Finding a great beach is easy. Finding the best beach to match your client’s needs takes effort. Are your clients looking for solitude or a lively beach town? Basic beach amenities or full-fledged services? The 10 beaches below have distinctive charms of their own, just waiting to be matched to the unique needs of each traveler.
Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach) in Cabo San Lucas
At Playa del Amor, clients can play in the waves against the backdrop of Cabo’s iconic El Arco rock arch. This secluded beach is a great choice for couples. Getting there is half the fun, since access is only via open water. The easiest way is to head down to the Cabo San Lucas marina and climb aboard a water taxi or one of the glass-bottom boats. Pack a picnic lunch and sunscreen, since amenities are not to be found.
Nuevo Vallarta Beach in Nuevo Vallarta
Here, visitors will find an expansive holiday beach surrounded by modern comforts, including resort hotels, condos, restaurants and shops, making the beach a complete vacation destination in itself. Nuevo Vallarta Beach is a 30-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta. For a change of pace from sand and sea, tee off on three nearby championship courses.
Playa la Ropa in Zihuatanejo
Lovely Zihuatanejo is a former fishing village that has grown into a town with tons of local color.
Palm-lined Playa La Ropa is a favorite with residents and visitors alike. Take a dip, order a ceviche at one of the beachside restaurants and rent a sailboat for an extra thrill.
Balandra Beach in La Paz
While La Paz is slightly off the main tourism track, this Baja Sur historic city has much to offer, including Balandra Beach. Your clients will need wheels, since the beach is located 18 miles outside the city. Once they settle in on the sand, they can look out on the lovely island of Espiritu Santo. When it’s time to break for lunch, beachside restaurants serve a variety of seafood.
Boca Paila (Tulum Beach) in Riviera Maya
This is one of those lovely collisions of manmade and natural beauty. Touring the ancient Maya ruins of Tulum and then taking a dip in the sea off Boca Paila is a one-two punch that will knock anyone out. Since Tulum is a major tourism attraction access is easy, and once visitors arrive, there will be plenty of options for grabbing a bite to eat.
Central Playa del Carmen Beach in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen scores on two fronts: It has a gorgeous, expansive white-sand beach, as well as a unique Euro-centric vibe often referred to as “barefoot sophistication.” There are lots of water sports and dive shops along the beach as well. Clients can even take advantage of waiter service on the beach, with wait staff dipping down from Playa’s restaurants and bars. These same venues supply a spirited nightlife after the sun goes down.
Playa Olas Altas in Mazatlan
Playa Olas Altas has the added appeal of being close to Mazatlan’s historic district. The crescent-shaped strand has been a tourism favorite dating back to the 1950s, and there is still a slight caught-in-time ambience, with hotels and casual restaurants lining the road to the beach and along the malecon (waterfront). Surfers come for the waves while less hardy swimmers content themselves with sitting on the sand and soaking up the sun and the view.
Playa del Norte in Isla Mujeres
While Playa del Norte makes a great daytrip from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a destination in its own right, with an easygoing charm and selection of hotels and restaurants. The calm waters of Playa del Norte are as laidback as Isla de Mujeres itself. Enjoy a hammock on the beach, an informal meal at a palapa beachside restaurant or get active onboard a jet-ski.
Akumal Beach in Akumal
When in Cancun, take an hour drive south to the beach resort town of Akumal, also known in the Mayan language as “The Place of the Turtles.” Kick back and relax on Akumal Bay, snorkel the gentle waters and, for a change of pace, browse the town’s modest selection of shops and restaurants. The beaches south and north of Akumal are protected areas to preserve the habitat of the endangered green sea turtle.
Maroma Beach on the Riviera Maya
While it’s only 30 miles south of Cancun, Maroma Beach has a serene sophistication light-years away from the frenetic pace of Cancun. The beaches are sparkling white sand and eco-consciousness prevails, without sacrificing the luxe bits travelers love. Stay at one of the high-end resorts and revel in nature while knowing a four-hand massage or icy cocktail is only moments away.
The Details
Mexico Tourism Board
www.visitmexico.com
