A bird’s eye view reveals the watery nature of this vacation playground
When seen from the air, it’s obvious why Cancun has become Mexico’s favorite waterfront playground. The 12-mile-long strip of sand that is home to the country’s largest tourism zone is flanked by water on all sides.
To the west, the mangrove estuary of Nichupte Lagoon provides fishermen, kayakers and birdwatchers with acres of calm water. The reef-fringed eastern crescent of the island boasts miles of white-sand beaches that are washed by trade winds and the water of the Caribbean. When swells are up, beaches such as Playa Ballenas are favorites with body surfers.
At its northernmost point, the island’s coastline takes an abrupt westward turn, creating a profile that resembles a giant numeral seven. The top part of this seven overlooks the waters of Bahia de Mujeres, with favorite beaches such as Playa Tortuga and Playa Caracol, where you can catch a water taxi to Isla Mujeres. These areas are protected from Caribbean swells, but can turn exciting when winter winds from the north attract windsurfers.
Early risers will want to head out for sunrise at Punta Nizuc and Playa Delfine where the steep bank of sand provides great views. No matter which beach you select you’ll find it’s easily accessible and essentially one continuous stretch of white sand set against the bright turquoise seas making the scenery both striking and surreal.
