Which side of Mexico is better for swimming?
Beaches. East Coast: Mexico's east coast, particularly the Caribbean Sea's turquoise waters in spots like Tulum, are the stuff beach vacation dreams are made of. The east coast also has a reputation for soft white sand and warm, calm waters.
Cancun beaches. In the showdown between beaches in Puerto Vallarta vs. Cancun beaches, PV wins by virtue of its accessibility. Cancun's beaches are prettier – but the seaweed means it's unpleasant sometimes to swim in the ocean water.
Playa Carrizalillo, Puerto Escondido
Playa Carrizalillo has long been a favorite for locals. It sits at the bottom of more than 150 steps, but those who make the trek are rewarded with turquoise-colored water and a crescent-shaped beach ringed by swaying palm trees.
Los Cabos is cooler and drier, similar to the beautiful weather in Southern California. Cancun is humid and in the Gulf of Mexico, which creates a greater chance of hurricanes and heavy storms. Cabo only has on average 10 rain days per year. For those looking to travel on a budget, Cancun is the way to go.
On the Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta Beach offers a long stretch of golden sand backed by deep blue water on one side and the Sierra Madre Mountains on the other.
We'd have to say Puerto Vallarta has better beaches if you want to swim in the ocean. Many of the beaches in Cabo are unsafe for swimming because of strong currents and rip tides. But both have numerous beautiful beaches to walk along or to spend a lazy chillax day, feeling blessed you're on holiday in Mexico.
Particularly along the Caribbean coast (on the eastern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula), and the Pacific Coast, beaches with clear water and powdery, soft white sand abound.
Where Is The Clearest Water In Cancun? Cancun is known to have the bluest and clearest water of the Riviera Maya. You will find the bluest water in the hotel zone in Cancun, especially along the main stretch of the 15 km long beach and around the Northern tip.
- Cancun. Frederick Millett/Shutterstock. ...
- The Riviera Maya. Jess Kraft/Shutterstock. ...
- Baja California. Grey82/Shutterstock. ...
- Mexico City. Ramiro Reyna Jr/Shutterstock. ...
- San Juan Teotihuacan (The Pyramids) ...
- The Mayan Ruins. ...
- The Magical Towns (Pueblos Magicos) ...
- San Miguel De Allende.
The Carribean coast is much more popular (aka touristy!) than the Pacific coast, as the Yucatan peninsula is where a lot of Mayan history is, such as the famous Chichen Itza (one of the seven wonder of the world!) and the Tulum ruins.
What is the most beautiful beach town in Mexico?
1) Cabo San Lucas
We couldn't write this best Mexican beach town list without starting with fabulous Cabo San Lucas. It's one of two towns making up the Los Cabos (aka Cabo) resort destination. (The other town is San Jose del Cabo; see #3 below.)
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $102, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $78. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment.
Puerto Vallarta's tap water has been declared potable for over 15 years and while you can use it to brush your teeth and for cooking, we do recommend that you drink bottled water.
Puerto Vallarta is just more livable, feels less touristy and is overall less expensive than Playa Del Carmen. We also found it much easier to develop friendships and get involved in the community.
There isn't a luxury travel destination in the world that beats Cancun's tropical beauty. Picture your perfect stretch of white coral sand and sparkling turquoise waters, fringed by swaying palm trees and you will be thinking of Cancun.
- 01 of 10. Isla Mujeres. © Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images. ...
- 02 of 10. Cozumel. ...
- 03 of 10. Isla Contoy. ...
- 04 of 10. Holbox. ...
- 05 of 10. Cancun. ...
- 06 of 10. Isla Blanca. ...
- 07 of 10. Cenotes. ...
- 08 of 10. Kaan Luum.
Down south, you'll find wide strands with crushed-coral sand and the shallow, crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly beach or seeking out the best surf spots, we've got you covered. These are the best beaches in Playa del Carmen.
Most of Cabo's beaches are off-limits to swimmers because the Sea of Cortez boasts strong waves and some powerful undercurrent. Don't let that ruin your hopes for some quality time in the water, however.
The main reason so many travelers visit Los Cabos is the beautiful beaches. These shorelines are spacious, giving beachgoers plenty of space to spread out, build sandcastles, and kick a soccer ball around.
Tulum has better beaches than Cabo, is relaxed and has an authentic vibe. So if you're looking for spectacular beaches, some great natural and archeological excursions, then Tulum may be the better choice than Cabo. Cabo has some lovely beaches too, and great wildlife and hiking excursions.
Is Playa del Carmen water blue?
As for why Playa del Carmen's sea is so much “bluer” and so much clearer than other parts of the world can put down to two major factors. Firstly, white sand combined with relatively shallow waters cause much more of the sunlight to be reflected, adding to the vibrancy of the oceans color.
Cozumel represents exactly what many people imagine when they think about the Caribbean Sea: white sandy beaches and crystal clear warm turquoise water.
Nestled along Mexico's picturesque Pacific Coast in the state of Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta (PV) is a premier beach vacation destination. With its crystal blue waters and blissful tropical climate, PV is perfect for beach lovers.
In terms of expenses, we've found Puerto Vallarta to be slightly cheaper than Cabo, but you can find affordable food and accommodation options in both. Especially if you bypass the all-inclusive hotels and resorts.
Both Puerto Vallarta and Cancun are tourist destinations and are relatively safe. That said, Puerto Vallarta has less crime than Cancun.
Final Thoughts. To conclude, Los Cabos is a very safe destination for tourists. The municipality itself has a much lower crime rate than the rest of Mexico, and, if you compare crime figures, a lot of major cities in the US are less safe than Cabo.
Despite the fact that the beach is beautiful in both places, some people prefer the beach in Cancun because it's wider and more vibrant in color than the beach in the Riviera Maya. Many honeymooners choose the Riviera Maya because the region tends to be more romantic.
Cancun is ranked as the safest beach town in Mexico with lower crime rates than most Mexican cities.
The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world.
We've found that Cancun has better beaches than Playa del Carmen, with the sand more 'powdery' and the beaches in general bigger. However, because Cancun is such a famous destination, the gorgeous stretches of sand here tend to be highly developed and very busy.
Is Cancun better than Playa del Carmen?
Even though both destinations are family-friendly, Cancun stands out in terms of younger tourism, spring breakers, and those looking for a vibrant nightlife scene. Its nightlife is fantastic and surpasses what Playa del Carmen has to offer in this regard.
The popularity of the Riviera Maya is due to the vast number of activities, natural beauty, wildlife, and Mayan culture. But, the biggest draws are the spectacular white sand beaches, and the warm crystal-clear Caribbean ocean.
- Merida. Widely acknowledged as the safest city in Mexico (and even Latin America), your biggest safety concern in Mérida will probably be the busy traffic. ...
- Playa del Carmen. ...
- Mexico City. ...
- Puerto Vallarta. ...
- San Miguel de Allende. ...
- Sayulita. ...
- Huatulco.
The hottest places in Mexico tend to be on the coast, but the highest ever recorded temperature in Mexico was set in June 1995 at a sizzling 52 °C in Mexicali, the capital of Baja California. The number 1 hottest place in Mexico based on average annual temperature is Tabasco.
Holbox Island
With virtually nonexistent crime rates, the Mexican Caribbean island town of Isla Holbox is one of the safest places in Mexico to visit, and one of the most relaxing. Isla Holbox is located a few hours from of Cancun, but feels like it's a world away from all its hustle and bustle.
Playa Norte is exactly like the image of the Caribbean you have in mind: crystal clear turquoise waters and sparkling white sand. It's located on Isla Mujeres, the famous Mexican island close to Cancún. At this beach, the water is very shallow, so it's ideal for snorkeling or enjoying a long walk in the sea.
website creator Fans of the Kardashian family know that these Hollywood stars are frequent visitors of Cabo. Over the years, they've traveled there for vacations, birthdays, romantic surprises, and photoshoots.
- Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.
- Porto Katsiki, Lefkada, Greece.
- Elephant Beach, Havelock Island, India.
- Baie Longue, Saint Martin.
- Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands.
- Cala Macarelleta, Menorca, Spain.
- Cala Mariolu, Baunei, Italy.
- Zamami, Okinawa, Japan.
Cancun Vs Tulum Beaches
One beach that comes close in terms of blue water is Playa Ruinas at the archeological zone in Tulum. In terms of crystal clear water, the Sian Ka'an biosphere South of Tulum is unbeatable.
Beaches in Puerto Vallarta are internationally known for their warm water, top-notch facilities, and exotic natural beauty with every variety of sand and crystal-clear seas. From endless stretches of powder-white and golden sand to surfing, snorkeling, and simple sunbathing, it's all right here.
Why is the water in Cancun so blue?
This is because water molecules absorb green, orange, yellow, and every other color except blue. Blue color is reflected as the sunlight hits Cancun´s coast.
Puerto Vallarta Travel Seasons
Skies are the clearest they'll be all year, though even in the driest months, days can be overcast. The cooler months from December through February bring migrating humpback whales and great fishing, and the north swells make for excellent surfing.
Down south, you'll find wide strands with crushed-coral sand and the shallow, crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly beach or seeking out the best surf spots, we've got you covered. These are the best beaches in Playa del Carmen.
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