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This Beach Near Cancun Is Among The Best In The World, According To Trip Advisor

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Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres has been named one of the top beaches in the world according to Trip Advisor’s ‘Best of the Best’ list for 2023.

What makes this piece of paradise so beloved by travelers like yourself?

Playa Norte beach on Isla Mujeres island near Cancun in Mexico.

Read on for more information on Trip Advisor’s newly-awarded destinations for 2023 and just a few reasons why this gorgeous beach is an unmissable stop on your next trip to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. 

What Is The Trip Advisor’s ‘Best Of The Best’ List?

On Trip Advisor, their annual ‘Best of the Best’ series includes lists of the top 25 traveler spots and experiences around the world, including destinations, beaches, hotels, restaurants, and things to do. 

Number 23 for 2023: The popular travel website recently released the ‘Best of the Best‘ list for 2023 for destinations and beaches specifically, and Isla Mujeres’ Playa Norte landed as number 23 on the list of best beaches in the world

These ‘Best of the Best’ lists are all curated using travelers’ reviews and ratings posted on the Trip Advisor website over the previous 12 months.

Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres near cancun, the beach is clear and free of sargassum

Playa Norte: Travelers’ Top Choice For Beaches In The Mexican Caribbean

Take a 20-minute ferry ride from Cancun, and you’re in Isla Mujeres, a more tranquil part of the region with peaceful beaches and historic attractions.

The calm, shallow waters along the beaches here make for great snorkeling or just lounging the day away. 

Playa Norte is close to the ferry dock, so it’s an easy place to access if you’re taking a day trip here from Cancun. If you’re staying a little longer, you’ll be happy to find restaurants and beach clubs just a short walk away. 

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tourists on Playa Norte beach in Isla Mujeres, one of the best beaches in the world according to Trip Advisor travelers.

As an ideal alternative to the busy beaches of Cancun, it’s no surprise that Playa Norte made Trip Advisor’s Best of the Best list this year.

One of the traveler reviews on the website pretty much sums up the vibe of Playa Norte on a perfect day: “The water is clear and every beautiful shade of blue you can imagine. It’s the very essence of true paradise.”

Playa Delfines Cancun

Interestingly, Playa Norte was 1 of 11 beaches located in the Americas (12, if you include Hawaii) that made this year’s list of the top 25.

Other top beaches include Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia; Varadero Beach, Cuba, and Ipanema Beach in Brazil. Playa Norte is the only beach in Mexico that made this year’s list.

Worried about the sargassum situation on your next trip to the Mexican Caribbean? Here’s why Isla Mujeres is the best destination to avoid sargassum right now.

Isla Mujeres Mexico Caribbean Beach Hotel - Drone Aerial Photo.

Other Top Traveler Beaches In And Around Cancun For 2023

To go with this list of best beaches in the world, a travelers list of the top 10 beaches in Mexico for 2023 is also now up on Trip Advisor. 

Playa Norte landed at number 1 for 2023, and also on the list is nearby Playa El Cielo beach in Cozumel. A few other Mexican Caribbean beaches made this year’s top 10 list, including Playa de Puerto Morelos and Playa Delfines in Cancun.

People walking on beach in Isla Mujeres

Visiting Playa Norte: Information For Travelers

Playa Norte is routinely featured as one of the top beaches in the Mexican Caribbean and is obviously travelers’ top pick on Isla Mujeres.

The beach was also given Blue Flag status last summer, making it one of the cleanest beaches in all of Mexico. So if you’re looking to relax for the day with amazing views, Playa Norte is your spot. Just must make sure to bring cash for a beach chair rental.

One Trip Advisor reviewer shared some helpful travel tips on Playa Norte’s destination page: 

“Very nice beach. Crystal clear waters. Very shallow and can walk 100m from shore. Good day to spend on the beach. 450 pesos for 2 beach chair rentals with free bottled water till 5 pm. Easy to leave clothing and towels on chairs and walk to restaurants for lunch that were not at the beach.”

Have you been to Playa Norte before? What do you think of this slice of paradise? Leave a comment below!

Isla Mujeres Beach, sunny skies, sand and palm trees in the foreground.

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Grampa Brian

Monday 20th of March 2023

Just finishing our last couple of weeks of 2 months at Isla Mujeres … yes, Playa Norte is okay, but other beaches in Mexico are as good, if not better! Their only problem is the sargassum washing up. And of course, having spent a year in Perth Australia, you will never beat the beaches and the snorkelling there!! 😎👍👌

Suzanne Rubenstein

Monday 20th of March 2023

We were so disappointed by that beach / the ones in Cancun and Cozumel are so much nicer! Playa Norte was crowded and bathrooms not always easy to access, depending upon who you rent chairs from, you better make sure that’s included as the small resorts lining the beach have guards to keep you off property. And the huge sewer pipes extending into the ocean were icky! And did I mention difficulty finding parking for your golf cart? Not so easy! I’d choose Pensacola over that every day!