Mexico is one of the most family-friendly countries I have ever visited so if you’re considering a family vacation in Mexico, let’s begin by confirming that you are in for a fabulous experience. This article will help you figure out where to find the best family beaches in Mexico including those that are absolutely perfect for families with young children. 

Mexico is a country with almost 10,000 km (6,000 miles) of coastline yet few people think to venture further than the famous resorts of Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo. These beach areas are, of course, gorgeous; people wouldn’t flock there if they weren’t, but the Mexican coast offers so much more if you just know where to look.

Whether you’re looking to introduce the baby to the beach for the first time, let toddlers run wild on the beach, watch pre-teens frolic on the shore or find surf classes for teenagers, Mexico has something for you.

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Let’s take a look now at the best family beaches in Mexico

Best Beaches in Mexico For Families

We’ll take a look at the best family beaches in Mexico state by state, location by location but before we do, keep an eye on this awesome packing list for Mexico with kids.

Any of these beaches, of course, would make great destinations for a family spring break in Mexico.

🏝 Best Family Beaches on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast 🏝

Quintana Roo

Cancun

⭐️ Obviously you’ve heard of the famous resort town of Cancun unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for a looooong time. It’s basically Mexico 101 and you don’t get to be Mexico 101 without good reason. Cancun is cheap and easy to get to from everywhere, the beaches are amazing, there are hotels to suit every budget and desire and the activities available to visitors will blow people away.

Best Beaches For Kids Around Cancun 

Note: Most of the beaches in the Hotel Zone will be kept clear of sargassum

🏝 Playa Delfines – this is the archetypal Caribbean beach with gorgeous white sand stretching for kilometres. The water here is the most incredible bright blue you can imagine. The waves can be rough enough that little kids might not feel safe but with parents, this is generally a good spot for kids to enjoy the water (supervised, of course). There are palapas available for shade and there are always people walking up and down selling snacks and drinks. There are toilets in the car park and there’s even a playground on the beach. 

🏝 Playa Gaviota Azul – this is my favourite beach in Cancun’s hotel zone and if you’re staying in this area, don’t miss out. Here the water is calm, striking blue, clear of seaweed and there’s always something going on. 

🏝 Isla Contoy – this is definitely one of the best beaches you’ll ever find. Isla Contoy is a small, uninhabited island just off the coast of Cancun. Only small numbers of people are permitted to be on the island so here you really get that desert island experience. 

Best Family Activities and Tours in Cancun

✅ Visit Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and cenotes

✅ Swim with whale sharks (seasonal activity only)

✅ Visit Aquaworld with the kids either as a jumping off point to snorkel over the MUSA sculptures or to enjoy the many activities on offer here

✅ Have a crazy ATV and zipline adventure

Isla Mujeres

⭐️ This busy island has something of a party reputation but the reputation is really a day-time kind of thing. Yes it’s busy during the day but at night it generally feels as if you’re on the quiet island you always imagined Isla Mujeres to be. 

🏝 North Beach – it is fine for kids but be warned it’s noisy, busy and expensive.  My kids preferred exploring the north-east beaches where there’s no sunbathing potential but plenty of rocks to climb and explore. 

Best Family Activities and Tours from Isla Mujeres

✅ Take a family friendly snorkel adventure over three locations including reefs and the Underwater Museum

✅ If your littles are too little to snorkel, take a glass bottom boat ride over the reef by Isla Mujeres

Cozumel

⭐️ This is another tropical island (and pueblo magico), just off the coast of Playa del Carmen, where the beaches are stunning, the sargassum doesn’t yet seem to be a problem and life is calm. Pick a beach annnnnd relax. Cozumel has some of the most beautiful water in the whole Riviera Maya. While it’s not as busy as Isla Mujeres, if you’re after beach clubs you’ll find them and if you’re after chilled out isolated perfection you’ll find that too. Cozumel is a good option if you’re in Cancun or Playa del Carmen for Spring Break and want an escape from teh crowds.

Best Beaches On Cozumel for Kids

🏝 The east coast of Cozumel has better snorkelling and calmer beaches that are free of sargassum but the west coast beaches are more strikingly beautiful. For families however, it’s best to stick to the east coast as the west has rougher waters. 

🏝 Punta Sur Ecological Beach – small admission fee but wild and free

🏝 Isla de la Pasíon (Passion Island) – this little slice of heaven is only accessible by boat from Cozumel’s north coast

🏝 Punta Morena / Playa Chen Rio – on the east of the island these two beaches are quieter than beaches on the west. Sadly, the east coast is often hit with the sargassum stick so it’s worth asking around before traipsing over to the east

Best Family Activities and Tours from Cozumel

✅ Try a submarine dive down to the reef to get a closer experience of the corals and sea life

✅ Take a private jeep and ATV tour through the Cozumel jungle to cenotes, deserted beaches and traditional village

✅ Cozumel is known for its diving and snorkelling but Kristi from DayTripTips reminded me about the Amazing Race, which is held on Cozumel. 

“If you are travelling with teenagers who enjoy a little adventure, you might want to consider doing the Amazing Race Cozumel. Just like the American TV Show, Amazing Race, this Cozumel excursion will have your family competing against other groups to solve clues while racing through the streets of town. The best part of Amazing Race Cozumel is that it allows you to see a totally different side of Cozumel and forces you to interact with locals and do things you might not otherwise get to experience.” 

Akumal

🐢The Akumal beach is nice enough but it’s really included here because of the incredible opportunity to swim with sea-turtles. I do implore you though, to do this as ethically as possible if you’re going to do it. This means:

⭐️ pay a proper licensed guide and stay with them – only swim where they say you can

⭐️ don’t ever touch the turtles or stand up on the reef or grasses – you are required to remain horizontal in the water

⭐️ wear the life jacket you’re given – it’s not for your safety, it’s to prevent visitors diving down and touching the turtles

⭐️ no sunscreen, take appropriate swim vest to prevent burning

⭐️ do not crowd the turtles

We took our kids to snorkel with the sea turtles in Akumal when they were four and two years old. The tour was perfect with little ones. They were given life jackets and life-rings to hold on to and our group had an extra guide with us to ensure our kids were well looked after. This was great because when our son was done it meant he and my husband could head back to shore with a guide while the rest of us continued marvelling.

✅ Book an ethical tour to swim with the turtles in Akumal

Puerto Morelos

⭐️ Alyssa recommends Playa Puerto Morelos as a great beach for families visiting Mexico. Puerto Morelos is a quick 20-minute drive from Cancun yet it is off the beaten path in the Quintana Roo region of Mexico. While neighbouring Cancun and Playa del Carmen have lots to offer, Puerto Morelos wins when it comes to tranquility.  

Several properties feature rental cabanas for a couple of hours or for the entire day.  The beach is surrounded by lots of local restaurants and shops.  

Best Family Activities and Tours from Puerto Morelos

✅ There are plenty of activities on Playa de Puerto Morelos including snorkelling the dazzling barrier reef to relaxing on the sand.   

Note: Please do your part in sustainable tourism by wearing reef-safe sunscreen and leaving no trace.

✅ Puerto Morelos is also famous for its Ruta De Cenotes. Other top features at the beach include the iconic Puerto Morelos lighthouse and the colourful Puerto Morelos sign.

Isla Holbox

⭐️ Isla Holbox with kids is a great option. This small island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is still not too overcrowded or built-up (but it is growing in popularity fast). With its perfect white-sand beaches and gentle, shallow sea, the whole family will have a fabulous experience here. Every single beach area will be perfect for the children on Holbox.

Best Beaches for Kids on Holbox

🏝 Playa Holbox – this is one of the main beaches. It’s located right in town and is good if you want bars and a lively atmosphere

🏝 Playa Mosquito (the sandbar) – be warned that there is no shade on this beach. To see the flamingos walk along the sandbank (until you hit the roped off area telling you to go no further – Punta Mosquito is in the protected area) with water never covering your knees

🏝 Punta Cocos – removed and quiet, as far from the town as possible. 

Best Family Activities and Tours from Holbox

✅ Take a tour to Bird Island (Isla Pajaros) and more – pick up a tour on the island when you arrive or book in advance – when we took this tour it included swimming in a cenote. We were also lucky enough to have dolphins swim alongside our boat.

✅ Hire a golf buggy. Kids will love riding around the island in a golf cart too as there are no cars allowed.

🏝 Best Family Beaches in the Gulf of Mexico 🏝

Yucatán

⭐️ The Yucatán coast is often called “La Costa Esmeralda” as its Gulf coast waters are gentle and green-ish in colour. The waves and currents are generally much more gentle than those of Quintana Roo’s Caribbean Coast. Yucatán’s coast is flanked by small fishing villages, mangroves and estuaries. One of the really great things about the beaches in Yucatán is that you’ll really see local culture in a way you might not in the inclusive resorts and big beach towns of Quintana Róo. 

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El Cuyo

🏝 Just over the border into Yucatan is El Cuyo, one of the gentlest and most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. This tiny fishing village makes a great spot for a family-friendly Mexico beach vacation. Here the little ones can frolic on the sand, play in the shallow and calm perfect sea and even enjoy some family-friendly activities.

Best Family Activities and Tours from El Cuyo

A drive in a 4X4 around the area is a great way to introduce little ones to a bit of excitement. From El Cuyo you can easily take a trip to Mexico’s famous pink lakes, Las Coloradas, explore around Rio Lagartos, check out Maya ruins including Ek Balam or even take a boat trip to Holbox.

Progreso

🏝 Progreso is the main beach town in Yucatán, Progreso has something for everyone. With long stretches of gentle beach that have recently undergone great transformation you’ll now find playgrounds, Instagram friendly swings and signs, great restaurants and water based activities for the whole family. Across the bridge is Pig Beach, a fairly recent addition to the Yucatán beach family. And yes, you can play with pigs on the beach. 

Best Family Activities and Tours from Progreso

✅ Visit cenotes, Maya ruins, explore the colonial city of Mérida or the pueblos mágicos of Yucatán

🚗 Hire a car and drive yourself around. Yucatán is extremely safe and easy to drive around

San Crisanto

🏝 Until fairly recently, San Crisanto was something of a secret beach. today, it’s better known than it was. Head to the San Crisanto are of Yucatán if you want to experience laid back beach perfection where the kids can frolic and play all day long. Think narrow beaches fringed by palm trees, think collecting coconuts and splashing happily and safely in the gentle water. 

🌊 Best Family Beaches on Mexico’s Pacific Coast 🌊

Nayarit

Sayulita

⭐️ Sayulita is a pueblo magico on the Riviera Nayarit. It is one of the best beach towns in Mexico and is a wonderful option for families looking for beach fun in Mexico. Here, everyone can take surf lessons, take boat rides, play on the beach, and run free. There are even fun jungle adventures to be had nearby. 

The Best beaches in Sayulita for Kids

🏝 Playa de Los Muertos – this cove beach is nicely framed by rocks that the kids will love to climb and explore. There are no restaurants or restrooms at this beach but there are generally people selling snacks on the beach.

🏝 Sayulita Beach – this is the main city beach. It’s flanked by hotels and bars and is busy with people surfing and swimming. The kids will love a surfing lesson or two here. 

Best Family Activities and Tours from Sayulita

✅ Take a fun cruise around Las Marietas – note this does not include access to the Hidden Beach (photo below) but does include snorkelling and a cruise on a ‘fun’ boat with water toys and more

✅ Ride horses through the jungle and on the beach

✅ Go mountain biking in the jungle

✅ Book a surf lesson when you arrive in Sayulita

Jalisco

Puerto Vallarta

⭐️ Karen writes that Puerto Vallarta makes an excellent getaway for families, whether you vacation on land or arrive on a Mexican cruise. With its city positioned on the Pacific Ocean, you’ll have no end to beach options and watersports.

The Best Beaches in Puerto Vallarta for Kids

There are numerous beaches around Puerto Vallarta but the best for kids are generally considered to be:

🏝 Malecon Beach – boasts stunning views and a vibrant culture. Although most of the beach is made of rocks, you can find some sandy spots when the tide is out. It’s a great spot to watch locals practicing the art of rock balancing or pelicans diving for food.

🏝 Playa Los Muertos in Zona Romántica – offers a wide sandy stretch with easy access to shopping and restaurants. Here, the waters around the pier provide a safe spot for swimming. Expect a crowded beach both day and night.

🏝 Playa Conchas Chinas – offers a small, sandy patch, perfect for smaller children.

Best Family Activities and Tours from Puerto Vallarta

✅ Puerto Vallarta offers opportunities to get out on the water. In winter, whale-watching tours are popular, and sightings are guaranteed. While humpbacks are the prevalent species sighted, you could also see gray whales and porpoises.

✅ For snorkeling enthusiasts, taking an excursion to Islas Marietas provides a fantastic day trip. The islands are teeming with birds, and the waters are packed with tropical fish. While the boat ride is lengthy, you’ll enjoy the bonus of whale watching in the winter months. Book this tour upon arrival in Puerto Vallarta.

Note that this is not permitted for smaller kids (although there is some wiggle room as we managed to take our kids when they were slightly under age because they’re extremely strong swimmers).

✅ Visit Turtle Release at the Tortuguero Camp – July to January only. Learn about turtle conservation and help release baby turtles

✅ For over-8s only, it’s possible to go on an outdoor adventure that includes speedboats, ziplines, rapelling down waterfalls and more

Oaxaca

⭐️ The Oaxaca Pacific Coast makes for great beach vacations if your family is looking for low-key gorgeousness. Let’s be clear though that there are plenty of incredible beaches in Oaxaca that I don’t recommend for kids simply because the waves are too strong (like the pipeline surf of Playa Zicatela) or beaches that can only be reached by walking down hundreds of steps. I haven’t forgotten these magnificent beaches, I just don’t think they’re the * best * beaches for kids. I also won’t be recommending you take your kids to the only legal nude beach in Mexico, Zipolite, either. I’ve been, it’s nice, but do you want to go with kids? Probs not. 

Puerto Escondido

⭐️ Puerto Escondido is a port town along the Oaxaca coast that is known for its buzzing party scene and its gorgeous beaches. If you’re going with kids then take a cab to Playa Principal or Puerto Angelito – both are good swimming beaches that are safe for kids. 

🏝 If you’re interested in seeing a turtle release then consider Playa Bacocho but please, always check before swimming here as some days are safe and others really not. 

Best Family Activities and Tours from Puerto Escondido

✅ Take a dolphin watching tour

✅ Book the bigger kids a surf lesson (my kids had their first lessons at 6 and 8)

Bahías de Huatulco

⭐️ This area of the Oaxaca Coast is actually a 29,00 acre national park across land and sea. In 2005, Huatulco received the international Green Globe Certificate. The area has 36 beaches and 9 bays. 

🏝 Bahía Santa Cruz – this beach is the closest to town and can be very busy when the cruise ships come in but its gentle waves, clear waters and nice sandy bottom make it perfect for kids.

Mazunte

The Mazunte beaches are all gorgeous and unspoiled.

🏝 Playa Mazunte – a quiet beach with a chilled out vibe but when I was there the surf was too strong for anyone except the strongest surfer.

🏝 Playa Rinconcito – head here for beach restaurants and tour operators. This is a good swimming beach (although watch the currents).

🏝 Playa Marmejita – a deserted beach that is often referred to as one of the best in Mexico.

🏝 Puerto Angel

🏝 Part of the Riviera Oaxaceña alongside the famous Mexico nude beach of Zipolite, Puerto Angel is my favourite Oaxaca cove beach. While the other towns along the Oaxaca coast seem to have grown, Puerto Angel remains a sleepy fishing village with relatively few visitors. You may well find yourself practically alone on Playa Pantéon.

The Riviera Oaxaceña runs from Mazunte to Puerto Angel.

Best Family Activities and Tours Around Mazunte

✅ Visit La Escobilla Turtle Release Sanctuary to learn about turtles and how locals are working to protect them You may even get to take part in a turtle release.

💀 Don’t forget, of course, that Oaxaca is one of the most popular destinations for people wanting to learn about Day of the Dead.

Sinaloa

Mazatlan

⭐️ Brodi recommends Mazatlan’s beaches for their miles of golden sand, calm waters, and various activities to keep everyone entertained. Mazatlan’s beautiful beaches are the perfect place for families to relax and have fun together.

Best Beaches in Mazatlan for Kids

🏝 Stone Island (Isla de las Piedras in Spanish) is known for its shallow waters, making it ideal for kids of all ages. Plus, the area has a nice variety of local restaurants.

🏝 Playa Brujas is a beautiful beach with a lively atmosphere, perfect for surfing and boogie boarding. It’s a great choice for families with older children or teens who enjoy water sports, thanks to its larger waves.

🏝 Golden Zone (Zona Dorada) is in the heart of Mazatlan. It’s known for its golden sand and calm waters, ideal for a relaxing family day out. Plus, the beach is near hotels, shops, and restaurants so it offers plenty of amenities.

🏝 Playa Olas Altas is one of Mazatlan’s oldest beaches and is perfect for families looking for a quieter, less crowded place to relax. The waves can get quite big here, making it a favourite spot for surfers.

🏝 Playa Cerritos is famous for its spacious sandy beach and serene waters. It’s perfect for families, with activities such as horseback riding, surfing, and boogie boarding. Plus, there are many dining options nearby.

🏝 Playa Sabalo is at the north end of the Golden Zone, offering a safe and enjoyable beach experience for kids. It’s perfect for swimming and sunbathing.

Each beach has its unique charm and offerings, so there isn’t a bad choice.

Best Family Activities and Tours in Mazatlan

➡️ Take a 10-island boat tour – see marine animals and learn about the history and geology of each island

➡️ Take a guided ATV tour through the Sierra Madres

🐡 Best Family Beaches on Mexico’s Gulf of California 🐡

Baja California

Loreto

⭐️ Lucy and Dan recommend the coastal town of Loreto in Baja California. It overlooks the Sea of Cortez – one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. Featuring year-round pleasant weather, Loreto is the perfect destination to enjoy some of Mexico’s best beaches.

A relaxed vacation town popular with expats and travellers alike, Loreto is compact and very safe. The town itself is home to charming restaurants and boutique gift shops, while the seaside Malecón offers stunning views of the ocean and the iconic multi-coloured Loreto sign.

Best Beaches in Loreto for Kids

🏝 Beaches along the Malecón include Oasis, La Negrita, and La Darsena, all of which are easily accessible from down town. To the south of town, La Salinita is a long part-pebble part-sand beach with handmade palapas and easy access to the airport. Nopolo beach lies about 5 miles further south and is popular with snorkellers.

In the winter months, Loreto is one of the best places in the world to see blue whales. These gentle giants are found in Loreto Bay National Park. This marine park is bordered by 5 uninhabited islands, which make for a great beach day trip. Isla Coronado boasts sprawling stretches of white sand and panoramic ocean views. Day trips to this beautiful island can also be combined with swimming with sea lions and wildlife watching.

Best Family Activities and Tours From Loreto

✅ Tour Bahia de Loreto National Park and marvel at the incredible marine life and deserted beaches

✅ Visit Coronado Island, snorkel and see dolphins

Cabo Pulmo

⭐️ Sally recommends Cabo Pulmo as one of the best family beach towns in Baja California. A tiny, laidback beach town, it offers a glimpse of what Los Cabos would have been before tourism took over.

Situated on the Sea of Cortez, Cabo Pulmo offers calm, swimmable beaches safe for kids, compared with the rough Pacific coastline in the more popular areas of Los Cabos.

Best Beaches for Kids in Cabo Pulmo

🏝 Playa Cabo Pulmo is a pebbly beach that is generally calm and safe for swimming. It’s sheltered by offshore rocks and reefs.

🏝 The best beach for families is Bahia Los Frailes. This is a sheltered bay, offering calm shallow waters perfect for kids to play and splash around.

Although it is possible to take a day trip here from Cabo (a 2+ hour drive), I think it’s worth staying a few days. Worlds away from the resorts and beach clubs of Cabo San Lucas, there isn’t anything too fancy accommodation-wise. But the authentic Mexican charm more than makes up for it. I adored Cabo Pulmo, and I think adventurous kids will much love wandering barefoot around the sandy streets.

Best Family Activities and Tours from Cabo Pulmo

✅ Cabo Pulmo is also an amazing scuba diving and snorkelling destination, with the largest coral reef on the west coast of North America! The entire marine area is protected under the Cabo Pulmo National Park and is home to turtles, rays, sea lions, huge schools of colourful fish and even humpback whales from December – April.

Older kids who are confident in the water will love snorkelling here. Local operators offer boat tours that visit 3 – 4 different snorkelling sites around the reef. It’s also possible to snorkel directly from the beach at Playa Los Arbolitos.

✅ Older kids will love to trek into the canyons to find hidden waterfalls

Surfing in Cabo San Lucas

⭐️ Chantae is obsessed with action sports and adventure. She told me that “Surfers from all around the world often make a pilgrimage down the Baja Peninsula to Cabo San Lucas, where there are enough waves for novice and experienced surfers alike.”

During the spring and summer, take lessons on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula. In autumn and winter, head to the Pacific Coastline. Most surf coaches will factor the group’s ability level and the surf conditions before choosing a spot to surf for the day. Best of all, Cabo San Lucas has plenty of surf coaches who are qualified to teach as well as CPR and first aid certified. Costa Azul Surf School and Mike Doyle Surf School both offer lessons specifically for adventurous kids.

If you plan to rent boards and paddle out on your own, try the wave at Acapulquito Beach. Experienced surfers hang out at the peak of the wave while beginners can catch the shoulder and ride it into shore. Rent a soft-top foam surfboard at one of the rental stands for about $10 USD per hour and practice catching wave after wave.

Learning how to surf in Cabo San Lucas is great for gaining confidence, learning how to balance, and gaining arm strength. Surfing is a major part of the Los Cabos lifestyle, and it’s certainly one way for people to enjoy the ocean’s natural energy.

Final Word on the Best Family Beaches in Mexico

As we have seen, Mexico offers excellent beach opportunities for families with kids of all ages. Whether you’re looking for a spot to introduce your baby to the ocean, play with your toddler in the sand, see pre-teens frolic or let the teens surf, Mexico has something for everyone.