Most people are familiar with at least some of the holiday destinations along the Mexican Caribbean Coast; they represent the most popular beaches in the country, attracting millions of tourists every year who flock to enjoy the shimmering turquoise water and palm-lined beaches.
In addition to the stunning beaches, the area also offers Mayan archeological sites, mystical cenotes, lagoons, underground rivers, jungles, and colonial villages.
INSIDER TIP: Ready to try a road trip abroad? It’s easy! This International Driver’s License covers 150 countries!
Whether you’re a beach bum, nature-lover, history buff, foodie, or adrenaline junkie, the Mexican Caribbean coast has something for everyone.
If you are looking for more detailed adventures, don’t miss my full article on all the AMAZING adventures in Mexico’s Caribbean!
Additionally, I’ve written full stand-alone articles about many of these destinations. I’ve put those links at the end of each section…you’ll want to read those too!
INSIDER TIPS: Guide to Packing for Mexico and the ONLY Beach Packing List You’ll Ever Need!
Here are our twelve stops on the Mexican Caribbean coast, from north to south. Note: I’ve included tours that you may be interested in. These options add no additional costs to you, but help me keep the lights on. 🙂
Holbox
Located at the top of the Yucatan peninsula, Isla Holbox, or Holbox Island (pronounced hole-bosh), is the best Mexican beach destination, hands-down! Think of a dreamy paradise without the crowds and chaos of Tulum or Playa del Carman, with sugar sand translucent turquoise beaches lined with swaying coconut palms. Add to that a colorful boho vibe, no paved roads, unique food choices, and the opportunity to swim with whale sharks, and you have the perfect tropical vacation spot. And the best part is it’s just 2.5 hours from Cancún to Holbox, and renting a car in Mexico isn’t difficult (but you need to be savvy).
Part of the Yum Balam Nature Reserve, you can swim with whale sharks, see bioluminescent plankton at night, kayak in the mangroves, snorkel, or just swing in a sea hammock while drinking a fresh coconut, the choice is yours.
Barely more than a decade ago, Holbox was just a tiny fishing village but is becoming more and more popular as the world is discovering its pristine beaches.
Note: Wi-Fi is an issue, but when you are surrounded by mesmerizing turquoise powdery sand beaches, you will forget all about social media.
Click here to read Holbox: Don’t Miss Mexico’s Best Island
Cancún
Cancún, a bustling Mexican city on the Yucatán Peninsula often gets a bad rap. While you should, by all means, avoid it during its raucous Spring Break, it has some of the most stunning, iridescent beaches and luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Cancún is divided into two distinct areas: El Centro – the more traditional, colonial downtown, and Zona Hotelera aka the Hotel Zone boasting high-rise hotels, nightclubs, shops, and restaurants set on a long strip of powdery white beaches.
What also makes Cancún such a popular destination is the almost infinite number of things to do, e.g. bargain shopping in the colorful Mercado 28, swimming with whale sharks in the open sea, speed boating through the mangroves, scuba diving in the underwater museum, zip-lining, visiting eco-parks like Xel-ha and Xcaret, or simply just lounging under a palapa with a margarita. Here’s a guide to things to do for a week in Cancun.
Click here to read Diving the Underwater Museum
Isla Contoy
Isla Contoy is an uninhabited tropical island paradise, and the only National Marine Park located close to Cancún. Its proximity to the tourist areas (25 miles from Cancún) while remaining hidden, makes Isla Contoy one of the secret gems of the area.
Protected by the Mexican government since 1961, the pencil-shaped wildlife sanctuary is only 5.25 miles in length and has a total area of 0.4 square miles.
The crystal clear aquamarine water makes Isla Contoy perfect for snorkeling and a fabulous boating day trip.
To visit Isla Contoy is to get a glimpse of what the Mexican Caribbean coast must have looked like long ago.
Isla Mujeres
The former fishing village of Isla Mujeres (“Island of Women”) lies just eight miles off the coast of Cancún, making it a cherished day trip for both locals and tourists alike.
Named one of Mexico’s Pueblo Magicos (“Magic Towns”), Isla Mujeres is known for its idyllic beaches, relaxing atmosphere, and slow island pace. You will be hard-pressed to find many cars here but instead, golf carts and motorbikes fill the narrow streets.
The history of the island dates back 1500 years when it was the sanctuary for the Mayan goddess Ixchel, known as the goddess of love, the moon, happiness, medicine, and fertility (that’s a lot of responsibilities!). A temple dedicated to the goddess can be found on the southern tip of the island. The island remained a Mayan sanctuary until it was “discovered” by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1517.
As with other islands and beaches in the area, snorkeling and scuba diving around the surrounding coral reefs are popular attractions.
The highlight for many is the opportunity to snorkel next to whale sharks off the coast of Isla Mujeres. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Click here to read Diving with Whale Sharks.
Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is a Mexican port town on the Mexican Caribbean coast best suited for those looking for a low-key beach destination, unlike the hustle and bustle of Cancún.
Located 20 minutes south of Cancún and 30 minutes north of Playa del Carmen, the once-fishing village still maintains much of its laid-back charm.
The Puerto Morelos Reef National Park has many offshore dive sites. Turtles breed on coastal beaches. Inland are freshwater sinkholes including Las Mojarras Cenote and Verde Lucero Cenote.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a coastal resort town known for its palm-lined beaches and coral reefs. What started as a Fisherman’s village some 110 years ago is now a popular beach town. The white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and year-long party vibe have made it a popular destination for tourists.
Scuba divers and snorkelers love Playa del Carmen for its convenient access to one of the world’s largest coral reef systems.
Quinta Avenida is the pedestrian thoroughfare that runs parallel to the beach with blocks of shops, restaurants, and beach bars.
Just a few miles south, the popular Xcaret eco-park showcases Mayan history, culture, and marine life, and ancient Mayan ruins are just a short drive from the town center.
Click here to read Day of the Dead in Xcaret
Cozumel
A tropical island off mainland Mexico, Cozumel lies in the Caribbean Sea. A popular cruise ship port destination, Cozumel beaches, and outdoor activities – such as some of the best scuba diving in the Western hemisphere – attract tourists from all over the world to its shimmering turquoise shores.
Just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, it’s Mexico’s third-largest island, 43 miles south of Cancún and 12 miles southeast of Playa del Carmen.
Unlike other nearby tourist destinations, Cozumel has a more laid-back vibe. Family is important to locals and you’ll often witness gatherings and fun-loving events. They’re friendly and welcoming to visitors.
Click here to read The Best Things to Do in Cozumel
Akumal
Akumal is a coastal resort with white sands, exotic coral reefs surrounding the bay, and warm waters rich in marine life. It encompasses Half Moon Bay with a curved beach, and Yal-Ku Lagoon which teems with colorful tropical fish, stingrays, and barracudas.
The name “Akumal” comes from the Mayan word for “place of the turtles” and this Riviera Maya town has gained notoriety as one of the best places where turtles arrive every year to lay their eggs on the beach. You can spot and sometimes even swim with sea turtles at Akumal.
Inland, Aktun Chen Parque Natural is known for its caves, cenotes (freshwater pools), and underground river.
Tulum
Mesmerizing turquoise water lapping onto pristine sugar-sand beaches, there isn’t a prettier beach anywhere in the Caribbean. Unlike the more frenetic Cancún to the north, Tulum has a more laid-back beach vibe, although it has rapidly gone from a sleepy fishing town to an upscale holiday destination featuring a myriad of eco-chic boutique hotels. With so much gorgeousness, the Tulum Instagram opportunities have helped it explode onto the social media scene.
If you can tear yourself away from the seaside – which admittedly won’t be easy – there are myriad things to do in the nearby jungles. Exploring the pre-Columbian Mayan port city for which the area is named is a must.
The well-preserved ruins include a large stone structure called El Castillo (castle), perched on a rocky cliff above the idyllic white sand beach and turquoise sea. And there are other Mexican ruins nearby, too.
A one-day all-inclusive ticket to the natural aquatic park Xel-Ha includes access to a lazy river, snorkeling, cliff jumping, bicycles, food, and alcohol.
Or head for one of the close-by cenotes, the freshwater sinkholes that were once considered sacred by the ancient Maya. Through the opening at the top of the cenote caves, sunlight and roots filter down to the pools, creating an ethereal feel.
Click here to read The Best Tulum Instagram & Adventure Spots
Mahahual
Mahahual Beach is in Costa Maya (cruise port). It’s a lively Caribbean village beach lined by newly-developed sea wall malécon, small seafood restaurants, bars, beach clubs, and souvenir shops.
Thanks to the beauty of its beaches, there are a lot of water activities, such as diving, kayaking, snorkeling among turtles, and exploring the coral reef.
Full transparency: when we visited a cruise ship came in, it was very windy, and there was a lot of seaweed. We did see the potential, though, and believed we would have loved it under different circumstances.
Bacalar
You have to see Bacalar with your own eyes to believe it’s real. Local Mayans call Bacalar the Lagoon of Seven Colors because they say you can see seven shades of blue in the crystalline water. Bacalar Mexico is arguably prettier and more enchanting than any Caribbean Beach. It is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Because of its location near the Belize border, Bacalar Mexico was once a secret gem. The Mexican government highlighted Bacalar on its list of Pueblos Mágicos in 2006 as an important cultural landmark to encourage tourism, and now, thanks in part to social media, the stunning turquoise lake and laidback town are beginning to be discovered.
The area is traditionally Mayan, with a Pre-Columbian city that Conquistadores colonized in 1543. In the 1600s, pirates frequently attacked after entering the lagoon through a canal.
In addition to the lagoon, you can also visit the Fort of San Felipe, the Canal De Los Piratas, and a few fantastic cenotes in the area.
Click here to read Bacalar: The Mexican Gem You’ve Never Heard Of
Chetumal
While it remains one of the least touristy places, Chetumal Quintana Roo Mexico has a lot of fun things to do!
Though quieter than other cities on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, this hidden gem has a Caribbean vibe, rich culture and history, and stunning natural wonders. It also makes a good base for getting to other interesting locations on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Click here to read Top 10 Things to Do in Chetumal
What to Eat
There are so many fantastic foods to try in this part of Mexico! Click here to read my guide to Yucatan Food.
Click below to PIN so you can find this Mexican Caribbean coast trip again:
This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer.
About the Author
Patti Morrow
is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the new few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
Leave a reply