts serving fresh ceviche and cold cervezas.

Long gone are the days of bargain beach living in Playa del Carmen; today it’s one of the largest cities in the Yucatán. But with that tourist infrastructure comes the comforts and luxuries people look for in a relaxing beach vacation. Meander the famous 5th Avenue for its 24/7 energy. By day go bikini-style at one of the seemingly endless beach bars, but by night slip into something a little less comfortable and sip fancy cocktails at rooftop hotels like The Thompson or Live Aqua Boutique Hotel. Bring your USDs, and plenty of them—of course there are still plenty of places to grab tacos on the cheap, but you'll have to venture back into the city streets for that.

Yes, Tulum’s status as the best-kept secret in Mexico has been blown to pieces. But reports of Tulum becoming a tropical Williamsburg have been greatly exaggerated. Move beyond the luxury hotels (if only for the afternoon) and you’ll still be able to fall in love with what made the place magical to begin with. The obscenely picturesque cenotes are still a marvel, whether you prefer them with crowds or completely isolated. The Mayan ruins still offer a mirror to pre-Columbian times. And the al pastor will still change your life after the first bite.

Despite the attention from the hip and the fit, Tulum—perched on the gentle shores of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo—still feels like the anti-Cancún, and not just because of its history. Though it just got its first international airport in December 2023 its population of 50,000 is dwarfed by Cancún's nearly 900,000. As such, there are more zen vibes, polished restaurants operating with a jungle-to-table ethos, boho-chic beach clubs, and tasteful boutique hotels that are the antithesis of theme park-sized resorts. And if you can’t find a little peace and quiet along Tulum’s 10 miles of sugar-white Riviera Maya real estate, the nearby Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve has 23 ancient Mayan archaeological sites scattered across 3,280 square miles of isolation where you have (almost) zero risk of running into an influencer.

Keep driving south past Tulum (like, two-and-a-half hours south). Along Mexico’s pristine Costa Maya—the stretch of shoreline that runs from Playa del Carmen to the border of Belize—you’ll find Mahahual, which has a Tulum vibe minus the Tulum price tag. This bohemian beach escape is popular among Mexican travelers, and anyone who lives in or around Cancún talks about Mahahual with a dreamy, far-off look in their eyes. Picture shockingly white sand, jewel-hued water, a string of palapa’d beach bars and restaurants, and not much else. 

Mahahual does happen to be a cruise port (but a very small one), so when you get to the shoreline perhaps avert your eyes from the left side of the beach where sits an unsightly pier. To the right, it’s all mangroves, bleached sand, and open sea.

When 4 pm rolls around in Puerto Escondido, the uninitiated will no doubt wonder how the hell anything gets done in this Oaxacan surfer destination. By day, it’s all big waves and beach vibes. By late afternoon into late evening, Aussie surfers, expats, and backpackers are often in full party mode as fantastic sunsets give way to mezcal-fueled, all-night dance parties on the beach. Then, miraculously, surfers still drag themselves out of their hostel caves to catch the 7 am surf. (Getting smacked around by 10-foot waves at dawn will knock a hangover right out of you.) 

It’s one of those Neverland places where people "accidentally" miss their return flight and stick around for a while. Or forever. It’s also a town seemingly on the cusp of having its secret blown. You can still score dirt-cheap taquitos on the street and score ultra-fresh seafood without a reservation, but you’ll definitely find more and more bars and restaurants opening with shabby-chic decor. Still, even as things grow, it’s hard to imagine Puerto Escondido losing the laid-back vibe that’s woven into its DNA. It’s the kind of mellow even the arrival of the chic set can’t seem to harsh. 

First things first: Puerto Vallarta proper is not home to white sand beaches. They’re rocky as hell and densely packed with bars and restaurants. But what Puerto Vallarta lacks in powdery shorelines it makes up for in its unparalleled social scene where locals, tourists, and expats all mingle together to create one of the most vibrant vacation destinations in the country—one where a little grit is just part of the flavor. 

Here, you’ll find a charming beach getaway with a healthy side of the chaotic character where partying until 5am is the rule, not the exception. Yet Puerto Vallarta also rewards with its breathtaking, scruffy beauty: Terracotta roofs top white-washed buildings, scattered throughout the hills that rise up from the bay into the misty, mountainous jungle that surrounds the city. It’s a beautiful contrast of clay, white, green, and blue, mixed with the explosive purple jacaranda blossoms that arch over the cobblestone streets. Puerto Vallarta sits on the Bay of Banderas, one of the largest bays in the world. Stunningly beautiful, the city is the perfect combination of coast and thick jungle-covered mountains, and offers great nightlife. And from Puerto Vallarta it's possible to explore the many smaller cities and towns surrounding the bay, where you’ll also find those hidden beach coves you so crave.

Just north of Puerto Vallarta is a once-sleepy surfer town that in recent years has become one of the most photographed and visited beach towns in all of Mexico. Sayulita, a backpackers paradise, was never going to stay off the radar for long, what with its crescent beach perfect for starter surfers, its expat-run galleries, small bungalow hotels, and petite bars with live music. Throw in great Wi-Fi to go with greater waves and you’ve got a magnet for digital nomads and those who identify as "boho-chic." 

Still, it’s a testament to Sayulita’s charm and beauty that its increasing popularity hasn’t spoiled things in the slightest. It still draws a mix of young surfers and Mexican travelers looking to escape its far bigger southern sister, Puerto Vallarta. The bar and restaurant scene is small but vibrant, as diners and revelers spill out onto the street, enjoying conversation and live music that fills the salty, humid night around the main square. It is a very beautiful little corner of Pacific Mexico, whether you’re here to surf, scuba, subsist on mescal and fish tacos, or write your next blog post about all of the above while posted up on the beach.

Mazatlán is one of the most underrated Mexican beach towns from an international standpoint, but as far as locals are concerned there is no better spot in all of Mexico. Its citizens are correct to be so fiercely proud of their so-called Pacific Pearl, which overcame a period of turmoil to become one of the safest, most vibrant towns in Sinaloa, if not all of Mexico.

Make no mistake, this is still a tourist destination. That will happen in a huge city that feels like one big beach town. Yet Mazatlán sacrificed none of its soul as it embraced its role as host to paradise-seekers. In this sprawling beachfront city of 500,000, you'll find plenty of 19th-century architecture clad in electric colors, a buzzy seaside promenade full of street performers, traditions that include cliff jumping into the ocean, Parisian-style cobblestone plazas with cafe tables lining the street, and fresh ceviche served out of residents’ windows. Stroll the 13-mile coast-hugging malecón and reinvigorating the picturesque downtown, then hit the beach to enjoy sun, shrimp shacks, and ice-cold Pacifico, whose birthplace just so happens to be Mazatlán.

If you’re a cruise person (or a Canadian), then you absolutely know Huatulco. This city on the coast of Oaxaca is a busy port for smaller cruise ships, and a popular destination for Canadian snowbirds, who can score direct flights to Bahias De Huatulco International Airport from throughout the Great White North. To say Huatulco is "under the radar" isn’t really accurate these days, but even as one of Mexico’s most important beach towns, it still feels decidedly sleepy.

Huatulco sits on nine very distinct bays, all clustered around the main Santa Cruz Bay, which is home to the most popular restaurants and hotels. As to be expected, this is where the busiest beaches are (read: all the people). But even by high tourism standards, we aren’t talking the same crowds or prices of destinations like Cancún or Cabo. The best advice is to make Santa Cruz Bay your homebase, where there are the highest concentration of hotels, and spend the day exploring the surrounding bays like Chahue and San Agustin.

One of the most stunning beaches is found at Cacaluta Bay, known for its appearance in the film Y Tu Mamá También. It’s undeveloped and accessible only by boat, or by land with a taxi ride and then a hike. But if a secluded beach is what you’re after, this is it.

In September 2014, Los Cabos was struck by the vicious Hurricane Odile, which gutted much of the Baja peninsula, destroying hotels and infrastructure and halting tourism. But Los Cabos—an overarching name for the coastal cities San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas—has reemerged as one of the most luxurious beach destinations in all of Mexico. Still. 

Luxury may even be an understatement when you’re talking about hotels co-owned by Robert De Niro and celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa alongside swanky stalwarts like the JW Marriott Los Cabos, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Los Cabos is over the top, so if you’re looking for Mexico on a shoestring budget, steer clear. What you will find is stark, rugged natural beauty, stunning hotels, and lots and lots of yachts.

The two sister destinations of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo share an airport and are less than 20 minutes from one another by car, but they might as well be worlds away. If you want better beaches and resorts, you’re going to Ixtapa. But if you want a down-to-earth Mexican seaside village, it has to be Zihuatanejo. 

And before you ask, yes, it is THAT Zihuatanejo, the one romanticized by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption. Don’t go expecting the sugar-colored sands Red and Andy waxed poetic over: the beaches are more golden, with a cobalt-colored sea. Still, Zihuatanejo is packed with history and charm, from meandering side streets, barefoot beach bars, restaurants, and an energetic nightlife. One of the beach towns in Mexico that is still dominated by actual Mexicans, you won't find Señor Frogs here. At most it's a vacation rental hideaway for snowbird Canadians, and we are more than okay with that. 

Venture just 20 minutes south of Zihuatanejo to discover unspoiled, unending beaches that stretch for miles and miles with only a hotel or two scattered here and there. Sunsets are epic, to say the least, and you'll feel as though you're the only person in the entire state.

Riviera Nayarit—a 200-mile stretch of beachfront towns that extend north from Puerto Vallarta—is an area that rewards exploration. Remote enough that it feels like a tropical getaway for international and Mexican travelers alike, Riviera Nayarit blends the best of beach, nature, and adventure with hikes through mangroves, deep-sea fishing, zip-lining above treetops, and surf sessions. But getting to its heart means venturing beyond the well-trod towns.  

After dipping into Sayulita, head north, stopping off at San Pancho, a fishing town that feels a lot like Sayulita before it started getting Tulum’d. Keep driving and you’ll hit other beach destinations like Rincon de Guayabitos and Guayabitos. Eventually, you’ll end up at Chacala, whose remote location means its rolling, green mountains and impossibly gorgeous coves butt up against cobblestone streets and delicious mom and pop restaurants for a dreamily low-key Mexican beach experience.

The beaches north of Puerto Vallarta get most of the attention, but don't sleep on the south. Locals and long-time visitors will be in on the secret that is the Costalegre, a 150-mile stretch of beaches, bays, and coves. Imagine vast stretches of raw shoreline backed by palm trees and mountains, where often the only things you can hear are the epic waves crashing. (It's a scientific fact that Pacificos taste better when consumed to the soundtrack of crashing waves.) For decades, the Costalegre was home to only a few high-end hotels and smaller, local beach towns mostly frequented by locals.

But—you guessed it—this is about to change, with a new airport and luxury hotels expected to bring the crowds and likely crush the "under the radar" status the Costalegre now enjoys. Barra de Navidad is the most well-known beach town, but the beaches are actually better in neighboring Melaque. Both are calm and easy-going, packed with beachfront seafood joints and brimming with lazy, laid-back charm. The best things you're doing here are all outside. Restaurants close early and the nightlife is rather sleepy, but you'll be seeing a part of Mexico that’s truly its most beautiful.

The Yucatán is hot. As in trendy. But until now, the beloved Mexican state has managed to avoid the onslaught of mass tourism. But that’s going to change very soon, and you’re going to want to get in on it now before prices start to go up. 

The Yucatán has pretty much everything you love about Mexico—culture, cuisine, ruins, and, obviously, beaches—and maybe a fraction of the crowds Cancún has. The biggest beach town on the map is Progreso, but the other beach destination that deserves your time and attention is Celestún. This stretch of sugary sand has a cute little beach town with palapa-topped restaurants and bars, but the real spotlight is on the Reserva de la Biosfera Ria Celestún, a phenomenal wildlife sanctuary home to thousands of neon pink flamingos. You can hire a boat right on the beach to take you into the mangroves for a closeup look at a literal wall of pink. When you get back, grab a plastic chair at La Playita and dig into some amazingly good ceviche.

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