Playa Linda is one of the best family options in Cancun for its flat and calm waters, the beauty of the Sigfrido Canal and the coming and going of the boats that enter and leave El Embarcadero.
Here we tell you everything you need to know about Playa Linda, in Cancun.
Reasons to visit Playa Linda in Cancun
It is a spectacular beach with turquoise blue waters and soft sand very close to the city of Cancun, which makes it one of the favorites of Cancun residents and those who stay in the Hotel Zone.
The beautiful sandy area in the Sigfrido Canal on the banks of the Calinda Bridge has calm waters suitable for children.
It also offers the spectacle of pirate ships and boats bound for Isla Mujeres, which leave from the beach pier. The Cancun Scenic Tower is very close.
Playa Linda in Cancun is public
Yes. Despite appearing to be private, Playa Linda, located on the Sigfrido Channel that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Nichupte Lagoon, is public. In it you can walk tens of meters with the water up to your waist, which makes it very safe for the whole family.
How to get to Playa Linda in Cancun
Playa Linda is at km 4 of Bulevar Kukulkan, just 8 km east of downtown Cancun.
Public transport between the city and the Hotel Zone stops at the sandbank.
The city of Playa del Carmen is located 71 km south of Playa Linda along the Riviera Maya federal highway.
Below the map of Playa Linda:
How long do I take from the airport to Playa Linda in Cancun?
Cancun International Airport is 22 km south of Playa Linda. At the air terminal you can board a shared or private taxi to go to the beach, which will reach the beach in 20 minutes.
What to do in Playa Linda in Cancun
The following are activities you can do in Playa Linda:
- Swim in beautiful and calm shallow waters.
- Sunbathe, practice water entertainment and stroll through the Canal Sigfrido and the Cancun Hotel Zone.
- Enjoy the drinks, snacks and meals served at nearby restaurants, especially the fresh seafood of the Mexican Caribbean.
- Observe the departure and arrival of the tourist boats that use the dock and climb the nearby Scenic Tower of Cancun.
- Take a diving and snorkeling excursion boarding one of the boats that depart from the Playa Linda pier, to places of great underwater beauty.
Below is a video of Playa Linda in Cancun:
What is the street entrance to Playa Linda in Cancun
The entrance to Playa Linda is at km 4 of Bulevar Kukulkan, with the sandbank located on the shore of Puente Calinda.
The reference to enter the sand is the Hotel Occidental Costa Cancún, an all-inclusive resort on the shores of Playa Linda.
Services you will find at Playa Linda in Cancun
Playa Linda has parking, restrooms, lounge chairs, water sports, and food and beverage services.
The beach is shaded by coconut palms. From the dock you can board the pirate-type boats that make entertainment trips through the sea and the boats that go to Isla Mujeres.
Where to eat at Playa Linda in Cancun
Near the beach there are restaurants like Pancho’s Café and Deli (Mexican cuisine), Chedraui Selecto (sushi, Mexican and snacks) and Dag Dag (Mexican, kosher, vegetarian).
Other dining options include Golden Sea (Chinese, Seafood), Hanaichi (Sushi, Japanese, Asian), and La Palapa (Seafood, Mexican, International).
Tips to enjoy Playa Linda in Cancun
The following recommendations will help you spend a splendid day in Playa Linda:
- Although the beach has calm and shallow waters, do not neglect the children.
- The water near the center of the channel is somewhat turbulent, so precautions must be taken.
- Parking is paid but fills up fast on weekends, so try to get there early.
- Protect yourself from solar radiation with a biodegradable product, particularly between 12 noon and 3 in the afternoon.
- The beach is small and loungers fill up fast on the weekends, another reason to go before it fills up.
What disadvantages does Playa Linda have in Cancun?
It is a small, quiet and family beach, so it is not the best option for people who prefer wide, active and noisy sandbanks.
The food and beverage establishments that serve the sandbank can be somewhat expensive. However, there are cheaper places nearby and you can also bring your cooler with drinks and snacks.
Curiosities of Playa Linda in Cancun
The Sigfrido Channel is one of the two outlets to the sea of the Nichupte Lagoon, which is the natural border between Cancun and the Hotel Zone.
Sigfrido Paz Paredes, executive manager of the Cancun Project, between 1969 and 1976, and one of the great architects in the construction of the tourist pole, ordered the opening of the channel that now bears his name before the scheduled date to do so, out of exasperation for the lagoon mosquitoes.
Playa Linda is located in this channel and few bathers know that its development as a tourist beach began with this curious event.
Where to stay near Playa Linda in Cancun
The closest hotel to Playa Linda is the Occidental Costa Cancún resort , formerly called Hotel Barceló, located at the foot of the sand.
It is a family all-inclusive with 358 comfortable and beautiful Mediterranean-style rooms, an outdoor pool, 4 restaurants, bars, including the cozy Lobby Bar with a musical atmosphere; spa, gym and kids club.
The hotel’s entertaining program of day and night activities ensures constant fun for adults and children.
Best Hotels Near Playa Linda, Cancun
Other excellent alternatives for lodging near Playa Linda are the following:
Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribbean
Luxurious and entertaining first-class hotel with independent villas at the foot of the beach and butler service, plus spectacular suites with privileged views in the towers.
Its all-inclusive plan includes an international buffet and a la carte food in its 5 restaurants. It also has 4 bars, a stop for snacks (hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, tacos), a pizzeria and a coffee-ice cream parlor.
President Intercontinental Cancun Resort
5-star hotel at km 7.5 of Bulevar Kukulkan with a private beach with turquoise blue waters and white sand, and fantastic rooms with views of the Caribbean Sea or the Nichupte Lagoon.
El Caribeño is a beach restaurant serving fish, seafood and traditional specialties. Café Urbano is a modern-style restaurant and Le Cap Beach Club has a menu of Mediterranean dishes and seafood.
Deck Bar, on the beach, and Epicentro Mixology Bar, have a wide variety of exquisite tropical cocktails.
Costa Blanca Suites
3-star hotel at km 8.5 of Bulevar Kukulkan near the beach and the best nightclubs, shopping malls and restaurants in Cancun.
Its spacious 46 m 2 rooms have air conditioning, private bathroom, flat screen TV and cable channels. The entire complex is connected to free WiFi.
Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol are just 150 meters away with their calm and crystal clear waters, while Coco Bongo and The City nightclub, two of the most famous nightlife spots in Cancun, are less than 700 meters away.
Selina Cancun Lagoon Hotel Zone
3-star hotel at km 9 of Bulevar Kukulkan. One of the cheapest options for a pleasant accommodation in Cancun.
It has rooms with both private and shared bathrooms, some for up to 8 people. It serves buffet and continental breakfast and has free Wi-Fi, a bar and a restaurant serving Mexican dishes.
Gaviota Azul Beach and Coco Bongo Beach are 150 and 60 meters away, respectively.
Where to camp in Playa Linda in Cancun
In Playa Linda, as in all the beaches in the Cancun Hotel Zone, there are no organized campsites with basic services.
The best campsites in the Quintana Roo Caribbean are found in Puerto Morelos, 42 km from Playa Linda and in the municipality of Tulum, whose municipal seat is located 134 km south of the Cancun sandbank.
Sargassum season in Playa Linda in Cancun
The accumulation of sargassum has been affecting many beaches in the Caribbean Sea, including those in Mexico.
Although the beaches on the North Side of Cancun, where Playa Linda is located, suffer less than those on the Caribbean side, they are not free from the problem.
As the arrival of sargassum is very difficult to predict because it depends on the currents of the sea and the winds, the best thing you can do is visit the least affected beaches during your stay in Cancun and have other alternative attractions on the agenda.
Things to do in Playa Linda
Apart from enjoying the warm and beautiful waters of Playa Linda and its smooth and white sand, in this area you have other fun possibilities such as riding on a pirate ship, climbing the scenic tower, doing a diving tour, snorkeling, fishing and visit Isla Mujeres.
Travel on a pirate ship
One of the favorite activities of tourists in Cancun is to take a tour on the Jolly Roger pirate ship, which departs from the Playa Linda pier and travels along the Cancun coast while passengers enjoy food, drinks and a fun show on board.
The outings are at sunset and include cannon fire drills, music, dancing, open bar, dinner, games for children looking for hidden treasure, contests and lots of fun for adults and children.
Go on a diving, snorkeling or fishing excursion
Diving and snorkeling excursions depart from El Embarcadero, in Playa Linda, to the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world.
This chain of reefs runs along the Riviera Maya near the coast and contains a rich and beautiful biodiversity of fish, crustaceans and other marine life.
In Playa Linda you can also go sport fishing by returning your catch to the water or returning with something to eat.
Get to know Isla Mujeres
The Playa Linda Pier is one of the sites used by the Ultramar shipping company for its trips to Isla Mujeres.
This small and paradisiacal island of 1.1 km 2 is in front of Cancun with wonderful beaches such as Playa Norte and Isla Holbox, the archaeological site of Garrafon, water parks, places to dive and snorkel, comfortable hotels and restaurants to taste the tasty and fresh food of the Mexican Caribbean.
The round ticket to Isla Mujeres from El Embarcadero costs 21 USD (402.8 MXN) for adults and 15 USD (287.7 MXN) for children. There are 9 daily departures and 9 returns.
Climb the Scenic Tower
Next to El Embarcadero and Playa Linda is the Cancun Scenic Tower, whose height of 80 meters provides incredible views of the Caribbean Sea, the Nichupte Lagoon, the city of Cancun and the tropical jungle of the Riviera Maya.
This tower rotates slowly, so you can admire the scenery and take photos from all angles. It is open during day and night hours.
We hope that this information will help you spend a wonderful day in Playa Linda, Cancun.
We invite you to share this article with your friends on social networks so that they also know everything they can see and enjoy in this wonderful Cancun sandbank.
See also:
- Read here our guide on the 10 best all-inclusive hotels in Cancun to stay
- Click to find out more about how much money you need to travel to Cancun
- See our guide to find out what is the best time to travel to Cancun and why.
