Riviera Maya beaches - Links to the best beaches on the coast
The Riviera Maya's serpentine coastline stretches from Cancun to Tulum through a series of dynamic points and sandy bays. Most of the bays are protected by an outer reef that reduces the surf and encourages sand to collect on the beaches. Snorkeling and kayaking are best in the bays. Akumal, Soliman and Tankah are examples of beaches with an outer reef break.
In areas of the coast where there is no outer reef the waves come in directly, sometimes crashing on a hard limestone shore or a sandy beach. Playa del Carmen and Tulum are good examples of beaches with no outer reef break but plenty of sand.
Akumal
Akumal actually has two beaches. One to the north in Half Moon Bay, and the other is one of the best beaches around, the main beach at Akumal Bay in the center of town. Three other bays nearby to the south also have beaches and are referred to as part of Akumal. Those are Jade Beach, South Akumal and Aventuras Akumal.
Akumal actually has two beaches. One to the north in Half Moon Bay, and the other is one of the best beaches around, the main beach at Akumal Bay in the center of town. Three other bays nearby to the south also have beaches and are referred to as part of Akumal. Those are Jade Beach, South Akumal and Aventuras Akumal.
Paamul
Paamul is just north of Puerto Aventuras and has a sandy beach mixed with limestone iron shore and an outer reef break. There are some facilities including a dive shop and restaurant that service primarily those who live there in Recreational Vehicles (RVs). The restaurant has a swimming pool and serves very good regional food. The reef diving is also good.
Paamul is just north of Puerto Aventuras and has a sandy beach mixed with limestone iron shore and an outer reef break. There are some facilities including a dive shop and restaurant that service primarily those who live there in Recreational Vehicles (RVs). The restaurant has a swimming pool and serves very good regional food. The reef diving is also good.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen has grown tremendously in recent years, partly due to its long stretch of sandy beach. At its northern end the beach is widest with resorts and beach clubs along the shore. At the Porto Real hotel a cement pier makes a wave break and the beach continues to the ferry dock. Beach width varies.
Playa del Carmen has grown tremendously in recent years, partly due to its long stretch of sandy beach. At its northern end the beach is widest with resorts and beach clubs along the shore. At the Porto Real hotel a cement pier makes a wave break and the beach continues to the ferry dock. Beach width varies.
Playacar
Playacar is Playa del Carmen's neighbor to the south, starting on the south side of the ferry dock to Cozumel. Depending on the season the beach is more or less narrow just south of Senor Frog's and then increases in width as it passes beach front villas, a couple small hotels and then a few all-inclusive resorts farther south.
Playacar is Playa del Carmen's neighbor to the south, starting on the south side of the ferry dock to Cozumel. Depending on the season the beach is more or less narrow just south of Senor Frog's and then increases in width as it passes beach front villas, a couple small hotels and then a few all-inclusive resorts farther south.
Puerto Aventuras
Puerto Aventuras is a resort style marina community with a full array of services and a short but wide sandy beach. There's plenty of pure sand for sunbathing and a reef break not far off the beach to knock down the surf somewhat. A narrow cut on the north end of the beach is the inlet to the main part of the marina.
Puerto Aventuras is a resort style marina community with a full array of services and a short but wide sandy beach. There's plenty of pure sand for sunbathing and a reef break not far off the beach to knock down the surf somewhat. A narrow cut on the north end of the beach is the inlet to the main part of the marina.
Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos ;has a main beach in the center of town with smooth sand and restaurants nearby, but the beach is natural, and for the most part not raked to remove trash and excessive seaweed. North and south are more beaches, usually better where resorts and individuals clean the beach for their guests.
Puerto Morelos ;has a main beach in the center of town with smooth sand and restaurants nearby, but the beach is natural, and for the most part not raked to remove trash and excessive seaweed. North and south are more beaches, usually better where resorts and individuals clean the beach for their guests.
Sian Ka'an
Sian Ka'an, Mayan for "where the sky is born", is a coastal biosphere reserve south of Tulum Ruins designed for sustainable usage by the public. The entrance is through a stone archway on the bumpy road to Boca Paila & Punta Allen. Expect few services here, but plenty of deserted beaches, then Punta Allen at land's end.
Sian Ka'an, Mayan for "where the sky is born", is a coastal biosphere reserve south of Tulum Ruins designed for sustainable usage by the public. The entrance is through a stone archway on the bumpy road to Boca Paila & Punta Allen. Expect few services here, but plenty of deserted beaches, then Punta Allen at land's end.
Soliman Bay
Soliman Bay is a wide bay that's well protected by an outer reef break. It has a picturesque crescent arc of narrow sand lined with palms and modest beach houses. Snorkeling and kayaking are common activities. Just around the northern point is Oscar y Lalo's beach restaurant with a narrow but nice beach and coconut grove.
Soliman Bay is a wide bay that's well protected by an outer reef break. It has a picturesque crescent arc of narrow sand lined with palms and modest beach houses. Snorkeling and kayaking are common activities. Just around the northern point is Oscar y Lalo's beach restaurant with a narrow but nice beach and coconut grove.
Tankah Bay
Tankah Bay is just south of Soliman Bay and is similar with an out reef break to limit the amount of surf that rolls in. The beach is generally narrow but nice with plenty of room for sun worshipers. Casa Cenote restaurant and Manatee Cenote are prime attractions here for a quick dip, a bite to eat (lunch or dinner) and a cold one.
Tankah Bay is just south of Soliman Bay and is similar with an out reef break to limit the amount of surf that rolls in. The beach is generally narrow but nice with plenty of room for sun worshipers. Casa Cenote restaurant and Manatee Cenote are prime attractions here for a quick dip, a bite to eat (lunch or dinner) and a cold one.
Tulum
Tulum has some wide powdery beaches with no outer reef break and generally bigger surf. A multitude of palapa style beach bungalows line the coastal road that heads south from the Tulum Ruins. These vary in quality but most have good beaches in front for sunning and strolling the surf line. The road turns to sand past Zamas.
Tulum has some wide powdery beaches with no outer reef break and generally bigger surf. A multitude of palapa style beach bungalows line the coastal road that heads south from the Tulum Ruins. These vary in quality but most have good beaches in front for sunning and strolling the surf line. The road turns to sand past Zamas.
Xcacel
Xcacel has a wide expanse of sandy beach and no outer reef break to knock down the incoming waves. This is an ideal situation for several species of sea turtles and so Xcacel is particularly well known as a turtle nesting area. There are no services and as of this writing the beach is uninhabited. Xcacel is a popular beach with the local natives and gringos, despite the lack of services. The best protected snorkeling is on the north end and a path on the south end leads to a secluded cenote.
Xcacel has a wide expanse of sandy beach and no outer reef break to knock down the incoming waves. This is an ideal situation for several species of sea turtles and so Xcacel is particularly well known as a turtle nesting area. There are no services and as of this writing the beach is uninhabited. Xcacel is a popular beach with the local natives and gringos, despite the lack of services. The best protected snorkeling is on the north end and a path on the south end leads to a secluded cenote.
Xpu-ha
Xpu-ha is another wide expanse of pure sand beach with no outer reef break. There are a couple of restaurants, beach accommodations and a dive shop on the sand, and two big resorts on the northern part of the beach. This is one of the best beaches around.
Xpu-ha is another wide expanse of pure sand beach with no outer reef break. There are a couple of restaurants, beach accommodations and a dive shop on the sand, and two big resorts on the northern part of the beach. This is one of the best beaches around.
