Beaches and Marinas of Cancun

Naturally, Cancun's biggest attraction is the beaches with their soft, white sand and brilliant turquoise-blue water. Cancun's Hotel Zone is one long beach separated from the mainland by a system of lagoons and bridges. The beautiful white sands of Cancun's beaches are light and cool underfoot even in the blazing sun, because it is composed not of silica but rather of microscopic plankton fossils and crushed coral. The sand stays cool even on the hottest days; you need never worry about burning your feet. You can even go down to the beach barefoot if you like. The coolness of the sand has led it to be dubbed "air-conditioned" by those who visit there.

Some of the popular beaches along the northern end of the island are Playa Las Perlas at the beginning of the Hotel Zone. This is good place for swimming, relaxing and various water sports. You can also get the shuttle to Isla Mujeres here or dine at restaurants and bars located along the coast. Playa Linda has dive tours, the Submarine and another shuttle to Isla Mujeres located here. Just a couple of kilometers further down, Playa Tortugas offers dive/snorkel tours, swimming and water sports. Quite a few restaurants and bars are located along this tourist-friendly beach. Playa Caracol is a great beach for children because of the shallow, flat, sandy seabed. It is also one of the most crowded beaches along the strip. Several shopping and entertainment complexes are located on Playa Caracol offering visitors restaurants, shops and activities.

Once you make your way around Punta Cancun to the eastern side of the island, Playa Chac Mool and Playa Ballenas are very popular beaches along the main Hotel Zone strip. Both are good for relaxing, swimming and water sports. There are bars and restaurants all along this stretch of beach. Farther down, towards the southern tip of Cancun Island, is a beautiful beach made for relaxing and swimming.

Cancun's beaches are the area's #1 attraction, and once you get a look at the clear blue water and sugar-white sand, you will understand why so many people return year after year to enjoy them.

Mexican law prohibits the following practices: touching animals or coral reefs, collecting rocks, sand, seashells or any natural object in the water or on the beach. Those violating these laws may be prosecuted.

Be sure to use sunscreen/suntan lotion, but make sure it's biodegradable to avoid polluting the waters.

Always wear a life jacket while doing water sports or other nautical activities, sometimes the undertow is more than you may think!