Playa Norte
Playa Norte
4.5
About
Just a short ferry ride from Cancun, this stunning stretch is known for its crystal clear turquoise waters and lush palm trees. Lounge on the soft white sand, take a dip in the warm Caribbean Sea, and have fun with beach activities like jet-skiing and parasailing. Book a snorkeling tour to see an array of marine life at the nearby coral reef or a whale shark tour during the summer months. Playa Norte is also home to beach clubs and bars, and restaurants serving traditional Mexican cuisine and seafood. If you can't get enough, consider staying at one of the no-frills beach hotels. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
233 within 5 kms
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28 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- lfthornSeattle, Washington209 contributionsBeautiful beach!Playa Norte is beautiful. The water was warm, but cool enough to cool you off. We rented beach chairs and an umbrella for 450 pesos for the day. Most beach clubs are similar and then require that you buy food and or drinks. The water was so shallow, and such a beautiful blue color. It was a little crowded, but we didn't have trouble finding chairs. And it was fairly quiet. We enjoyed our day.Visited March 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 24 March 2023
- Randall BGoodyear, Arizona108 contributionsPerfect sand. Great service.We rented a golf cart. Drove to the end of a public street that stopped at North Beach. A very kind man named Kenji set is up with two lounge chairs and an umbrella for $20 and was our server for the day. He was kind and prompt and attentive. The beach is amazing. The view is unrivaled. The water is crystal clear. Perfect day.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 April 2023
- Amy PSpringville, Alabama332 contributionsFabulous!Amazing beautiful white sand beach with calmer shallow water. Many boats pull up so it does get a bit crowded. The beach is accommodated by many restaurants offering lounger and umbrella rentals as well as bar and restaurant service, beachside. Great way to have your own excursion! Take a taxi there and rent a chair and umbrella. Or go the local way and bring your towel or blanket, sit in the shade of a palm tree and drink beer from your cooler. Muy bueno!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 October 2023
- CalmjohnLeavenworth, Kansas6,195 contributionsNot Enough TimeIt was a beautiful day and a fantastic beach. The crystal clear water was fascinating to my wife. She usually only goes ankle deep in the water, but went out much farther. The beach was crowded, but not so much that we could not enjoy. It was our fault that we only had a short day. We plan to return and spend much more time.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 November 2023
- Stacey QCalgary, Canada75 contributionsConstant threat of being ripped off and constantly harassed by street vendors. Would not recommend.Beautiful beaches but not a fan of this place. Constantly getting harassed by street vendors constantly. They don’t take no for an answer and they’re all trying to rip you off. Cabs are different prices from day-to-day. You have to be on high alert here or you’ll get ripped off. I’ll never come back here.Visited January 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 22 January 2024
- Wendy KBaldwin, Wisconsin388 contributionsEvery shade of blue!Our first time to Isla and Playa Norte did not disappoint. We arrived on February 16 and were here for a week. The water is a bit cooler than I would have liked, but it felt refreshing after a long day in the sun. This beach provides every shade of blue you can imagine, it’s beautiful. There are several beach clubs along the beach. We used, Guru, Green Demon and Mayan Beach Club. I would use any of them again and they are all priced about the same. We enjoyed food and drinks at all three clubs and everything that we tried ordered was very good. What impressed me the most was how good the service was at each beach club. The waiters were incredibly attentive and friendly. I can’t wait to visit again!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 February 2024
- Justin MichaelCancun, Mexico6 contributionsStaycation experienceBest beach ever, the island is nothing but love. It’s Mexico but there’s so many people from all over the world it’s really a melting pot of cultures. So many people come here on vacation and get stuck and can’t leave. I’m one of those people. @Partymonster.isla hmu for any information or things to do here on the island. 6 years I’ve been here now.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 February 2024
- Juliana TLondon, Canada9 contributionsWorth the visitThere are two main beaches on the Island. They are in the Centro area. Public beaches are free to use /walk or put a chair down. Most place have lounges that you can rent for the day for approximately 600 pesos a day which will have a combination of chair , umbrella and food/ beverage purchase included. The beaches themselves are soft and sandy the water glorious.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 25 February 2024
- JackOld Bethpage, New York846 contributionsCrystal clear, turquoise waters. White sand with many palm trees.Playa Norte is stunning. Palm trees line the coast with perfect white sand and crystal clear, warm turquoise waters. I highly recommend stopping at the beach here if you are in Isla Mujeres because it will be one of the best beaches you have ever been too.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 9 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
8,258 reviews
Excellent
6,135
Very good
1,500
Average
443
Poor
113
Terrible
67
Jack
Old Bethpage, NY846 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Playa Norte is stunning. Palm trees line the coast with perfect white sand and crystal clear, warm turquoise waters. I highly recommend stopping at the beach here if you are in Isla Mujeres because it will be one of the best beaches you have ever been too.
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juliana T
London, Canada9 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
There are two main beaches on the Island. They are in the Centro area. Public beaches are free to use /walk or put a chair down. Most place have lounges that you can rent for the day for approximately 600 pesos a day which will have a combination of chair , umbrella and food/ beverage purchase included. The beaches themselves are soft and sandy the water glorious.
Written 25 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin Michael
Cancun, Mexico6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Best beach ever, the island is nothing but love. It’s Mexico but there’s so many people from all over the world it’s really a melting pot of cultures. So many people come here on vacation and get stuck and can’t leave. I’m one of those people. @Partymonster.isla hmu for any information or things to do here on the island. 6 years I’ve been here now.
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy K
Baldwin, WI388 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Our first time to Isla and Playa Norte did not disappoint. We arrived on February 16 and were here for a week. The water is a bit cooler than I would have liked, but it felt refreshing after a long day in the sun. This beach provides every shade of blue you can imagine, it’s beautiful. There are several beach clubs along the beach. We used, Guru, Green Demon and Mayan Beach Club. I would use any of them again and they are all priced about the same. We enjoyed food and drinks at all three clubs and everything that we tried ordered was very good. What impressed me the most was how good the service was at each beach club. The waiters were incredibly attentive and friendly. I can’t wait to visit again!
Written 20 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard B
Edinburgh, UK4,011 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Certainly nice enough. Just a little bit busy for me. The island is small and Playa Norte is about a 10 minutes away from the port. So, it does get busy.
Certainly worth a look if you fancy a couple of hours sunbathing
Certainly worth a look if you fancy a couple of hours sunbathing
Written 9 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacey Q
Calgary, Canada75 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
Beautiful beaches but not a fan of this place. Constantly getting harassed by street vendors constantly. They don’t take no for an answer and they’re all trying to rip you off. Cabs are different prices from day-to-day. You have to be on high alert here or you’ll get ripped off.
I’ll never come back here.
I’ll never come back here.
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sridhar
Eden Prairie, MN392 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Great beach but it gets filled up in no time. The best time would be in the morning before all the tour boats and the ferries arrive. Water is clear, no sea weeds and just an awesome beach for all ages!
Written 14 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jmazur05
5 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Just another annoying Mexican tourist trap. Scammers are abundant. Prices are a joke. Food is substandard.
Written 3 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Calmjohn
Leavenworth, KS6,195 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
It was a beautiful day and a fantastic beach. The crystal clear water was fascinating to my wife. She usually only goes ankle deep in the water, but went out much farther. The beach was crowded, but not so much that we could not enjoy. It was our fault that we only had a short day. We plan to return and spend much more time.
Written 29 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlyBeau
Columbia, MO82 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
The beach is absolutely gorgeous. It was so crowded with people and boats and loud music.
Renting beach chairs was expensive.
It’s great for those who love touristy spaces but if you are looking for some peace by the sea or snorkeling, then this is not the place for you.
I’m glad I walked along the beach to have experienced it though.
Renting beach chairs was expensive.
It’s great for those who love touristy spaces but if you are looking for some peace by the sea or snorkeling, then this is not the place for you.
I’m glad I walked along the beach to have experienced it though.
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
isabel
Lisbon, Portugal22 contributions
Gostaria de saber se esta ilha e a praia Norte está nesta altura invadida por sargaço. È que penso visitar a ilha no fim deste mês de março e queria ficar 2 ou 3 dias para ir à praia. obrigada
Serwa A
Seattle, WA
Thank you very much for answering my questions but I have one more. On average how much pesos should I bring on a 10-13 day trip? Or just for a beach day in Playa Norte please?
Guera
Mexico City, Mexico305 contributions
There’s a wide variety of options and most will take your credit card. So if you eat at a restaurant you don’t need cash. The bus to go around the island is 20 pesos. So round trip Punta Sur is 40 pesos on bus. Everything in Playa Norte is walkable and the street food is 20 to 60 pesos. I enjoyed the street food. What’s important about pesos is to have small bills and change. The vendors get frustrated if we hand them large bills for change even in the oxxo. Hope this helps
Taxis also are cash and a shared taxi is cheaper and available….collectivo.
If you have a Charles Schwab debit card you can use any bank ATM without fees. Always decline the bank exchange rate they offer you. So you could take out pesos as needed. I felt bad for a gal who exchanged money at a US airport before she got to Mexico for 3 peso difference than the airport in Mexico City. They told her the rate would be better.
How many pesos for 13 days. Start with 5000? Almost $300. Tell your bank small bills. Bulky for us to carry though.
Serwa A
Seattle, WA
I'm planning a trip to Mexico and I'll be in Cancun and later Isla Mujeres, what is the best beach to visit on Isla Mujeres? I felt confident about Playa Norte till I read a review from jmeleeS which basically described my worst fear.
lfthorn
Seattle, WA209 contributions
We loved Playa Norte. We stayed right next to the cargo ferry, on the mainland side. It was very convenient for us, but our hotel was quite north of the regular passenger ferry. Was about $20 US, I used my credit card, didn’t have to have pesos for the ferry. It was a quick trip over and ferries ran frequently enough for us. Was a nice, smooth ride. There are lots of “beach clubs” on Playa Norte where you can rent a beach chair. They usually cost a small fee, plus they want you buy drinks and or food. I think we paid 450 pesos for 2 chairs, they did want cash for the chair rental. We ate lunch and had a couple of drinks, I used my credit card. We walked down the beach and chose a place that wasn’t too crowed or noisy. Some blast loud music. The water was a beautiful blue and quite shallow for a ways out. We enjoyed it. Hopefully this helps. Feel free to reach out to me. You will need pesos though. Some of the restaurants and smaller bars only take pesos. There are ATMs on Isla Mujeres.
Betolas
Mexico City, Mexico48 contributions
hola que tal me podrias dar algunos tips para no gastar mucho en insla mujeres llevo a 1 bebe de 1 año y 2 adultos mayores por ejemplo donde ubicar baños regaderas o si existen los oxxo por alla o un restaurante barato solo estare 2 horas en la playa y me regreso a cancun espero me puedas ayudar muchas gracias
Is there a place on the beach to rent snorkel equipment to swim snorkel? Rather than having to take a tour boat.
Robert
Monterrey, Mexico6 contributions
hola, en que lugar estan los baños publicos, quiero ir con niños pero los beach club son caros, quiero estar en la playa cerca de baños publicos, gracias
AstralTravel
Playa del Carmen, México792 contributions
Cruzando la calle de la playa hay varios establecimientos de renta de carritos de golf que también tienen baño y regaderas. Te cobran me parece como 20 pesos por persona pero te puedes enjuagar y cambiar.
Eso si, no tienes nada de privacidad y estas entre los carritos y los mecánicos.
A lado del ferry también hay unas regaderas que todos pueden usar y están los baños. No te cobran y estás a unos minutos de playa norte.
Considera que en la playa no hay nada, si no llevas tus sillas o sombrilla te las rentan ahi sin ser necesariamente un club de playa.
BeachComber1111
California1 contribution
What is the current situation at Playa Norte? We want to ferry over for the day, sit on the beach for the day without a mask, and would prefer to be topless too. We’ve got such great memories from prior years finding lounge chairs to rent, awesome conch ceviche, cold beer, topless and a very laid back vibe.
sabrinak136
New Orleans, LA709 contributions
I visited in December however, I stayed at Mia Reef where chairs, umbrellas, drinks etc. are provided for free. You can obtain a day pass for a cost. In addition, we were not required to wear a mask on the beach. There are a variety of great restaurants where you can find food and great drinks. However, the topless thing 🤔I am not sure about. I saw many kids near Mia Reef so I would conclude it is not allowed near Mia Reef however, that may not be the case for everywhere. Also, the ferry is an easy way to arrive and there are many taxis to drop you off at the beach. Enjoy!
Hellen Cortez
Guatemala City, Guatemala6 contributions
HOLA, el hotel tiene el servicio de sillas frente al mar para tomar los alimentos?
AstralTravel
Playa del Carmen, México792 contributions
La playa es pública, eso quiere decir que tu puedes llegar, poner tu sombrilla tus toallas y quedarte ahí.
También hay sillas y camastros disponibles a la renta, y clubes de playa donde puedes hacer uso de regaderas y baño. Todo depende del tiempo que vayas a pasar ahí lo que te va a resultar economicamente.
Biannca
Vienna, Austria26 contributions
Is Playa Norte open to visit in December?
AstralTravel
Playa del Carmen, México792 contributions
If you are asking this because of the pandemic, yes it is open and I can't see why they would not allow tourists coming to visit.
You must have face masks at all times unless you are in the water or eating... at least for now. Maybe in December things will be different.
I just went there last week and it's a dream. Also not a lot of people so you have plenty of space to enjoy and to practice social distance if you are worried about that.
anaaaa25
Marilia, SP3 contributions
Alguém atravessou para isja mujeres com seu carro alugado? Valeu a pena? Foi tranquila a travessia?
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Claim your listingPLAYA NORTE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Playa Norte
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Playa Norte:
- Isla Mujeres Island and Snorkeling Tour (From €82.20)
- Unforgettable Catamaran Unlimited Isla Mujeres from Riviera Maya (From €81.28)
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Luxury Sailing Experience (From €69.27)
- Catamaran Group Sightseeing, Snorkeling Tour Isla Mujeres (From €72.97)
- Private Luxury 60' Yacht Experience for up to 20 Guests (From €692.71)
- Hotels near Playa Norte:
- (0.02 km) Beautiful Ground Floor Beachfront Condo at the Ixchel Beach Hotel on Playa Norte
- (0.02 km) Arrecife Apartments
- (0.02 km) Ixchel Condo --409/410 ***BEST VIEW--OCEAN FRONT ***GREAT PRICE***
- (0.02 km) Ocean-View Oasis on Playa Norte w/Resort Amenities
- (0.02 km) On the Beach - Ixchel Condo- 4th Floor Ocean Front
- Restaurants near Playa Norte:
- (0.05 km) Tarzan
- (0.05 km) TUTURREQUE by Playa Arena
- (0.15 km) Beachin’ Burrito
- (0.10 km) Mayan Beach Club Restaurant & Tequileria
- (0.11 km) Restaurante Abuelos
- Attractions near Playa Norte:
- (0.15 km) Sea Hawk Divers
- (0.20 km) Caribbean Advisor
- (0.20 km) Island Adventures Mexico
- (0.20 km) On Isla Mujeres Water Tours
- (0.25 km) Squalo Adventures PADI Dive Resort #22312