Last Updated: August 4, 2022

20 Best Beach Towns In Mexico 

Planning a beach vacation in Mexico and you’re not sure which town to choose? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this guide features the top 20 beach towns in Mexico!

From famous destinations like Cancun to much quieter places like San Pancho, there’s an option in this guide for everyone. Whether you’re looking to party, explore the great outdoors, or just want to lie on the beach with a cocktail in your hand, one of the beach towns in Mexico featured in this guide is the ideal destination for you!

Playa Del Carmen

Playa Del Carmen

Playa Del Carmen is a city in the Quintana Roo province on the eastern coast of Mexico. It’s one of the more popular tourist destinations in the country and it’s close to other popular beach towns in Mexico. Both Tulum and Cancun are just a short drive from Playa Del Carmen, plus it’s the main base for excursions to Cozumel Island. 

The resort town is best known for stunning sandy beaches and great resorts. It’s got golf courses, excellent shopping opportunities, and many great restaurants. But it’s not really an exciting town if you’re looking for a place that has lots of amazing tourist attractions. 

Playa Del Carmen is a great town to visit if you just want to lie on the beach for days, or if you want to explore multiple other beach towns because it’s a great base for further exploration of the Yucatan peninsula. 

Cabo San Lucas 

Cabo San Lucas 

Cabo San Lucas is a beach town in Baja California. It’s pretty close to the US, so it’s a very popular destination with American tourists. The city is situated on the far south coast of the Baja California peninsula, and it is best known for its many stunning beaches. Playa del Amor and Playa El Medano are two of the most famous beaches on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and they’re both in Cabo San Lucas. 

The city is not just home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, but also to excellent nightlife. It’s one of the top destinations in Mexico among partygoers, so it’s a great place for the younger crowd. If you want to have fun on the beach and in the water during the day but party and drink at night, Cabo San Lucas is the ideal Mexican beach town for you. There are quite a few luxe resorts here, as well as golf courses and fine dining restaurants. 

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is another resort town on the coast of the Pacific Ocean known for long sandy beaches, water sports, and great nightlife. It’s also has the stunning Sierra Madre Mountains as a backdrop and is trendy among tourists. It was also named the friendliest city in the world at one point, which is nothing to scoff at. 

This city is very popular with US residents, especially those from the west coast simply because there are many direct flights to this resort town. It’s also become quite a popular retirement destination for Canadians and Americans, and there are even entire neighborhoods in the city that are centered around real estate tourism. 

It’s also worth noting that this beautiful beach town is home to Zona Romantica, an LGBT-friendly neighborhood with amazing beaches, awesome restaurants, bars, and quite a few notable landmarks. This is also where you’ll find the best gay bars and gay resorts, as well as a variety of other gay-friendly establishments. If you’re specifically looking for a Mexican beach town that embraces the LGBT community, Puerto Vallarta is one of the top options. 

San Jose del Cabo

San Jose Del Cabo

This is one of the popular beach towns on the southern coast of the Baja California peninsula. It’s just a short drive away from Cabo San Lucas and it’s possible to visit both beach towns during the same trip. 

The attractions in San Jose del Cabo are very different from those in Cabo though. Whereas Cabo San Lucas attracts a wealthy clientele with its golf courses and luxury hotels, San Jose del Cabo is better known for its colonial buildings, great art galleries, and gorgeous nature. 

The sandy beaches are incredibly beautiful, the art galleries are full of works by local artists, and there’s a vast nature reserve east of the city. The San Jose Estuary is home to numerous bird species, and it’s a pretty popular place for birdwatchers in Mexico. 

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a scenic little island in the Caribbean sea. It’s situated just off the coast of Cancun, and it’s pretty easy to visit if you’re staying in the Yucatan peninsula. Most boat transfers to the island are from Punta Sam and Cancun. 

The stunning island is home to some incredibly beautiful beaches, with Playa Norte as the most famous beach on the entire island. It’s situated at the northern tip of Isla Mujeres, and it’s best known for soft white sand, palm trees, and countless beach bars. There are also quite a few hotels in the area, making this one of the most popular vacation destinations on the island. 

Isla Mujeres is also home to quite a few landmarks and tourist attractions, plus it’s a good spot for diving thanks to the many coral reefs off the coast of the island.  That is why it is one of the best beach towns in Mexico!

Puerto Escondido

 Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido is a resort town on the Pacific ocean. It’s in Oaxaca state, and it’s best known for gorgeous beaches and excellent nightlife. The town is also a popular surfing destination in Mexico, especially the busy Playa Zicatela which hosts major surfing competitions. 

Other beaches in the town have gentler waves, so they’re not quite as popular with avid surfers but they are great for beginners. There’s also a large lagoon west of this charming town, which is very popular for birdwatching and fishing. 

But that’s it in terms of things to do in Puerto Escondido. It wasn’t even a town before 1930; the place used to be just a bay used as a port, and there was no permanent settlement here because of the lack of potable water.

It’s one of the quieter beach towns in Mexico, and it’s most popular with Mexican families, surfers, and backpackers. So, its the best time to visit these kinds of beach towns, before they become too big.

Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo used to be just a sleepy fishing village until the 1970s when the federal government decided to develop a resort near the town. This led to a steady increase in tourism, and the village slowly developed into a popular resort town in the Guerrero state. 

It’s the fourth largest town in this state, and it’s now the third most-visited area in Mexico, right after Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. The town’s population drastically increased with the development as well – in the 1970s only about 6,800 people lived here, whereas today there are more than 62,000 residents in the town alone. 

The remains of the fishing village are still present in the city, and Zihuatanejo is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico for fishermen. The charming beach town is also home to quite a few beautiful landmarks and monuments, while the waters off the coast of Zihuatanejo harbor many dolphins and sea turtles. 

Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a small island off the northeastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. It’s not a famous tourist destination yet, but its popularity is rapidly increasing with each season. The charming island is pedestrian-friendly, which pretty much means that there are very few roads on the island. 

There are practically no cars on the island, and most people get around in golf carts and mopeds. It’s the best place in Mexico to visit if you’re looking for quiet beaches and unspoiled nature, but keep in mind that it won’t stay like that for a very long time. 

Most of the island is a vast nature preserve with pelicans, flamingos, and many other bird species. The main industry on the island is fishing and lobster is the main product of the industry, so there are a lot of lobster dishes in the restaurants on the island. Also, perhaps the most popular activity on the island is swimming with whale sharks – this is an experience you can have only in a few places on the planet, and this charming Mexican island is one of them. 

If you are planning to take a trip to this island, here’s a guide on where to stay in Isla Holbox

Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a port town on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, situated about halfway between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. It used to be a fishing village and the city retains some elements from its history, but nowadays it’s mostly just a busy vacation destination. 

It’s best known for the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park and its numerous offshore dive sites. This makes the town a very popular destination among avid divers, as well as people who want to escape the crazy crowds of Cancun and similar destinations. 

Puerto Morelos is much slower-paced. It’s the place to go if you want to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and going out and exploring the jungle. And it’s going to stay that way for a while because the federal government has prohibited rapid development in the area to protect the biodiversity of the place. 

La Paz

La Paz

La Paz is the capital of the Baja California Sur state and a very important commerce center for this region. It has about a quarter of a million inhabitants, so it’s also the most populous city in the state of Baja California Sur. 

It’s a big city with loads of things to do and see, which makes it a great destination for people who prefer having lots of options when it comes to entertainment. The city’s coastal promenade is lined with artworks by Mexican and international artists, and there’s even more interesting art at the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur. 

La Paz also boasts beaches, parks, restaurants, bars, stores, etc. The Velasco Garden is a popular park in the city center and it’s right in front of the ​​Catedral de La Paz, which is one of the top tourist attractions in the city. 

Tulum

Tulum

Tulum is a town on the Caribbean sea and it’s one of the more popular tourist destinations in this part of the country. It’s similar to Cancun in the sense that this town also has a beachfront hotel zone, but that’s definitely not the most popular thing about the town.

Tulum is home to many ruins of an ancient Mayan port city, and it’s a great place to visit if you’re into history and archaeology. The Tulum Archaeological Zone boasts ruins of a walled Mayan city, situated on a bluff overlooking a beach and the Caribbean ocean. 

There’s also the Tulum National Park, which boasts stunning views, Mayan ruins, and a coastal landscape. This city is one of the best destinations for a longer stay in Mexico – there are plenty of different things to do in the city to keep you occupied for days, plus you’re very close to other popular destinations on the peninsula, including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, and Cozumel. 

San Pancho

San Pancho

San Pancho is a small Mexican beach town situated on the country’s central Pacific coast, just some 50 kilometers north of Puerto Vallarta. The town is right at the edge of the Sierra de Vallejo Biosphere Reserve, and it’s notable for the diversity of the flora and fauna. 

This charming town is also known as San Francisco, but the name is the only thing it has in common with the US metropolis. It’s a quaint little town with sandy beaches, boutique hotels, and local restaurants, and it doesn’t get nearly as many tourists as the more famous beach towns in Mexico. 

If you’re planning a holiday and you usually prefer towns with fewer crowds, San Pancho might just be the ideal destination in Mexico for you. Keep in mind that there’s not much to do in the town other than enjoying the beach, but it is close enough to bigger towns that offer plenty of exciting activities for tourists. 

Cancun

Cancun Aerial

Cancun is one of the most popular destinations in entire Mexico. It’s known for beautiful sandy beaches, countless hotels, and excellent nightlife. The city is so popular with tourists that it’s divided into two separate zones – the more traditional area of downtown Cancun and the Hotel Zone. 

The former is the center of Cancun where you’ll find countless shops, bars, restaurants, and other locales that you would find in pretty much any other city. The Hotel Zone is a beachfront strip of hotels, as well as golf courses, restaurants, and nightclubs. 

Spring break is the busiest season in Cancun. Countless students arrive in this Mexican town, ready to party all day and night long. It’s a great place to visit if you want to be in an exciting Mexican city with excellent parties and luxe hotels, but if you’d rather stay in a more quiet place, you should just avoid Cancun entirely. 

Yelapa

Yelapa

Yelapa is another of the beach towns on the western coast of Mexico, south of Puerto Vallarta. The small village is best known for the Yelapa beach, which is one of the prettiest sandy beaches in this part of the country. It’s a vast stretch of soft sand with palm trees, beachfront eateries, and crystal clear water. 

This village is a great destination for travelers who prefer being away from the crowds. It doesn’t have many tourist attractions, but there are some beautiful natural landmarks close to the town. The Yelapa waterfall is one of those beautiful landmarks – situated just south of the town, the beautiful cascade is just a short walk away from the town center. 

Yelapa is a charming village, but if you’re looking for a place with loads of things to do, it’s not the ideal Mexican destination for you. The upside is that Puerto Vallarta is very close to the village, and you can always drive into the bigger town when you’re craving something more entertaining. 

Bacalar

Bacalar

Bacalar is a small town in southeastern Mexico, near the border with Belize. It’s best known for Lagoon of the Seven Colors, a nickname given to the lake because of its surreal color. One of the most popular attractions in Bacalar is Canal de Los Pirates, which is notable for its history of pirate traffic. 

The canal is accessible only by boat, and it’s definitely worth visiting. It’s a surreal place both because of the history and impressive azure water, and the good news is that loads of tour agencies offer boat tours in Bacalar. 

The charming beach town also offers fun water activities, stunning beaches, and a plethora of beachfront eateries and bars. Most restaurants offer fresh seafood, but that’s not the only option when it comes to cuisine. 

Bacalar is a beautiful little town and a great place to visit if you want to experience something different in Mexico, especially on the Mexican Caribbean coast. The town is approximately four hours away from Tulum, so it’s not too far from other major tourist destinations in this part of Mexico. 

Todos Santos

Todos Santos

Todos Santos is a small town situated on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The beautiful town is on the Baja California Peninsula, and it’s backed by the imposing Sierra de la Laguna mountains. 

This charming Mexican town is very popular with artists from all over the world, thanks to the variety of art galleries in Todos Santos. It’s also known for beautiful beaches that offer excellent surfing, and it’s one of the best destinations in Mexico if you’re looking for a laid-back vacation. 

The town is very slow-paced, and there aren’t many different things to do there, apart from the art galleries. On the other hand, the city is just an hour away from both La Paz and Cabo, so it’s not too far from a bigger tourist center if you’re looking for entertainment. 

Head to Todos Santos if you want to see some of the best beaches in Mexico. Most of them are just vast stretches of sand with crystal clear water and countless palm trees. It’s truly a small slice of paradise, and since it’s not extremely popular with tourists, it’s entirely possible to have the entire beach to yourself for a little while. 

El Cuyo

El Cuyo is one of the prettiest and safest beach towns in Mexico. It’s a great destination for families and solo travelers who are prioritizing their safety in Mexico, but also for those who just want to experience a stunning beach town on the Yucatan peninsula. 

This charming town is often called the Yucatan beach paradise, and the idyllic atmosphere isn’t spoiled by massive hotels. In fact, there aren’t any fancy hotels or luxury hotels in this sleepy fishing village. Instead, accommodation in El Cuyo mostly features just modest guest houses, which are the only way to experience this beautiful slice of paradise. 

The town boasts miles and miles of white sandy beaches, dozens of local eateries, and some of the prettiest nature on the entire Yucatan peninsula. It’s very close to Parque Natural Ría Lagartos, which is popular for spectacular nature and ample birdwatching opportunities. Overall, if you’re looking for a Mexican beach town that’s gorgeous, safe, and uncrowded, El Cuyo is without a doubt one of the best options in the entire country. 

Mahahual

Mahahual

Mahahual is a small village on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. It’s known for beautiful beaches, seaside eateries with fresh seafood, and excellent snorkeling opportunities just off the main coast. 

This small town is not extremely popular with tourists, so huge crowds are rare. It’s a great place to visit if you can’t stand the crowds of Tulum and Cancun, especially if you want to be in a smaller town without the massive hotels and resorts. 

Mahahual is just a few miles away from the main cruise port in the area, and visitors can often see the massive cruise ships when they dock at the port. It’s worth noting that there are plans to make Mahahual a larger tourist center – an airport and a new cruise port are both under construction in the town. If you want to experience this lovely town before it gets ruined by hordes of tourists, it’s best to visit it as soon as possible. 

Troncones

Troncones

Troncones is a small beach village north of Zihuatanejo. It’s relatively undeveloped, which makes it the perfect destination in Mexico for travelers who prefer privacy to good nightlife. The uncrowded village has a population of just 593, and it’s best known for its vast sandy beaches. 

Troncones was relatively unknown until recently, and its popularity has started to increase slowly. But it’s still nowhere near as popular as it could be, so it’s best to visit it as soon as possible before it turns into another monstrosity of high-rise hotels and beach bars. 

It’s worth noting that there’s very little to do in this charming village. The hotels will sometimes organize events to entertain their guests, and there’s an occasional party maybe once a week during peak season. There are a few bars, restaurants, and grocery stores along the shore, but that’s all of it. 

Mazunte

Mazunte

Mazunte is a small beach town on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It’s best known for the huge presence of sea turtles, which are the backbone of the small town’s economy. 

Before the 20th century, Mazunte had virtually no human population, which attracted many sea turtles who came to the beach town to lay their eggs. Their presence was eventually noticed, and many people came here to hunt the turtles. Their meat and eggs were once very profitable, but eventually, the state banned hunting when concerns arose because of the declining number of turtles. 

Today, the town is known for the conservation and preservation of sea turtles, and visitors can even visit the zoology museum dedicated to them. Mazunte also boasts white sand beaches, great local restaurants, and fewer crowds than most other Mexican beach towns. 

About the Author Anna Timbrook

Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.

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