The Most Beautiful Mexico Beaches to Visit in 2026

Living in Mexico, I’m lucky to have relatively easy access to many beautiful beaches, both near my home and across the country. Even the farthest flung are within a three or four hour flight, tops. 

While you’ve probably heard about famous spots like Balandra, Medano, Playcar, and Delfines, 2026 might be a good time to consider something new. From Baja to the southern coast and the Yucatan, there’s sure to be a beach on this list worth planning your next trip around.

One of the best beaches for swimming in the state of Oaxaca, Playa Carrizalillo offers relatively gentle waves, but on the left, there is a surf break that’s ideal for those learning to get up on a board and ride. Nestled in a protected bay just outside central Puerto Escondido in the Rinconada neighborhood, you’ll have to descend quite a few steep steps down the cliff to reach it, but it’s worth the reward just to enjoy the stunning beauty. 

Despite the more difficult access, this is still a very popular beach, making it best to arrive early. You can easily spend the whole day here, with restrooms on-site, loungers for rent, and casual palapa/beach bars selling food and drink, including cold beer and grilled fish.

While the main beaches in Cabo are often filled with vendors selling their wares, Playa Palmilla offers a serene stretch where you’ll have to constantly say, “No, gracias.” There are no vendors on this stretch of unspoiled white sands, while the calm turquoise water is swimmable. It’s also good for paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling with abundant marine life just below the surface. 

The beach lies adjacent to the luxurious One & Only Palmilla, a great place to stay for those who can afford it, but as a public beach, non-guests are welcome too. If you’re looking for a bit of solitude and stunning natural beauty, bring your food and drink, toss down some beach towels, and enjoy.

Located on the Pacific side of famous Land’s End, Playa Solmar boasts a nearly endless stretch of soft white sands for barefoot strolls in another vendor-free area. You’ll often enjoy it practically all to yourself, with few visitors making it here, other than those staying at the Solmar Resort or Grand Solmar, which offer easy access. Non-guests can take a water taxi from the Cabo San Lucas Marina or simply walk through the grounds of the resort properties. 

While the waves are too powerful here for swimming, beyond beach walks, you’ll have one of the best vantage points in the area for whale watching, other than being out on the water. In the winter, humpbacks can often be seen breaching in the distance while gray whales come very close to shore, digging in the sand for crustaceans. This is also an ideal spot for sunset watching.

The main beach that fronts the small town of La Ventana, just 40 minutes from La Paz, is known as Playa Central, but the white sands stretched along the La Ventana bay are uninterrupted for at least three miles. This is where kitesurfers come from across the globe to ride the waves from mid-October through April, with winter the peak of the season. There are numerous outfitters for rental equipment and lessons, but it’s fun just to watch the experts while enjoying the scenery. 

Paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling are best early in the morning, with the water at its calmest around sunrise. By heading about 5.7 miles north along the beach, you’ll find natural hot springs. Hot water emerges right from the ground, mixing with the water from the bay to form a natural hot tub. Move the stones on the beach to create your very own.

Tucked along the Sea of Cortez in the Sierra de la Giganta Mountains, the small town of Loreto is an ideal base for exploring Loreto Bay National Park and its many islands, including Coronado, just a 25-minute boat ride away. It’s often included on boat and kayak tours, providing the opportunity to experience a wild, uninhabited isle worlds away from tourist crowds. Coronado Island Beach is an unforgettable spot for peaceful contemplation while relaxing on the sand and snorkeling in the calm, clear blue waters just offshore. 

The park is one of the top destinations for viewing marine life, so as you make your way to the island, watch for everything from orcas and common dolphins that form large “superpods” to whales, including humpbacks, blue whales, fin whales, pilot whales, and sperm whales. While there are cetaceans here year-round, peak sightings of most whale species occur from January to March. 

Located at the south end of Puerto Vallarta in the upscale Conchas Chinas neighborhood, Playa Conchas Chinas is a beautiful Blue Flag beach. Blue Flag certification means that the beach has met or exceeded high standards for consistently high water quality that’s safe for swimming with a well-maintained, clean beach environment.

Concha Chinas also offers a quieter, more exclusive atmosphere, with a lush backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains, yet it’s still close to the cobbled streets of Zona Romántica (Old Town) and all the action downtown. One of the highlights of the beach is its calm tidal pools that form between the rocky outcrops, perfect for relaxing, kind of like a natural Jacuzzi. If you walk south along the beach, you’ll find several smaller coves for an even more secluded feel. 

Sandwiched between the two larger beach towns of Mazunte and Zipolote, the local nude beach, San Agustinillo, provides a relaxed beach experience with pristine sands that include calm and surf-friendly areas, artisan shops, and eateries serving fresh local seafood and outstanding Oaxacan specialties. There are also several hotels here that offer a wellness-focused escape. 

Playa San Agustinillo stretches for about 1.2 miles, making it perfect for a walk along its golden sands and cobalt water.  As the bay is sheltered by large rocks rising from the water just offshore, it’s typically calm, while the seabottom is mostly soft and sandy. For those interested in wildlife, just a 15-minute drive west is Laguna Ventanilla, inhabited by iguanas, sea turtles, crocodiles, and colorful birds. 

Isla Holbox, located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, offers a tranquil vibe with no high-rise buildings or cars. Instead, you’ll find charming fishing villages and unspoiled white, sandy beaches, with visitors and locals alike getting around on foot, by bicycle, or golf cart. Punta Cocos is my very favorite beach here, with its peaceful atmosphere located at the furthest point away from town.

By following the main beach west, you can easily get here on foot. There are trees for shade and just one beach club with hammocks for relaxing. But you can skip the facilities and walk to where there’s no development at all, with a thin strip of sand, while the sea is on one side and the lagoon is on the other. As the beach faces west, it’s an ideal vantage point for watching a colorful sunset.

Part of the Celestun Biosphere Reserve, renowned for its flamingos, Playa Marela in Celestun is just an hour from the town of Merida. There are many guided tours that will bring you from the city, but it’s an easy drive for those who want to visit independently. Or, make it your base, with a handful of hotels that will put you steps away from the white sands, clear blue waters, and lush mangroves.

Playa Marela is one of the best beaches, providing a relaxed atmosphere for an authentic Mexican beach experience. Head to the pier to join a boat tour through the mangroves and to observe the exotic pink birds.

Playa Akumal on the Riviera Maya is one of the most popular beaches in the region, but nearby you’ll find Playa Xcacel, a rare, tranquil stretch for those seeking peace and seclusion. As a protected area for sea turtle nesting, development is limited and loud music is banned, ensuring the perfect spot for quiet contemplation. Swimming can be enjoyed at the north end, where you’ll find calm, clear, shallow water for swimming or snorkeling among colorful fish and sea turtles that feed on the seagrass. 

Punta Esmeralda, located at the northeast end of Playa del Carmen in a non-touristy area, provides a relaxed place to enjoy time at the beach with an authentic, local vibe. It even has a cenote right in the middle that’s safe for kids to splash around in. As a certified Blue Flag beach, cleanliness and high-quality water in spectacular shades of blues and greens is ensured. Plus, the sand is soft and white, dotted with lush palms for shade and outstanding photo ops. There are free palapas, but you’ll want to arrive early to snag one. 

An emerging destination on the Costa Maya along the Caribbean Sea, Mahahual offers calm, clear turquoise water near the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, making it ideal for snorkeling and diving. Less-visited than many other Mexican coastal towns, it has a more relaxed vibe for secluded tranquility. 

The main beach of the same name has a malecon (boardwalk) that’s lined with eateries and beach clubs, but you’ll also find quiet, undeveloped stretches to the south, bordered by mangroves. No matter where you go, the striking white sands are perfect for relaxation, and you’ll have opportunities to swim, snorkel, kayak, or paddleboard. Plus, for those who would like to explore Mayan ruins, one of the best Mayan sites in the area is less than an hour away, with large temples set among lush jungle.