Playa Tortugas

Playa Tortugas is a small public beach on the Bahia de Mujeres side of Cancun's Hotel Zone, at Boulevard Kukulcan Km 6.5 in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Because it faces the sheltered bay rather than the open Caribbean, the water is calm, shallow and generally gentle, with a greenish-turquoise tint that is less dramatic than the open-sea beaches but far easier for children and casual swimmers. The sand is soft and light-coloured, and the beach forms a short open strip rather than a deep cove. The character of the place is shaped by its piers. The Ultramar ferry terminal and passenger-boat piers sit beside the sand, so the area has constant comings and goings of tour boats, jet-ski operators and ferry passengers heading to Isla Mujeres. A lively strip of restaurants and beach bars lines the shore, and the mood is casual and social, with a small family-friendly stretch of sand set slightly apart from the boat traffic. Amenities include showers, toilets, a lifeguard tower and plenty of places to eat and drink. Entry to the beach is free, though loungers and umbrellas at the bars are normally paid or tied to a minimum purchase. Because sargassum rarely accumulates in the sheltered bay, the beach stays usable in summer months when open-sea beaches can be covered in seaweed. Water conditions are best from December to April. Access is easy. The local R-1 and R-2 buses along Boulevard Kukulcan run from downtown Cancun for about MXN 12-14 per ride, and the Playa Tortugas stop is signposted. A taxi from downtown costs about MXN 120-180. The beach is roughly 8 km from downtown and 6.5 km west of Punta Cancun. Visitors catching a ferry to Isla Mujeres frequently combine a swim or a meal here with the crossing, since the ferry piers are right next to the sand. Mornings tend to be calmer, while afternoons and evenings bring more music and activity from the bars. Visitors should keep clear of the boat lanes when swimming and stay inside the lifeguard-supervised area.