Beach
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.