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These Are The Best Beaches In Cancun To Escape Sargassum And Crowds 

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There are a lot of amazing beaches in Cancun, and in fact, the beaches are the number one reason tourists visit Cancun, but some beaches are better than others.  Some might always be extremely crowded, while others may be plagued with excessive sargassum, both things that might make the beach a little less enjoyable. 

Sargassum Being Cleaned From the Beach in Cancun

But we’re going to list the best beaches in Cancun to escape both the sargassum and the crowds so that you can get the most out of your Cancun beach vacation:

Sargassum And Cancun’s Beaches 

Sargassum is a type of seaweed that forms in the Atlantic Ocean, gathering into what is known as the Sargasso Sea before it gets carried with currents to the Mexican Caribbean.  It then washes up on the shore, typically more so in the spring and summer, and covers the beaches. 

Many of the beaches in the Cancun Hotel Zone have low levels of sargassum right now, but these beaches are generally highly populated by tourists.  So, if you’re looking for a more relaxing experience, the following options may be better.   

@travelgxng Would you come to beaches filled with Sargassum? #mexico🇲🇽 #sargassum #cancun #cancunmexico #cancun2023 #mexico #sargassumproblems #seaweed #beach #beaches #whitesandbeach #carribean #quintanaroo #quintanaroomexico #travelgang #travel #travelvlogger #travelvlog ♬ Sunshine (Extended Mix) – TIEKS

Playa El Nino  

Located near the Puerto Juárez Marina, Playa El Nino is a beach known more by locals, who often gather there on weekends but not so frequented by tourists. 

It sits directly across from Isla Mujeres, and its calm waters are great for swimming and keeping sargassum to a minimum.  Currently, Playa El Nino is in the green, or the “very low” category, on the Sargassum Monitoring Network traffic light. 

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@laurasavi_fam 📍 Cancun Mexico 🇲🇽 #cancunmexico #beachvacation ♬ Just A Little While – The 502s

Playa Caracol 

Playa Caracol is in the Hotel Zone, but a stretch of it is a public beach and can be accessed by tourists, but it’s important to note that there are no facilities.  It’s a bit busier than some of the other beaches on this list, but its lack of facilities steers many tourists to other beaches.

So, it is still possible to find a spot away from others.  Currently, Playa Caracol also has “very low” levels of sargassum, according to the Sargassum Monitoring Network traffic light.  

@cancun__tours Playa Caracol #cancunmexico #quintanaroo #playa #playamexicana #marcaribe ♬ Beggin’ – Måneskin

Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres 

Costa Mujeres, which is essentially a different name for the same beach that is also known as Playa Mujeres, is a wide, expansive beach.  This alone makes it seem more secluded and affords the opportunity to spread out from other people, but it’s important to note that its relative seclusion also means you won’t be able to walk to get there. 

Currently, the Sargassum Monitoring Network is showing that Costa Mujeres is also only dealing with “very low” levels of sargassum.  

@soydianaceci Playa del hotel Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres #costamujeres #catalonia #cancun #islamujeres #playa #vacation #nature #marcaribe #dondeir #agentedeviajes #viajesyturismo #misviajes #sinsargazo ♬ sonido original – Diana Cecilia Chávez

Isla Blanca 

If you go past Costa Mujeres, you’ll get to an even more secluded beach, possibly the most secluded in Cancun, called Isla Blanca.  There is no public transport that will take you to this stunning, peaceful beach, so you’ll have to rent a car to get there,  but if you’re looking for peace and quiet in Cancun, it’s worth the trip. 

Currently, the Sargassum Monitoring Network lists Isla Blanca as having “very low” levels of sargassum on the beach. 

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Please drive 1 hour away from the tourist trap to Isla Blanca (white island)

♬ This is heaven – Nightshade

Playa Norte 

There’s no denying that Playa Norte, located on the island of Isla Mujeres, is a popular beach among tourists visiting Cancun.  It makes the list for two reasons, though, one being that its expansive size makes it still possible to escape huge crowds.

Secondly, it is known to have very little sargassum most of the time.  The Sargassum Monitoring Network currently lists Playa Norte in the “without sargassum” category, meaning there is no presence of seaweed on the beach right now. 

@yo_soycancun Isla mujeres 📍 #islamujeres #playanorte #vistaespectacular #parati #videoviral #frypgシ #cancun #travel #vacation #isla ♬ DANCE DANCE DANCE X HUNG UP – ALTÉGO

There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Cancun, but finding quiet, sargassum-free beaches isn’t always easy.  But the beaches on this list just may give you exactly what you’re looking for. 

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