12 Best Beaches in the Mexican Pacific Coast
12 Best Beaches in the Mexican Pacific Coast
Imagine white-sand shores kissed by the warm sun, turquoise waves gently lapping at your feet, and lush palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze – this is the Mexican Pacific Coast, a mesmerizing haven for beach lovers and sun-seekers alike.
Stretching along nearly 8000 km, from the vibrant border town of Tijuana to the laid-back fishing villages of Chiapas, the Mexican Pacific Coast boasts an array of stunning coastal destinations.
In this blog post, I invite you to embark on a virtual journey as I will unveil the 12 best beaches that grace this enchanting stretch of coastline.
Whether you’re craving a tranquil escape, thrilling water sports, or vibrant nightlife, these beaches promise an unforgettable experience where paradise meets the Pacific.
Get ready to discover the hidden gems and world-renowned gems that make the Mexican Pacific Coast a true coastal paradise.
12 Best Beaches in the Mexican Pacific Coast
The largest ocean in the world bathes the coasts of 11 Mexican states.
A long coastal area that includes the Gulf of California and beaches of crystalline waters and fine sands, ideal for perfect vacation days. Let’s begin.
1. Puerto Arista, Chiapas
Puerto Arista is a tourist site in the municipality of Tonala, on the north coast of Chiapas, with spectacular fine sand beaches and gentle waves, which integrate a Natural Protected Area to preserve sea turtles at risk of extinction.
Best hotel near Puerto Arista, Chiapas:
On Zapotal Boulevard s/n in Puerto Arista is Hotel Arista Bugambilias, a beachfront resort with an outdoor pool, garden, bar, and restaurant. They have free wifi and parking.
The rooms have private bathrooms, 2 large beds, air conditioning, and a flat-screen TV.
Best restaurant in Puerto Arista, Chiapas:
Hiball Restaurant Bar & Café serves Mexican and American dishes at Hotel Careyes (on 80 Matamoros Blvd).
It’s a clean place that offers tasty burgers and shrimp dishes, with a nice bar for drinks and cocktails.
2. Mazunte Beach, Oaxaca
Among all the beaches of the Pacific, those of Oaxaca stand out for their wild beauty, aquatic entertainment, and well-priced hotels and restaurants.
Mazunte boasts fine golden sands and waters between green and blue, lined with green vegetation.
It’s home to the Mexican Turtle Center, a conservationist institution of these peaceful species, which also has a beautiful aquarium.
Best Hotel near Mazunte Beach, Oaxaca:
OceanoMar is a 4-star hotel 3 minutes walk from Mermejita beach, 500 meters from Mazunte, with an outdoor pool, palapa roof terrace, and ocean views.
The rooms have wooden furniture, a private bathroom, and a terrace. Its restaurant serves Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizzas.
Best restaurant in Mazunte Beach, Oaxaca
Cenzontle Mazunte serves tasty micheladas and craft beers, on Calle del Rinconcito, s/n, Mazunte.
They have nice music and vegan dishes like a good lentil burger. Prices are very reasonable.
3. Revolcadero Beach, Guerrero
Revolcadero is among the most popular Mexican Pacific beaches for its perfect waves for surfing, horseback riding, ATV tours, and ultralight flights.
Revolcadero Beach is in Acapulco, 3km from Puerto Marques.
Best hotel near Revolcadero Beach, Guerrero:
Hotel Olinalá Diamante is a 3-star accommodation in the Olinalá Princesa 23 circuit, 8 km from Acapulco International Airport.
The rooms are double, triple, quadruple, and family rooms, for 5 or 6 people.
The latter has air conditioning, cable TV, a private bathroom with shower, hair dryer, refrigerator, and kitchen.
Best restaurant near Revolcadero Beach, Guerrero:
La Casa de la Pasta offers excellent Italian food with vegan options, in Acapulco.
The food is delicious with good quality and a varied wine list.
The homemade sauces made with fresh and natural ingredients give a distinguished touch to the pasta.
The restaurant is located at 504 Bulevar de las Naciones.
4. Playa Azul, Michoacán
Playa Azul is a Michoacán fishing village in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, with a beach surrounded by estuaries and wetlands full of beautiful species of flora and fauna.
Its waves are good for surfing, with a sandy beach where sea turtles come to lay their eggs. The eggs are collected by environmental organizations.
Best hotel near Playa Azul, Michoacán:
Hotel Playa Azul is a 3-star accommodation with a beach, restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, gardens, free wifi, and parking. It is located on Venustiano Carranza Avenue.
Its double and family rooms for 4 or 5 guests are equipped with a private bathroom with shower. Some units have air conditioning and others have a fan.
Best restaurant near Playa Azul, Michoacán:
At Rector Hidalgo 25 in Lázaro Cárdenas is Mariscos Mazatlán, a traditional seafood restaurant with good seasoning and prices.
The seafood has a homemade Michoacán touch and the service is attentive and fast.
5. La Boquita Beach, Manzanillo
La Boquita is a small beach in Manzanillo in the bay of Santiago, next to Miramar Beach, with calm waters for safe swimming.
From there you can board boats for diving and snorkeling excursions and stroll around the surroundings.
Best Hotel near La Boquita beach, Colima:
Mar Celeste All Inclusive on the Beach is a 5-star all-inclusive hotel on Miramar beach, with a private beach, two swimming pools (open air and covered), gardens, regional and Mexican cuisine restaurant, bar, and wifi.
Rooms have an ocean view, air conditioning, private bathroom, whirlpool tub, minibar, and other amenities. It is on Venustiano Carranza Avenue, s/n.
Best restaurant near La Boquita Beach, Colima:
The Oasis Ocean Club has an oceanfront bar and restaurant with reasonably priced menu. It is 3 km from La Boquita, at Delfin 15, Manzanillo.
The fresh oysters, coconut shrimp, tuna, and fish tacos are worth the visit, as well as the filet mignon and other specialties accompanied by good wines.
6. Mismaloya Beach, Jalisco
Mismaloya has always been among the best beaches of the Mexican Pacific in Puerto Vallarta for the contrast between the sea, the sand with the palm trees, and the penetrating green of the jungle.
The beautiful 350-meter-long beach is 15 minutes from Puerto Vallarta with turquoise waters and pearly gray sand, all accompanied by small local eateries and beverages.
Best hotel near Mismaloya Beach, Jalisco:
Tropicana Hotel Puerto Vallarta is a 3-star beachfront accommodation with great views of Banderas Bay, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, and comfortable rooms.
It is located at Amapas 214 (in the romantic zone), 8 km from Mismaloya Beach.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport is a 20-minute drive away.
Best restaurant near Mismaloya Beach, Jalisco:
Kome Sutra is a beachfront Mexican and international seafood restaurant, excellent for a romantic lunch or dinner in Puerto Vallarta.
It is located at Amapas 214, 8 km from Mismaloya Beach.
7. San Pancho, Nayarit
San Pancho (San Francisco) is a fun beach perfect for surfing because of its high, fast waves and instructors on site.
Also, the town is super charming with lots of shops, cafes, and bars.
Best Hotel in San Pancho, Nayarit:
Hotel Cielo Rojo is a 3-star lodge with a beach, organic restaurant, and relaxing acupressure, Swedish massage, and reflexology treatments, at 6 Asia Street in San Pancho.
Cielo Rojo is attractively decorated with patio rooms, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a clothes dryer, an outdoor dining area, and free wifi.
Best restaurant in San Pancho, Nayarit:
San Pancho Marino is one of the few restaurants to enjoy the best seafood in town, on Tercer Mundo Avenue.
The dishes with a touch of French cuisine are reasonably priced. The atmosphere is simple and friendly.
8. Sayulita Beach, Nayarit
Sayulita, Pueblo Mágico of the Riviera Nayarit, is a fashionable destination, especially for surfers because of its magnificent waves.
Its streets have become a microcosm of Mexico and the world, with travelers who have come from all over to surf on a paradisiacal beach with good hotels and excellent gastronomy. It is located 40 km south of Puerto Vallarta.
Best hotel in Sayulita Beach, Nayarit:
Although there are many places to stay, one of my favorite spots is Hotel Playa Escondida.
Located in Sayulita, this comfortable boutique hotel is nestled in a secluded jungle beach cove on the rugged Riviera Nayarit mountain coastline.
Best restaurant in Sayulita, Nayarit:
La Rústica Sayulita’s specialty is seafood, pizzas, and contemporary cuisine.
It is located a few steps from the square, on the main street.
A modern open-air restaurant that has the best pizza, salads, pastas, and seafood cooked over wood fire.
9. Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
The beaches of the long coast of Puerto Peñasco, on the Gulf of California, have calm waters and fine sand, with dreamy sunsets that contrast the twilight colors with those of the sea and the desert.
There is plenty to do on these beaches, such as fishing, diving, swimming, hiking, jet skiing, boating, and motorboating.
Best Hotel in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora:
Hotel Señorial has an outdoor swimming pool, solarium, and free Internet.
It is a 3-star accommodation with rooms equipped with 2 double beds, a private bathroom, and air conditioning, at Calle 13, No. 81, in Puerto Peñasco.
Restaurants, supermarkets, and stores are within walking distance.
Best restaurant near Puerto Peñasco, Sonora:
Pane e Vino Ristorante is an excellent choice for Italian cuisine on Avenida del Agua 1, Cerro de la Ballena, Puerto Peñasco.
The views are spectacular and the soft bread, fresh pasta, and delicious sauces such as pesto, make a magnificent combination. The lava cake dessert is very good.
10. Eréndira, Baja California
Erendira is distinguished among the beaches of the Mexican Pacific by its sea shells that reach several meters thick and by the lagoons formed by the sea between the rocks.
In these lagoons, you can swim and at the same time admire the fauna formed by crabs, snails, and fish.
Best Hotel near Eréndira, Baja California:
The closest tourist town to the beach area of Eréndira is Ensenada.
There is Hotel Las Dunas, 3-star accommodation with an outdoor pool, hot tub, free wifi, and spacious suites with kitchen, microwave, refrigerator, and dining area.
It is at Caracoles 169 in the Ensenada Beach district.
Best restaurant near Eréndira, Baja California:
On Independencia Street in the ejido Ajusco, near Eréndira, is Zarcillo Restaurant with excellent cuisine and service.
It is located in front of the Santo Tomás wineries on the old wine route.
Another option near Eréndira is Acámbaro Restaurant (528 Iturbide Avenue, Ensenada).
11. El Medano Beach, Cabo San Lucas
Among the beaches with an airport in Mexico are those of Los Cabos, since the international terminal is only 11 km from San José del Cabo, very close to the main beach sites.
One of the best beaches in the bay of Cabo San Lucas is El Medano, a place of wide sandy beaches and crystal clear and calm waters.
Here you can board boats to go to Playa del Amor and El Arco.
Best Hotel in El Medano Beach, Baja California Sur:
Estancia Real Los Cabos is a 3-star hotel with an outdoor pool and free parking.
The rooms have a patio, cable TV, air conditioning, private bathroom with a hairdryer and ironing equipment.
It is less than 300 meters from the well-known Puerto Paraiso shopping center, at Leona Vicario, 11, Cabo San Lucas, and 500 meters from El Medano beach.
Best restaurant near El Medano Beach, Baja California Sur:
Happy Ending Cantina is a place to drink, eat, and have lots of fun.
The margaritas are excellent, there is a good atmosphere and nice music selection, with affordable prices. It is on Paseo de la Marina 22 in Cabo San Lucas.
Keep in mind there are also several bars and restaurants in Medano Beach (like the famous “The Office”).
12. Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur
Magdalena Bay boasts a width of 50 km on the west coast of Baja California Sur, with beaches visited in season by the gray whale (Dec-Apr), which comes from the north in search of favorable waters to reproduce.
In the vast ecosystem, there is a diversity of fauna species such as turtles, herons, dolphins, and sea lions.
Best hotel near Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur:
Puerto San Carlos is a fishing and tourist town in Baja California Sur, in the municipality of Comondú, 25 km from Magdalena Bay.
There is the Hotel Alcatraz, a tourist accommodation with rooms with basic services, but very clean.
Best restaurant near Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur:
Hotel Alcatraz has a small restaurant serving freshly caught seafood in Puerto San Carlos. It is simple, but very tasty food with authentic fishing village flavor.
12 Best Beaches in the Mexican Pacific Coast: Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mexican Pacific Coast is a paradise for beach enthusiasts, offering a diverse array of stunning coastal destinations.
Whether you seek a tranquil escape, thrilling water sports, vibrant nightlife, or simply the soothing sound of the waves, there’s a beach along this breathtaking stretch of coastline to suit your preferences.
From the tranquil shores of Oaxaca to the vibrant and lively vibes of Sayulita, the Mexican Pacific Coast has something for everyone.
These 12 best beaches we’ve explored in this post are just a glimpse of the treasures this region has to offer. Each one has its unique charm, beauty, and experiences waiting to be discovered.
The Pacific Coast’s warm hospitality, delicious cuisine, and rich culture further enhance the allure of these beaches, making a trip to this coastline a truly unforgettable experience.
So, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or an adventure-filled trip, the Mexican Pacific Coast has it all.
It’s a destination that promises sun, sea, sand, and a myriad of unforgettable memories.
With its natural beauty, warm people, and vibrant culture, this coastline is a true gem that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Don’t wait; start planning your next beach adventure on the Mexican Pacific Coast today!
