page_title: Tourism in Mexico
section_title: Beaches
hierarchical_section_title: Tourism in Mexico / Beaches
caption_attribution_description: Norsk bokmål: Stranda i Playa del Carmen i Quintana Roo i Mexico Español: La playa en Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, México English: Beach in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
context_page_description: Tourism in Mexico is a very important industry. Since the 1960s, it has been heavily promoted by the Mexican government, as "an industry without smokestacks." Mexico has traditionally been among the most visited countries in the world according to the World Tourism Organization, and it is the second-most visited country in the Americas, after the United States. In 2017, Mexico was ranked as the sixth-most visited country in the world for tourism activities. Mexico has a significant number of UNESCO World Heritage sites with the list including ancient ruins, colonial cities, and natural reserves, as well as a number of works of modern public and private architecture. Mexico has attracted foreign visitors beginning in the early nineteenth century, cultural festivals, colonial cities, nature reserves and the beach resorts. The nation's temperate climate and unique culture – a fusion of the European and the Mesoamerican are attractive to tourists.
context_section_description: Acapulco, Guerrero
  Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
  Cancún, Quintana Roo
  Ensenada, Baja California
  Altamira, Tamaulipas
  Guaymas, Sonora
  Tampico, Tamaulipas
  Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
  Huatulco, Oaxaca
  Ixtapa, Guerrero
  Manzanillo, Colima
  Mazatlán, Sinaloa
  Mazunte, Oaxaca
  Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
  Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
  Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
  San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur
  Progreso, Yucatan
  Zipolite, Oaxaca
  The coastlines of Mexico harbor many stretches of beaches that are frequented by sun bathers and other visitors. On the Yucatán peninsula, one of the most popular beach destinations is the resort town of Cancún, especially among university students during spring break. Just offshore is the beach island of Isla Mujeres, and to the east is the Isla Holbox. To the south of Cancun is the coastal strip called Riviera Maya which includes the beach town of Playa del Carmen and the ecological parks of Xcaret and Xel-Há. A day trip to the south of Cancún is the historic port of Tulum. In addition to its beaches, the town of Tulum is notable for its cliff-side Mayan ruins.
  On the Pacific coast is the notable tourist destination of Acapulco.  Once the destination for the rich and famous, the beaches have become crowded and the shores are now home to many multi-story hotels and vendors. Acapulco is home to renowned cliff divers: trained divers who leap from the side of a vertical cliff into the surf below.
  Along the coast to the south of Acapulco are the surfing beaches of Puerto Escondido, the snorkeling, harbor beach of Puerto Ángel, and the naturist beaches of Zipolite. To the north of Acapulco is the resort town of Ixtapa and the neighboring fishing town of Zihuatanejo. Further to the north are the wild and rugged surfing beaches of the Michoacán coast.
  Along the central and north Pacific coast, the biggest draws are beaches of Mazatlán city and the resort town of Puerto Vallarta. Less frequented is the sheltered cove of Bahía de Navidad, the beach towns of Bahía Kino, and the black sands of Cuyutlán. San Carlos, home of the Playa los Algodones (Cotton Beach), is a winter draw, especially for retirees.
  At the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula is the resort town of Cabo San Lucas, a town noted for its beaches and marlin fishing. Further north along the Gulf of California is the Bahía de La Concepción, another beach town known for its sports fishing. Closer to the United States border is the weekend draw of San Felipe, Baja California.
caption: Stranda and Playa del Carmen and Quintana Roo and Mexico.
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