I want to be very clear before we begin that this article is about the very best beaches in the state of Yucatan, not the best beachs on the Yucatán Peninsula. I don’t know if that’s what you were looking for but I hope it was. Even if it wasn’t, stay a while and keep an open mind because the Yucatan beaches are utterly gorgeous and they’re really not so far away from the Riviera Maya beaches that you were looking for.

By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll be jumping up and down ready to book your flights to Mérida, so eager will you be to get to the beach.

In this article, I’m going to take you on a little journey around the gorgeous coast of the state of Yucatan, one of my favourite places in the entire world. I’ll introduce you to the best Yucatan beaches and show you how these Gulf of Mexico beaches are the gentle, less pretentious siblings of Quintana Roo’s beaches.

This is Mexico’s Emerald Coast.

What Makes the Yucatan Beaches So Great?

🏝The water can be Caribbean blue but it’s generally a gorgeous green or deep turquoise hence the name, “Emerald Coast”

🏝The white sands are glorious and rarely feel too hot 

🏝The gulf tides are not strong, making them some of the best family beaches in Mexico

🏝 Most of these beaches are easily reached as day trips from Mérida

🏝 There isn’t nearly as much sargassum as on the Caribbean coast

🏝The water is shallow and calm 

🏝 Mass tourism hasn’t yet hit the Yucatan beaches so even on a busy day during spring break, they’re never really busy

🏝 The services that have sprung up on the beaches, as well as in the fishing villages and towns can be much more affordable than on the Caribbean Coast

🏝 The beaches of Yucatan are some of the very best beaches in Mexico and the gentle pace of life in Yucatecan beach towns and fishing villages should never be overlooked ortaken for granted. 

🏝 You’ll get to experience a very authentic Mexican beach life, seeing how locals enjoy their beach time

🏝 The merengeros who walk around selling beach candies – take a look, let everyone try something, it’s all delicious

⭐️ If you’ve done Cancun and Playa del Carmen for Spring Break and are looking for something calmer, a Yucatecan beach could well be your answer

All beaches in Mexico are public beaches. No one can refuse you the right to be on a beach but you can be refused access to a beach if that means walking through someone else’s property. In Yucatán, this doesn’t tend to be a problem as there is plenty of coast and not too much infrastructure yet. You can wander down any public road that leads to a beach.

_{Please note there may be affiliate links in this article. Should you click through and make a purchase then I may make a small sum at no extra cost to you.}

⭐️ Wherever you’re going in Mexico with kids, our packing list for Mexico with kids will come in handy.

Best Yucatan Beaches: El Cuyo

El Cuyo is a little slice of heaven in the far west of the state of Yucatán. It’s kind of surprising, given how gorgeous this beach is, how few people visit or even know about it. 

El Cuyo is a small fishing town of 2000 residents and the beach here is perfect, untouched and unspoiled. The water is a striking green and the sand is white and clean. There is a cute pier and the usual town sign for your every photographic need. 

Why Visit El Cuyo?

Who even remembers what shoes are when they’re in this tiny fishing village? You can stroll through the streets without shoes and no one will bat an eyelid. If you think you like Sayulita or Tulum then you ain’t seen nothing until you get to El Cuyo. This is your ultimate slice of perfection. 

Where is El Cuyo?

El Cuyo is located right in the middle of the nature reserve, Parque Natural Ría Lagartos on the north west coast of Yucatán.

What is there to do in El Cuyo?

You don’t go to El Cuyo to “do” things. You go to El Cuyo to relax, to lie on the beach, to eat, drink and read. That said, there are a few options once you get there. If you’re in El Cuyo over turtle season then you may be able to help with baby sea turtle releases. There are also often flamingos in the area. It’s possible to rent bikes and kite-surfing equipment from locals.

Where to Stay in El Cuyo

🐾 And if you’re looking for a pet friendly hotel, one of Yucatán’s very best pet friendly hotels, is located in El Cuy.

Where to Eat in El Cuyo

El Chile Gordo and Naia Cafe are my two favourite options in El Cuyo.

Best Yucatan Beaches: Las Coloradas

You may already know of Las Coloradas from social media but in my opinion, social media does not give an accurate view of these magical pink salt lakes. People tend to use drone photos that make it look as if the ocean is pink here but it is not. You also sometimes see people in the pink water but this is absolutely forbidden. The pink lakes are gorgeous and are absolutely well worth your time but th beach is not pink however it may appear. 

Why Visit Las Coloradas?

This is a real local’s tip that I’m sharing with you right now: people tend visit for the pink lagunas but there is also a really spectacular strip of pretty much unknown beach just down the road.

When you have finished your walk around the pink salt lake of Las Coloradas, ask your guide to take you to the beach or go on your own. There is absolutely nothing here but gorgeous Caribbean blue water, perfect white sand and you. There are two named beaches – Las Coloradas and Playa Cancunito. Both are generally very quiet.

Where are the Las Coloradas beaches?

Las Coloradas is in the Parque Natural Ría Lagartos and is accessed only by crossing the Puente Las Coloradas. Playa Cancunito can be reached by continuing straight along the road through the Parque Natural Ría Lagartos. Playa Las Coloradas is about halfway along, between Cancunito and the small village of Las Coloradas.

At certain times of year it is possible to drive along the sandy beach road between Las Coloradas and El Cuyo. At other times, this beach is fairly inaccessible.

What is there to do at Las Coloradas?

Once you’ve toured the pink salt lakes there’s really very little to do here. At the Puente there are boats offering tours of the ría (estuary). These tours generally take in crocodiles, flamingos and other bird life.

Where to Stay in Las Coloradas

Las Coloradas is so small there really isn’t anywhere to stay right there. This is somewhere you visit for the day. The best option would be to combine with a trip to Rio Lagartos, a nearby small fishing town that has no beach access of its own.

Where to eat in Las Coloradas

There are a few small cocina economicas in Las Coloradas. Don’t expect much more than beach food and beach furniture and you won’t be disappointed wherever you pick.

Best Yucatan Beaches: San Felipe

San Felipe, on the north Yucatan coast is a small fishing village that is known as the gateway to the Rio Lagartos Biosphere. I love this little village for its incredible chilled atmosphere and because if you don’t know where the beach is, you’ll never find it! I’ve been stopped by confused visitors (Mexican and foreign) here and asked if I know how to find the beach. It always makes me giggle.

Lucky for you, I know where it is and how to find it!

Why Visit San Felipe?

San Felipe is a delightful and tiny place that’s worth visiting precisely because people don’t visit. I love how secluded it is, how quiet it is and how few visitors you’ll find here.

Where is the San Felipe Beach?

The secret to the San Felipe beach is to know that the coastline of San Felipe is a working harbour for the fishing boats and the beach itself is on a small island and is only accessible by boat. 

To find a boat you need to walk to the palapa by the San Felipe letters at the far end of the village. Here you can either buy tickets in a shared bus-boat to the beach, or you can hire a private boat to take you to-and-from the island beach. You can also take boat rides and tours from here into Río Lagartos.

The boats are organised and run by the fishermen’s collective and the profits are split between the group.

The beach is cute but not big. Kids will find the shallow waters perfect for splashing around. There are some shaded palapas here and there is a small tienda (shop) selling drinks but otherwise, take your provisions with you.

What is there to do in San Felipe?

In San Felipe you can take a variety of tours into the ría including one around Isla Cerritos. It was from this small island that Chichén Itzá controlled ocean trade. Visit the Ojo de Agua and walk around the boardwalk to learn about mangroves, crocodiles and more. If you don’t have time to visit Las Coloradas on your own you can also take a tour from here.

Before leaving, take a moment to consider the cute wooden houses in the village.

Where to stay in San Felipe

There is only one hotel in this fishing village. If it’s booked up, look at options in nearby Rio Lagartos.

Where to Eat in San Felipe

There are a few small restaurants in San Felipe, my personal favourite is Restaurante Vaselina. The food is typical for a Yucatecan beach town and it’s right on the water.

Best Yucatan Beaches: Dzilam de Bravo

Ooooh, Dzilam de Bravo, the location of one of my most favourite adventures ever. A group of friends and I, families in tow, spent a night camping on a secluded beach at Dzilam de Bravo. The trip was so phenomenal that it’s gone down in friendship history as “the perfect trip”.

Why Visit Dzilam de Bravo?

You should visit the Yucatan beach of Dzilam de Bravo precisely because it’s hard to reach. It feels like being on a deserted island and that’s really something very special and rare. I can’t think of any other time in my life when I felt so free as I did here. Watching the kids run and play in such a wild setting made my heart sing with joy.

Where is Dzilam de Bravo?

You won’t find this beach on the maps and it’s only accessible by boat when the weather is right. You really need to book a tour or local transport to reach this beach. You can do this via the guys at Restaurante Sayachuleb. It may sound weird but I promise it’s worth it.

Note: if the weather isn’t good, tours don’t leave the harbour.

What is there to do in Dzilam de Bravo?

The tour will take you to a jungle cenote (Elepetén), where you can have a refreshing swim and escape the strong Yucatecan sun. You can visit the fascinating ojo de agua called Xbuya Há in the middle of the sea where thousands of litres of fresh water pour out and into the salt water every minute – just imagine yourself swimming down to the ocean floor to see this for yourself – it’s wild.

And then you get to camp out on the most perfect beach you can imagine. 

Because this is a deserted beach there are no restaurants or hotels on the beach. Should you want to stay an extra night in the area, there are a few options.

Where to Stay in Dzilam de Bravo

Best Yucatán Beaches: Balneario Sac-Ha

My family, friends and I have spent many happy times frolicking on this wonderful beach fringed by palm trees. In fact, it’s a favourite camping spot for us all. Can you imagine going to bed under the stars after cooking over a campfire here, and then waking up to flamingos and pelicans overhead? There is, for me, nothing more magical in the entire world. 

What is there to do at Sac-Ha?

Again, a beach with really very little to do except relax. Come with your picnic, beach chairs, hamacas and plenty of water and just relax.

It’s also possible to camp overnight – just tell the guards when you arrive that you plan on camping and they will charge you accordingly.

Where is Sac-Ha?

Just before you reach the town of San Crisanto you’ll drive through palm groves. On your left you’ll see a small shack at an entry to a carpark under the palms. This is Balneario Sac-Ha, on of the most gorgeous Yucatan beaches. Honestly, you won’t believe it when you see it.

There is an entry fee here but actually you’re paying (as I noted above) for entry to the land in front of the beach. You’re paying to park safely and to use the palapas and bathrooms. 

 

Activities and Sights Between Sac-Ha and Progreso

Best Yucatan Beaches: Progreso

Progreso is the closest beach to Mérida and for a fairly big city beach, it’s a clean and well maintained. The beach stretches from the Progreso letters in the west, one kilometre to the piers, and then approximately another kilometre from the piers to the new Progreso letters in the east.

Why Visit Progreso?

Progreso is the easiest beach to visit if you’re staying in Yucatán’s capital city, Mérida. Since it is a town beach there are more facilities here than other beaches in the region. If you’re in Mérida for a week then it’s likely this is the beach you’ll be visiting.

Where is Progreso?

Progreso is an easy thirty minute drive on the carratera 261from the north of Mérida (it’s so easy you can go for lunch).

What is there to do in Progreso?

Progreso, being a city with a beach, has plenty of activities for everyone. All along the beach front you’ll find Instagram-friendly spots, palapas and restaurants, exercise spaces, and a disability access point. As you cross over the three piers (the biggest one is the longest pier in the world), enjoy the sculptures and other activities such as playgrounds there. 

The further side of the pier is called the Malecon Internacional and the Progreso beach here stretches for another gorgeous kilometre. If you walk along the Malecon (promenade) you’ll find attractions, snack bars and more. The beach is more low key and at the end you’ll find the final Progreso letters. My kids just love to bring an evening picnic and spend sunset mucking around here. There is a brand new museum, The Meteor Museum, by the piers.

Where to Stay in Progreso

Where to Eat in Progreso

There are numerous options in Progreso. Try El Ha Guay at the far end of the malecon by the Progreso letters (one of my favourites). I love to walk around the malecon and piers a dusk and eat street-food such as marquesitas and esquites. Elio el Mare is a wonderful Italian restaurant in Progreso but be sure to book if you want an outdoor table here.

Best Yucatan Beaches: Yucalpeten (including Pig Beach)

Yucalpeten is a quiet spot that used to get more attention when the government run hotel, Hotel Costa Club was still open. Despite the hotel closing it remains one of my favourite spots in Yucatán.

Why Visit Yucalpeten?

This part of the Yucatán coast is nice and quiet. The beach stretches all the way to Chuburna Puerto through the small towns of Chelem and Chuburna but this section is very quiet and secluded, which is why I particularly love it.

Pig Beach can be pretty lively but if you go just a few hundred metres away the beach can be entirely empty. My kids used to have sailing classes here and the beach was pretty much always deserted.

Where is Yucalpeten?

To get to the Yucalpeten beach from Progreso you need to cross the giant bridge where you’ll have the marina on one side and the ría on the other. The views are spectacular but keep your eyes on the road! If you’re coming from Mérida then you can either go via Progreso or turn off earlier and drive through the ría – this is a truly gorgeous route and if you’re lucky you may see flamingos as you drive.

What is there to Do in Yucalpeten

Once you’ve visited Pig Beach, it’s time to take a walk and find your perfect relaxation spot. There are beach clubs such as Playa Bonita where you can use the pool and kayaks.

I continue to hold out hope that the government hotel and beach club Hotel Costa Club will reopen as it was really great value and had a fabulous splashpad for kids but it doesn’t look so likely in mid-2023.

Where to Stay in Yucalpeten

Where to Eat in Yucalpeten

Playa Bonita has good meals and La Playa is also highly rated by locals and visitors alike.

Best Yucatan Beaches: Chuburna Puerto (Playon Chuburna)

I keep talking about how quiet and deserted the beaches of Yucatán are but it’s true, they are. They’re rarely crowded and even when they’re busy, they’re not busy-busy. Chuburna Puerto is another beach with no facilities, just oodles of fresh air, sand and magnificent ocean.

Why Visit Chuburna Puerto?

Visit Chuburna Puerto for exquisite views along the coast to Progreso or simply to know that you’re at the end of this stretch of land.

Where is Chuburna Puerto?

Chuburna Puerto is reached either by driving through Chelem and Chuburna and continuing until you can’t drive any further, or by taking the Sierra Papacal-Chuburna road and then turning left and driving until you can’t drive anymore.

What is there to do in Chuburna Puerto?

This beach has no amenities or shade so come with everything you need. You can drive right onto the beach and park. If there are other cars, follow their lead, if not, be sure to park on hard sand! 

Once you’re on the beach, to your left, over the rocks is the end of the ría. People do cross over the play in the water here. To your right is an enormous expanse of beach that just keeps on going. You’ll most likely see kitesurfers and parasailing. I have also heard talk of tours into the ría here but I’ve never found any information. Perhaps with the new Isla Columpeos just having opened it’ll get easier to find information.  

🐾 Find out which beaches are pet friendly from Mérida

Where to Stay in Chuburna Puerto

Chuburna Puerto has no accommodation options but you can easily stay in Chubuná or Chelem (see above).

Where to Eat in Chuburná

There are no restaurants by the beach so you either take a picnic or you head into Chuburná to find a restaurant. I have eaten in El Mero Mero and Los Delfines many times. Both serve typical Yucatecan beach food (fish, tacos, aguachile, ceviche) and are delicious

Beaches after this point are inaccessible as there is no road until you reach…

Best Yucatan Beaches: Sisal

Sisal is a small fishing village that is somewhat isolated from the rest of Yucatán thanks to the lack of coastal road. There are fewer than 2000 people living in Sisal and it rarely ever feels busy except on Mexican holidays when people from Mérida flock here.

Why Visit Sisal?

Sisal has a magic about it. I guess this is why it was recently named as Yucatan’s only coastal pueblo magico. The town itself is sleepy and it isn’t somewhere to go if you’re looking for luxury but if you’re happy with a laid-back town with an unspoiled beach then this could be your idea of heaven.

Do note that locals aren’t all happy with this “pueblo magico” accolade and feel that it was a political decision to award it. The town does not have the infrastructure to receive large numbers of visitors so please don’t expect too much if you do visit.

Where is Sisal?

Sisal is about an hour away from Mérida on the carretera 281. This is the only way to reach Sisal, which is why it remains sleepy and unspoiled.

What is there to Do in Sisal?

This is somewhere you can sometimes see sea turtles and even take part in baby turtle release programs. In Sisal you can kayak through mangroves, take fishing tours or sit on the beach and chill. The village plaza is quite lovely and be sure to admire the street art as you walk around. The small museum is currently closed but may open again one day.

Both sunset and sunrise are famously spectacular here.

Where to Stay in Sisal

Did you know that I’ve written two books about Yucatán? One, pictured below, is a guide book, the other is about moving to M´rida and how to do it Both are available on Amazon.

Where to Eat in Sisal

My favourite place to eat is Palapa de Soco because the food is great and the staff are extremely friendly. This restaurant has no beach access though. If you want beach side then they’re all much of a muchness so pick any restaurant as you walk around.

Best Yucatan Beaches: Celestun

Celestún, the final beach in Yucatan (before we reach Campeche) is famous for its delightful pink flamingos. This is where people generally go to see flamingos in their natural habitat. But tourists often stop there and don’t head into town or to the beach. The bisophere here is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Why Visit Celestun?

If you’ve already heard of Celstun it’s probably because of the pink flamingos that spend November – April in the ría (estuary) here. I would think most visitors to Yucatán take some kind of flamingo tour in Celestun. This means most visitors will explore the ría (which is utterly wonderful and definitely worth doing) but they may not get to see Celestun’s beach. If you enjoy beaches with good family-friendly restaurants then you’ll love Celestun. It’s always felt a little busier than other beaches in the region to me but I still adore it.

Where is Celestun?

Celestun, like Sisal, is hard to reach except from Mérida. It is at the end of carretera 281 in the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestun.

What is there to do in Celestun?

Obviously, the biggest draw is the tours to see the flamingos in the ría. During winter there are approximately 35,000 flamingos living here.

When there are no flamingos it’s still worth taking a biosphere or mangrove tour as there are crocodiles, herons and much more to see. If you can get to Celestun on your own then you can either stop at the bridge on the way into Celestun or head to the beach to arrange your own tour. It costs around $1800 pesos a boat split between eight/nine people. When you show up you’ll be able to join with others although it may take a while to fill a boat, particularly if you’re going from the beach.

If you don’t have transport then you can book a tour from Mérida here.

San Joaquin Camp – in the dry season you can drive to this abandoned salt factory/hacienda. If you ask around in town you’ll hear some creepy ghost stories about this place.

Enjoy sunset on the beach.

Where to Stay in Celestun

Where to Eat in Celestun

My personal view is that the restaurants along the beach offer good food, good service and reasonable prices.

I really hope you’ve enjoyed this trip through the best Yucatan beaches, and that you’ve found somewhere to go and explore and enjoy. Let me know where you pick!

Yucatan Beaches FAQs

Can I get to these beaches via public transportation?

Apart from Progreso and maybe the towns of Chelem and Chicxulub Puerto you’ll struggle to get to any of these beaches with public transport. It’s well worth getting a rental car if you don’t have one.

Are the Yucatan beaches safe?

Yes. the beaches in Yucatán are safe and so are the towns they’re in. That said, please never travel without insurance as there is always the possibility of something going wrong whenever you leave home.

Are there any beach clubs on the Yucatecan Coast?

Yes, there are. Tecnotel is a hotel with a nice day pass, Silcer Beach Club is the most famous beach club of all. El Ha Guay and many others. Playa Bonita in Yucatlpeten is another good option.

Are there any nudist beaches in Yucatán?

No. There are no nudist beaches in Yucatán. Oaxaca’s Zipolite Beach is the only official nudist beach in Mexico.

Is Chichen Itza near the beach?

​Chichen Itza is an inland ruin. It’s close to the beautiful colonial town of Valladolid and not super close to the beach. Better to visit a cenote if you’re going to spend a day around Chichen Itza.

Is Isla Holbox in Yucatan?

No, it’s just over the state line into Quintana Roo. 

What about high season in Yucatán? When’s that?

For Yucatan, high season is more or less November – March. This is when the snowbirds come in from the United States and Canada to enjoy the gentle warmth of the coast of Yucatan. 

What’s the nearest big city to all these beaches?

Merida, the capital of Yucatan, is the nearest big city. Here you’ll find all the amenities you need. The international airport is also here. Progreso is a decent sized town too. It has enough amenities to serve most of the north coast beach population of Yucatan

Where can I see flamingos in Yucatán?

The most famous place to see flamingos in Yucatan is Celestun but they can also be seen around Zac-Ha, Laguna Rosada, las Coloradas and even outside Chicxulub or Progreso although Celestun is where you’ll see the biggest concentration.

Can I go fishing on the Yucatan coast?

Absolutely you can go fishing in Yucatan. If you have your own equipment just head onto any pier and join the locals enjoying the breeze. If you are interested in learning to fish like a local, you can pick up a session somewhere like Sisal or Dzilam de Bravo or you can book a deepsea fishing trip once you’re in Progreso.

Are there cenotes near the coast?

There are a few cenotes along the coast – El Corchito, for example by Progreso and Elepetén by Dzilam de Bravo but most cenotes are further inland. Read my article about the best cenotes around Mérida to give you an idea of your options. If you don’t have your own transport then I recommend taking a cenote tour from Mérida.