Mexico's Best Beach Towns Beyond Cancun
Skip the resort strip. These Mexican beach towns have better waves, better food, and far fewer wristbands.
The Mexico most people know from the beach is the Cancun version — all-inclusive resorts, foam parties, and a stretch of Caribbean sand that’s been optimized for people who don’t actually want to leave the hotel. It’s fine for what it is. But it’s not Mexico.
The real Mexican coast is wilder, cheaper, and significantly more interesting. Small towns where the surf culture is genuine, the fish tacos come from this morning’s catch, and the sunsets happen without a DJ providing the soundtrack.
Here’s where to go instead.
Sayulita, Nayarit
Sayulita is the town that proves a place can be discovered and still be good. Yes, it’s popular now. Yes, there are yoga studios and smoothie bowls. But the bones of the town are still there — cobblestone streets, a working fishing fleet, and a beach break that’s perfect for learning to surf.
The main beach gets crowded by midday. Walk ten minutes north to Playa de los Muertos (the name is better than the beach, but the beach is good too) or south to the coves past the cemetery where locals actually swim.
Where to eat: Don Pedro’s for beachfront seafood that’s genuinely excellent, not just passable-for-the-location. Choco Banana for the best breakfast in town — the chilaquiles are loaded and cost $5. Mary’s for late-night tacos when the mezcal has done its job.
Stay: Budget guesthouses on the hill behind town run $30-50/night. The Airbnb market is competitive — a casita with a kitchen for $60-80 is easy to find outside peak season.
Getting there: Fly into Puerto Vallarta, 45 minutes by car. Uber works for the airport transfer.
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
If Sayulita is the friendly introduction, Puerto Escondido is the deep end. The surf here is serious — Zicatela Beach has one of the heaviest beach breaks in the world, and the Pipeline-style barrels draw professional surfers from May through August. If that sounds intimidating, it should. Swim at Carrizalillo or La Punta instead.
La Punta is the neighborhood to stay in. It’s the mellow end of town — dusty streets, hammock-equipped cafes, surf shops, and a point break that works for intermediate surfers. The vibe is barefoot and unhurried.
Rinconada is the quieter residential area between La Punta and the main strip. Longer-term renters gravitate here for the lower prices and proximity to everything.
Where to eat: Espadin for mezcal cocktails and Oaxacan small plates. Calafia Beachside Grill for the best ceviche tostadas you’ll find outside of a market. The tlayuda vendors on Calle del Morro for a late-night snack that doubles as dinner.
Cost: Puerto Escondido is still genuinely affordable. $40-60/night for a good room, $3-5 for meals at local spots, and the beaches are all free. A month here can cost $1,000-1,500 all-in if you cook some meals at home.
Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo
Holbox is what Tulum was fifteen years ago, before the brand hotels and the influencer economy swallowed it whole. No cars (golf carts only), no high-rises, and a sandbar island vibe that makes the rest of the world feel very far away.
The water is shallow and warm for what feels like half a mile out. Bioluminescence lights up the shallows on dark nights between June and November. Whale sharks pass through from May to September and you can swim with them on guided tours ($120-150 per person — expensive but genuinely once-in-a-lifetime).
Where to eat: Los Peleones for the best fish tacos on the island. Roots for pizza and cocktails. The street food carts along the main drag for marquesitas — those crispy crepe rolls filled with cheese and Nutella that sound wrong but are absolutely right.
Stay: Holbox is not as cheap as it used to be. Budget rooms start at $50/night, and beachfront runs $100-200. Book ahead for December through March.
Getting there: Bus from Cancun to Chiquila (3 hours), then a 20-minute ferry. The journey is part of the charm. The ferry schedule is reliable but check return times — missing the last boat means a night in Chiquila, which is not the same experience.
Mazunte, Oaxaca
Mazunte is what happens when a former sea turtle hunting village reinvents itself around conservation and surf culture. It’s tiny — a single dirt road, a handful of restaurants, a beach that faces due south for spectacular sunsets — and it attracts the kind of traveler who doesn’t need much more than that.
Punta Cometa, the southernmost point on this stretch of coast, is a short hike from town and offers the best sunset viewpoint in Oaxaca. Maybe in Mexico. The path winds through scrubby hillside and ends on a cliff where the Pacific stretches in every direction. Get there 45 minutes before sunset and wait.
San Agustinillo, the next beach east, has calmer water for swimming and a few more restaurant options. You can walk between the two towns in twenty minutes along the coast road.
Where to eat: Estrella Fugaz for vegetarian food that’s actually creative. Siddhartha for seafood with a view. Any of the palapas on San Agustinillo beach for whole grilled fish served with tortillas and salsa.
Stay: Cabanas and guesthouses from $25-50/night. Hammock spots for $10 if you’re serious about budgeting. No chain hotels, no resorts, no plans to build any.
Bacalar, Quintana Roo
Bacalar isn’t technically a beach town — it’s a lagoon town. But the Laguna de los Siete Colores (Lagoon of Seven Colors) makes the Caribbean look washed out. The water is freshwater, impossibly clear, and shifts from turquoise to deep indigo depending on depth and time of day.
This is a slow town. You rent a kayak, paddle to the cenote in the middle of the lagoon, swim, paddle back, eat ceviche, and consider whether you really need to go anywhere else. The answer, after a day or two, is usually no.
Where to eat: Mango y Chile for waterfront meals and strong margaritas. Enamora for nicer dinners with lagoon views. The market in town for tacos and aguas frescas.
Stay: Hostels on the lagoon from $15-20/dorm, private rooms from $40-60. The waterfront spots charge more but the sunrise from a dock makes it worth the premium.
Getting there: Bus from Cancun (5 hours) or Chetumal (40 minutes). The ADO buses are air-conditioned and comfortable.
The Timing
Pacific coast towns (Sayulita, Puerto Escondido, Mazunte) are best from November through April — dry season, consistent surf, warm but not brutal. The summer brings rain and humidity but also empty beaches and rock-bottom prices.
Caribbean side (Holbox, Bacalar) works year-round, though hurricane season (June through November) brings occasional storms and lower prices. December through March is prime time and prices reflect it.
The sweet spot for any of these towns is the shoulder — early November or late April. Warm enough, dry enough, cheap enough, and empty enough to feel like you found something.