10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
If you’re looking for an uncrowded escape, you need to know about these hidden beaches in Mexico. Everyone tends to gravitate towards Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and to Cabos, but I’m telling you, Mexico has so much more to offer. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path, head to one of these Mexico beach destinations.
Hidden Beaches in Mexico
1. Zipolite Beach
Zipolite Beach, or Playa Zipolite is not only my favorite of the hidden beaches in Mexico, it’s also my favorite place to visit in Mexico. You can see the sun both rise and set from this bohemian, clothing optional beach. It attracts people from all over the world, and since it’s about an hour drive from the closest airports, it’s not as visited as other beaches in Mexico. The currents can be rough, but I love body surfing the waves here. And, if you’re an experienced surfer, you will love it. Plus, this entire part of the Oaxacan coastline has many other beaches you can visit between 5-20 minutes away. Some of the others are calmer, if you prefer a more relaxed swim. Mazunte is a great town for shopping. Artists display their wares (lots of jewelry) along the main road of Zipolite at night, and beachside restaurants bring out the checkered tablecloths and candles. The sunrises and sunsets are stunning, there are many options for yoga classes, and there is incredible food in Zipolite. I find Zipolite to be one of the most magical spots on earth.
2. Troncones Beach, Troncones
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Troncones, or Playa Troncones, is such a special place, that I haven’t actually written an entire guide about it. It’s the kind of place you go to walk the beach, watch turtles hatch, and whales go by. It’s a big surfing beach with water that was even too rough for me to swim in, but get a hotel with a pool and with an ocean view, and you are set. Troncones has great food. Don’t miss one of the restaurants in the nearby fishing village of La Majahua that specialize in lobster, or Indigo, where I dined almost every day. And, for a relaxing swim, take a taxi to Manzanillo Bay, also known as Troncones Point, The water there is calm, and you can even snorkel there. The Inn at Manzanillo Bay has great dining and drinks. This hidden beach in Mexico is about an hour away (but a world away) from the popular Mexican beach town of Zihuatanejo. I was going to spend part of my time there as well, but once I got there, it was too busy for me, so I cancelled my room there and headed back to Troncones. This is the kind of place where the internet and power often go out, nothing is open past 8 pm, and it’s the absolutely perfect spot to get away from it all and do nothing but relax.
View this post on Instagram
3. Playa Tecolote, La Paz
Everyone thinks of Playa Balandra when they think of La Paz, which you definitely shouldn’t miss. But, for a less crowded experience and one of the pretties beaches in Mexico, don’t miss Playa Tecolote. Playa Tecolote offers everything that a perfect beach should. Gorgeous calm waters deep enough for swimming, services such as restrooms, beach bars for when you need a drink or lunch, and lots of pretty shells and stones to collect as you walk down the beach.
If you walk to the left once you are facing the beach, it’s easy to find a spot without many people around. There are also vendors that come selling mangoes and paletas, which make for a nice treat in the heat. If you’re lucky, you might even see a few stingrays at this beach. You can also rent both kayaks and jet skis at this beach.
4. Playa Punta Cocos, Holbox
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
While all of Holbox is beautiful, head to the left, to reach Playa Punta Cocos. This is where the sand gets even whiter, the turquoise waters even more vibrant, the water more crystal clear, and the crowds disappear. Holbox is a beautiful island with some of the prettiest beaches in Mexico. Don’t miss the sandbar walk and flamingoes at Punta Mosquito. Just make sure to opt for a hotel that’s not right in town if you don’t want to hear all night parties. The streets are made of sand, so you’ll be either walking, biking, or renting a golf cart. During the right time of year, you can even book a tour to swim with whale sharks. It’s a great place to get away from it all.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
5. Playa Isabel, Yelapa
Playa Isabel is a hidden beach on Yelapa, and makes for the perfect secluded escape. Plus, at night, you can often see the luminescent glow of bioluminescence sea critters in the water at this beach. The main beach gets crowded, as many boat tours drop people off for the day, so this is the perfect place to get away from it all. Note, there are no services here, so bring your own snacks and water. This beach is about a fifteen minute walk away from the main beach.
6. Los Muertos, Sayulita
While I didn’t enjoy Sayulita Beach at all, Los Muertos Beach is a different story. If you’re visiting Sayulita or San Pancho, you must check it out. It’s called the Beach of the Dead because you have to walk past the cemetery to get here. I arrived shortly after Dia los Muertos, so it was spectacular, and my favorite part of the day. It also has calmer waters than the main Sayulita beach and is great for swimming. There are also vendors you can rent chairs from, and also ones that you can buy snacks and drinks from.
7. San Pancho Beach, San Pancho
Playa San Pancho often gets overlooked for Sayulita. I thought Sayulita was too busy, but I loved San Pancho. My only complaint was that it was quite expensive if you wanted to rent a chair and umbrella from a bar even if you were drinking/having lunch there. In Zipolite, the beach chairs are free if you’re dining at the restaurant. Also, most days the water was a little too rough for my liking. If you’re a surfer, you will love it.
I loved that San Pancho has areas of the beach with no beach bars behind it. There is also a lagoon with beautiful birds that flock to it on one side of San Pancho’s beach. And, here you can also see the sunset which is a big event for the town. If you’re lucky, you will also get to see turtles being released, as there is a sanctuary here.
8. Coronado Island, Loreto
Coronado Island is the most popular boat tour in Loreto, and it’s easy to see why. The water around the island is absolutely mesmerizing with its beautiful blue and green colors. Even with it being so popular, it wasn’t overcrowded. I wouldn’t say the snorkeling was great, but its descent, and it’s a beautiful spot to spend the day. While there was a restroom at the island, it was out of order the day I visited. There were pavilions for shade, and the water was perfect for swimming. We saw sting rays and dolphins in the water, which is crystal clear.
9. Bahía Concepción, Mulege
Bahía Concepción and all of the surrounding beaches near Mulege will take your breath away. The views of the water were some of the prettiest views I’ve ever seen. The water is peacefully calm, and you can rent kayaks or paddleboards at many of the beaches. I stopped at most of the beaches in the area, and they were all beautiful. Playa el Requeson is probably the most popular, with its unique sandbar, but make sure to stop at a few spots and enjoy the most vibrant water you will ever see. Make sure your gas is full before you set out for the day, as there aren’t many gas stations around. This area is definitely paradise on earth and the Sea of Cortez’s best secret.
10. Agua Verde, Loreto (Baja California)
While you can drive to Agua Verde, the steep and crazy road will take at least two hours. So, we chartered a boat. A much more relaxing way to go, and we got to see a pod of hundreds of dolphins on the way back. There is a restaurant on remote Agua Verde, Brisa de Mar, and they serve some of the best fish tacos I’ve ever had. First of all, they make the flour tortillas from scratch. And, after we had waited almost an hour for our tacos and they still hadn’t come, I joked that they must be catching the fish. Well, sure enough, the fisherman came in with a bucket of fish, just after I said that. It was a memorable day, and just the kind of place I had hoped to discover on the day that I went which just happened to be Anthony Bourdain’s birthday. While the beach isn’t stunning like Bahia Concepcion, the tiny town feels like a place that time forgot, and the experience of eating at the restaurant was really what it was all about.
What are some of your favorite hidden beaches in Mexico? Let me know in the comment below!
You May Also Like
Ambergris Caye, Belize
3 Thailand Beaches That You Just Shouldn’t Miss
