Beach Town Breakdown: Cancun, Mexico Area
- May 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Okay so you are planning a trip to Cancun, Mexico and you are trying to decide, "Do I stay in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, or another one of the popular beach towns popping up in the area?" I'm here to help! Let's breakdown the main spots: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Akumal.
Cancun
It's famous for a reason! With beautiful beaches, hoppin' dance clubs, never ending all-inclusive resorts, and endless flight deals (I ALWAYS use Skyscanner to look up flight prices), it's a no brainer to head that way; but unless you're a group of college friends looking to party, slightly further south may be a more suitable destination for you.
Party People Pro Tip: Try out the party hopper bus offered by your hotel concierge (make sure it ends at Coco Bongo!) but be mindful and stay together with your friends. This is not the place to get blackout drunk and wander off by yourself. Have fun and be safe!
Playa Del Carmen (Riviera Maya)
"Playa", as referred to by the locals, is about 45 minutes south of the Cancun airport. This used to be almost exclusively the destination for families but now a downtown area has popped up with a variety of famous chef-owned restaurants, a miniature Coco Bongo, and other night life. This is ideal for the traveler seeking the Cancun-esque beaches with maybe a night of partying without getting toooo wild. It is also great for a quick weekend getaway of relaxing- not too far from the airport and the resorts are calmer than in Cancun. I got some killer last minute resort deals on Hotels.com last time I went to Mexico. (It could have been luck but I got a $700/night room for $250/night!)
Ballin' on a Budget/Long Term Traveler Pro Tip: Check out the condos on AirBnB in the Playacar neighborhood. (First time AirBnB users can get a $40 credit using my link.) It is a very nice gated community, just outside the downtown area with restaurants, beaches, and a golf course within walking distance. I felt safe walking at night and chose one with a resort beach club access pass. I often prefer AirBnB rentals because I like to feel at home even when I'm on vacation, it allows me to stay for longer.. and let's be honest, I'll gain 10 pounds if I stay at an all-inclusive for more than a couple days.
Tulum
The "It" spot. If you've already done the Cancun and Playa thing, it's time you move on down the coast. Tulum is going to put you about 2 or 2.5 hours from the Cancun airport, which for me puts it outside "the quick weekend getaway" range but that's for you to decide. Here you will find a different vibe than the two original Yucatan tourism giants. It is a very long two lane road going to the resorts which are tucked away between trees on the street side, and a rocky coast with small cliffs. This area of the coast is distinctly different from farther north; still very beautiful but if you actually want to swim in the ocean and not just sunbathe then you will want to be mindful when checking reviews and looking at photos. In Tulum, you will also find the vibe to be more of a hippie/yogi vibe than a "lets get drunk!!" vibe as in Cancun. Tulum is also known for having the only waterfront (and supposedly most spectacular) Mayan ruins, although any of these areas will have tour companies offering to take you to the ruins for the day.
Learned-the-Hard-Way Pro Tip: There is a big difference between Tulum Beach and Tulum Pueblo, you'll want to make sure you are in the right one- here's why. Also, if you find a resort price deal that seems too good to be true, it might be! When searching make sure to be aware there are some resorts without air conditioning.
Akumal
Akumal is north of Tulum and south of Playa del Carmen, approximately 1.5 hours from the Cancun airport. It is known for being the nesting site for several different species of sea turtles, however the Mexican government has shut down "Swimming with the turtles", here's my blog on why. Akumal is now like Playa was 10 or 15 years ago. There are a few giant, spectacular resorts and little to no nightlife outside of the resorts. This is an ideal area for families with children. The beach is more like Tulum than Cancun with cliffs and rocks but the giant resorts will surely have cleared a nice swimming area.
Nature Lover Pro Tip: This area is filled with the natural wonders known as Cenotes (water caves). The best ones are in or near Akumal.. but never fear, your trusty hotel tour companies can get you there from anywhere you decide to stay and they really are special.
Just remember, it's all relative. Any place is what you make it! Different resorts have different atmospheres and that atmosphere can change depending on the time of year: Spring Break is surely different than say mid-October. Read the reviews on where you're staying and sometimes take them with a grain of salt. If the majority of the reviews are good, don't let one grumpy person scare you off. I always read travel blogs and check reviews on TripAdvisor before I book to get the most up-to-date information.
For more Pro Tips, read my blog on how to avoid getting traveler's diarrhea in Mexico.
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