What is the Nearest Beach to Mexico City?

What is the nearest beach to Mexico City?

Tecolutla is technically the nearest beach to Mexico City. It’s located about 200 miles (322 km) from Mexico City, or about a 5-hour drive.

Tecolutla (pronounced “Teh-koh-loot-lah”) is a small town in Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico.

Playa Tecolutla (Tecolutla Beach) is most known for having a natural setting of wetlands with beautiful canals and mangroves. 

The beach is also nice, though it’s not quite as nice as other beaches in Mexico.  And the town has yet to be known as a popular tourist destination among international travelers.

It’s more popular among locals who travel to Tecolutla on holidays, weekends, or for special events, like fishing tournaments. It’s not known as a popular resort town, so you won’t find many tourists here.

How to Get from Mexico City to Tecolutla Beach

You have several options when traveling from Mexico City to Tecolutla Beach:

• Bus from Mexico City to Tecolutla: 6 hours
• Fly from Mexico City to Veracruz, bus or taxi to Tecolutla: 4 hours
• Drive from Mexico City to Tecolutla: 3-4 hours

The easiest way to travel from Mexico City to Tecolutla Beach is to take an ADO bus. ADO is a private bus company that services Mexico’s east coast and southern parts. While it isn’t the cheapest option, it’s generally the most convenient.

Terminal Norte MX is the main bus station in the city and is located just 4 miles (7 km) from the Mexico City center. Bus tickets from Mexico City to Tecolutla can be booked on the ADO website.

What is the easiest beach to get to from Mexico City?

Tecolutla is the closest beach town to Mexico City but isn’t necessarily the best option. The lack of amenities, resorts, and spoken English may be difficult for some travelers.

In that case, Acapulco might be the perfect place for those looking for a larger resort town with prettier beaches, high-rise hotels, and miles of coastline with calm waters.

Acapulco is located along the Pacific Coast of Mexico and is a much more developed resort town with many activities for everyone.  It’s one of the OG beach towns in Mexico!

How far is Acapulco from Mexico City?

Acapulco is in the state of Guerrero, about 235 miles (378 km) from Mexico City. While there is a direct flight from Mexico City to Acapulco, you could also get there through several other routes.

The cost of a flight isn’t usually much more than a bus or driving, so flying is the most popular form of transportation here. It will save you some money and reduce any risk of being on the road in central Mexico.

Is Acapulco safe?

The U.S. government updated the Mexico Travel Advisory on October 5th, 2022, placing Guerrero (the state where Acapulco is) on the “Do Not Travel” list due to crime.

There are also frequent news reports discussing safety and crime concerns in Acapulco and the state of Guerrero. 

Unfortunately, this is an area where cartels heavily traffic, and it isn’t uncommon for disruptions to break out between the cartels and the government.

At the same time, the government and local businesses acknowledge that crime very rarely targets tourists and foreign visitors. On the whole, crime issues are between specific parties.

And in recent years, the Mexican government has emphasized boosting the security and safety of tourists in Acapulco. 

So it’s important to know that Acapulco is not the safest beach destination in Mexico.  Tourists are still welcome there but you should practice increased safety precautions when visiting.

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Other Best Beaches Near Mexico City

If the beautiful beaches at Tecolutla or Acapulco didn’t catch your eye, you have several other options:

This lesser-known beach destination is on the Gulf of Mexico, with relatively calm waves and warm waters.

While there are many hotels in Costa Esmeralda, it isn’t as well-traveled as other popular beach destinations.

So, you won’t find all-inclusive resorts with all the bells and whistles, but you can enjoy some lovely Mexican-style boutique hotels.

It’s a little more challenging to get there so the easiest way to get from Mexico City to Costa Esmeralda is to drive or rent a car, which takes about 3.5 hours. 

However, you can also fly into Veracruz International Airport and take a taxi or private transfer to Costa Esmeralda. 

Or you can take a bus from Mexico City to Poza Rica and take a taxi or private transfer to Costa Esmeralda.

With only around 500 residents, Troncones is a relatively undeveloped and uncrowded beach village on the Pacific Coast. 

Due to the size, there isn’t much to do here other than take surf lessons and join in on yoga retreats.

The easiest way to get to Troncones is by flying into Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport and taking a taxi about 30 minutes to Troncones. 

However, you can also take a bus from Mexico City to Zihua via Acapulco and a cab to Troncones.

If you’ve seen the movie Shawshank Redemption, you’ve heard of Zihuatanejo (or Zihua, as locals call it), “Zihuatanejo. It’s a little place in Mexico on the Pacific Ocean. Do you know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory.”

It’s known as a laid-back, friendly, and charming fishing village. It’s considered a more tranquil alternative to Puerto Vallarta or Acapulco.

While nearby beach cities are loud, with a thriving party scene, Zihua has a more slow-paced, family-friendly vibe.

The easiest way to get to Zihuatanejo is to fly directly from Mexico City to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport.

But you can also take a bus from Mexico City to Acapulco and then take a a short transfer to Zihua.

Huatulco (pronounced “Wah-tool-koh”) is also a semi-popular tourist and cruise ship destination because of the white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and lively coral reefs.

Puerto Escondido and Mazunte are well-known surfer destinations on the Pacific Ocean, but Huatulco has more calm and swimmable waters thanks to the bays’ protections.

Huatulco is far from Mexico City, closer to the Chiapas border, so the easiest way to get to Huatulco is on one of the many direct flights between Mexico City and Huatulco.

Nestled between two popular vacation destinations, Mazunte has gone relatively unnoticed until recent years despite being one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns).

Mazunte is a tiny town and you can walk around the entire area in around 30 minutes. There are still few convenience stores, clubs, and markets.

The WiFi is unreliable, as well. All this makes it the best place to unplug and relax.

The best way to get to Mazunte is to fly from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido or from Mexico City to Huatulco. 

Since Mazunte is the halfway point between the two, either is a good starting point. From there, you can take a taxi or a bus to Mazunte.

While it’s become relatively famous for surfers of all levels, there’s so much to see and do here that it’s a great spot for everyone.

Puerto Escondido also has excellent nightlife, thanks to the dozens of hostels that line the shore and the relatively young group of travelers coming in and out of this small port town.

Even though it’s a bit further from Mexico City, Puerto Escondido is an excellent escape from the city and should definitely be considered if you want a more lively and exciting beach town.

Because Puerto Escondido is further away, it’s easiest to fly directly from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido. 

There is a bus that departs from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido that leaves twice daily, but it’s a 12+ hour bus drive, so it might not be worth it, depending on your schedule.

Puerto Vallarta has something for everyone, some of the best restaurants on the Pacific, a lively party scene, beautiful beaches, and natural beauty. 

What I love about Puerto Vallarta is its mountain backdrops, jungle landscapes, and incredible west coast sunsets.  Plus, Old Town Puerto Vallarta has tons of classic Mexican charm.

While it’s one of Mexico’s largest beach towns and a bit more touristy, it’s a quick, easy, and affordable flight from Mexico City and has a lot to offer visitors.

The best way to travel between these two city hubs is by plane. You can take a direct 1.5 hour flight from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta. 

But you can also hop on a direct bus from Mexico City’s North Terminal to Puerto Vallarta if you’re prepared for a 12-13 hour bus ride.

Sayulita is known as a small surfing and fishing village surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains with a bit of a party vibe. 

In recent years, it has seen an influx of national and international tourists, but it still gives off a pleasant local charm with its colorful streets. 

Most people go to Sayulita to ride the rough waves, but a cove protects a small beach if surfing isn’t your thing.

The best way to get to Sayulita from Mexico City is to fly to Puerto Vallarta. From there, you can take a 60-minute taxi ride to Sayulita. 

But you can also take a bus from Mexico City to Sayulita via Guadalajara. However, the bus ride can take 12 hours, so it isn’t the fastest option.

How far is Cabo from Mexico City?

Mexico City is located about 1,141 miles (1,837 km) from Cabo San Lucas, which is one of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations located on the Baja California Peninsula.

Due to the distance and rough terrain between the two destinations, flying between Mexico City and Cabo is highly recommended and it’s about a 2-hour flight.

Cabo is one of the best Mexico beaches because of the stunning palm trees, long stretches of golden sand, relatively warm waters, and overall natural beauty. 

However, it’s important to note that while the beaches in Cabo are beautiful, most of them have large waves and are not suitable for swimming.

But Cabo is still definitely worth a visit for its gorgeous hotels, lively nightlife, and whale watching opportunities. And the arch (“El Arco”) in Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico’s most famous landmarks.

How far is Cancun from Mexico City?

Mexico City is located about 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from Cancun, one of the most popular beach hubs in the Riviera Maya (and, arguably, all of Latin America).

Although Cancun isn’t the closest beach to Mexico City, flying between Mexico City and Cancun is very easy and relatively affordable and is about a 2.5 hour flight. 

Cancun is on the Caribbean Sea and most known for its white sand beaches and bright turquoise waters–it’s the place to go if you’re looking for tropical beaches! 

It’s also located near the second largest reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Reef, providing incredible opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving. 

And its proximity to many Mayan ruins such as Chichen Itza (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Tulum Ruins, make it the perfect destination for culture seekers.

Plus, outside of Cancun in the surrounding Riviera Maya and Yucatan peninsula, there’s so much more to explore. 

I live in Playa del Carmen and can speak for days about the endless beauty of the beaches in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding areas!

Some of the most popular places to visit near Cancun include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox, Cozumel, Valladolid, and El Cuyo.

You’ll find one of the most beautiful beaches in the world on Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres. If you can’t decide where to land, consider this for the sheer beauty of the bright turquoise blue waters.

Mexico City Beaches: FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the nearest beaches to Mexico City:

Conclusion: Nearest Beach from Mexico City Guide

Mexico City has minimal options for natural bodies of water, beaches, and oceans. After all, it’s more than 200 miles from the closest beach and one of the only cities in Mexico without a nearby swimmable lake.

If you find yourself in Mexico City craving some sun and sand, you’re in luck. Tecolutla Veracruz is one of the closest beaches to Mexico City, and Acapulco is the largest beach town near Mexico City.

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to travel to the nearest beach to Mexico City. And you have many options split between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. 

If that isn’t enough, you can even take a quick plane ride to the Sea of Cortez or the Caribbean Sea.

Hopefully, you have everything you need to choose the perfect beach destination from Mexico City to add to your itinerary!