Mexico Reels in 3 of the World's Best Beaches

Mexico has more than 9,000 kilometres of coastline across two oceans and the Gulf of Mexico, and a handful of its beaches consistently appear on lists of the best in the world. Three in particular have earned that recognition for reasons that hold up on the ground.

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen sits on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, about 68 kilometres south of Cancun. The beach runs along the town's eastern edge, with white sand and the clear turquoise water that the Caribbean coast of Mexico is known for. The Fifth Avenue pedestrian street runs parallel to the beach and has a good range of restaurants, bars, and shops. The beach itself is wide and well maintained, and the water is calm enough for swimming most of the year. Cozumel is a 45-minute ferry ride offshore, with some of the best diving in the Western Hemisphere.

Tulum, Quintana Roo

Tulum's beach is one of the most photographed in Mexico, and the combination of white sand, turquoise water, and the Mayan ruins on the cliff above the shore is genuinely striking. The beach road south of the town centre has a string of boutique hotels and beach clubs. The water is clear and the reef is close to shore in several spots, making it good for snorkeling without a boat. The town has developed rapidly over the past decade and the infrastructure has not always kept pace, but the beach itself remains excellent.

Sayulita, Nayarit

Sayulita is a small surf town on the Pacific coast of Mexico, about 40 kilometres north of Puerto Vallarta. The beach is a crescent of sand in a sheltered bay, with consistent surf on the north end and calmer water on the south. The town has a relaxed, colourful character that is quite different from the resort towns further south. It is popular with surfers, families, and travelers who want something less developed than Cabo or the Riviera Maya. The food scene is good for a town of its size, and the market on the main square is worth a visit.

All three beaches are accessible from well-developed vacation rental markets. If you are planning a trip to any of them, booking a rental rather than a hotel gives you more space, a kitchen, and usually a better location relative to the beach.