Playa Norte

This is the main beach on Isla De Mujeres and you will find many shacks and people here. The water is crystal clear turquoise blue. The white sand makes it a perfect beach to chill and enjoy. Since I visited in month of July, there was slight seaweed in the water and the weather was pretty hot though.

This is an excellent beach, had little sargassum even though Cancun beaches were full of it. It's about a 19 minute walk from the main port. Has ropes to keep boats away and beyond that there is quite a bit of boat traffic. Still, a wonderful beach with golden white sand and crystal clear turquoise azure waters. Saw quite a bit of fish snorkeling here, from smelt size to 18". No corals, but there is sea grass beyond the ropes and I just stayed close to them. Gentle waves that didn't create turbulence to stir sand. Independent vendors run umbrella and chairs rentals, and will take and deliver drinks and food orders to you. Restaurants close by if you'd rather walk and take a break from sun and heat. I read this is one of the best beaches in the world, and I've seen some of them, based on looks, water temperature and convenience, I agree.

It is a nice beach but not much water that you are allowed to swim in. The line is to close to the shore line. Also service at the beach is hit and miss. Sometimes you get service snd sometimes u don’t. It’s easier going to the bar to get a drink. That has been our experience since we first arrived. Hopefully it gets better! Update: Another question why is you get no bottles of vodka or tequila mini bottles brought to your room to replace those that were here when we first arrived? The only option is beer which we don’t want. Do you get these little bottles replaced or do you have to go buy your own at the store?

If you're planning to visit North Playa (Playa del Carmen) in June, just a heads up — it's peak seaweed season. The beach was covered in thick seaweed, making it nearly impossible to swim or enjoy the shoreline. It’s not ideal for beachgoers this time of year. Thankfully, we took a quick 20-minute ferry ride to Isla Mujeres, and it was a total game changer. Crystal-clear water, swimmable beaches, plenty of great restaurants, and beach chairs everywhere. It turned our trip around and made for an amazing beach day. Highly recommend heading to Isla Mujeres if you're in the area during the summer!

I had the best time. The ppl are hospitable, and the food is good with plenty of options. Lots of vendors with a variety of items and services for sale. Snorkeling and golf cart rental are available. I took the ferry here from Cancun, which runs every 30 mins.

I loved this beach. Go early if you want quiet as it gets busy very fast and loaded with boats and people getting off. The only downfall was once the boats come in, several of them will be competing with loud music so you will hear several boats at once.

Beautiful and stunning water just perfect for swimming, no sargassum.but because elsewhere we were flooded with sargassum ,so everyone was coming there.i felt like swimming in the parking lot. There were about 50 boats parked On the beach we rented 3 cots Under the umbrella and we had about 5 non alcohol drinks Total $170 Very Very expensive

Ignore the 1 star reviews. Reading them I get the impression the disappointed reviewers are mostly the kind looking for the ideal beach. Ideal beaches are few and far-between. My review here is deeply retrospective, I visited a few years ago but would like to comment about it now. Playa Norte is a decent, small-sized beach with fine white sand, turquoise waters, good amount of greenery, and a shoreline dotted with vibrant coloured beachware. It is visually impressive. It is easy to get to from the mainland and not too far from the ferry terminal. Many tourist review sites have praised Playa Norte and as you can see most of the reviews here praise the beach.

We come back every year because you cannot beat the beaches here. Tip- come During a weekday because weekends get too packed- even Fridays.

Rated one of the top 10 beaches in the world for a good reason! Soft sand, incredible clear water. Minimal seaweed all times of year. Can't wait to go back!

Oh yeah! Fun fun fun! A definite must do while here! The water was warm, music was good and the locals were very friendly to say the.least!

Clearest waters! Best beach in Mexico and by some perspectives, the top 7th in the world. Very calm waves and shallow, warm waters (27-28'C). You can rent beach chairs for around 300 pesos, but I recommend bringing your sunscreen in a bag and setting them on the sand while you swim. We never used our towel and just air-dried afterward. Peddlers walk around selling fruit and ice cream. Get the guaya (Spanish limes) if you like tart tropical fruit - it's like a tart lychee. 50 pesos for a bunch, even though some will ask for 100. I told a girl I had bought it the previous day for 50 ("Los yo compré ayer por cincuenta pesos,") and she sold them to me at 50. If she hadn't, I would've bought it from the next person, maybe even for 40. The beach exit by Ixchel (hotel) gets you to Hidalgo, the main street, right in front of Stingray (restaurant). - Jurassic Park next to it sells delicious churros starting around 3pm. I like the option of 6 churros with a topping for 60 pesos: I asked for crema pasteleria (pastry cream) on the side and chocolate drizzled on top. Go early for the frying oil to be the cleanest; I loved that these didn't leave a nasty oil film in the mouth. Super light and crispy, and they don't skimp on the topping or the cinnamon sugar. The plain ones are 45 pesos for six and the filled ones are 35 pesos each; the filled ones with topping are 55 pesos each. - The Marquesitas (rolled up crepes) just in front are also delicious. Choose two things to put inside (Nutella/banana) for 40 pesos, or three for an extra five pesos (add cajeta, or caramel). Available starting around 4pm. Enjoy the sunset here around 7pm in June/July - and check out the beach walk on the east side of the island for the sunrise at 6am! Start walking southeast around 5:30am from the center and watch the dawn break :)

This is the best beach on Isla because the water is so beautiful, there's tons of beach clubs, it's easy to get to and the women can wear next to nothing. This is by far one of my favorite beaches of all time and I've been to some pretty awesome beaches. This is a beach that you don't want to miss out on I promise!!!

Places like these I am learning to give short reviews, because words do not describe the experience. It is beautiful, fun and affordable. Any of us can come experience sections of Cancun. All it takes is a little saving, planning and hard work. Don't take my word for it come experience it for yourself and give me a vote on my review, lol.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH IN THE WORLD. I have nothing else to say other than if you are looking for a gem this is absolutely it. The water is crystal clear and no waves. Picture a giant pool because this is what the beach is like. My favorite place!

Wow, what an AMAZING beach! So beautiful, clear water, sandy beach, and you can wade out for days.

For my 800th review, I wanted to go find something special. I dug through my check-ins and found a place I somehow missed from our honeymoon. We had been whale watching earlier in the day, and our boat brought us in to do some swimming, sunning, and light snorkeling at a nearby island. The water was crystal clear. I've never seen water so clear. It was something even a movie's CGI budget could only dream of emulating. We enjoyed some ceviche on the boat and relaxed in the shallow water and snorkeled some. It was such a relaxing part of the trip, and I wish I were back there again - esp with the travel bug starting to itch after being confined from traveling due to COVID for so long. Hopefully we can go back one day...

The most beautiful beach I have ever seen. I haven't snorkled a lot but the snorkeling here was so much fun for me. We saw a ton of fish. A little puffer, barracuda, porkfish, bluestriped grunt, angelfish, big ass parrot fish, sting rays you name it! Fine sand, shallow water perfect for kids.

This will be formatted a bit different than my other reviews. I love this beach. We both did. But we only loved it in the early morning. Hardly anyone is there except for others working out or enjoying the quiet. I like my beaches quiet. We had gone in the evening and another time in the afternoon and we just aren't interested in being around "drunk people" or having to make our way through boats as quickly as we can. It was like people passed out on the canopy beds, stumbling around, all the college level nonsense you'd expect in Cancun. The beach is stunning white sand. The water, I can't even describe. I've seen so many beautiful bodies of water in my life and this is easily top 5 currently. The fish come right up to you to play and investigate. Hopefully that gives you a sense of when you'll be most likely to go depending on what kind of crowd you like!

I went recently in August for my birthday celebration. It's our second time here, and it still takes my breath away! We rented a golf cart to get around the island. To get to Playa Norte Beach area, we drove towards to the left of the island. Parked our golf cart on the side streets. Just pull up Google Maps and it will tell you exactly where to go. The ocean was crystal clear and warm! Sand is white and soft. You can see fishes swimming by. The water still reaches to my waist even half a mile out in the ocean! This beach does get a bit packed after 2:pm, but there is still plenty of space for all. The boats and yachts are docked near the shore playing music. People dancing and drinking a cold beer in the ocean. Along the beach, there are beach chairs and umbrella rentals, beach bars, and restaurants. I would suggest bringing your own towels, so you can lay out in the sun wherever you want to on the beach.

Located in Isla Mujeres, this is a gorgeous beach with crystal blue water and white sand. We got here with a catamaran from Cancun. It is not a secluded beach if that's what you're looking for. This place is actually located right near the dock where all the ships from Cancun come and go. However, it was not crowded at all and was very laid back and relaxing. There are plenty of bars and restaurants and shops close by too in terms of convenience.

Beautiful beaches, filled with good bars, plenty of places to rent paddle boards or grab a bite to eat!

Where else can you wade out into the water 300 ft and still have your head above water? This is the best sand and and best location in the world. Great beach!!

The beaches on the island are beautiful. The water is so clear and swimming in it is heaven. Anywhere you are on this beach you can rent chairs and umbrellas. The further you walk the cheaper the prices just keep that in mind

This place is what Cancun is all about! White sand beaches, lots of people, sipping margaritas, with super loud American pop music blasting in the background. We came to the island to hangout on the beach and get a tan. This is the beach we had heard alot about, so we decided to check it out. After all, Cancun is about sun tanning and beach time. The beach was super duper crowded, so many people, hard to even find a spot to put down our towels. Also to rent beach chairs and umbrellas it was $20usd/hour, WTF! It doesn't even cost that much back in the US! The water wasn't very clean due to all the people, and drinks are also very expensive! It was cool to spend a few hours, but compared to other beaches, it's just a bit cheap, and lacks class.

Beautiful beach with many fun bars. We had a blast on our recent trip there. Beautiful views, shallow turquoise waters and vibrant crowd.

Beautiful. Crowded but worth it. Water is warmer than weather. Great company. Definitely will be back.

Just UNBELIEVABLE. This place made us want to never leave. We spent hours in these sparkling waters, sipping mojitos, eating ceviche, and watching boats roll in. (granted the food at Panama Jack Playa Resort was so disgusting we had no other choice but to eat out and try to find some actual beach upon which to lay) but it was worth the ferry ride over. Strongly suggest you bypass renting a cart. You don't really need one if you're just going for the day. The beach is walking distance from the port. Bring a book, towel, suntan lotion and some cash. Then set up and ENJOY

We spent a few hours on Play Norte Beach and it was perfect. The beach was almost empty I'm sure due to Covid. The water is crystal clear and the perfect temperature, the sand is soft on your feet. We rented beach chairs and an umbrella for 200 MX pesos.

This beach is beautiful! The water is crystal clear and has one of the best sunsets in the world. The water is great for swimming and many boats anchor up near the beach. This is definitely the area of the beach with the most hubbub. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and there are people who will come wait on you. There are also a lot of people walking around selling local items and doing corn rows. In high season it can get pretty crowded. This is definitely a party of the island you must visit!

I cannot even describe to you this beauty of this beach and the sunset and this island and the vibe and the food and the COCONUT drinks.... you cannot go wrong visiting here! If you come to Cancun, or anywhere in this area, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take the ferry to Isle for a day trip (doesn't even have to be a full day, you could do a few hours). Super easy to get here from the Cancun port, you can easily walk the island, shop, eat and drink for cheap, and experience a slightly different cultural vibe (more Caribbean feel here). Ironically, I think I had THE BEST FISH TACOS I have ever had in what I would consider a more touristy restaurant here, and the fresh coconut drinks were to die for! Do not miss your chance to go here, I am not kidding!

Most beautiful beach I have ever visited. I could never enjoy my own beaches of California anymore after seeing this beauty. The water is clear and the waves are gentle. I don't know how to swim and never venture farther than the edge of the shore, but at this beach I felt comfortable enough going in quite deep. The water still only reached my waist. As I was splashing in the middle of the ocean, the most beautiful thing happened-- it started raining! I'm from California and I hate rain, but I loved it here because it was warm and magical combined with that Caribbean atmosphere. It was like a dream and I woke up.

Playa Norte was by far my favorite beach that we visited during my trip to Cancun. It was definitely worth the ferry ride (Ultramar) over to Isla Mujeres to check out this beach. Unfortunately, my friends and I got to the beach at dusk, but we still had an amazing experience here. What stood out to me about this beach was how calm the waters were. Other beaches that we visited had choppy waters that were harsh enough to knock me over! The sand here is also extremely fine, while other beaches had rough/ sharp grained- sand. Once you go in the water, the beach actually stays pretty shallow even as you keep walking out, making it a great area for children (or short people). They also rope it off at the furthest end of the swimming area. Another thing about this beach is the amazing panoramic view! On one side, we could see the distant city lights of Cancun. As we panned our gaze, we also caught a lighting storm in the distance as well as a heavy rainstorm. This is such a great beach to completely relax on. I would definitely come back, and plan to spend at least half a day here!

We came to Playa Norte after taking the Ultramar Ferry over to Isla Mujeres and it was a beautiful beach! We also rented golf carts to drive our way up here, even though it's about a 10 minute walk from the ferry terminal. The sand is beautifully maintained by staff, that start raking out rough patches and debris early in the morning. The water is a bright blue/green color that just makes the scenery look incredible. There's a hotel restaurant on the beach at Playa Norte that offers some delicious food, so make sure to check them out as well. Surely you won't want to miss this beach during your time on Isla Mujeres! Best, Charlie

OMG, going to this beach and the whole island was our favorite part of our whole Cancun trip! We took the Ultramar ferry over, and the beach is about a 5 minute walk (may have been less) from the port. We headed over to 2 lounge chairs and an umbrella. A younger gentleman approached and said it was 200 pesos or $12 for 2 hours (better to have pesos on the whole island). We gave him 180 and he was fine with that price. He even let us stay a little past 2 hours (like 20 minutes extra before we left, but he did not approach saying the time was up). The guy renting umbrellas and lounge chairs also will bring you drinks. He sold me a 5 coronas for 170 pesos and a pretty darn good pina colada for 100 pesos. The sand is almost like talcum powder. It is so fine, and there are no shells or anything that could hurt your feet when you're walking. You can go out about 30-40 feet before the water even gets up to your chest. No seaweed at all! It was so nice here, we decided to head back and do it again the next day. There is a small bar right before you get to the beach on the left that has cheap drinks and food that they will box up and you can take out on the beach with you. This place is a must go! You should definitely bring a towel, sunscreen, water, and sunglasses though!

so it was storm last night and water was full of reef :( ... we have read reviews about this Playa Norte beach like how beautiful it can be, its turquoise breath-taking water and best beaches in the world. I had even read blogs about it and by pictures, it deserves to be in it, but you cannot defeat nature here. After coming out of Isla Mujeres terminal, you can rent golf cart of scooty, we rented scooty and the first thing we did to drove to Playa Norte beach as we were super excited and had been to Cancun beaches so wanted to see this. And our excitement got thrashed back by water full of reefs... we asked staff over there who rent chair and umbrellas. They said it was a storm for last 2 days, so all reef came out from sea... yes, you can go inside the water, but reefs were floating and it was not a pleasant sight. Onshore, it was all blackish sand, so we bunked the idea of swimming over there. We were equally disappointed. But I would suggest if you are in Cancun, go to Gaviota Azul Beach (right behind the Hard rock café, coco bongo). Dude, if it is not more, then not even less than playa Norte beach and I have pictures to prove that. I ll write about that in the separate review. So we started our scooty and we came to see Playa Centro beach, another side of the island, near to Playa Norte. And it was good. We decided to go in the water, like playa Norte you cannot go much deep into the water here as there was a restriction in form of rope in the water and you were not supposed to cross that. But the water was clear, up to 5-6 feet it was waist height, no harsh water, we enjoyed here. We rented an umbrella and reclining chairs and had our time. Here you can go to any restaurant nearby its beach, unlike Playa Norte where you are bound to eat from where you rented the chairs.

I am madly, deeply, and unconditionally in love with this beach. Morning, afternoon, and sunset it remains breathtakingly gorgeous with its gentle waves and crystal clear waters. The soft sand and warm breezes elevate the experience leaving you in a state of total bliss. One simply doesn't understand words such as stress, work, bills, responsibilities, etc when in the presence of such beautiful tranquility. And anything you desire can happen while relaxing here too! Want a massage? They have someone for that. Need a drink or a bite? You're covered. Looking to shop for a sarong or ankle bracelet to take home as a souvenir? Done! How about a fresh coconut to drink from with a straw, seasoned peanuts, or a refreshing paleta? You shall have it! All while never leaving the comfort and shade of your beach recliner and umbrella. Coming to this beach feeds my soul and I always leave feeling renewed and recharged (and sometimes even tan!!!). It's all around a magical place.

Playa Norte is one of the world's most beautiful beaches with it's white soft sand and clear green water that meets the blue of the sea. No matter what time or season you visit the beach you are always in awe of the beauty and wildlife and WILD LIFE of this beautiful beach. I usually like to visit between May and August during low season when less tourist frequent Playa Norte, but even during high season the beach is still breathtaking and a wonder to behold. There are some negatives to the beach such as the parts that beach clubs or hotels have blocked off when the whole beach should be enjoyed by all. Usually you won't get in trouble if you decide to hang out in these areas, but sometimes they'll come up and tell you have to buy a pass from the hotel. We have never really had an issue with any part of the beach, but then again they were probably scared of the Americano with the sleepy eye who's body is shaking like a live wire. On Playa Norte besides just enjoying the beach and water you can also get a massage at one the nearby tents, buy fresh seafood and trinkets that locals are peddling; but I prefer to just swim out past the breakers and enjoy baking in the sun on the beach.

Playa Norte isn't the most beautiful beach on the island; however, it is the most beautiful beach inhabited by people on the island, but it very well maybe one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to. There are lots of beachside restaurants and bars to choose from and an umbrella and two chairs will run you about $20 USD for the day. This is my second trip to Isla Mujeres, and it definitely won't be my last. The beautiful beaches, friendly faces and affordable accommodations will keep me coming back!!

If you're planning a vacation to Cancún, do not skip this beach, Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres. It's a beautiful and peaceful place where you can rent a chair for the whole day, just relax, eat, drink and enjoy the sunshine. Playa Norte does get a fair number of tourists but it's not as busy or dirty as other popular tourist beaches in Cancún such as Playa Delfines, Playa Tortugas and Playa del Carmen. It may not be a big beach but the sand at Playa Norte is much softer and the waves are much gentler than the other beaches. I absolutely loved walking on the soft, white sand. I also walked on a pier and the view of the beach and its surroundings from the pier was fantastic. The water is clean and is of all shades of pretty blue. You can order food at your chair or go explore food options at Isla Mujeres.

I've been fortunate to have stepped on a lot of beaches. But, when you combine the sand, water and "feel" of this beach, not sure how you can beat it. But, I'll keep an open mind!

The most beautiful warm beach you will definitely have to rent a golf cart and tour the island. It takes an hour and a half from the outer roads without stopping. There are beautiful views on the East Side and Ziplining on the West.

I have done some traveling and must admit, this beach wins my award for clearest water. Beach not over populated with visitors nor over burdened with vendors. A very enjoyable visit and a must see & swim for any beach enthusiast.

Most beautiful beach ever!! No seaweed! Thank God. I absolutely loved the beach here. Me and my fiance saw some cool fishes in the water, amazing. The transportation there wasn't bad either only took 20 minutes from playa tortugas port. And everyone seemed nice. I even tried the fish pedicure they had there for my feet it was very nice. So many nice memories here.

Plays Norte is a beautiful beach on the northern tip of the island with warm water and gentle waves. The atmosphere on the eastern end is a bit more sophisticated than Playa Centro with its hordes of selfie stick welding day trippers from Cancun.

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL beach!!!! It's definitely one of our favorite beaches! We've been to several and this marked in our book!! Think of white sand beach... Playa Norte is it! The water was very clear and waves were to minimal. We rented 2 chairs and beach umbrella at the beach... $200peso ($12.50 USD). It was a tranquil piece of heaven. The water, again, was very crystal clear , warm, and the sand was so white and soft. There is a bar right by the beach and Buho restaurant right there. There are banos (restrooms) nearby. If you aren't eating or drinking at Buho's... you'll need to pay $10 peso to use the restrooms. Yes, you'll see locals asking you to buy bracelet they made, having your hair braided, etc, but that's typical of paradise vacations. We rented a golf cart and we could park by the beach without a problem. I mean it, do not miss your opportunity to visit this gorgeous beach. Isla Mujeres is a gorgeous little island. :)

Beautiful beach ever. But don't tell everyone it will get too crowded. Have been staying at Ixchel On North beach for years. Love love this place. Beach right there. Center of town 1/1 block away.

We came on a Monday, the beach extremely packed and water was EHHH. I guess our expectations were a little high, we were here about 8 years ago and it was not that dirty or full. I'd rather go to Miami beach for all the effort to get to this one! We only came here because Cancun beaches have a lot of waves and red flags were up. It is overrated, over populated, food we had was not good at all. This is mostly for a drinking atmosphere than anything else, not my scene..... For those seeking relaxation go elsewhere like Playa del Carmen or Tulum.

Very nice beach, lots of people but the sand is very thin and soft. The beach chairs costs about $150 pesos. Just bargain with them to get the price or else they will make you pay more. Had lots of fun on the island too. The best way to travel is to get a golf car. It only takes 1hr to see the whole entire island by a golf car. And bring lots of sunscreen, also there are massages on the beach they are wonderful! Have fun

Beautiful, beautiful beach. Great shops along the avenue. Great beachfront bars with grandè cervesas and good food.

Playa Norte is probably the best beach on the Isla. The sand is really soft and nice feeling. The water is beautiful There are many on beach restaurants, bars, cafe style places with shade, wifi, and of course nice cool drinks! We were able to pull up really close and park nearby in our gold cart and just walk over to the beach pass the first few restaurant. We really enjoyed the time we spent here swimming.

The beach is amazing. Cool, clear, and shallow for hundreds of yards out with gentle waves and less wind on those windiest of Isla days, Playa Norte is awesome. Walk a bit before settling on your destination for a couple of hours, and make sure that it's compatible with your personal appreciation or threshold for: selfie sticks, vaping, yoga, small children, and spray-on sunscreen. Each club has a different vibe, so take the time to find the right one.

Amazing beach, especially the section that wraps around the northern tip and spreads out to the east. Not a long walk from the ferry or a brief ride if you need to cab it. Lots of vendors selling coconuts, jewelry, weaving, trinkets, blankets and more. Rule of thumb seems to be around 50% of original asking price is where many vendors break away from negotiation. Plenty of shops, restaurants and bars nearby. We moved back and forth between the main public beach and some of the private areas around the corner that also had public accesses--found them both terrific.

The nicest beach we swam in!! It was calm, warm, and cristal clear...ask were you can sit since some sectioned charge you!! They will let u sit there if you buy a min of drinks per person. And don't leave your stuff just laying around. Have someone always watching. Other than that its worth swimming here..

So glad we stumbled upon this great area!! Much more calm waters, less wind and gorgeous beaches than any other areas on the island. Also lots more people as it is THE BEST. For sure we will visit again!!

You cannot find a better beach! AMAZING clear water and very few waves. You can wade out for 100+ meters. This is my favorite beach in the whole Yucatan.

Bring my family here in June 2016 while we stay in cancun hotel zone 1 week for vacation . we take a bus from hotel zone to ultramar ferry it about 25 min. The ferry take another 20 min to the island . it worth the trip . the playa beach is so beautiful , you can go 1/2 mile off shore and the water just about your waist , kid love it ! tip : from the ferry if you plan to walk to the beach on your left it about 10 min walking, you can rent a golf car for $ 30 dollars /day and drive to the beach and after the beach you can drive around the island which I did and we very enjoyed ! love it and will come back here again in the future if we have chance