15 Best Merida Mexico Beaches (#12 Is My Favorite!)
Curious about the Gulf of Mexico beaches near Merida?
You’re in the right place to discover the best Merida Mexico beaches.
I have lived in Merida, on and off, since 2019, and I’ve explored much of Yucatán’s 200 miles of coastline.
Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum get all the attention, but they’re in Quintana Roo, the next state over. Yucatán’s Gulf of Mexico beaches have a charm all their own.
In this article, you’ll find the 15 best beaches near Mérida and what you need to know to visit them.
There’s also a map of the beaches at the end, so you can see where each beach town is.
Merida Mexico Beaches at a Glance
Not all beaches near Mérida are the same. Some are prettier, some are quieter, and some you’ll need a rental car to visit.
Here’s a quick look at all 15. Click any beach to jump to it.
- Progreso: the closest beach to Mérida, with a malecón, beach clubs and a cruise port
- Celestún: quiet beaches plus the famous flamingos
- Sisal: a laid-back pueblo mágico with a pier and seafood on the sand
- Chuburna: a sleepy beach town popular with expats
- Isla Columpios: a tiny island with swings in the water, a short boat ride from Chuburna
- Chelem: calm, pretty beaches and a few good restaurants
- Chicxulub: big beach homes and near-private beaches next to Progreso
- San Benito: upscale beach houses with room for groups
- San Bruno: quiet beaches and a beach resort
- Uaymitún: the fanciest beach mansions on the coast
- Telchac Puerto: a fishing pier, seafood and the Xcambo ruins nearby
- San Crisanto: coconut palms, empty sand and my favorite beach in Yucatán
- El Cuyo: clear water and kiteboarding at the eastern edge of the state
- El Palmar: an untouched beach inside a nature reserve
- Dzilam de Bravo and Santa Clara: two small fishing villages at the end of the coastal road
✈️ First trip to Mérida? Check out my Ultimate Mérida, Mexico Travel Guide to plan your trip.
The 15 Best Merida Mexico Beaches
1. Progreso, Yucatán
Wondering, What is the closest beach to Mérida, Mexico? It’s Puerto Progreso, about 40 to 50 minutes north of the city.
It’s the most convenient beach to get to, so it’s popular with Mérida locals on weekends.
Progreso is also a cruise port. When a ship is in, expect thousands more people than usual in this chill beach town.
🚢 Progreso Tip: Check the Progreso cruise ship schedule before you go if you’d rather visit on a quieter day.
Progreso is the most developed beach town in Yucatán, and it has a large community of American and Canadian expats.
It can be windy, which makes it popular with windsurfers and kiteboarders.
🏝 Best Things to Do in Progreso, Mexico
🚶♀️ Walk the Progreso Malecón
Once you arrive in Progreso, stroll the malecón (boardwalk) and grab a bite to eat.
Then pick a spot on the beach and rent a shaded palapa with beach chairs for the day.
🪁 Take Kiteboarding Lessons
The western side of Progreso has several kiteboarding schools that offer lessons and gear rentals.
Three well-reviewed schools are Yuckite, Kite Beach and AlphaKite.
🏖 Lounge at the Progreso Beach Clubs
My favorite beach club in Progreso is El HaGuay. I love it for its relaxed vibe.
El HaGuay is next to the giant, colorful Progreso letters, on the eastern end of the beach.
You can use a beach chair for free as long as you order food and drinks.
It has a laid-back vibe and boho decor, and it’s gotten popular. Reserve your beach chairs ahead through its Facebook page.
💦 Visit El Corchito
About 10 minutes by car from the beach, you’ll find the El Corchito Ecological Reserve.
A short boat ride takes you across the mangroves, where you can swim in natural freshwater pools as raccoons and coatis wander by.
Entry costs 200 pesos (about $11 USD) for foreign visitors, including the boat crossing.
🌮 Best Restaurants in Progreso, Mexico
Crabster Seafood & Grill on the malecón is a great option for breakfast or brunch.
Yum Ixpu and Eladio’s are two great places for Yucatecan food and fresh seafood.
- For a casual sunset dinner on the beach, go to Eladio’s.
- For a more upscale dinner, try Bacalauh.
- For live music, check the schedule at Crocodiles Bar & Grill.
🚙💨 How to Get From Mérida to Progreso
You can drive your rental car, or take an Uber or taxi.
⚠️ Note: To use Uber, you’ll need a Mexico SIM card with data.
The cheapest way to get there is the AutoProgreso bus, which leaves from its own terminal on Calle 62 between Calles 65 and 67, in downtown Mérida.
Buses run every 15 to 30 minutes from 6 am to 10 pm. The ride takes 40 to 50 minutes, and tickets cost 28 pesos (about $2 USD) each way.
🏨 Best Progreso Hotels and Apartment Rentals
Planning to spend the night? Progreso has great options for groups, couples, solo travelers and budget travelers.
$$$ Beach rental: Penthouse de Lujo: a stylish beachfront home with a pool that sleeps six. It’s in a safe area where you can walk everywhere.
$$ Splurge hotel: Tecnohotel Casa Villamar: a boutique hotel in a converted mansion on the beach. It has a pool, room service and free breakfast.
$ Budget apartment: Punta Progreso: about 300 feet from the beach, in a newer building with a pool and 24-hour security.
2. Celestún, Yucatán
Celestún is about 90 minutes from Mérida by rental car. It takes longer by bus, so consider staying at one of the Celestún hotels below.
The town has some of the prettiest beaches in Yucatán, but they’re often overshadowed by its flamingos. With a night here, you can easily enjoy both.
🏝 Best Beaches in Celestún
Celestún’s two main beaches are Playa Norte (North Beach) and Playa Sur (South Beach), on either side of the town’s fishing pier.
They look about the same, but Playa Norte is more popular. It has better amenities and restaurants, including La Palapa and Los Pámpanos.
💦 Things to Do in Celestún
Besides the beach, there’s the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, which UNESCO recognizes as a biosphere reserve.
It’s the best place to see flamingos near Mérida, and one of the best places for birdwatching in Mexico.
🦩 Take this Celestún boat tour to see the flamingos on a cruise through the mangroves.
The flamingos move around the peninsula during the year.
The best time to see them in Celestún is from November to early March, when thousands of them gather here.
Many tours also stop at the Ojo de Agua Baldiosera, a swimmable freshwater spring in the mangroves. You can see it in the photo above.
🚙💨 How to Get From Mérida to Celestún
You have three options: this Mérida to Celestún tour, your rental car or the bus.
In a rental car, it’s an easy 90-minute drive on Highway 281 straight into Celestún.
Buses to Celestún leave from the Noreste bus terminal in downtown Mérida about every hour.
The ride takes about 2.5 hours, and tickets cost about 70 pesos (about $4 USD) each way.
For more tours from Mérida, see the tour options below.
🚌💨 Mérida to Celestún Tours
Here are the top-rated Mérida to Celestún tours on Viator:
🏨 Best Celestún Hotels and Home Rentals
Celestún is a small town, so hotel options are limited. Book ahead, especially in flamingo season.
$$ Mid-range rental: Villas del Mar (Beach Suite): a basic house you have all to yourself, right on the beach.
$ Budget hotel: Hotel San Julio: basic rooms in a great beachfront location, a few minutes from the center of town.
🏨 See all Celestún hotels for more options.
3. Sisal, Yucatán
Looking for a quiet, relaxed beach? Sisal has white sand, a pier and a few places to eat and drink, but not much else.
It’s on Mexico’s list of pueblos mágicos (magic towns). It’s the only beach town in Yucatán on the list.
🤔 What is a pueblo mágico? Mexico’s Magic Towns are places the government highlights for their culture, traditions and natural beauty.
When I visit Sisal, I rent a beach chair under one of the shaded palapas outside Muelle de Sisal restaurant.
If you order food and drinks, they let you use their bathroom all day.
🚙💨 How to Get From Mérida to Sisal
As with all the beaches near Mérida, the fastest way to get there is by rental car.
Without a car, you’ll take two colectivos (shared vans). They’re cheap, but not very comfortable for a 1.5- to 2-hour trip.
Catch the first colectivo at Terminal de Taxis Hunucmá in downtown Mérida. It leaves when it fills up, usually every 15 to 30 minutes.
Get off in Hunucmá, then cross the street toward Farmacia Yza to catch the colectivo to Sisal.
4. Chuburna, Yucatán
Chuburna Puerto is the westernmost beach on the coastal road that runs along the Costa Esmeralda (Emerald Coast), from Dzilam de Bravo in the east to Chuburna in the west.
It’s about 20 to 30 minutes from Progreso by rental car.
It’s popular with expats, and one area is even nicknamed “Gringo Gulch” for its many American and Canadian retirees.
Chuburna is a sleepy town, but it’s a nice place to spend the day on mostly empty beaches. Together with Isla Columpios, it’s my second-favorite beach area near Mérida.
5. Isla Columpios, Yucatán
Right next to Chuburna Beach, you’ll find Isla Columpios, also called Playa Columpios.
To get there, head to this parking lot and take one of the boat tours to the island.
Several companies run the tours, and they’re all about the same. Tours cost about 250–350 pesos (about $14–19 USD) per person, including the round-trip boat ride.
The boat ride takes about 5 minutes, and you’ll pass Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island) on the way. We saw flamingos there 🦩.
Our guide also took us out into the Gulf of Mexico for a few minutes.
The tour gives you up to about two and a half hours on the island.
Two hours was enough for us.
There are plenty of photo ops, kayak rentals for exploring the mangroves, and stands selling beer and snacks.
Food options are limited and often sell out, so feel free to bring your own food and drinks.
6. Chelem, Yucatán
Chelem is one town east of Chuburna, about 15 minutes away by rental car. It’s a little busier than Chuburna, but it’s still a small town.
The beaches are calm and pretty, and there are some good restaurants, like Qué Onda Café.
🚙💨 How to Get From Mérida to Chelem and Chuburna
Without a rental car, the easiest way to reach either town is the AutoProgreso bus from Mérida to Progreso.
From Progreso, take an Uber or taxi to Chelem or Chuburna.
7. Chicxulub, Yucatán
Chicxulub (pronounced CHEEK-shoo-loob) is the next town east of Progreso. It’s known for big homes and apartments right on the beach.
It’s also where the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs hit.
You can’t see the crater because it’s underwater, but the small Sendero Jurásico dinosaur park is a hit with families.
When I stayed here, it felt like I had a private beach, and Progreso was only 15 minutes away by rental car.
It was the best of both worlds: peace and quiet during the day, and restaurants close by for dinner.
Note: I don’t recommend staying in Chicxulub without a rental car. It’s hard to get around without one, and there isn’t much within walking distance.
🚙💨 How to Get From Mérida to Chicxulub
If you’re not renting a car in Mérida, take the AutoProgreso bus to Progreso.
From there, it’s a short taxi ride to Chicxulub.
8. San Benito, Yucatán
Keep driving east past Chicxulub Puerto, and you’ll reach Uaymitún (pronounced why-me-TOON), San Benito and San Bruno.
These are the most upscale beaches near Mérida.
There isn’t much here besides the beach, but there are great big homes for rent. For groups, these three towns have some of the best beach house rentals in Yucatán.
San Benito itself is tranquil, with little more than the beach and a few restaurants.
It’s far enough from Progreso to escape the crowds, but close enough to drive into town for dinner.
9. San Bruno, Yucatán
San Bruno is one of the best places near Mérida to get away from it all.
There are lots of beachfront rentals here, but if you’d rather stay at a resort, nearby Tecnohotel Beach Resort is a great choice.
10. Uaymitún, Yucatán
Uaymitún is the first beach town east of Chicxulub, just before San Benito.
It has the nicest homes on the whole Costa Esmeralda, and many of its beachfront mansions are for rent. There’s not much else around, so you’ll need a rental car.
11. Telchac Puerto, Yucatán
The next town east of San Bruno is Telchac Puerto. It’s a small town with inexpensive seafood restaurants downtown.
The beaches are nice, especially around the Muelle de Pescadores (fishing pier).
🏨 Need a hotel in Telchac?
The Reef Yucatán All Inclusive Resort has big rooms with balconies and Gulf views, a huge pool area, a gym and a restaurant.
🤩 Best Things to Do in Telchac Puerto
Besides the beach, you can visit the Xcambó Mayan ruins and the Xtampú pink lakes.
Xcambó is a small site with a few pyramids and structures. It’s a good option if you’re not visiting Chichén Itzá.
There’s no pink beach in Yucatán, but there are pink lakes. Xtampú gets fewer visitors than Las Coloradas near Río Lagartos, but it’s much closer to Mérida.
If you’re wondering, yes, the pink color is real! Locals use the lakes to harvest salt.
12. San Crisanto, Yucatán
San Crisanto is my favorite beach in Yucatán. It’s known for its coconut groves, and there are usually more palm trees than people on the beach.
It’s about 1.5 hours from Mérida, and there’s not much around it besides the beach.
Go only if you have a rental car, because an Uber or taxi there is expensive.
Pack a cooler, since there aren’t many restaurants or stores nearby.
The best place to spend the day is Balneario Sac-Ha. Balneario loosely means beach club, though there’s not much here besides restrooms and showers.
Entry is about 110 pesos (about $6 USD) per person.
🛶 San Crisanto Mangrove Tour
Besides the beach, take the San Crisanto Mangroves EcoTour.
This peaceful, gondola-style boat ride through the mangroves ends at an ojo de agua (freshwater spring) where you can swim.
Tours cost about 180 pesos (about $10 USD) per boat, for 2 to 5 people.
13. El Cuyo, Yucatán
El Cuyo is about 3.5 hours from Mérida by rental car. By public transportation, it takes closer to 4.5 hours and two buses.
It sits at the eastern edge of Yucatán state, near the border with Quintana Roo and close to where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean.
Its clear water looks more like the Riviera Maya than the rest of the Yucatán coast.
When you visit, there are some great hotels in El Cuyo to choose from.
🪁 Best Things to Do in El Cuyo
There isn’t much around El Cuyo, but this up-and-coming beach town has enough to keep you busy. It’s especially popular for kiteboarding.
You can take an ATV tour to the Las Coloradas pink lakes, or go paddleboarding, kayaking and birdwatching.
Afterward, grab a bite at Naia Café.
Then head back to the beach to watch the sunset and the kiteboarders.
At certain times of year, some local companies run tours to see sea turtles.
🏨 Best Hotels in El Cuyo, Mexico
El Cuyo is a small town, so hotels are limited, especially on the beach. Here are a few great options for every budget.
$$$ Splurge hotel (adults only): Hotel La Casa Cielo: stylish rooms on a private stretch of beach, with a pool, hot tub, garden and terrace.
$$ Mid-range hotel: Hotel Can Cocal: air-conditioned rooms, each with a private pool, plus a pool bar, a restaurant and free breakfast, just a minute from the beach.
I stayed here recently, and it was excellent.
$ Budget hotel: Casa Cuyo Hotel & Restaurant: rustic-chic rooms about 1,000 feet (305 m) from the beach. Every room has a terrace, and some have AC.
14. El Palmar State Reserve and Beach, Yucatán
The El Palmar State Reserve sits between Sisal and Celestún, and its beach is untouched by development.
You get the beach on one side and the nature reserve on the other.
The reserve is a protected area of mangroves and wetlands, home to many bird species and other wildlife. Its old lighthouse, Faro El Palmar, stands out on the empty coast.
It’s an easy drive from both Celestún and Sisal, but the roads in and out of the reserve are rough, especially after heavy rain.
A four-wheel-drive rental car is best, or you can just stick to the beach.
15. Dzilam de Bravo and Santa Clara, Yucatán
These are the last two beach towns before the coastal road ends. Both are small fishing villages, almost entirely off the beaten path.
On one of my road trips to the Yucatán beaches, I drove all the way out here, about two hours from Progreso.
For those who are curious (like I was), off-the-beaten-path places in Mexico are always worth checking out.
I went once, and the beaches weren’t special enough that I’d go back. If you do go, there are some good seafood restaurants with the fresh catch of the day.
Merida Mexico Beaches Map
Use this map to see where each of the beaches near Mérida is.
Progreso is about 40 minutes north of Mérida. Celestún to the west and Dzilam de Bravo to the east are each about 1.5 hours from the city.
Merida Mexico Beaches FAQ
Is Mérida, Mexico, on the beach?
No. Many people think Mérida is a beach town, but it’s about 22 miles (35 km) inland.
So you’ll be visiting the beaches near Mérida, not beaches in Mérida.
The closest beach is Progreso, a cruise port about 40 to 50 minutes north of downtown by car or bus.
There are no beach resorts in Mérida itself, but this post includes resorts and beach rentals on the coast nearby.
How far is Mérida, Mexico, from the beach?
The closest beach to Mérida is Puerto Progreso, about 22 miles (35 km) from downtown. The drive takes about 40 to 50 minutes in normal traffic.
Most of the other beaches on this list are 45 minutes to 1.5 hours away. El Cuyo is the farthest, at about 3.5 hours.
What is the Mérida pink beach?
You may have seen photos of the Las Coloradas pink lakes near Mérida. They’re lakes, not a beach.
They look like a beach in photos, but the pink water is a salt lake. The closest pink lake to Mérida is Xtampú, near Telchac Puerto.
Are Mérida, Mexico, beaches worth visiting?
If you like quiet beaches, then yes, the Yucatán beaches are for you.
There’s no shortage of things to do in Mérida, but I can’t imagine visiting without spending a day at the beach.
Progreso is easy to reach by bus, and a rental car opens up the rest of the coast.
My Final Thoughts on the Best Merida Mexico Beaches
Yucatán’s beaches aren’t as famous as the Caribbean beaches in Quintana Roo. That’s great news if you’re looking for peace, quiet and nature.
🏝️ Fun fact: The Yucatán coast is called the Costa Esmeralda (Emerald Coast) for its green-blue water.
Progreso is the easiest beach to reach from Mérida. Places like San Crisanto and El Cuyo are farther away, but worth the drive.
To see all the best beaches near Mérida, you’ll need a rental car. You can also reach Progreso on the AutoProgreso bus.
For a quick beach day, Progreso is the best option. It has beach clubs, restaurants, shops and great Progreso hotels if you want to stay the night.
For a calmer beach, any of the others make a great choice. My personal favorites are San Crisanto first, then Chuburna and Isla Columpios.