| All of Cancún is scenic.
But the most scenic beaches are on
the seaward side of the island, a 21-km stretch along
Paseo Kukulcán. Walking along
the coast is rated a five-star activity, and it's free
(all beaches in Mexico are public).
The panorama is capricious-the color of the
sea changes subtly throughout the day from
pale aqua at dawn to deep turquoise at noon to cerulean
blue under the blazing afternoon sun to pink-splashed
purple during the elegant sunset.
Hotel Beaches
The hotel-zone hotels all have beaches;
some provide their guests with a variety of facilities,
including palapa sun shelters, volleyball
courts, aerobics classes,
bars, restaurants,
showers, restrooms,
towels, and lifeguards.
Note, however, that everyone is free to use the 18-meter
(60-foot) strip of sand along the sea on any part of
Cancún; signs indicating this
are prominently posted everywhere by SECTUR, the Ministry
of Tourism.
Public Beaches
Don't expect lifeguards or showers on these beaches;
some have snack stands and good parking areas.
Playa Linda is close to the city (10
minutes by bus) on Paseo Kukulcán
near the Nichupté bridge. Two
km past Playa Linda on Paseo
Kukulcán is Playa Tortuga,
where the water is clear, calm, and deep and a palapa-covered
snack bar serves beachgoers.
Playa Chac Mool is beyond the Convention
Center, around Punta Cancún
and then south. This stunning beach
displays the vibrant colors that make the Caribbean
famous. You can walk out to sea 14 meters in
shallow water before it begins to drop off. Check the
tide conditions on the sign just south of the beach
cafe-the water at times gets rough. Playa Delfines at
the south end of the hotel zone is a favorite of locals,
since this stretch of sand is free of hotels
thus far. Sunset-watching from the
low rise over the beach here is particularly fine.
Swimming
The calmest and most protected ocean
beaches face Bahía de Mujeres
on the north end of the island; the stretch of beach
from the youth hostel to Playa
Linda usually provides calm water.
The lagoon is also usually calm, but
not as clear as the sea.
The water on the ocean side of Cancún
can be hazardous. Many beaches do not
have lifeguards. None of the Cancún beaches
are suitable for surfing, but from
Punta Cancún to Punta
Nizúc the surf can be as high as three
feet, and at certain times you't swim. Each year a few
people drown off the beaches of Cancún
because of a lack of respect for the power of this beautiful
sea.
Getting To The Beach
Cancún is one
big beach, or more accurately, a series
of breathtaking beaches laid end to
end. If you are not already in the hotel zone or if
you are in a zone where the beach is not accesible,
you can walk, take a cab or a bus. |
