The beach is wider and offers calm waters for swimming because there are peripheral reefs. When there is a lot of algae in downtown Playa del Carmen, some hotels will send people to this beach club to enjoy the day at the beach. It may not be the closest beach to downtown, but Playa Punta Esmeralda is one of the nicest beaches in all of Playa del Carmen. Located north of the city, the beach has a cenote that flows directly into the sea.
It also has a beautiful white sand strip and a wide, smooth curve which means there's plenty of towel rack space for everyone. Playacar is more than just a beach, it's an entire gated community south of downtown Playa del Carmen. Behind the security gates, you'll find some of the city's most expensive houses, as well as several hotels. But the main attraction of Playacar is the strip of white sand that is arguably the beach.
Playa 88 in Playa del Carmen is one of three blue flag beaches in Playa del Carmen. It's located just south of Punta Esmeralda, so you can expect a mix of locals and tourists, but not as many people as you can find at Mamitas Beach. The long, incredibly white beach is absolutely stunning when contrasted with the electric blue colors of the Caribbean Sea.
Mamitas Beach is one of the best public beaches in Playa del Carmen. It's very nice, with deep sand and no rocks at the bottom of the ocean. The water was warm and calm the day we were there. With views of Tulum's iconic ruins on one side, palm trees behind you and nothing but blue in front, it's easy to see why Playa Paraíso is a true paradise on Earth.
Located on 28th Street, Mamitas Beach is probably the liveliest beach spot in downtown Playa del Carmen. If you prefer to take public transport, you can also take a bus (shared van) from Playa del Carmen. Despite the fact that this is a free public beach near Playa del Carmen, you will have to pay a small fee to the owners for the right to use their road to get to Xpu-ha beach. The most unusual thing about this stretch of beach is that there are no beach clubs, so you get a real sense of community, with everyone spreading out on the sand.
The water also stays shallow for a long time, making Punta Esmerelda a child-friendly public beach in Playa del Carmen.
