Playa Langosta

Playa Langosta is the answer for anyone who finds the surf on Cancún's long southern beaches too much. It sits at about kilometre 5 of Boulevard Kukulcán, on the northern arm of the Hotel Zone, between El Embarcadero and Playa Tortugas. Because it faces the Bahía de Mujeres rather than the open Caribbean, the swell that rolls in further south barely reaches it, and the water stays shallow for the first stretch out from the sand.

That makes it one of the best public beaches in the city for young children and less confident swimmers. Local listings put the depth at around half a metre for the first ten metres, and waves are usually minimal. It is not a snorkelling beach, as there is no reef offshore, so for the underwater sculptures of MUSA or the reefs you will need a boat trip.

Entry is free. Langosta is one of Cancún's designated inclusive beaches, with wheelchair ramps down to the sand, and there are public toilets and showers next to the parking area, a children's play area, lifeguards with a flag system, and a snack bar and restaurant. Umbrellas, sunloungers and kayaks can be rented, which helps because natural shade is limited. The loungers, pools and bars of the resorts behind the beach are for their guests only.

The small free car park fills quickly, especially in high season, so arrive before late morning or come by bus: the R-1 and R-2 routes run along Boulevard Kukulcán, and drivers will stop for Playa Langosta if you ask. Paid parking is available at El Embarcadero, about a kilometre away. Carry some cash for the parking attendant and the snack bar.

The pier at Langosta is not a public ferry terminal. Some tour boats use it, mostly in the morning and late afternoon, so swim beside it rather than under it. If you want to continue to Isla Mujeres, public ferries leave from El Embarcadero, a short walk away, as well as from Playa Tortugas, Playa Caracol and Puerto Juárez.

Facing the bay also means Langosta is among the Hotel Zone beaches least exposed to sargassum seaweed, though this is not guaranteed between April and October, when the state's daily sargassum report is worth checking. In hurricane season, from June to November, storm warnings can close the port and stop boat trips from the pier.

Langosta works well as a half-day stop for families staying downtown, who can reach it in under twenty minutes by car.