North of Cancún
The calm, uncrowded coast north of Cancún — shallow turquoise water and resorts with room to breathe.
Overview
Costa Mujeres is the stretch of coast north of Cancún that begins where the Hotel Zone ends. A sandbar keeps the sea shallow and clear for hundreds of yards, so you can swim without surf and snorkel a few steps from shore, with the Isla Contoy and Yum Balam protected areas on the horizon.
About 20 minutes from Cancún, it is home to the Greg Norman–designed Playa Mujeres golf course, the Punta Sam car ferry to Isla Mujeres and a handful of resorts for families and adults alike. December to April, the dry season, is the best time to visit.
Where to stay
Each resort sets its own age policy and meal plan. Tell us how you travel and we will match you to the right one.
All ages · adults-only areasGarza Blanca Resort & Spa CancunA beachfront resort in Costa Mujeres, on the Punta Sam road, about 30 minutes from Cancún International Airport.
Adults only (16+)ATELIER Playa MujeresAn adults-only all-inclusive in the Playa Mujeres complex, set between the Caribbean and a golf course.
Adults onlySecrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa ResortAn adults-only all-inclusive in the gated Playa Mujeres community, framed by the Greg Norman golf course, about 35 minutes from the airport.
Families welcomeDreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa ResortThe family-friendly neighbor of Secrets Playa Mujeres, in the same Playa Mujeres community.The area
From mid-May to mid-September, whale sharks feed in open water northeast of Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy, peaking from late June to August. Tours run on CONANP-permitted boats only, with at most 10 passengers and no touching.
This uninhabited national park about 30 km north of Isla Mujeres is home to more than 150 recorded bird species. Visits are capped at 200 a day with an authorized operator and guide, leaving from the Punta Sam marina, Cancún or Isla Mujeres, and most include a snorkel stop at Ixlaché reef.
Engine-free kayak routes wind through the mangrove channels behind the beaches of Isla Blanca, best explored with a local guide who knows them well.
Green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles nest here from May to October, and hotels and conservation programs run turtle camps. At night, keep beach lights off and never approach a nesting turtle.
The Chacmuchuch lagoon to the north has steady wind and is a known kitesurfing spot.
The Greg Norman-designed Playa Mujeres course runs along the lagoon, ocean and beach.
Cancún Intl. Airport
Costa Mujeres
Location
About 30–40 minutes from Cancún International Airport, depending on your hotel and traffic.
Good to know
The details that change a stay. We confirm each one in writing before you pay.
Costa Mujeres is an area, not a hotel: rooms, meal plans and age policies depend on the resort you choose.
Whale shark, Isla Contoy and Holbox trips depend on season, weather, permits and daily visitor caps.
The tourism board estimates about 40 minutes from the airport; individual resorts quote 30–35 minutes. Allow for traffic.
The passenger ferry to Isla Mujeres leaves from Puerto Juárez (about 20 minutes); Punta Sam is the car ferry.
FAQ
Answers from the resort's official information. Policies can change — we re-check them for your dates.
No. Costa Mujeres is a coastal area north of Cancún with several beachfront resorts and golf courses. Room types, meal plans and age policies depend on the resort you choose.
Plan on about 30–40 minutes by road from Cancún International Airport, depending on your hotel and traffic, while Cancún itself is about 20 minutes away. A private shuttle is the most direct option and takes you straight to your hotel.
The Punta Sam terminal, minutes from Costa Mujeres, runs the only ferry that carries cars. Without a car, passenger ferries leave from Puerto Juárez, farther south, about every half hour, and the crossing takes roughly 20 minutes.
Roughly mid-May to mid-September, with the most sightings from late June to August. Only CONANP-permitted boats may run these trips, with at most 10 passengers per boat.
Yes, on a guided tour with an authorized operator. Visits are capped at 200 people a day, and tours leave from the Punta Sam marina next to Costa Mujeres, from Cancún and from Isla Mujeres.
The dry season, December to April, is the best time to visit. Sea turtles nest from May to October, and whale sharks arrive from mid-May.
No. The area has resorts for both families and adults: Secrets Playa Mujeres is adults only, while its neighbor Dreams Playa Mujeres welcomes families.
Plan your stay
Three short steps. An advisor replies with suites, rates and the details that matter for your dates.
Nearby on our list
Playa Mujeres gated community, just north of CancúnSecrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa ResortAn adults-only escape on Playa Mujeres, reopened in 2026 after a full renovation.Playa Mujeres gated community, Zona Continental (mainland Isla Mujeres)Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa ResortA family all-suite resort on Playa Mujeres beach, with clubs for kids and teens and room for everyone.Playa Mujeres, Continental Zone of Isla Mujeres municipality, MexicoATELIER Playa MujeresMexican art and design between the Caribbean and a Greg Norman golf course.