Bahias Huatulco National Park is home to some of the best beaches near Mexico City.

12 Mexico City beaches you must visit in 2023

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Mexico City is the largest city in the country and the biggest city in Latin America by population. It boasts over 100 museums, and amazing historic and cultural landmarks, and the food scene is second to none. But if you want a quick getaway, you might be wondering whether there are Mexico City beaches where you could spend a weekend.

In this article, we will look at the best beaches near Mexico City, where you could have a nice break from the busy city and recharge your batteries.

Are there beaches in Mexico City?

While there are no beaches in Mexico City, there are quite a few beaches within driving distance from Mexico’s capital. You can reach Acapulco and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo by car and can take an hour’s flight to Puerto Escondido or Bahias de Huatulco from Mexico City.

Planning a trip to Mexico City? Use my top travel resources!

  • Accommodations in Mexico City – I use Booking
  • Flights to Mexico City – I use CheapAir
  • Travel insurance in Mexico City – I use SafetyWing
  • Guided tours in Mexico City– I use Viator
  • Car rentals in Mexico City – I use DiscoverCars

Best Mexico City beaches: a complete overview

Acapulco is a major city in the state of Guerrero that's home to some of the most popular beaches near Mexico City
Photo courtesy: Unsplash.com

Best beaches in Guerrero State

Guerrero is a southwestern state that’s home to several popular getaways from Mexico City like Acapulco and Taxco. Guerrero also boasts some of the best less-discovered beaches near Mexico City like Troncones, if you don’t feel like spending time in a big city like Acapulco.

1. Acapulco

Distance from Mexico City: 378.9 km

Where to stay: Encanto Acapulco

Acapulco is the most famous of all Mexico beaches.

Acapulco gained fame as a mainstay for Hollywood movie stars in the ’50s and ’60s but today this city is more popular with Mexico City residents who want to enjoy a quick beach getaway without having to buy a plane ticket.

Although gang violence in Acapulco has affected the reputation of the town in recent years, the city remains a popular option for budget travelers who continue to come here to enjoy the Pacific beaches.

The town has three major areas: Las Playas (Caleta) in the north, The Golden Zone, and Diamante, where you can find plenty to do for your getaway from Mexico City.

Acapulco is one of the most popular beaches near Mexico City, and it’s a good budget destination where you can get great prices on hotels and food.

How to get from Mexico City to Acapulco: You can take a flight from Mexico City to Acapulco which will cost about $150 USD for a round trip or take a bus which will be around $100 USD for a round trip, but take longer.

I always use busbud.com for buying bus tickets in Mexico.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT FROM MEXICO CITY TO ACAPULCO

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is one of the most popular getaways from Mexico City famous for its small town atmosphere and lush mountainous landscapes.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash.com

2. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Distance from Mexico City: 653.4 km

Where to stay: Casa Sirena

The Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo area is located in the tropical hills of the Guerrero State. These two neighboring towns are perfect alternatives to busy Acapulco if you crave a more down-to-earth atmosphere and less crowded beaches.

All you need to do is walk a bit south of town, and you will find secluded the golden stretch of sand where you can have a lazy afternoon.

✅ GET A TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR YOUR TRIP

Come night, grab a bite in one of the beachfront bars, and watch the colorful sunset with a tasty margarita in your hand. The Pacific Coast of Mexico has some of the most stunning sunsets I’ve ever seen, and there’s no better place to watch them than a cozy bar in an authentic small town.

How to get from Mexico City to Ixatapa: Although you can drive, you can also catch a flight from Mexico City to Ixtapa with Aeromexico or Volaris for about $50 USD. It’s a great option that will save you hours on the road.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT FROM MEXICO CITY TO IXTAPA

3. Troncones

Distance from Mexico City: 632.5 km

Where to stay: Hotel Bajito Bay

Located about 280 km north of Acapulco, Troncones is a beachside village that’s home to a sizable community of North American ex-pats.

Although Troncones used to be a hidden paradise along the wild Pacific Coast, it’s quickly getting discovered. It’s a perfect place to enjoy the tranquil scenery and spend your days in a hammock while listening to the crashing waves.

Exploring local coffee shops is one of the best things to do in Coyoacan, Mexico City

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The community has a population of just over 500 permanent residents. The beach here is clean and uncrowded and the sunsets are nothing short of spectacular. You can also ride a wave if you are into surfing.

To get to Troncones from Mexico City, you can fly into Ixtapa Airport and catch a taxi to Trocones from there.

4. Playa de Barra Vieja

Distance from Mexico City: 391 km

Where to stay: Hermoso Departamento Con Playa Privada

Located in the Acapulco area, Playa de Barra Vieja is a popular tourist attraction famous for its gastronomy and the gorgeous beach that stretches for 15 km.

Many travelers say that Playa de Barra Viejo has better conditions than many Acapulco beaches thanks to warmer water and better sand. Come and check out for yourself!

Veracruz is a state along the Gulf of Mexico that boasts some of the best Mexico City beaches
Photo courtesy: Unsplash.com

Best Veracruz Beaches

Veracruz is a southeastern state of Mexico that’s home to some of the least explored beaches in the country. Just like Guerrero State, it’s also home to several popular beaches near Mexico City that make for a perfect escape from the big city.

5. Costa Esmeralda (Emerald Coast)

Distance from Mexico City: 340 km

Where to stay: Mar de Estrellas

Costa Esmeralda is a beautiful stretch along the Gulf Coast of Mexico where you can enjoy amazing views and try local gastronomy. The most popular beaches in the area are Casitas Beach, Montegordo Beach, and Guadalupe Beach.

6. Tecolutla, Veracruz

Distance from Mexico City: 231 km

Where to stay: Posada Casa Antigua

Tecolutla is the closest beach to Mexico City where you can enjoy calm waves. Just like many Gulf of Mexico beaches, Tecolutla has amazing emerald-green waters and plenty of space.

The area boasts plenty of hotels and restaurants and is a perfect place to visit by car from Mexico City.

Tecolutla is one of the best beaches near Mexico located a short distance away from Papantla, a pueblo magico that's known for its voladores or flyers.

What’s the nearest city to Tecolutla?

Tecolutla is located near Papantla, a designated pueblo magico famous for the El Tajin ruins and the ornate downtown square where you can watch a performance of the voladores (flyers), which dates back to Mesoamerica. Combine a trip to Tecolutla beach with a stop in Papantla for a fun getaway.

If you are looking where to stay in Mazunte, look no further than some of the most beautiful hotels on the beach.

Best Oaxaca Beaches

Oaxaca beaches are not the closest to Mexico City and the fastest way to teach them is by taking a flight. The good news is that you will be able to enjoy the Pacific Coast of Mexico in less than 1,5 hours after landing at one of the area’s airports.

You can fly to Puerto Escondido or Bahias de Huatulco International Airport from Mexico City. Once you arrive, you can catch a taxi to Mazunte or rent a car, which is the best option, because it will allow you to travel at your own pace.

CLICK HERE TO SAVE ON CAR RENTALS IN OAXACA

Huatulco is one of the best beaches near Mexico City that can be reaches by a quick flight.

7. Huatulco

Distance from Mexico City: 723.8 km

Where to stay: Agua Azul La Villa

One of the most popular beach towns along the Oaxaca Coast, Bahias de Huatulco (Bays of Huatulco) is home to the national park, where you can find 36 incredible bays.

While you will need a car to explore the area and enjoy everything that this national park has, you can also take some of the most popular boat tours to visit some of the most popular bays in the area.

Book one of the best Huatulco tours for the ultimate adventure

Another popular activity in Puerto Escondido that you shouldn’t miss is whale watching.

If you are visiting the town from December through March, book a whale-watching tour with one of the local tour operators to see these marine giants who migrate here every year as they escape the cold waters up north.

How to get from Mexico City to Huatulco: You can catch one of the daily flights from Mexico City to Huatulco with Volaris or Aeromexico, which will take you about one hour.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT FROM MEXICO CITY TO HUATULCO

Puerto Escondido is one of the most popular Oaxaca beach towns that are great from q quick getaway from Mexico City

8. Puerto Escondido

Distance from Mexico City: 760.5 km

Where to stay: Casa UMI

Puerto Escondido is a surfing town that’s famous for its high waves and nesting turtles. Although it’s not one of the closest Mexico City beaches, it’s worth a trip.

Check out my complete guide to surfing in Oaxaca

Many surfing events take place in Zicatela throughout the year, some of the most famous being the World Surfing League’s Puerto Escondido Challenge. Whether you want to grab a board and do some surfing or participate in releasing newly-hatched baby turtles in the ocean, you will have a blast in this beachside town.

Best things to do in Puerto Escondido

  • Book a whale watching tour – If you are visiting Puerto Escondido from November through March, book a whale watching tour to marvel at these marine giants. You can also spot dolphins, turtles and manta rays.
  • Explore one of Bioluminescent Bays – Book one of the best tours from Puerto Escondido to see this fantastic natural phenomenon with your own eyes.
  • Learn to surf – Puerto Escondido is one of the best places for surfing in Mexico. But you don’t have to be a pro to be able to enjoy the wave here – take a lesson at Playa Carizalillo for 800 Pesos in cash.
  • Visit Lagunas de Chacahua National Park – a beautiful area about one hour from Puerto Escondido famous for its wildlife.
  • Release baby turtles at Playa Bacocho – Oaxaca is famous for its turtle conservation programs with thousands of reptiles coming to nest on its beaches. You can release a newly hatched turtle into ocean for 300 Pesos which goes to support local conservation efforts.

Enjoy one of the best guided tours in Puerto Escondido

How to get to Puerto Escondido

All you need to do is take a quick flight from Mexico City and you will be in Puerto Escondido in a little bit over one hour. Once you arrive in Puerto Escondido, you can rent a car or catch a bus to your hotel.

Hiking Punta Cometa is one of the most popular things to do in Mazunte

9. Mazunte

Distance from Mexico City: 723.4 km

Where to stay: Pochote

Mazunte is one of the most popular towns along the Oaxaca Coast famous for its unspoiled views of the Pacific Coastline and some of the best beaches in Oaxaca. Mazunte was a hidden gem in the past, but after it was “discovered,” it became popular among yoga lovers and those travelers who like to spend time in nature.

➡️ Check my complete guide to where to stay in Mazunte

Hiking Punta Cometa Mazunte is one of the best things to do in Oaxaca

One of the most popular spots in Mazunte is Punta Cometa, an overlook above Playa Mermejita that can be accessed by a quick hike from downtown Mazunte. Punta Cometa is a popular spot for sunset watching, but you can enjoy spectacular views at any time of the day.

Mazunte is also famous for its yoga studios and yoga retreats. Hridaya and Casa Om are the two main places for yoga in Mazunte.

How to get to Mazunte

To get to Mazunte, you can fly to Bahias de Huatulco or Puerto Escondido from where you can catch public transportation or rent a car. If you are traveling along the Oaxaca Coast, you can catch public transportation from Puerto Escondido and Huatulco to Mazunte.

If you are traveling to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido or Huatulco, you can catch a bus to Pochutla, a small town about 25 minutes north of Mazunte from where you will need a taxi or another taxi.

There are no direct buses to Mazunte, and most public transport comes to Pochutla first.

Check my complete guide on how to get from Huatulco Airport to Mazunte.

Mazunte is a charming coastal town in Oaxaca

10. Bahia San Agustin

Distance from Mexico City: 721.5 km

Where to stay: Posada Buda Tortuga

Surrounded by rocky cliffs, Bahia San Agustin is the ultimate getaway along the Oaxaca Coast. The area is popular for snorkeling and diving thanks to the nearby reefs. The nearby fishing village has several basic accommodations and authentic “comedores” (small restaurants) where you can grab a quick lunch or dinner.

Jalisco beaches

Best things to do in Puerto Vallarta

11. Puerto Vallarta

Distance from Mexico City: 881.4 km

Where to stay: Hotel Suites La Fiesta

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town on the Coast of Jalisco State that you can reach via a quick flight from Mexico City like some of the best Oaxaca beaches.

While Puerto Vallarta is a pretty big town, you will find many small beach towns in the region that you can reach by a quick car drive.

Best Puerto Vallarta tours

Best road trips from Puerto Vallarta

After checking out some of the best Puerto Vallarta beaches, you can rent a car in Puerto Vallarta and head to places along the coast of Nayarit where you can visit small beach towns like San Pancho (also known as San Francisco), Lo de Marcos, Litibu and Chacala.

If you like surfing and want to enjoy some of the best upscale resorts, head to Punta Mita, a small town that’s about one hour away from Puerto Vallarta.

If you are craving a slower pace and want to escape the big city, you will love the small towns along the coast of Nayarit.

Check my article on some of the best day trips from Puerto Vallarta.

Nayarit beaches

Sayulita is one of the best beaches near Mexico City that can be reached via Puerto Vallarta

12. Sayulita

Distance from Mexico City: 842.4 km

Where to stay: Anjali Casa Divina

Sayulita is a popular day trip from Puerto Vallarta and one of the most popular towns on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Sayulita is a perfect place to learn surfing and spend a couple of days hiking, sampling tacos from local street vendors, and shopping in the artisan market.

Click here to find out how to get from Puerto Vallarta to Sayulita

I visited Sayulita several times and had a great experience every time I stayed in town. One of my favorite things to do in Sayulita was hiking Monkey mountain about 15 minutes south of town. It’s a great exercise and is a perfect overlook from where you can get a view of the Nayarit coastline.

Hiking Monkey Mountain is one of the best things to do in Sayulita for some exercise.

I suggest renting a car to explore the region and have more freedom. Although you don’t need a car in Sayulita, you will need it to get around and visit some of the best beaches near Sayulita.

Best guided tours from Sayulita

Taking a taxi every time you want to get outside of town could add up, but you can also visit many some popular places near Sayulita by guided tours.

CLICK HERE TO RENT A CAR FOR YOUR TRIP TO SAYULITA FROM PUERTO VALLARTA

How to get to Mexico City beaches

The cheapest way to visit the best Mexico City beaches is by public transportation, but you can also rent a car.

Rent a car with DiscoverCars for your trip, and the best part is that you can find their available cars, and prices online, so by the time you arrive at the car rental company’s office, all your need to do is sign the paperwork.

DiscoverCars also allows you to buy car insurance through their website, which is super convenient and saves you a lot of time since car insurance is mandatory for car rentals in Mexico.

CLICK HERE TO RENT A CAR TO VISIT THE BEST MEXICO CITY BEACHES

Other beaches in Mexico that you should visit

Mexico’s vast coastline spans for 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers). It covers the Pacific Coast, the Gulf of California, and the Gulf of Mexico, and has thousands of gorgeous beaches.

Some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico are located in Baja California, Sonora, Campeche, Tulum.

Where to stay in Mexico City

✅ BudgetHotel Templo Mayor – a great budget hotel in the heart of Mexico City 

✅ Mid-rangeDomingo Santo Boutique Hotel – a beautiful boutique stay near Templo Mayor and Zocalo

✅ LuxuryLa Valise Mexico City – one of the most beautiful hotels in Mexico City in a quiet walkable neighborhood

Mexico City beaches: FAQ’s

if you are looking where to stay in Mazunte, look no further than some of the most beautiful beachfront hotels

Does Mexico City have good beaches?

Mexico City is located in the middle of the valley and doesn’t have beaches. However, there are several beaches within driving distance of Mexico City like Acapulco and Tecolutla, that are perfect for a quick weekend getaway.

What’s the easiest beach to get to from Mexico City?

The easiest beach to get to from Mexico City is Acapulco. You can catch a quick bus from Mexico City and arrive in a few hours.

What’s the closest beach to Mexico City?

Located just 190 km away, Tecolutla in the state of Veracruz is the closest beach to Mexico City. Tecolutla is a small town along the Gulf of Mexico that’s home to several beaches, and it makes for a perfect getaway from the capital.

Best Mexico City beaches: the final word

Although there are no Mexico City beaches, there are several beach towns within a few hour drive from Mexico’s largest city. Whether you want to rent a car and take a drive or catch a quick flight, I hope you enjoy your beach getaway.