Best Mexico Beach Trips for March & April
If you’re looking to get out of the cold during March & April for spring break: Mexico’s beaches are pretty much perfect this time of year. With nearly all of Mexico’s major beaches averaging around 80 degrees this time of year, the question becomes: which beach is the right one for you?! Whether you’re looking for the bohemian vibes of Tulum, the more off-the-beaten-path charms of Huatulco, or the lively energy of Puerto Vallarta ~ here we’ll discover the best Mexico beach trips for March & April!
My friends Nina & Eileen at La Zebra Hotel in Tulum. We traveled there in the beginning of March & our weather was perfect!
THIS is why people love Mexico in March: perfect weather!
In a Rush? Here are the Top Mexico Beach Destinations for March & April:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ GREAT OVERALL: Riviera Maya (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum) – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️ GREAT MIX OF SUN/FUN: Puerto Vallarta – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️ WHALE-WATCHING: Cabo San Lucas – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️ LESS CROWDS: Huatulco – Click here for rates & availability
Overview of Mexico’s Beaches in March
Puerto Morelos is right next to Cancun ~ but is more relaxed & more affordable! Photo: ITM Desarrolladores.
- Cancun Area (Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum): Cancun’s average temperature in March is 85 degrees: with low humidity, & nights cooling down to the 70’s. Cancun is great for family vacations with its many kid-friendly, beachfront resorts ~ as is Playa del Carmen. Puerto Morelos sits next to Cancun, but is less touristy & more afforable. Tulum has a relaxed, bohemian feel…especially if you stay right on the beach: which I highly recommend. Akumal is great if want to snorkel ~ they’re renowned for sea turtles & marine life.
Where to Get Off-the-Beaten Path by Cancun: Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox, & Puerto Morelos (the town next to Cancun) all provide quieter, more relaxed alternatives to central Cancún. Isla Mujeres & Puerto Morelos are the closest options (less than an hour to reach), while Isla Holbox is more of a trek ~ about a 3-hour journey.
- Cabo San Lucas: Average temps in Cabo reach the high 70’s in March, but nights can drop down to the 50’s ~ so if it’s true warmth you’re after, you may want to skip Cabo (or go in April). On the other hand: March is primetime for whale-watching! If this has been on your bucket list: March is a great time to visit. With average April temps around 82 degrees, both Cabo & La Paz offer calm, warm waters that are perfect for snorkeling and kayaking. And Todos Santos is a great spot to relax away from the crowds….just 40 minutes north of Cabo.
- Oaxaca Beaches (Puerto Escondido & Huatulco): Average March temps are 88 degrees in Huatulco ~ making these beaches the warmest on the list. They’re also harder to reach: making them less crowded. Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) does offer a direct flight to Huatulco (HUX), though. Known for beautiful, rugged coastlines, these beaches are perfect mix of surf, nature, & charming beach towns. Plus, Oaxaca is one of my favorite cities in Mexico ~ & a great stopover on your way to these beaches! The food is absolutely amazing.
- Puerto Vallarta Area: March temps average a perfect 82 degrees in Puerto Vallarta, getting slightly warmer in April. And Puerto Vallarta offers that perfect mix of beautiful beaches, a lively town & fun restaurants ~ all surrounded by jungle & nature. It’s a great mix. My surfer friends love heading north to smaller Sayulita, known for its surf breaks + relaxed feel. And luxury-lovers will enjoy the area’s many five-star resorts, like St. Regis Punta Mita. There’s every kind of hotel option imaginable in Puerto Vallarta, making it great for all budgets.
Where to Get Off-the-Beaten Path by Puerto Vallarta: Simply head south: even 20 minutes south of town, in spots like Boca de Tomatlan or Yelapa: you’ll feel a world away from the hustle of Puerto Vallarta. Go further south to explore the Costalegre region ~ hundreds of miles of pristine, virtually untouched coastline.
Yelapa is a gorgeous beach town 45-minutes south of Puerto Vallarta by boat. Photo: Roam and Thrive.
Top Mexican Beaches for Spring Break
The Riviera Maya & Cancun
Cancun averages 85 degrees in March, making it a super popular Spring Break destination.
Search for family-friendly beach resorts in Cancun on Expedia.
Beautiful Puerto Morelos. Photo: ITM Desarrolladores.
Hotel Xcaret is the ultimate family-friendly destination in Mexico, located in Playa del Carmen. Photo: Cvent.
Check prices at Hotel Xcaret All-Parks All-Inclusive, the ultimate family Spring Break destination.
Lively Playa del Carmen!
Bohemian Tulum
The insane set-up at Azulik Tulum is oh-so-Instagram ready!
The beaches in Tulum are my favorite in the Yucatan…
If I returned to Tulum, I would ONLY stay on the beach! This is by far the prettiest, most fun part of town. Search for beachfront hotels in Tulum on Booking.com.
Akumal is known for sea turtles & marine life!
Cabo San Lucas
The One & Only Palmilla is a longtime Cabo favorite, with a private location & stunning oceanfront rooms.
Check prices at Jennifer Aniston’s favorite hotel: One & Only Palmilla, in Cabo.
The iconic Arch of Cabo. In March, Cabo’s typically in the 70’s ~ & it’s whale-spotting season!
My friend Kadi surfing on Cabo’s East Cape…
Pretty Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta averages 82 degrees in March, & sits on a gorgeous curved bay surrounded by jungle.
Search the top beach hotels in Puerto Vallarta on Booking.com.
Sayulita is a popular spot with surfers, located about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta.
Boca de Tomatlan is 30 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta & more relaxed.
Incredible view from Villa Lala Boutique Adults-Only Hotel. Photo: Travelocity.
Check prices at Villa Lala Boutique Adults-Only Hotel, located about 20 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta ~ on a gorgeous stretch of beach balled Boca de Tomatlan.
Best Mexico Beach Trips for March & April
I’ve written a TON of articles on Mexico: use the “Search Bar” to find popular destinations…or check out articles on snorkeling in Cozumel, or on popular cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula!
xoxo Noelia
Pin It!
Discover more from Girl Who Travels the World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Perfect timing on this post. My family and I are looking for a more relaxed alternative to Cancun, and don’t want to drive over an hour to places like Tulum. Puerto Morelos looks ideal for us! My question: do you think there will be enough for us to do there for 5 days? Or should we rent a car, so that we’re able to explore the area. Thanks
Hi Pedro, thanks for your question! While you can snorkel, bike, fish, swim, & explore cenotes right around Puerto Morelos ~ I personally always think it’s a good idea to rent a car in the Yucatan if you’re staying longer than 4 days. There’s Chichen Itza, the Pink Sea, sooo many other cool cenotes to explore….basically, it gives you guys options! Or you could even skip renting a car for the first few days, & only rent it your last 2, something like that. Hope that helps & have fun!! xoxo Noelia
My family lives in Orange County and we’re looking for a great spring break destination for 6 of us. Puerto Vallarta looks like it will fit all of our needs! The only issue is my aunt still thinks of Mexico as very unsafe. Is there anything I can tell her that will help ease her mind? She’s our one roadblock from booking this trip.
Hi Sylvie, thanks for your question ~ it’s a very relatable one! So you can tell your aunt that Puerto Vallarta consistently ranks as one of the Top 10 safest cities in Mexico. Because it’s such a major source of tourism dollars: the government & businesses/hotels there are HIGHLY incentivized to keep the city safe. You may even see armed guards in busy areas, keeping an eye on things.
What I would do: arrange your transport to & from the airport BEFORE you leave, & tell your aunt this, to start easing her mind. Some people then choose to stay at all-inclusives & never leave the resort; this would be about as “safe” as you could get in Puerto Vallarta. I, as a frequent traveler, don’t love this: I prefer getting out & explore a city. But if your aunt isn’t comfortable doing that, she can always opt to stay at the resort. And maybe schedule her a massage for her 1st or 2nd day in town! That should get her more in the relaxation mindset ; )
Finally, have her read some Reddit forms, or other blogs written by people who have actually BEEN to Puerto Vallarta recently. I think you’ll find the majority of them find it to be perfectly safe, even when you’re walking at night. Combine that with the fact that she’ll be traveling with a group of 6 people, & that there are lots of other Americans who travel frequently to PV: & I think all of that should significantly help ease her mind about how safe it is there. Hope that helps!! xoxo Noelia