Red flag

The red flag is the most misunderstood warning sign on a Mexican Caribbean vacation. Most tourists assume a red flag means the water is closed for swimming. But if you are standing on the sand in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum during the winter months, you will likely see a red flag flying while …

Dreaming of turquoise waves but spotting a bright-red warning flag? Don’t panic—but definitely don’t dive in. A single red flag on a Cancún beach signals very rough surf and dangerous rip currents. While it’s not an outright legal ban on entering the water, safety officials strongly advise staying out. That full shutdown only happens when …