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Condé Nast Traveler picks
 Top Mexican Beaches
With nearly 6,000 miles of coastline, Mexico has an overwhelming array of options for the beachgoer. Whether you're looking for an oceanfront resort complete with a swim-up bar and beach valets or an empty stretch of sand straight out of Y Tu Mamá También, there's a corner of the country that will deliver. Given the number of choices, your search for the perfect beach can be almost as enjoyable as lolling on your towel once you've found it. The first decision facing any Mexico-bound beachcomber is whether to head for the Caribbean or the Pacific coast. Basic travel logistics will likely be a factor: Cancún is a quick hop from the East Coast, but flights from California are less frequent; Los Cabos is about two hours from Los Angeles but can be a nine-hour trek with a change of planes from New York. (Texans and those who use Houston or Dallas as a hub enjoy a definite advantage, since all of Mexico's resorts are relatively accessible from there.) Caribbean Coast The beaches of the Yucatán are dramatically different from their Pacific counterparts. Generally calm, clear waters make the Caribbean coast the preferred choice if your goal is to dive, snorkel, or simply splash about without being buffeted by pounding surf. The next decision is Cancún or not-Cancún. The most popular Mexican destination for U.S. travelers does suffer from its spring break image. While there are plenty of resorts that are all about the bottomless margaritas, Cancún also has family-friendly and civilized options, such as the Ritz-Carlton and Le Meridien—favorites of voters in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice poll). And regardless of the resorts' different atmospheres, the beach—with 15 miles of white sand and baby-blue waters—will always remain one of the world's most stunning. For those who opt to avoid Cancún, there are tempting alternatives. The island of Cozumel is a favorite of divers for its numerous coral reefs, and nearby Isla Mujeres manages to remain largely off the tourism circuit. South of Cancún, the rapidly developed Riviera Maya has several new and superb resorts, including a Mandarin Oriental and a Fairmont, as well as traditional places such as the Maroma Resort and Spa. Playa del Carmen's beach can be crowded, so head north of town for more elbow room. Finally, Tulum has hotel options from hostels to intimate boutique hotels—as well as a beach with a Mayan temple overlooking the sea that has become the classic tourism image of the country. Pacific Coast Mexico's west coast has more surfing destinations, and if you like falling asleep to the crashing of waves, well, the Pacific is often not all that pacific (though of course there are exceptions). Many of Mexico's Pacific resorts were popular with Americans for decades before ground was broken on Cancún's first hotel. Acapulco, where resorts line a sheltered bay, was the first Pacific city to register on beachgoers' radar. But even now, it's possible to find remote spots such as Puerto Marqués, where seafront restaurants cater to the few visitors. Farther north along the coast is the Mexican Riviera—the neighboring towns of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. A coconut plantation rebuilt as a tourist development by the Mexican government in the early 1970s, Ixtapa now has a row of resorts that left half the beachfront free from development. Zihuatanejo is an older town, its cobblestoned streets lined with boutiques and restaurants. Continuing north, Puerto Vallarta is another old favorite that manages to keep reinventing itself. Of all the ports along Mexico's Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is arguably the most charming. Its historic center is filled with whitewashed buildings and churches that date back to the days when the city was the port of entry for ships arriving from China and the Philippines. And given Puerto Vallarta's 25 miles of beaches, travelers are usually more interested in Jet Ski lessons than history lessons, and skip the walking tour of town to head straight for Bahía de Banderas. The best beach for diving is Punta Mita, which is also home to the country's only Four Seasons resort. Any roundup of Mexican beaches should include one of the most popular resort areas, Los Cabos—the shorthand for two towns on the tip of the Baja peninsula, San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, and the row of resorts that lines the highway connecting them. At some of Los Cabos' beaches, the surf can be rough, and there may be days when you'll settle for a poolside chaise. But you can also find beaches in sheltered coves and bays—Palmilla, Playa Costa Azul, and Playa del Amor among them—where there's no reason to fear the sea. If you still haven't found the beach of your dreams, fear not: This list is far from comprehensive. For small luxury hotels on an isolated stretch of otherwise undeveloped coastline, try the Costa Careyes. For a barefoot-chic surfing town without a single mega-resort, consider Sayulita. For a beach vacation following a visit to the country's culinary capital of Oaxaca, visit Huatulco (which is popular with Mexicans yet somehow escapes most Americans' notice). Somewhere on Mexico's thousands of miles of coastline, the right beach waits for you. Truth in Travel is the guiding principle for all content published in Condé Nast Traveler. Other travel publications often accept free travel and accommodations. Condé Nast Traveler does not. It is independent of the travel industry. The magazine always pays its way, and, as far as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously. By doing so, they experience the world—both the good and the bad—as other travelers do, and their reports and recommendations are fair, impartial, and authoritative.
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