“Mexico’s Affordable Beach Destinations You Need To Know for 2024”

Times are tough, everything is more expensive but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should skip on going on vacation. It just means you have to plan your flight and hotel bookings a little bit further in advance to guarantee the best rate. Allow me to show you how you can do that by showing you my list of Mexico’s 2024 most affordable beach destinations!

Mexico has been a powerhouse for affordable beach destinations for a long time. With over 9,000 kilometers of coastline, Mexico has some of the most developed and tourist friendly beaches in the world. As a former Midwesterner, I know how brutally cold the winters can be in the U.S. and Canada. Which is why I feel my article, “Mexico’s 2024 Best Affordable Beach Destinations”, is necessary.

Allow me to tell you why you should pick Mexico for your 2024 winter beach destination getaway.

Why is Mexico Such a Popular Beach Hotspot

Summary

1. Cancun – Cheap or expensive according to your preference and lifestyle. Cheap flights, things to do and see for days and days. Unlimited day trips to nearby places like Playa Del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Tulum, and Isla Holbox.
2. Los Cabos – The most remote of all the places on this list yet it doesn’t offer a lot so as to not need to venture out for day trips. The perfect desert vacation beach destination with beautiful desert scenery, amazing views of the ocean, and great beaches on the Sea of Cortez side.
3. Puerto Vallarta – In my humble opinion the most complete, one of the most authentic affordable beach destinations on this list. Plenty of flight, hotel, and beach options. As many day trip options as Cancun but with amazing mountain views overlooking the amazing Bay of Banderas.
4. Mazatlán – A lot less touristy than the other places on this list. Similar desert scenery to Los Cabos but a bigger city with areas that feel like “real Mexico”. Come here for an authentic experience compared to Los Cabos. If you’ve been there done that with Cancun and Los Cabos you might be ready to appreciate the uniqueness of Mazatlán.

1 Cancun: Affordable and Attainable Tropical Oasis

A list of affordable beach destinations in Mexico should include Cancun as the prime destination for most people due to the cheap flights, resort & hotel options, and multitude of activities & excursions.

What makes Cancun one of the top affordable beach destinations”

Cancun Summary

Why Cancun? If you’re still not sure why Cancun is one of the cheapest and best affordable beach destinations not only in Mexico but worldwide, let me emphasize the key word here. Cheap!

What makes Cancun one of the affordable beach destinations?

Cheap Flights No other affordable beach destinations in Mexico can compare with the low flight options like Cancun which is one of the busiest in the world. Cabo flights can be comparable in price but everything is more expensive when compared to Cancun with honestly less options in every category.

Cheap Hotels Very few places if any will have similar price levels and options for hotel stays like Cancun. Cancun beautiful hotels in the hotel zone. In addition, you can stay as close or as far away from the “touristy” hustle and bustle of Cancun by staying in Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and even Isla Holbox & Bacalar are also great options!

Activities I feel it’s better to have too many options like Cancun provides than not enough. The last thing you want is to be on vacation only wishing you were doing something not offered at your destination. If you visit between May and April you can do an amazing thing that is on my bucket list, swimming with whale sharks. Whale sharks are non-threatening, eat algae and not humans, and are a once in a lifetime opportunity to go swimming with sharks and still live!

My Boat Excursion Recommendation Aside from that I recommend going on a same day boat cruise to any one of several options like Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox, Cozumel, and Isla Contoy to name a few. The Isla Mujeres cruise starts by meeting you at your hotel, providing a light breakfast, snorkeling, providing a great buffet lunch with unlimited alcohol throughout the day. This is one of the more popular same day boat cruises so its also one of the cheaper ones.

2: Los Cabos – Luxury At A Budget

Los Cabos are a favorite for California residents due to its short and cheap flights.

Los Cabos is a destination that successfully combines luxury with budget-friendly options. It’s is known for its beaches, scuba diving locations, the arch (Arco de Cabo San Lucas), marine life and amazing seafood. This makes it one of the top affordable beach destinations in the world.

Why Los Cabos?

Los Cabos Summary

In my opinion Los Cabos provides an equally affordable beach destination like Cancun but in a unique desert setting.

What makes Los Cabos one of the affordable beach destinations?

Cheap Flights Same low flight prices with plenty of options from most U.S. cities. Los Cabos is another popular tourist destination for a good reason, therefore flights are plentiful.

Cheap Hotels For the quality and luxury hotels offer here the prices are very reasonable. Its serene desert landscape and proximity to California have turned Los Cabos into a more upscale beach destination that is affordable considering the luxury you get in return.

Activities Whale watching, swimming with whale sharks, boat excursions, ATV rides, camel rides, and many more.

My Recommendation Obviously while being on vacation there are the usual activities like beach activities, enjoying the local food, walking the “Malecon“, and shopping for souvenirs. If you get the chance though I would highly recommend going to La Paz for a day trip or even staying overnight if possible.

La Paz B.C.S. The 2 hr one way trip to La Paz from Los Cabos is totally worth the drive simply for the chance to visit Playa Blandra, aka Balandra Beach. Voted one of the best beaches in Mexico, and the world for that matter, Balandra Beach offers crystal clear turquoise blue water that is shallow, has few waves, and is perfect for swimming and exploring the entire bay.

3: Puerto Vallarta’s Sand, Surf, & Summits On A Budget

Puerto Vallarta is the gem of Mexico’s Pacific coast. It beckons with its charmingly authentically Mexican vibe and budget-friendly beachfront options.

Puerto Vallarta is the most complete and underrated beach destination in Mexico. Due to Cancun’s popularity and with Tulum rapidly taking over as a leader of Mexican tourism, Puerto Vallarta seems to fly under the radar a bit and tends to get overlooked.

Don’t make that mistake.

While flights to Puerto Vallarta are not as cheap as to Cancun or Los Cabos, this affordable beach destination makes up for it by providing better overall prices on everything else. It has almost unlimited excursion options like Cancun with some very glam accommodations either beach-side or on the foothills overlooking the Bay of Banderas.

Puerto Vallarta Summary

It has the best of both worlds, with both worlds being Los Cabos and Cancun. Let me explain. Los Cabos has the luxury lifestyle options and not as many excursion and day trips like Cancun. Whereas Cancun provides a large number of jaw-droppingly blue beaches and ample excursions and day trips.

Puerto Vallarta is the best all-around option for affordable beach destinations

Cheap Flights Flights can be cheap if planned well in advance. Keep in mind other expenses should be lower than Los Cabos and Cancun so it does even out in the end.

Cheap Hotels Hotel options are extensive here with luxurious, secluded all inclusive resorts located on the beach to boutique hotels located on the foothills with amazing views of the coast and Banderas Bay. All-inclusive options can also be found in Nuevo Vallarta for a quieter vacation with a nice sandy beach or even Bucerias or Sayulita.

Activities Puerto Vallarta offers amazing beach options, some even rivaling some of Cancun’s beaches. In my humble opinion it also has a lot more of that authentic Mexican charm lacking in Los Cabos and Cancun which are known for being extremely touristy.

Flights are not as cheap to Puerto Vallarta and that is where it falls being the other two. As a remedy to this, just plan your trip as far as advanced as possible. Also, book your trip during the least expensive times of the year which are between April and June or between September and before November.

For even more info on Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta be sure to check out my other article here “Mexican Digital Nomad Insider: Secrets to Triumph and Prosperity”

If you would like to read more on one of my favorite places in Mexico, read my article on Bacalar: – “Insider: Hidden Places in Mexico for Digital Nomads”

Bonus “Bacalar is one of those magical places that will make you want to quit your move and move there just to experience the magic of the 7 colored lagoon, local food, and extremely chill vibes. Experience this place before it becomes the next Cancun or Tulum lol.” – end quote

4 Mazatlán The Mexican Pearl Of The Pacific

Mazatlán is the last on my list affordable beach destinations on this list but don’t be fooled, it is without a doubt a top 4 Mexican beach destination. It’s just a little different than the rest.

Located in northern Mexico, Mazatlán doesn’t draw the same tourist crowds as the other three destinations on my list. However, for no reason should you overlook its charm, beauty and agreeable prices.

Why Is Mazatlán One Of The Affordable Beach Destinations?

Mazatlán is not like the other places on this list, it’s not overrun by drunken foreign tourists, and, unlike Cancun, is not an adult-version of Disneyland.

You will see a mix of Mexican and Western travelers all having a good time listening to Banda music on the beach while enjoying some freshly made ceviche. Mazatlán is one of the few beach destinations that had western themed night clubs.

Mazatlán Summary

Mazatlán offers a different take on the affordable beach destinations experience. Due to the popularity of the others destination on this blog a lot of people tend to overlook Mazatlán because they think it’s not as nice or exciting. Do not make that mistake. Avoid the stereotypical vacation experience that is Cancun and Los Cabos and be different and venture out to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán. I guarantee you will appreciate the friendlier people while experiencing much chiller and relaxed vibes.

Mazatlán: The Pearl Of The Pacific For A Reason

Cheap Flights Like Puerto Vallarta I recommend planning ahead for Mazatlán since it doesn’t provide the low prices like Cancun or Los Cabos. Plan in advance for a lower cost, more enjoyable vacation experience.

Cheap Hotels A plethora of hotel options await you in Mazatlán. Mazatlán is a bigger size city of Mexico and provides everything from all-inclusive resorts to boutique hotels. Over 300 hotels options are available make your vacation as cheap or expensive as you prefer.

Activities Like Los Cabos Mazatlán is located in northern Mexico and blessed with a clean and serene desert aesthetic. Cactus, sand and the surrounding hills make Mazatlán one of the unique affordable beach destinations in Mexico. Mazatlán also plays host to one of the biggest Carnaval festivities for locations not in Brazil! – I hear it gets pretty wild and is tons of fun.

For epic views of the coastline, boardwalk, and the city be sure to hike up the Mazatlán overlook. You can almost watch locals risking their lives by climbing the rocks and diving into dangerously shallow water. For more info click here “Mirador Mazatlan”.

Don’t forget to visit local restaurants and enjoy some fresh seafood. Northern Mexico is also famous for their steak tacos so be sure to hit up some local Mexican restaurants or taco stands for an unforgettable taco experience.

Mazatlán is also famous for their own version of local transport called “Pulmonias”. They are open air golf carts, that are typically modified in a fun way and are known for blasting loud music as they take you to your destination.

Summary

Let’s face it, winter is a lot like the middle part of the movie Groundhog Day” where Bill Murray wakes up everyday to an equally piercingly cold day. Except you and I can and should get away from that, at least for a week or two, or maybe all winter if working remotely is an option am I right?

So if and when you do decide to escape the cold and head to Mexico I hope you find my article helpful when deciding on an affordable beach destination.

I purposely selected the most popular destination because they are popular and because the odds are most people will eventually choose of of these four beach vacation destinations. Also, I chose places that I myself have visited nd would visit again. Lastly, I purposely left places off the list for one reason or another like Acapulco.

Acapulco has been plagued for years with violence and were recently devastated by a hurricane that caused a lot of damage so I hope they recover and experience more peace in the future. Other places like Cozumel and Tulum are just way too close to Cancun to merit their own section. So if you are considering Cancun you should definitely consider all of those other places as well. At least for the purposes of this article Cancun is equivalent to the Riviera Maya which is what that area is known as.

If you think Acapulco is unjustly seen as dangerous let me know. Also let me know down below if you think other places should be on this list and what places you would choose as your top 4!

As always, thanks for reading this far and…