Playa Punta Esmeralda
Playa Punta Esmeralda
4
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Top ways to experience Playa Punta Esmeralda and nearby attractions
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Best nearby
Restaurants
1,360 within 3 miles
Attractions
105 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
513 reviews
Excellent
251
Very good
147
Average
79
Poor
16
Terrible
20
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Jeroen6000
Playa del Carmen, Mexico118 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
You can walk to playa punta esmeralda from playa downtown. Its a good walk en the view is amazing. Make sure you put on enough sunscreen as you walk in the full sun the whole time.
During the week is the best time because on a sunday this beach is packed!
During the week is the best time because on a sunday this beach is packed!
Written October 16, 2020
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.
armando c
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
The beach is good. It is very quiet without noise, without loud music volumes. The very familiar atmosphere. We were in the beach area. The place deserves better attention and maintenance. It shows that they have neglected it a bit over the years. They have a lot of potential if they improve it. The price paid was 400 pesos per person, of which 350 were consumables. The prices were according to what was offered. The service took a little while but agreed with what the person who served us told us, that the food would take approximately an hour. The service from Grace, the girl who attended us, was good, always with a very friendly smile.
Written December 27, 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.
Catherine B
Montreal, Canada46 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
Beautiful beach, safe for toddlers, walk for miles, clear water. Not sure why the negative reviews, this was our favorite beach of our trip. The kids loved to explore the shallow water ponds and we felt so safe for them
Tips:
No services there so pack lunch, water, umbrellas etc
No need for stroller if you taxi
About 200 pesos from playa del carmen one way
Plenty of taxis to come home (not stranded at all as others mentioned )
Tips:
No services there so pack lunch, water, umbrellas etc
No need for stroller if you taxi
About 200 pesos from playa del carmen one way
Plenty of taxis to come home (not stranded at all as others mentioned )
Written January 2, 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.
Maggie
5 contributions
Jan 2020
You can escape the crowds and enjoy a leisurely walk to the beach, followed by a dip in the turquoise waters.
Keep walking along Quinta Avenida , crossing over CTM street,keeping the sea on your right. This route is perfect for strolling, jogging or biking as it's closed to traffic. You have greenery aĺl the way and a pleasant path. Keep going until you reach the Paradisus resort. A few meters on take the dirt track leading to the beach. The water is shallow and there's a lifeguard on duty. There's a family atmosphere. You can pay a few pesos to use the showers and toilet facilities.
Keep walking along Quinta Avenida , crossing over CTM street,keeping the sea on your right. This route is perfect for strolling, jogging or biking as it's closed to traffic. You have greenery aĺl the way and a pleasant path. Keep going until you reach the Paradisus resort. A few meters on take the dirt track leading to the beach. The water is shallow and there's a lifeguard on duty. There's a family atmosphere. You can pay a few pesos to use the showers and toilet facilities.
Written January 11, 2020
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.
currymonster37
United Kingdom396 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The wretched sargassum is everywhere along this coast which is a travesty. However PDC are trying to tackle it. There are nets out far and tractors up and down the stretch of public beach. It is possible to get into the water and wade out until it’s lovely and clear. (Unlike Tulum where the mounds of it of the public beach make it impossible to get near the water!) We were pleasantly surprised as it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. The beach itself is well equipped with a nice wooden walk away from the car park, toilet and showers (pay for) and free Palapas. One of the best public beaches we have seen abroad and the staff take care of it.
Written May 18, 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.
bucketlisttravellers
Sydney, Australia3,635 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We were looking for a nice beach area that wasn't too crowded and we found it with Playa Esmerelda. It is around a 30min walk from the main part of Playa Del Carmen. There were mainly locals swimming here and there was plenty of room to relax. There isn't much shade, so having a beach umbrella would be a good idea. Not quite 5 stars as we also ventured the following day south of the Cozumel departure pier and found more beaches that were arguably more pretty with plenty of space.
Written February 21, 2020
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.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,003 contributions
Dec 2020
Playa Punta Esmeralda is a hidden gem away from crowded PDC known only by locals, who told me to come here.
Get away the crowded PDC central part by walking along the beach north, some 30 min. After big names holiday resorts north from the pier, you'll reach this calm and almost empty beach (important during this Covid era). Sea here is calmer and fresh cenote water mixes with the sea.
Get away the crowded PDC central part by walking along the beach north, some 30 min. After big names holiday resorts north from the pier, you'll reach this calm and almost empty beach (important during this Covid era). Sea here is calmer and fresh cenote water mixes with the sea.
Written January 22, 2021
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.
bmolenaar
New York City, NY8 contributions
Oct 2021
Unique beach with both the ocean washing up on the shore, and fresh water pools flowing up from underground springs. Major area for families to gather and play together. Further north is a more rustic, untouched beach with palm trees and shrubs to shade from the sun. A very interesting experience. It is about a 45-60 minute walk from Centro Playa del Carmen, along 5th Avenue. A large sign welcomes you to the beach. It's an additional 5 minute walk from the street to the beach, dodging cars and scooters along an unpaved road, but worth the time
Written October 26, 2021
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.
Nonyx
Cancun, Mexico95 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
A beautiful place to spend an afternoon with the family. The best place to enjoy the turquoise blue characteristic of the Mexican Caribbean.
Very close to this beach is a cenote that you can also enjoy and the little ones will like it since it is very shallow (although that will not mean they will stop watching out for the imps) a place to enjoy with the family, in the company of that special person or if you venture alone, no one will tell you anything. The thing is to enjoy life in this beautiful place.
That is if you arrive early (if you have a vehicle) because the parking lot, despite being large, fills up completely and it is prohibited to park anywhere around this place. So you will have to leave your car quite far from the place.
Very close to this beach is a cenote that you can also enjoy and the little ones will like it since it is very shallow (although that will not mean they will stop watching out for the imps) a place to enjoy with the family, in the company of that special person or if you venture alone, no one will tell you anything. The thing is to enjoy life in this beautiful place.
That is if you arrive early (if you have a vehicle) because the parking lot, despite being large, fills up completely and it is prohibited to park anywhere around this place. So you will have to leave your car quite far from the place.
Written March 4, 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.
Liz Navarro
16 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The beach is full even during the week (Monday, specifically) People have music playing very loudly, even though there are signs not to do so. The water (color) of the cenote is not as shown in internet photos. I only give it 2 stars because the sea water in some parts looks almost crystal clear and the height of the water is very low.
Written March 5, 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.
What is the fishing like her? Can you fish from beaches, docks, and or rock structures? If so what bait and what can you catch?
Written March 18, 2024
9am a 5 pm para accesar, pero salir puedes quedarte hasta que se vaya el sol
Written January 9, 2021
no you do not need to bring your own towel. The hotel has multiple towel stations where you can get fresh towels throughout the day.
Written July 20, 2019
Hola, voy en unos dias? la recomendas para ir con chicos? un turista dijo en un comentario que roban, es asi?
Written April 16, 2019
Yo fui con niños y mis papas y suegros que son mayores, vi seguridad a la entrada y en la playa también, nunca me senti inseguro. Esa fue mi experiencia
Written January 9, 2021
Hola! El año próximo viajamos a Playa del Carmen. Queria ir a punta esmeralda. Podrian indicarme si hay vans o buses que te lleven?
Gracias
Written November 10, 2018
Ojo! Tiene bastantes algas aún. Además tiene un solo sector con servicios de comida. Te cobran 500 pesos por el alquiler de dos reposeras con sombrilla (700 por camastro) pero te los van descontando por lo que consumís.
Written January 22, 2019
There are some street venders selling some beach snacks.
Written May 18, 2018
Playa Punta Esmeralda coming from Cancun, is it after PDC or before. Can you send a location map.
Is there food and drinks available at the beach.
Written April 23, 2018
Is there parking at this beach?
Written March 7, 2018
Yes there is along the road. Love this spot
Written March 9, 2018
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