Tranquility and Adventure on the Beaches of Yucatan, Mexico

by Juan Antonio (Oso) Oseguera
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Mon July 17, 2023
A sunny beach in Merida, Mexico

A sunny beach in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Julio Alcocer/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Mexico's Yucatán coast stands out for having a great diversity of paradisiacal beaches that captivate with their multiple and endless activities, which extend along its almost 400 kilometers of coastline where the white sand runs parallel and harmonizes with the mangroves, making it one of the most exotic natural sceneries to visit in all of Mexico.

Visiting the Yucatan coastline, from Celestún to Río Lagartos, is to enter an ecotourism and adventure trip because you will find from protected natural reserves to freshwater springs in the middle of the sea, besides having wonderful spaces of great natural beauty where pink water lagoons are formed.

What activities can you enjoy on the Yucatán coast?

For adventure lovers, you can find in the municipality of Tizimín one of the most beautiful ports in the country that is part of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, El Cuyo. In this place, ecotourism is an everyday thing, a place where you can practice kayaking in the UMA San Manuel, go through a jungle until you reach a beautiful blue lagoon, or rest surrounded by tranquility and harmony, sheltered by the sea breeze, the music of the Caribbean and a good meal with fresh seafood while relaxing in a hammock.

If you are looking for a place full of color and tranquility, you cannot miss Las Coloradas, where you will find one of the most impressive landscapes of the state; as it detonates its immense pink color, the intensity in the tone of its waters is warmer or stronger depending on the sunlight, making these a unique spot for the most amazing photographs. However, it is important to note that it is forbidden to swim in its waters since the most important salt extraction for human consumption in the region occurs here.

Las Coloradas, Yucatan, Mexico

Las Coloradas, Yucatan, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Silvia Montanari/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Also, during your area tour, you can appreciate different cities founded by the Spaniards, such as former convents and large haciendas.

For its part, San Felipe has become one of the most important tourist spots in Yucatan due to the unique beauty that surrounds it, especially for those who love to coexist with nature; in this place, the homes are still made of wood and are decorated, with cheerful and vibrant colors, in its streets, you can not only enjoy the calm that emanates, you can also take amazing pictures for your social networks.

Continuing along the coast towards the Gulf is Dzilam de Bravo, this coastal municipality where you can do activities such as kayaking in the Bocas de Dzilam, a place where the sea and the river meet, or simply camp on its fine sandy beaches if you are visiting the area, you must see the freshwater spring Xbuya Ha. This magical place has an eye or well of fresh water in the middle of the sea.

Not far from there, between X'Cambó and Dzilam de Bravo, are the paradisiacal beaches of San Crisanto, ideal for both water sports and moments of relaxation. Here you will find the largest mangrove area in the state.

Beach in San Crisanto, Yucatan, Mexico

Beach in San Crisanto, Yucatan, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Ar1Hkstr1/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Not far from the archaeological zone of X'Cambó, you will find Telchac Puerto, home to a pink lagoon, where migratory birds gather to rest; such is the case of Uaymitún, a space that has a three-level viewpoint from which you can fully appreciate the beautiful pink flamingos so emblematic of the destination, besides being a point quite close to the Yucatecan capital, Merida, and Progreso, the first and most important part of the Yucatecan coast.

This recently renovated port has natural elements for diverse recreational activities. It has been configured as a great tourist and consumption center for all the cruisers that arrive in the region.

Its white sand beaches, shallow, calm waves, and no currents make this the ideal place to practice water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, kite surfing, swimming, paddle boarding, and others.

If your thing is fishing and tranquility, the ideal is to visit Sisal, a fishing port of great tradition located in the municipality of Hunucmá; here, you can enjoy the pleasant beaches and its exotic natural scenery, which makes it the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. It’s beautiful emerald green coastline and its low waves make it ideal for the whole family, whether for swimming or a boat ride.

The Yucatán coastline has large ecological reserves such as El Palmar, one of the most important in the state thanks to its abundant flora and varied fauna, ideal for ecotourism lovers who can take a night walk for crocodile watching.

Also, in Celestún, you can find extensive beaches full of coconut trees and mangroves that are part of the world heritage of the biosphere reserve of Celestún, a space in which approximately 400 species of migratory birds have been identified, besides being one of the two sites where the pink flamingo nests, feeds and reproduces.

Pink flamingos in Yucatan, Mexico

Pink flamingos in Yucatan, Mexico. (photo via Pe3check/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

It should be noted that it also has the extraordinary, petrified forest of Tampetén and Punta Ninúm, where clams and miniature shrimp abound. In this place, you can observe 234 different mammals, three sea turtles, and two species of crocodiles.

Finally, the Alacranes Reef National Park, located outside the continental zone, is a Natural Protected Area with the largest coral structure in the Gulf of Mexico, formed by five islets surrounded by shallow tropical waters. At the same time, the islands' vegetation is composed of dune and mangrove species. In this place, you should not miss practicing recreational diving, which allows you to admire the area's beauty.

For all these reasons, when the traveler plans his trip to Yucatan, he cannot miss visiting some of the lush beaches; this will be possible with the help of the travel planner of Yucatan.travel, where you can find more detailed information on each of the experiences that are in the destination. 

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Juan Antonio (Oso) Oseguera

Co Editor - Mexico & Latin America

Oso Oseguera is an experienced journalist with more than 30 years of practice. His coverage of different topics makes him an...

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