Punta Esmeralda

A free public beach at the northern edge of Playa del Carmen, near Calle 110, Punta Esmeralda is best known for the open coastal cenote that flows across the sand into the sea, its freshwater mixing with the Caribbean to create shifting shades of blue.

The shallow, calm water and a shaded picnic area with a playground make it a favourite with local families, busiest on Sundays; it stays quieter and more natural than the central beaches.