Beaches
Previous Image Next Image

Beaches Galore

By Jane Ammeson

Regardless of what kind of beach experience you favor most, you’ll find it in the Riviera Maya. Perfect for solitude, the beaches at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean, can be accessed at Muyil, once a small Mayan seaport.

Serene is probably the best way to describe Jade Beach, one of Akumal’s seven bays and perfect for sunning and swimming. Just a ways up the coast, Half Moon and Akumal bays are ringed by open-air restaurants, souvenir stands and dive shops renting equipment and offering underwater tours. Take a break from the sun in Playa Akumal, a charming beach village that features outdoor restaurants and palapa-topped stores selling beach clothes, as well as the wares of local and regional artisans.
 
A favorite of those in the know, the beach at Xpu-Ha is mostly about sand and surf. However, beyond the shoreline visitors will find a few restaurants, dive centers and La Playa Xpu-Ha Restaurant and Beach Club, which offers showers, lockers, palapas and beach chairs. 

Stay at the swank Royal Playa del Carmen or across the street at the family-oriented Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen. Both offer diving instruction and the Royal has a training pool dedicated to the sport. After learning, head out to the broad swath of sand and sea known as Playacar Beach. Much of this pretty beach is private, as it's part of the long line of resorts.  


Back in Playa, stroll along the esplanade that edges the beach, stopping in the small park to watch a puppet show or play, and at vendor carts to buy sweets and tropical fruit sprinkled with red chili pepper—a delicious combination of sweet, fresh and hot.

Just steps from the bustling shops, bars and restaurants on Quinta Avenida or Fifth Avenue in downtown Playa, the beaches here are all about action. Adrenaline junkies can choose from parasailing, windsurfing and jet-skiing. Vendors offer hair braiding, beaded jewelry and henna tattoos. No need to worry about quenching your thirst. Nearby beach bars offer cold beers and frothy cocktails along with freshly made guacamole and chips, burgers, and tiny tacos filled with freshly caught and grilled shrimp.

The popular Mamitas Beach Club is a lively hangout with a restaurant, a bar and a live DJ. But for those who want luxury, a must-try is the upscale Balinese-themed Indigo Beach Club, featuring beds, a beach bar, restaurant and lounge music, as well as yoga or tai-chi classes by the sea.

Rent a Jet Ski, a banana boat or parachute from the back of a boat at the lively Mahekal Beach (formerly Shangri-La) on the north side of Playa’s downtown.

Puerto Morelos, a small fishing village with a traditional zócalo (town square) edged by shops and restaurants, fronts the Caribbean Sea. View artifacts from shipwrecks at the village’s maritime museum. Taste freshly caught fish grilled with garlic and topped with a quick squeeze of lime before walking the few steps to the wide sandy beach. Rent snorkeling gear and swim the short distance to Puerto Morelos National Underwater Park—part of the Great Mayan Reef—or sit in the sun and sip a delicious margarita.


Escape to an Island

By Jane Ammeson

Two islands, nestled in cerulean waters just off the Yucatán coastline and easily accessible by ferry, are magical getaways for visitors.

Isla Mujeres or Island of the Women earned its name in 1517 when Spanish explorers discovered statues of Ixchel, the Mayan moon goddess. Ixchel's temple is still here, perched atop a rocky cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea in Garrafón Reef Park — it's where Mayan women once traveled to pray for a fertile marriage. Today, visitors come for snorkeling in the fish-filled coral reefs, zip-lining above Mayan ruins and taking the short jitney ride to the bustling shopping plaza on Avenue Rueda Medina in the island's only town.

Historic San Miguel on the island of Cozumel is known for its open-air cantinas, flower-bedecked, wrought iron balconies, horse-driven carriages and brightly painted stucco buildings. But this gem of a town also has its trendy side. Upscale boutiques, European and American chains, and enough perfume and jewelry stores to send any turista's luggage over the limit abound. Enjoy time wandering among the plazas with their luxuriant plantings of hibiscus and ginger — but be sure to see the Atlantic side of the island, more rugged and wild with an occasional palapa-topped bar filled with surfers and those looking to get away. Take a horseback ride through the jungle past Mayan ruins and along the sandy beaches. Snorkel or dive in Chankanaab Park. Embrace all that these islands offer.