Cancun’s beaches get all the attention. Some of the best parts of a trip here never touch dry land. Here's a rundown of the spots worth reaching by boat.
Isla Mujeres
- Distance from Cancun City: 13 km (8 miles) across the water.
- What to Do: Rent a golf cart relax at Playa Norte, snorkel reefs and explore the town.
- Specialty: Turquoise water and a relaxed small-town island feel.
- Food: Souvenir shops, cafes and seafood restaurants in the town center. Try the grilled fish.
- How to Reach: ferry from Puerto Morelos or Playa Tortugas (about 20 minutes) or by yacht in 45 to 60 minutes.
Close, calm and easy to reach for a half-day trip. Known for turquoise water and a relaxed small-town feel once you're ashore. It's the go-to stop for a lot of charters mainly because the crossing is short and the water stays calm most of the way over. Once you're on the island golf carts are really the way to go. Nobody bothers with a car here. Playa Norte is the spot everyone ends up at eventually shallow enough that even non-swimmers can wade out and enjoy it. Most trips leave an hour or two free to wander the beach and grab something to eat before heading back.
Isla Contoy
- Distance from Cancun City: 50 km (31 miles) north.
- What to Do: Snorkel, watch birds. Walk the nature trails.
- Specialty: Protected nature reserve with water, birdlife and far fewer crowds.
- Food: No shops or restaurants. Bring your food and water.
- How to Reach: By boat about 1.5 to 2 hours each way. A permit is required so go with an operator.
A protected nature reserve with water, birdlife and far fewer crowds than the more popular stops nearby. You need a permit to visit which sounds like a hassle but its actually the reason the place still looks the way it does. The reef hasn't taken the beating some of the spots have. Birdwatchers tend to love it; frigate birds and pelicans nest along the shore in numbers. The waters around the island are full of life too honestly the boat ride out is half the fun. It sits enough from the coast that it really only makes sense as part of a full-day trip.
Cozumel
- Distance from Cancun City: About 80 to 85 km (50 miles) south.
- What to Do: Snorkel. Dive the reefs then walk around San Miguel town.
- Specialty: Some of the reef water in the region loved by divers.
- Shops & Food: San Miguel waterfront has shops, small restaurants and souvenir stalls.
- How to Reach: By yacht in 3 to 4 hours each way or drive to Playa del Carmen (about 1 hour) and take the ferry (30 to 40 minutes).
Home to some of the reef water in the region making it a favorite for snorkeling and diving. On a day the visibility out there is honestly kind of ridiculous. Divers travel from all over just for this stretch of coral. If you're not into diving the town of San Miguel is worth a walk too with a waterfront of shops and small restaurants. Its a longer run from Cancun than most of the stops on this list so plan on making a day of it rather than squeezing it into a quick outing. The water on the side stays pretty smooth so it's not a rough ride even if you're not used to boats.
Playa del Carmen
- Distance from Cancun City: 65 km (40 miles) south.
- What to Do: Relax at beach clubs walk Fifth Avenue and enjoy the restaurants.
- Specialty: A beachfront town that suits mixed groups.
- Shops & Food: Fifth Avenue is packed with cafes, restaurants and shops. Many beach clubs offer food and drinks.
- How to Reach: By yacht in 2 to 3 hours or by road in about 1 hour.
A mix of beach clubs, restaurants and a walkable strip ashore for groups who want more than just time on the water. Fifth Avenue runs along the coast and its packed with cafes and shops if anyone wants to stretch their legs. This one works well for groups. Some people can stay on the boat while others go explore for a bit. A lot of the beach clubs will let boat guests in for a hours, food and drinks included, which makes for an easy afternoon. Because its so central it's also a spot to stop halfway through a longer route.
Holbox
- Distance from Cancun City: 130 km (80 miles) to the northwest.
- What to Do: Swim in the shallows ride golf carts or bikes watch the sunset and in summer look for whale sharks.
- Specialty: Quiet car-free island with water and pastel buildings.
- Food: Small shops and seafood restaurants around the town square. Lobster pizza is a favorite.
- How to Reach: A long boat ride ( 4 hours or more) so most people plan a full day or overnight. By road drive to Chiquilá (about 2.5 to 3 hours). Take a ferry (about 25 minutes).
Further. Quieter, with calmer shallower water and a laid-back island character. No cars allowed. Everyone gets around on golf carts or bikes which just adds to the slow-down vibe of the place. During the summer whale sharks show up in the shallows nearby. That alone pulls boats from up and down the coast. Sunsets here have a reputation. Once you see the flat horizon against those pastel buildings you'll get why. It's enough out that most people treat it as a full-day trip sometimes even an overnight one.
MUSA Underwater Museum
- Distance from Cancun City: 25 km (15 miles) off Punta Nizuc.
- What to Do: Snorkel or dive among the sculptures and take photos.
- Specialty: sculptures that have become an artificial reef.
- Shops & Food: Nothing at the site so bring snacks and drinks on the boat.
- How to Reach: Boat usually about 30 minutes from Cancun marinas. Pairs with a scuba diving in Cancun stop.
A collection of sculptures turned artificial reef, popular for snorkeling, diving and photography. Pairs with a scuba diving in Cancun stop. The sculptures were placed there to grow coral and after all these years a lot of them are covered in it. It barely looks man-made anymore in some spots. Visibility changes day to day. On a clear one you'll get some of the best underwater photos of the whole trip. It's close enough to the hotel zone that it's easy to tack onto a half-day charter with stops. Guides usually know which figures tend to draw the fish that day so its worth asking.
Puerto Morelos
- Distance from Cancun City: 35 km (22 miles) south.
- What to Do: Snorkel the reef offshore and stroll the small town square.
- Specialty: Quiet fishing-town feel with a protected reef inside a park.
- Shops & Food: square with a few shops and seafood spots right on the beach.
- How to Reach: By yacht in about 1.5 to 2 hours or by road in 35 minutes.
A quieter fishing-town stop with a protected reef offshore well suited to a relaxed snorkeling break. Because it sits inside a park the reef has held up better than a lot of the more heavily trafficked sites further north. The town itself hasn't really been built up much. There's a square, a handful of seafood spots right on the beach and not a lot of noise. The reef is close enough to shore that the water usually stays calm here when things are choppier elsewhere. If you want a reef without a long ride to get there this is probably it.
Punta Nizuc
- Distance from Cancun City: 25 km (15 miles) at the southern tip of the hotel zone.
- What to Do: snorkeling in shallow water.
- Specialty: Protected area with calm shallow conditions that suit beginners.
- Food: Nothing at the reef itself. Restaurants and shops are nearby in the hotel zone.
- How to Reach: By boat in about 20 to 30 minutes from Cancun marinas.
A protected reef area at the tip of the hotel zone, known for calmer conditions and shallower water. It's right at the edge of the tourist strip so it's one of the reef stops to reach on a shorter trip. The shallow depth makes it forgiving for beginners or anyone whos a little nervous about snorkeling in water. Because its protected there's usually an amount of marine life around. It often ends up being the last stop when a route strings together a few nearby spots.
Nichupte Lagoon
- Distance from Cancun City: about 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 miles) right behind the hotel zone.
- What to Do: Paddleboard cruise slowly and watch wading birds in the mangroves.
- Specialty: Calm, glassy water and mangrove scenery with a view of the hotel zone skyline.
- Food: Restaurants and small shops along the lagoon side of the hotel zone.
- How to Reach: By boat, from lagoon-side marinas 10 to 20 minutes.
A lagoon lined with mangroves sits behind the hotel zone offering calm, flat water and a peaceful view that’s very different from the sea. Herons and other wading birds are often seen in the mangroves making it a relaxing change for those who enjoy nature. The lagoon is protected from ocean waves so the water stays smooth and glassy on rougher days offshore. It’s a spot for paddleboarding or a slow quiet boat ride away from the crowded routes. Seeing the hotel zone skyline from the calm quiet lagoon offers a contrast that’s worth experiencing.
Akumal
- Distance from Cancun City: 100 km (62 miles) south.
- What to Do: Snorkel in the bay. See sea turtles in shallow water.
- Specialty: Calm seagrass-filled bay where turtles feed close to shore.
- Food: Small beachfront cafes and snorkel and dive shops.
- How to Reach: By road in 1 hour 15 minutes or by yacht as part of a longer Riviera Maya route (usually 4 hours or more).
Best known for sea turtle sightings in water making it a popular add-on stop for snorkeling groups. The bay is calm and full of seagrass, which's exactly what turtles like to feed on so sightings happen pretty reliably even outside peak season. Guides will usually run through the no-touch keep-your-distance rules before anyone gets in the water. Since the turtles tend to stay close to shore you don’t need to be a swimmer to see them. A lot of trips pair this with a run down toward the coastline to round out the day.
Tulum Coastline
- Distance from Cancun City: 130 km (80 miles) south.
- What to Do: Cruise the coast swim in water and look up at the clifftop ruins.
- Specialty: Quieter, built-up coastline with clear water and ruins overlooking the sea.
- Food: Beach cafes and shops along the coast and in Tulum town.
- How to Reach: By road in about 1.5 to 2 hours or by yacht on a full-day route ( 5 hours or more each way so many people make it an overnight).
A longer route south with water along a quieter stretch of coast for groups wanting to venture further out. It’s noticeably less built-up than Cancun’s hotel zone, which gives the stretch a more remote scenic feel. In some spots you can actually see the clifftop ruins from the water, which adds a bit of history to the scenery. It’s a haul to get down there so this one needs a full day with plenty of time budgeted for the ride. Calmer months make for a smoother trip down this part of the coast.
Plan Your Route
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