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Beach · Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
Playa Punta Esmeralda
Public beach in the north of Playa del Carmen where the water from a small cenote meets the sea, forming a shallow natural freshwater pool on the sand.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Playa Punta Esmeralda
Punta Esmeralda is the beach at the far north of Playa del Carmen, beyond the hotel area on 88th Street. It is a public beach, much visited by city families, with white sand, shade from coconut palms and a usually calm sea protected by the reef.
What makes it different is the small cenote that flows onto the beach. The fresh, cool, clear water forms a shallow pool in the sand before running into the sea, and it’s common to see children playing there while adults stay in the sea beside it.
The beach has less infrastructure than those in the center: there are few kiosks and no rows of hotel loungers. For that reason, on weekends and holidays it fills with locals, while on weekdays it tends to be quiet.
As with other Riviera Maya beaches, there can be sargassum on some days between April and August.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half day.
Best time
Weekday mornings, when the beach is quieter. The cenote pool is usually more transparent without wind.
How to get there
It’s at the north end of Playa del Carmen, past 88th Street. From downtown it’s about a 15-minute taxi ride or a 40-minute walk along the beach.
Tip
Bring water, food, and a beach umbrella: the beach has little infrastructure. Use biodegradable sunscreen because of the cenote.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Playa Punta Esmeralda
What is special about Punta Esmeralda?
A small cenote that empties onto the beach and forms a shallow freshwater pool in the sand next to the sea.
Is Punta Esmeralda a public beach?
Yes. It’s a public beach in the north of Playa del Carmen, widely used by city families.
How to get to Punta Esmeralda?
By taxi, about 15 minutes from downtown, or on foot along the beach, about 40 minutes.