Mexico is an ideal destination for fun family beach vacations. In addition to its warm tropical climate and stunning landscapes, Mexico has some of the world’s best beaches. Since most Mexicans are family-oriented, there are plenty of activities, services, and amenities available for families, should you choose to take a beach vacation with children. When trying to identify the best beach for kids, it is important to be aware of the various beaches available. For families with small children, especially those who are not strong swimmers further north, the best option is to stick to the calm, clear waters of the Caribbean coast. The calm and clear waters make it easy to find family-friendly vacation rental homes close to a safe swimming beach. Finding the ideal beach requires a bit of research before deciding.
Top Family-Friendly Beaches in Mexico
If you’re planning to visit Mexico for a family-friendly vacation, there are several destinations with a beach scene that kids will love. Mexico has hundreds of beautiful beaches, but many are best suited for adults and not very safe for little ones. Playa Delfines in Cancun is a wide, beautiful beach with soft sand where you’ll find a perfect blend of families, couples, and solo travelers. It’s also known for its natural beauty and lack of restaurants, bars, sunbeds, and shades, so plan accordingly with hats and umbrellas. Akumal Beach, on the Riviera Maya, has calm, shallow waters ideal for kids. It is safe enough for babies with adult supervision, and older kids can snorkel in the protected bay with the chance to see sea turtles.
Cancun: Playa Delfines
When traveling to Mexico with the entire family, choosing the right beach can make all the difference. Playa Delfines is a practical beach to bring the little ones, as the amenities are well kept and it is located in a safe area. Sometimes referred to as El Mirador, Playa Delfines is located on Kukulkan Boulevard at Kilometer 17, approximately north of the Cancun Hotel Zone. Playa Delfines sports a stunning stretch of white sand, and the water is a beautiful shade of turquoise, with large crashing waves that are delightful to watch or take pictures of. This beach may not be ideal for swimming, though, as there are often strong undertows. This undeveloped stretch of Cancun is just the way the locals like it, so you should expect to enjoy a peaceful beach day with a family atmosphere.
On the beach at Playa Delfines, lifeguards stand watch and the water is divided into a swimming area and a surfing area, so stick to where you know you are safe. Playa Delfines is an attractive beach location located in the hotel zone and is easily reached by city bus or rental car. There are public restrooms as well as a playground for children, so every member of the family can find something to get into. Spend plenty of time swimming with the kids; the waters are shallow, perfect for the youngest beach lover. In addition to being the best beach for kids, there is lazy surfing for the teens. Enjoy the local delicacies found at the various vendors in the area, and fun regional beach games like soccer, sand volleyball, and even an occasional beach concert. Keep in mind that the area could be quite crowded. Even if you’re staying elsewhere, Playa Delfines has a family-friendly atmosphere that guests will appreciate.
Riviera Maya: Akumal Beach
Located on the Riviera Maya, Akumal Beach is another one of the tranquil, kid-friendly beaches that stretch along both coasts of Mexico. The K’aay Center in the middle of town has a restaurant and other facilities, but many parents prefer to visit the beach just north of the pueblo blanco for the purpose of snorkeling. Turtles can be seen right in front of the beach in two bays, especially as they come close to the shore in the early morning and at dusk to feed. One bay charges an entrance fee; the other is free. Head out on an early morning organized tour for the best experience, avoiding the tourist hordes.
Apart from the man-made pools and local recommendations, the sea pools and gentle, rolling waves make for a great place for young families. The natural bay is well protected, making it a great place to learn how to swim. There are plenty of beach palapas for shade. While Pueblo Centro may be chock-a-block with mini-marts catering to visiting backpackers, the Las Casitas development on Akumal’s southern Avenida Sur offers a leafy boutique and upscale strip aimed at foreign families. Further south, luxurious all-suites accommodation is available with two restaurants on site. Staying in this area also places you within minutes of exploring nearby cenotes and many of the adventure parks of the Riviera Maya. To reach Akumal, fly first to Cancun, a mere distance to the north.
Puerto Vallarta: Playa de los Muertos
Surrounded by gentle hills and sparkling waters, Playa de los Muertos is a great choice for an easy-going family getaway. This beach is ideal for families with kids of all ages, as it boasts a vendors boulevard, beach cafes, and beach clubs, from which parents can watch as their kids play on the sand and in the calm waters. Playa de los Muertos also benefits from an active lifeguard station that offers additional safety. The beach lends itself to Playa de los Muertos and Puerto Vallarta’s leisurely approach, which means there are no water sports programs or inflatable toys available in the area. Rather, the focus here is on local beach vendors and community events, so get ready to mingle. In the event that your kids are looking for something to do, numerous beach activities are organized in conjunction with the vendors, such as free Zumba classes and soccer games that take place on the beach. Visitors can also access many local activities to entertain the kids, including horseback riding and banana boat rides; there are also numerous food and drink options, including restaurants located on the beach, or haphazard seating areas for those wanting to take a refreshment at one of the vendors. Due to the beach’s great location along Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, parents can also access local markets and galleries in the area.
Cozumel: Paradise Beach
If you’re not a big fan of watching your kids dart through unruly wave breaks, perhaps Paradise Beach is more your style. The Cozumel shipping dock is the principal hangout of the day-tripper and cruise ship crowd, and the beach directly in front of town gets very crowded. It is also very rocky, and there are some cement-filled tire bumpers in the shallow water. But if you walk down the beach just a little, it’s clear sailing all the way to Chankanaab. One of Cozumel’s best beaches, it’s also extremely popular with parents and their children. The shallow momentum of the waves means kids can play in the water by themselves without fear of getting sucked under. Or set up on the sand and eat at the beach’s restaurants, which cater to Americans’ taste for perfectly grilled hamburgers and cold tropical drinks.
The southern end of Cozumel has a lot of beach clubs for tourists, and the most famous of them is Paradise Beach. Of the many “perfect” beaches on Cozumel, Paradise Beach stands out as a family favorite. Several cruise ship tours head here directly from the dock each morning, and part of Cozumel’s east end is a popular excursion point for sail and powerboats. With a beach club, restaurant, bar, and plenty of water sports equipment rentals, it’s hard not to find yourself settling into Paradise, whether you arrive with your family in tow or not. Paradise Beach, in a few words, offers luxury amenities for the parents and a whole lot of fun for the kids, along with a fabulous beach in the tropics, of course. The 250-foot-wide, powder-soft sand beach curves gently around the edge of an evening shade blue bay. The water here is shallow but clear, and virtually any piece of beachfront can be a launch point for your first underwater adventure. At Paradise Beach, a simple swim with a mask and snorkel can enthrall adults and kids alike.
Los Cabos: Medano Beach
Most of Mexico’s beaches are notorious for their beautiful stretches of sand, loungers, and crystal-clear waters. However, Los Cabos shines when it comes to being a premier beach for families. While most kids love the beach, they can get rather bored and tired, which means everyone’s day ends up shortened. Medano Beach, however, is just the opposite. The beach is lively, with vendors of all sorts. As you arrive, there will be a host of activities for all ages you can do on the beach. Even if you have little kids, there’s no reason not to take them for a little bit. The water there is swimmable because it’s in a cove and relatively shielded from the open ocean. Even the waves are not as big.
For the littlest beachgoers, there are some ideal spots where the water is calm and the slope is gradual. As you walk down the beach, you’ll see paddles that offer different activities for kids and older children such as jet skis and paddleboards. They also take families out on banana boats, making it fun for all. You’ll find lots of restaurants right along the beach. They are family-friendly, and I always saw kids eating pizza or quesadillas. Some even have sand to play in. One in Cabo San Lucas has two little pools for kids to swim in while waiting for their food. During lunch, the waiters will surprise the kids with a sombrero and sing. There are lifeguards on duty at Medano Beach if that’s a concern. To fully enjoy your time at Medano, keep the times in mind. It gets more crowded as the day goes on. Pop in for a couple of hours in the morning before it gets too hot or late when the water is warmer but the beach isn’t too crowded.
Activities and Attractions for Kids at Mexican Beaches
Mexican beaches are great destinations for a family vacation, and the best beaches for kids offer a range of fun activities, both on the sand and on the water, in addition to the option to just play and relax on the beach. Building sandcastles is an all-time classic children’s game, and most children still enjoy a creative session, shaping the wet sand and decorating the castles with seashells. There are lots of beach games for kids that do not require accessories, from chasing and hide-and-seek to building and drawing in the sand. Many kids love to snorkel, and many beaches around the Mexican coastline offer the opportunity to do so directly off the sand. Many resorts and beach clubs also offer paddleboards, with life vests, and there are usually staff members keeping an eye on things to ensure safety.
Best of all, paddleboarding is relatively easy, so even younger children are generally able to give it a go, with push-off from family members. When looking at all these available beach attractions, it may be a good idea to involve your child and ask which one or two activities would appeal to them. Children tend to appreciate a choice and to feel that their opinion counts when on vacation. Another option is to take the kids to a nearby point of interest, such as a more family-friendly beach, a water park, or a lagoon with inflatable toys. Most parents go to the beach to relax, and often it’s best to allow kids to just “be” and play how they want to. At the same time, especially for young kids, the opportunity to keep active can be good to prevent boredom and too much sitting. Some families advocate a half-day approach, enjoying outdoor fun in the morning, and then retreating to the pool for a relaxed lunch and afternoon.
Final Tips for a Fun and Safe Beach Trip with Kids
In conclusion, spending time on a Mexican beach can be the highlight of your family’s holiday. To ensure that children, in particular, have an unforgettable time – for all the right reasons – consider the beach, waves, and facilities before selecting a beach. Take children to the most family-oriented or calm-watered beaches where lifeguards can watch over your kids as needed. A guide is helpful for visiting off-the-beaten-track beaches, providing them with day bags for entertainment and essentials, and a simple first aid kit for scratched knees. Beach management will advise if day-specific conditions will make your trip less enjoyable, such as strong currents or exceptionally large crowds. When at the beach, check for warning signs that indicate where a supervised section of the beach starts and ends.
Take the time to communicate your expectations about activities, safety, and departures – this will ensure children and parents get, and stay, on the same page. On a practical level, ensure you have sunscreen, reapply after swimming or two-hour intervals, and take an umbrella or hire shade. Calmer waters with daddy longlegs to play with, sometimes coupled with play equipment and gentle beach walks, can lead to a lot of great beach memories for kids. Finally, consider an activity-focused beach day: think quiet kayaking, sunset walks, bird spotting, sandcastle building, or horse riding. By making a clear plan before hitting the beach, spending a little extra time preparing and ensuring you have the right resources, spending quality time with family at the beach can be one of the highlights of your holiday; incident and frustration-free.