World’s best beaches: Mexico

Mexico features an extensive coastline and is home to some of the most amazing beaches in the world. Check out those with the best surf, whitest sand and most crystal clear water.

How to get there:
Take a look at the flight deals to Mexico:

• Non-stop flights from Helsinki to Mexico or Thailand from only €290! >>
• Cheap non-stop flights from the UK to Cancun, Mexico for only £229! >>
• Cheap non-stop flights from the UK to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico’s Pacific coast from only £279! >>
• High season! Cheap flights from Amsterdam to Cancun, Mexico for only €387! >>
• Non-stop flights from Denver to Cancun, Mexico for only $206! >>
• 11-night B&B stay in top-rated 5* hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico + non-stop flights from London for £436! >>
• 7-night B&B stay in luxurious 5* hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico + flights from Dublin for €534! >>
• CRAZY HOT!! Business Class flights from New York, Houston, Orlando or Washington D.C. to Cancun, Mexico from only $388! >>
• Cheap flights from Dublin to Cancun, Mexico for only €358! >>
• CHEAP! 11 nights at beachfront hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico + non-stop flights from London for £380! >>
• Peak season flights from Budapest to Mexico City for €412! >>
• Xmas holidays in Mexico! 9 nights in Playa del Carmen + cheap flights from Chicago for just $362! >>

Where to stay:
In Cancun, we encourage you to stay at 4* Smart Cancun by Oasis with great reviews. This 4-star hotel offers free WiFi and 24-hour reception. Spacious air-conditioned rooms feature a balcony and flat-screen TV. There is a safe, minibar and iPod docking station. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and toiletries. The complex has several bars, coffee shops and restaurants, including Japanese and Mexican restaurants. There is a lounge bar and chill-out bar. Smart Cancun by Oasis, there is a concierge desk and the complex provides entertainment staff. A dry cleaning service and currency exchange are available.

In Playa del Carmen we recommend you to book 5* Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real with excellent reviews. This elegant 5-star property offers tropical gardens, lakes and a golf course within the Playacar gated community. The passengers ferry to Cozumel is located 12 minutes’ drive away. The accommodation resembles an old Mexican hacienda boasting a typical Yucatan style. Guests will enjoy of an outdoor pool, and of a restaurant set by the pool area which specializes in typical Mexican dishes like fajitas, guacamole and chilaquiles. There is also a spa-treatment facility that guests can enjoy.

 

When to visit:
Mexico is a huge country and the weather varies by region. The best weather is generally between December and April, when there is virtually no rain. Late summer and early fall mark the rainy season. The fall months are prone to storms, so check weather forecasts and hurricane warnings before booking your trip. Summer days and nights tend to offer high temperatures and humidity. Winters are slightly cooler. From October to March, the climate is generally dry and slightly warm.

The best time to visit Tulum is between November and December. You’ll get the benefit of post hurricane-season breezes, plus the hotel prices are reasonable. If you’re concerned about crowds, avoid the region from January to March. The best time to visit Cancun is from December to April during the peak season. You’ll experience perfect weather and find cheap flight and room rates. Try to avoid traveling from mid-March to early April, when spring breakers descend on the Yucatan’s shores. The best time to visit Cozumel is from March to June. In Playa del Carmen you can expect fewer people along the shore between April and May. Hurricane season lasts from June to September.

 

What to do:
Maya Chan Beach in Mahahual is one of the top beaches in Riviera Maya, the Atlantic coastal region of Yucatan. Many activities, like water sports, boat rides and fishing, make it an ideal holiday destination.

For snorkelling there are a large number of coral reefs along the Maya Riviera coastline. You may encounter dolphins, squids, sea turtles, lots of stingrays and hundreds of other fish and undersea life. You can snorkel with the turtles just off the stunning beach in Akumal.

Explore the Underwater Museum of Art, with its 500 life-size sculptures submerged onto the seabed. This monumental underwater contemporary museum of art was formed in the waters surrounding Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc. All of the sculptures in MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) are made from specialized materials used to promote the recovery of the natural reefs. Some of these incredible statues can be seen from the glass bottom boat or reached by snorkelers (at a depth of 4 m).

Swim in Laguna de Bacalar (Lake of Seven Colours), a 60-kilometre lagoon with crystal clear waters and white sandy bottom.

If you like scuba diving, you should definitely explore the reefs of Cozumel (e.g. Palancar Reef, Santa Rosa Wall).

For more Destinations Fly4free click here >>>

Start planning your next trip with Lonely Planet’s travel guide >>

FLIGHTGEIST: MEXICO from FLIGHTGEIST on Vimeo.