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Best Beaches in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is located on the Caribbean Sea and situated in the Quintana Roo state of Mexico. It’s a popular tourist destination in the Riviera Maya and full of beaches.
With so many beaches around how will you know the best beaches in Playa del Carmen?
That is what we are here to help you answer.
Playa del Carmen is full of resorts, hotels, and tourist attractions.
Playa del Carmen is a popular spot that is only continuing to grow more and more attention. It is close to neighboring popular hot spots like Tulum and Cancun.
You can even stay in Tulum and drive to all these beautiful beaches.
With its clear, blue, and warm waters as well as its soft, powdery, and white sand, it’s no wonder why it’s a loved travel destination.
Besides the picturesque beaches, there is so much to do in the area.
Most of the beaches have restaurants, bars, and shops lining the boardwalk or streets nearby.
There are many small and authentic street vendors for a quick bite of food. Who doesn’t love street tacos?
You can even find a ton of beach clubs on or near the beaches for an exciting social experience.
If you are lucky enough to stay in exquisite resorts or hotel you will get to enjoy their private sections of the beaches.
For the rest of us, we will need to enjoy one of these spots on the best beaches in Playa del Carmen.
The 7 Best Beaches in Playa del Carmen
1. Parque Los Fundadores
This beach is super iconic and a favorite among those in Playa del Carmen. At the entrance to the beach, there is a large arch with two beautiful mermaids.
It creates a picturesque view of the ocean through the arch and makes the beach feel very inviting.
However, this beach can get a bit crowded at times because you will find a large variety of people including locals and tourists.
There are no private beach clubs on this part of the coastline so you can park a towel or beach chair anywhere.
Enjoy the sun without having to worry about too much noise or hype around you.
The open community feels are the best part, which is why it is one of the best beaches in Playa del Carmen. There is also a large volleyball court that welcomes anyone to start or join in on a game.
The ocean is blocked off with a swimming area to keep you safe from going too far off the shoreline which makes it a good beach for kids.
Once you’re ready for a break from the sun, there are plenty of bars, shops, and restaurants on the boardwalk to choose from. There are also plenty of day trips to take from Playa De Carmen.
Off of the beach itself, you’ll find sculptures, a children’s playground, and traditional Mayan dance performances for additional entertainment.
You could make an entire day’s adventure out of visiting this beach thanks to the many entertaining and surrounding places.
There are also many local street vendors where you can get a super authentic and inexpensive bite to eat or a fresh, cold drink. It’s quite a value-added experience to visit this beach.
This is where the magic happens. Mamitas Beach is a super energetic and playful beach to visit. However, if you’re looking for some shut-eye under the warm sun, this isn’t the best option.
But, if you want to meet people and have some fun, you’ll definitely find it here.
There are DJs playing music and drinks flying around for the perfect mix of fun and sun.
If you want an exhilarating beach day, this is the place to be. You can even liven it up by becoming a member of the Mamitas Beach Club for the day.
This will give you access to your choice of umbrellas, beach chairs, and beach beds as well as you can use the VIP Pool and bed area.
You’ll also enjoy lounge music all day and waiter service for food and drinks.
You can take a break from the sun at the clubhouse restaurant or use the bathrooms and outdoor showers.
It’s an exclusive club for the elite so splurge a little and live the good life for a day. With that being said, if you are trying to stay on a budget, this might not be the place for you.
Mamitas beach is very well known for its lively environment. Even if it’s not your style, you should at least visit it to fully experience everything in Playa del Carmen.
It’s quite a popular destination that is putting Playa del Carmen on the map as a social destination.
This beach is one of the best-kept and nicest beaches in Playa del Carmen. It’s home to many upscale and private resorts as well as residential usage.
All beaches though are public so as long as you know the lay of the land, you can still visit this beach without staying at a high-end hotel.
Resorts will have beach chairs in front of their property for their exclusive guests so make sure you don’t sit in one of these if you’re not a member.
These are reserved for people staying at the hotel and you’ll be asked to move almost immediately.
You can, however, sit right or left of the private beach area of a resort and enjoy your time basking in the sun.
Although it’s a private section of the beach, it’s still a beautiful spot to spend the day because it’s less visited by the public and well-kept.
You won’t have to worry about seaweed when swimming. That is because it’s picked up early in the morning before you’ve even gone outside.
This beach is lined by palm trees and upscale resorts and is especially known for its clear, blue water and fine, white sand.
Lastly, be prepared because there are no public restrooms at this beach so make sure you’ve packed water and snacks ahead of time.
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4. Calle 2 Beach
This is one of the most popular and busiest, but also one of the best beaches in Playa del Carmen.
It’s situated next to the ferry so many people coming in and out of the city stop and enjoy this beach.
You can always find a game of horseshoes or volleyball here.
It’s not the largest or widest of beaches and it always tends to be packed. If you’re looking for some space to wind down and enjoy some peace and quite, this is not the best beach for you.
It is, however, a great place to experience the social scene in Playa del Carmen. You’re almost guaranteed to have a good time at Calle 2 Beach.
5. Calle 10 Beach
This beach is known for its beach clubs which usually have a connotation as being expensive. But you will have a great time at them.
However, there is a great mix of affordable and exclusive clubs on this strip of beach.
Since most people come to this beach for the party. You’ll find that the actual beach is pretty empty and you’ll be able to enjoy a spot to relax.
This would be a good beach to mix some chill time in the sand with an exciting vibe in or around the beach clubs.
Calle 10 has a very laid-back environment that is super enjoyable.
The sand on this beach isn’t quite as white and powdery as other beaches in the area but it’s still a fun place to enjoy your day.
6. Punta Esmeralda Beach
This completely shockingly beautiful beach is a little bit out of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Punta Esmeralda Beach is roughly 3 miles from downtown Playa del Carmen but definitely worth the trip.
It’s a total oasis spot with its extremely clear, blue water and large, sandy white beaches.
There is also a freshwater cenote which is essentially a limestone sinkhole that flows into the sea. It is a stunning and beautiful beach that is truly worth the visit.
Because of the unique cenote located here, it tends to be a popular spot and it could get busy but it’s still a great place to relax and adventure.
The cenote is shallow so it’s a great spot for kids as well.
Cenotes aren’t always located this close to the water which makes it even cooler to be able to see the source of the water as well the mix between the cenote and the ocean.
Like most of the beaches in Playa del Carmen, this beach is public and completely free for anyone to enjoy.
There is also a beach bar with washrooms, restrooms, and refreshments as well as a playground for children.
This would be a great beach to visit for a unique adventure to check out the cenote. It would also make a good spot for families.
7. Playa Akumal
Located a bit out of the center of Playa del Carmen, Playa Akumal is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Quintana Roo region of Mexico.
It’s a quieter area which is why sea turtles have chosen to call this area home for thousands of years.
Turtles spawn here each year in April and May so by July and August thousands of baby sea turtles can be seen roaming the beach and heading to sea.
Akumal in Mayan actually means turtle land so it’s the best place for the chance to see these beautiful sea creatures.
If you want to go snorkeling, this would be a great place for that too.
It’s the perfect beach to spend a day during your time in Playa del Carmen and adventure around.
Let yourself take in the beautiful scenery, search for baby sea turtles, snorkel to see amazing sea creatures, and relax on the sandy, white beach.
Are Beaches Swimmable in Playa del Carmen?
Yes, for the most part, the beaches in Playa del Carmen are swimmable. You don’t have to worry about cold water or rip tides for the most part.
If there is a strong current or a riptide, there will normally be a red flag on the beach warning swimmers.
The only concern with the beaches in Playa Del Carmen is the seaweed. The seaweed tends to get a little out of control. Especially in the summer months June – September when the water temperature is higher.
But if you can manage the seaweed you will be totally fine, also if you come any other time during the year October – May the seaweed isn’t nearly as bad and you probably won’t even notice it.
Conclusions
Playa del Carmen is home to some of the most beautiful beaches. It’s a favorite vacation spot among so many people because of the pristine sandy and white beaches that cover miles of coastline.
There are so many great beaches in Playa del Carmen, so it’s no wonder it’s hard to know which one to visit.
Hopefully, this list of the 7 best beaches to visit in Playa del Carmen has helped you narrow it down. If you’re lucky enough to have a week-long vacation in Playa del Carmen maybe you can visit them all!
Megan is the founder of Peter Pan Traveler. She left her full-time career in search of never-never land. Megan has lived in Costa Rica, Mexico, and France and has sailed around the Caribbean. She is here to help everyone find their never-never land and the best beaches possible.
