Mexico's magical town of Bacalar is a popular travel destination. Despite not being a beach town, Lake Bacalar gives it the appearance of one because it is Mexico's second-largest freshwater lake. Rent a place on the lake with a dock when choosing where to stay in Bacalar so you have easy access.

Visitors to this undiscovered Yucatan destination can enjoy a distinctive experience in the town. You'll see why Laguna Bacalar (also known as Bacalar Lagoon) is referred to as the "Lake of Seven Colors" as soon as you arrive and gaze upon the brilliant turquoise water. Stromatolites, which were probably the first living thing on Earth, are also found in the lagoon. Choose a sailboat, catamaran, or kayak tour of Bacalar to fully appreciate its brilliant, freshwater lake, which is the attraction of the town. Both the Cenote Azul and the Los Rapidos Beach Club (balneario) are excellent locations to spend the day swimming, unwinding, and dining.

Spend your days relaxing on, in, and around the lake if you want to get the most enjoyment out of Bacalar. If you enjoy music, this laid-back location is perfect for serenading your neighbors with a portable guitar or ukulele. You won't want to miss the attractions and eateries in downtown Bacalar, Mexico. Getting around by bicycle is the norm, so hop on your rental bike and pedal to the San Felipe Fort, Zocalo (Town Square), and down all of the quiet little streets while searching for street art along the way. For food and amazing cocktails, you’re spoiled for choice in Bacalar Mexico. Check out Nao, La Playita and Nixtamal.

Bacalar travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Bacalar Mexico? Check out these best Bacalar tours for inspo.
• Where is Bacalar Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Bacalar? November-April
• How do you get to Bacalar? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport
• Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 5.0/5.0

Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico

A small paradise island called Isla Mujeres is located in Mexico, a short distance from Cancun across the Bahia de Mujeres (Mujeres Bay). It is only reachable by ferry from Cancun and is a well-liked day trip or weekend getaway for both tourists and locals. Isla Mujeres is close to Cancun, but it offers a completely different experience. It's the ideal place to come and unwind for a few days in one of these stunning and best Isla Mujeres resorts because island life is much more laid back.

Playa Norte, which is located at the northernmost point of Isla Mujeres, is the island's best beach. A long stretch of white sand beach with palm trees and stunning turquoise waters can be found there. Because the water is calm and ideal for swimming, Playa Norte is regarded as one of Mexico's best beaches. A great reason to visit Isla Mujeres is the laid-back atmosphere, where no one is in a rush to complete anything.

Isla Mujeres is one of the safest Mexican beach towns because of its small-town tranquility and friendly residents. If you travel to Isla Mujeres between May and September, swimming with whale sharks is one of the best things to do. On their yearly migration, these gentle sharks—the biggest fish in the ocean—pass by Isla Mujeres. It is an amazing experience to snorkel and swim with these gentle giants.

Isla Mujeres travel tips

• Where are the best things to do in Isla Mujeres Mexico? Check out these best Isla Mujeres tours for inspo.
• Where is Isla Mujeres Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Isla Mujeres? November-April
• How do you get to Isla Mujeres? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico

Only 12 miles separate Playa del Carmen from the lovely, laid-back beach island destination of Cozumel. There are wonderful beaches all over the island of Cozumel, Mexico, but the best ones are on the west side. Playa Dzul Ha, Playa Palancar, and Punta Sur Ecological Park are the best places to go if you want to find white sand and clear water.

More than 2,500 acres of pristine nature, including beautiful beaches, tropical plants, and even cute wildlife like the coati, can be found at this wonderful eco-park. Due to its lack of overdevelopment, Cozumel is one of Mexico's best beach destinations. Many people travel there to explore the extensive underwater world and the San Gervasio Mayan Ruins on the island, making it one of the best cruise destinations in Mexico.

The fact that Cozumel is home to the second-largest coral reef system in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef, is one of the island's most intriguing features. Visitors to Cozumel have access to world-class snorkeling and scuba diving thanks to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. In fact, some of the best activities on Cozumel Island include diving and snorkeling. While the eastern side of Cozumel has quiet beaches away from the crowds, the west side has the best reefs in Cozumel, and you can take a boat tour from a number of operators there.

Cozumel travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Cozumel Mexico? Check out these best Cozumel tours for inspo.
• Where is Cozumel Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Cozumel? November-April
• How do you get to Cozumel? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Location: Yucatán, México

The definition of paradise, Holbox, Mexico, is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Mexico where you can find yourself on the beach with hardly anyone else there. Isla Holbox, which is pronounced "hole-bosh," is actually one of Mexico's best sleepy beach towns. Near Cancun, Holbox Island offers some of Mexico's safest beaches for those seeking a tranquil retreat in the state of Quintana Roo.

Visit Cancun to Holbox Mexico: How to Get to Holbox Island for more information on how to get there. The entire island is essentially one big beach, but head to Punta Mosquito for a truly unique experience. You can travel there on foot through pristine beaches after renting a bike or taking a golf cart taxi, until you come to a sandbank in the middle of the ocean.

Punta Cocos is another of Holbox's top beaches, where you can find a secluded area to unwind during the day in one of the floating hammocks. This is the best location on Holbox Island to view bioluminescence at night. In addition to the beach, Holbox offers a wide range of amazing activities, such as swimming with whale sharks from June to September, searching for the fabled flamingos on Holbox Island, and taking in the local street art. For a Mexican Caribbean island so close to the big destinations, like Cancun, you can stay at the best Holbox resorts for a fraction of the cost — and enjoy the same beautiful Caribbean waters. It is with good reason that Holbox Island ranks as one of the best Mexico small beach towns!

Holbox Island travel tips

• Where are the best things to do in Isla Holbox Mexico? Check out these best Isla Holbox tours for inspo.
• Where is Isla Holbox Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Isla Holbox? November-April
• How do you get to Isla Holbox? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.6/5.0

Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico

When traveling to the Yucatan, Mahahual (pronounced ma-ha-wall) is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Mexico has to offer. More tourists arrive there every year, drawn by the area's stunning coral reef, which is just offshore, and its immaculate beaches. Mahahual, a small town fishing village on the Costa Maya, is situated in the southern Yucatan Peninsula not far from Lake Bacalar and the Mexico-Belize border. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is nearby Mahahual, has an underwater world to explore.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are two of the best activities in Mahahual. Some places even have a coral reef right in front of the beach, which is great for snorkelers and scuba divers, so you don't even need to reserve a tour there! Although Mahahual was once a sleepy fishing village, it is now a bustling tourist destination—but only when cruise ships stop there; otherwise, it is rather quiet.

If you want to experience a quiet Mexico beach town, you might want to look into the schedule of the large cruise ships that frequently visit the town and try to avoid them. There are many fantastic options available if you want to stay in a Mahahual hotel. Staying a little further south along the Costa Maya is an option for tourists who want to venture off the beaten path. While staying nearby Mahahual, you can rent a bungalow on a secluded Mexican beach.

Mahahual travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Mahahual Mexico? Check out these best Mahahual tours for inspo.
• Where is Mahahual Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Mahahual? November-April
• How do you get to Mahahual? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: Costa Maya ,Othon P. Blanco on the Caribbean Sea, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cancun would be the best option out of all the beach towns in Mexico for those who want a wild nightlife along with idyllic beaches. Cancun is one of the most visited places in Mexico due to its stunning turquoise waters and extensive stretches of white sand bordered by enormous resorts.

It is situated at the northernmost point of Quintana Roo state on the Yucatan Peninsula. As a result, Cancun serves as a starting point for trips to well-liked hotels along the Riviera Maya. The town is flooded with party-loving kids looking for all-night raves over spring break. They tend to hang out around Punta Cancun to visit storied bars like Coco Bongo. Although this is a fantastic location for an unforgettable vacation, you won't experience an authentic Mexican town because tourists and expats far outnumber locals. There are many restaurants from around the world with English-speaking staff, as well as all-inclusive resorts that host over 15 million visitors annually!

Cancun travel tips

• Where are the best things to do in Cancun Mexico? Check out these best Cancun tours for inspo.
• Where is Cancun Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Cancun? November-April
• How do you get to Cancun? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport
• Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: México, Quintana Roo, Yucatán

Looking for one of Mexico's most affordable beach towns (both in terms of travel and living expenses)? You've discovered it! El Cuyo, Yucatan, Mexico is a charming town with one of the best beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, though it won't be for much longer. El Cuyo, one of the best Yucatan beach towns, is situated close to the pink lakes of Las Coloradas between Cancun and Merida, Mexico. It is a small town that is quickly rising to the top of Mexico's beach towns for residents thanks to its emerald green and turquoise Mexican Gulf waters, positive vibes, and hospitable locals.

El Cuyo is a unique place that will make you fall in love and never want to leave among small Mexican towns. In fact, there is a neighborhood of foreigners who moved there after falling under the enchantment of El Cuyo. These fortunate people reside in a tranquil haven of bliss where one can stroll outside, step onto a sandy beach, board a surfboard, stroll along the shore, and go kayaking. If you're lucky, you might even see dolphins swimming in the distance or manta rays near the shore.

You can spend a day there and it's only two hours by rental car from Cancun and the Riviera Maya. For greater enjoyment, spend at least a few nights in one of El Cuyo's top hotels, rise early, and watch the mesmerizing sunsets from the harbor. This charming little town's beachfront is bordered by sand-covered, unpaved roads that are home to quaint boutique hotels like Hotel Casa Cielo. Prices have increased recently as a result of the increased interest in visiting El Cuyo, but more hotels are opening, giving tourists more options

El Cuyo travel tips:

• Where is El Cuyo Mexico located? Yucatan state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit El Cuyo? November-April
• How do you get to El Cuyo? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), then take shared or public transport, or drive your rental car about 2.5-hours northeast to El Cuyo.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Location: Yucatan, Mexico

Some of the best beaches on the Gulf of Mexico can be found in the sleepy Mexican town of Celestun, which is situated on the western side of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is also one of the most well-liked day trips from Merida, the state capital of Yucatan and one of Mexico's most exquisite and excellent Colonial cities. Fantastic seafood restaurants are located next to the water as the town spills directly onto the beach. Enjoy fresh fish and stone crab while watching the sun set over the horizon.

A cafe in the town's main square is a great place to watch the lively transformation of this sleepy Mexican fishing community. Many tourists come to this town to see the flamingos at the Celestun Biosphere Reserve during the winter. To see the flamingo flocks feeding in the shallows, take a boat ride from the beach.

Take a boat tour from Celestun to explore the mangroves and possibly see an alligator or swim in a cenote (hopefully not both at the same time!). In the Celestun bird sanctuary, one of the best places for birding in Mexico, you'll also see a variety of other birds, including two types of pelicans. To get good photos of the flamingos feeding up close, walk to the estuaries on the outskirts of town. The Celestun flamingos season is from November-April, but the best time to see the Celestun flamingos is from December-February.

Celestun travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Celestun Mexico? Check out these best Celestun tours for inspo.
• Where is Celestun Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Celestun? November-April
• How do you get to Celestun? Fly into Merida International Airport (code: MID), then take shared or public transport, or drive your rental car about 90-minutes west to Celestun.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: Yucatán, Mexico

Between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, in Yucatan, is a small resort town called Akumal. It is significantly more tranquil and quiet than either of those locations and might as well feel like it is on another planet from all the commotion of the most popular Yucatan vacation spots. Akumal Beach, one of Mexico's top beaches, is located there.

The reason this beach is well-known is that you can swim and snorkel with the turtles that frequent Akumal Bay, and you can easily see them while snorkeling very close to the shore. Akumal Beach is located approximately 1.5 hours from Cancun, halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. This beach is pleasant, long, sandy, and has incredibly fine sand and clear water. lined with a dense palm tree forest where you can get some shade from the sun. In order to protect the turtles, swimming with them in Akumal has become so popular in recent years that the Mexican government now requires tourists to take a turtle tour.

But this Mexican beach town is home to more than just gorgeous Akumal all-inclusive resorts and turtles! Yal Ku Lagoon is a stunning location where the calm waters are ideal if you aren't comfortable swimming in the sea. It offers a more tranquil and unique swimming experience. This less well-known Yucatan hidden gem is a pleasant place to spend the day.

Not far from town you’ll also find several cenotes near Akumal, like Cenote Dos Ojos. This is one of the best cenotes in Yucatan, and a great place to swim in an underwater cave. Finally, Akumal is a great starting point to explore Tulum, one of the unmissable places to visit in Yucatan.

Akumal travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Akumal Mexico? Check out these best Akumal tours for inspo.
• Where is Akumal Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Akumal? November-April
• How do you get to Akumal? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum

Tulum, Quintana Roo, MexicoOne of Mexico's best beach destinations, Tulum has grown immensely popular in recent years. It is situated on the renowned Riviera Maya on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is endowed with gentle white sands and shallow turquoise waters. Thanks to the picturesque surroundings and the pre-Columbian Mayan Ruins that overlook the beach, it has become a popular travel destination for Instagram influencers.

The town itself is sleepy, lacking the mega-hotels found in some other regions of the country in favor of beach cabanas and bungalows. Additionally, there are lots of eco-friendly spas, yoga retreats, and cafes. There are many cenotes to see in the area in addition to visiting the Mayan ruins. These are unmanmade, underground pools encircled by rocky outcrops. Dos Ojos cenote is a network of underwater caves with beautiful, clear pools. For entry without a guide, you will need to pay about $17, and for a guided tour, about $30. Cenote Naharon is another one that is very close to Tulum and draws fewer visitors.

Tulum travel tips

• Where are the best things to do in Tulum Mexico? Check out these best Tulum tours for inspo.
• Where is Tulum Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan PeninsulaWhat’s the best time to
• visit Tulum? November-April
• How do you get to Tulum? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), then use this Cancun to Tulum
• Transportation Guide to pick the best option for yourself.
• Submitted by Charlotte of Char’s Footsteps

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Location: Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

ADO buses or a rental car can take you to Puerto Morelos, a small fishing village in Mexico, which is tucked between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Despite not being as well-known as places like Tulum, this Mexican Caribbean beach is still one of the best in the country. Serene Puerto Morelos offers an authentic view of Yucatan life in addition to having stunning beaches in Mexico.

You can stay comfortably in the all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Morelos while exploring the natural hidden gems tucked away in smaller towns like this. Like any beach on the Yucatan Peninsula, Puerto Morelos' main beach is breathtaking. One of the best things to do in Puerto Morelos is visit its trendy beach clubs, My Paradise Beach Club and Unico Beach Club, which feature white sands, calm waters, and excellent food, drinks, and service.

There is so much beauty packed into this tiny Mexican beach town, from the Jardin Botanico, one of the best botanical gardens in Mexico, to breathtaking cenotes close to Puerto Morelos, like Cenote Siete Bocas on the Ruta de los Cenotes. In Puerto Morelos, swimming amongst vibrant fish, turtles, coral, and rays has never been simpler because it is a part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world. For a truly unforgettable experience, snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts should visit the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park.

Puerto Morelos travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Puerto Morelos Mexico? Check out these best Puerto Morelos tours for inspo.
• Where is Puerto Morelos Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Puerto Morelos? November-April
• How do you get to Puerto Morelos? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico

The well-known resort of Playa del Carmen is another of Mexico's top beach towns. It is situated on the Yucatan Peninsula, in the center of the Riviera Maya, on the pristine Caribbean Coast, about 45 miles south of Cancun. This is a great location for a tranquil vacation, with soft sugar sands and calm, turquoise waters. Compared to its northern neighbor, it offers a more tranquil atmosphere thanks to the abundance of boutique hotels and coffee shops that dominate the area.

There are some of the best beaches in the nation here, with palm-lined, fine sands and vibrant coral reefs. You can travel quickly to Cozumel Island from here, which is renowned for its stunning sandy bays and incredible diving locations. You can also travel to Xcaret or Xplore, two of the local adventure parks. In those, among other family-friendly attractions, you'll find underground rivers and caves. Additionally, the historic Mayan Ruins of Tulum are only about an hour's drive from Playa del Carmen.

Playa del Carmen travel tips

• Where are the best things to do in Playa del Carmen Mexico? Check out these best Playa del Carmen tours for inspo.
• Where is Playa del Carmen Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Playa del Carmen? November-April
• How do you get to Playa del Carmen? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico