A beach day in Cancún
How to choose a beach by today's flag, what to bring and how to get around the Hotel Zone.
1 day
R-1 bus or taxi
- Check the flag before you go in the Beaches section: green means calm water, yellow means caution and red means no swimming.
- Pick your beach. Bay-side beaches (Las Perlas, Langosta, Tortugas) usually have gentler waves; open-Caribbean beaches (Chac Mool, Marlín, Delfines) are wider with stronger surf.
- Arrive early: before 10 am there is more free shade and fewer people.
- Bring water, biodegradable sunscreen, a hat and cash.
- Getting around: the R-1 bus runs the whole Hotel Zone and downtown; at night, take a taxi or a ride app.
- Swim in front of lifeguard towers.
