Alternative Beach Resorts to Cancun in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Cancun is the first place that pops to mind when many people think of Mexico, but there is plenty more to see.

If you fancy a beach holiday in the Yucatan rather than any of the other attractions in Mexico’s vast territory, look beyond Cancun to experience a more authentic trip. Just 30 minutes from Cancun Airport is the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, a tiny place that avoided the rampant development common in the area.

Further south lies the boomtown of Playa del Carmen, well on its way to becoming a new Cancun. Skip the concrete blocks and head instead for the smaller tourist village of Akumal, home to sea turtles.

Tulum has been hitting the headlines in recent years, and it’s a great beach town if you’ve got some cash to splash. Prices have risen in line with increasing numbers of visitors from North America, pushing them beyond the budget of many backpackers.

The isolated town of Mahahual is a good alternative if you want to get away from it all, while further south lies the incredible town of Bacalar on the shores of the Laguna de Siete Colores.