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    Satellite view of Playa Cancunito, Yucatán

    Photo by EOX IT Services, Copernicus Sentinel data 2016, CC BY 4.0, via EOxCloudless

    Playa Cancunito

    Beach Río Lagartos, Yucatán Municipality of Río Lagartos Yucatán's east coast

    An undeveloped white-sand beach between Río Lagartos and Las Coloradas, a quiet swim stop on day trips to the pink lagoons.

    From Tizimín: 1 h by car (65 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa Cancunito

    Where to stay near Playa Cancunito

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Cancunito.

    Hotels in Playa Cancunito Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Cancunito

    Day trips and guided outings from Espita often include Playa Cancunito; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Tours from Rio Lagartos Eco Safari through the Ria Lagartos Natural Park ★ 5.0 (41) · From US$58
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Playa Cancunito

    • From Tizimín: about 1 h by road (~65 km)
    • Nearest airport: Tulum (TQO), 2 h 28 min by car to Espita
    Rent a car at TQO Flights to TQO

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    Tours from Rio Lagartos, near Playa Cancunito

    Eco Safari through the Ria Lagartos Natural Park ★ 5.0 (41) 2 h 30 min From US$58
    Nature tour by boat in the Natural Reserve in Río Lagartos ★ 4.9 (39) 2 h From US$72
    boat tour whit Martin Aguiñaga ★ 4.9 (16) 2 h From US$66
    Boat tour in Río Lagartos Natural Reserve, with Food ★ 4.4 (17) 3 h From US$83
    Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas - Safari Natural Experience 4 hours ★ 5.0 (12) 4 h From US$94

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Playa Cancunito

    Playa Cancunito, also spelled Cancuncito, is a short stretch of natural beach on the Gulf of Mexico in the municipality of Río Lagartos, on the coast road between the village of Río Lagartos and the salt-working port of Las Coloradas. It lies inside the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, about 18 km by road from the village. The name is a diminutive, 'little Cancún', and the beach's white sand is what most tour companies advertise.

    The beach is about 500 meters long and some 20 meters wide. There is nothing built on it beyond a wooden boardwalk from the parking area and a few rustic palapas for shade: no restaurants, no toilets or showers, and no lifeguard. That emptiness is the attraction. Most visitors arrive as part of the long day tours from Mérida, Cancún or the Riviera Maya that combine a boat ride through the reserve, the pink salt ponds of Las Coloradas and lunch in Río Lagartos, and they usually get around 45 minutes here to swim and take photos.

    Swimming and snorkeling are the things to do, and the access path is adapted for people with reduced mobility. Because the beach sits within a protected area and has no services, it is worth arriving with everything you need and taking all your rubbish away. The nearest food, fuel and boat trips are in Río Lagartos, about 20 minutes back along the road, and the Las Coloradas salt ponds are a few minutes further east.

    How to get to Playa Cancunito

    Drive from Tizimín: 1 h, 65 km

    From Río Lagartos, take the paved road east toward Las Coloradas, about 18 km and under 20 minutes; a wooden boardwalk leads from the free parking area (room for about 40–50 cars) to the sand. Without a car, taxis in Río Lagartos charge roughly 300 pesos for the round trip, or join one of the day tours from Mérida or Cancún that include the beach.

    Directions to Playa Cancunito on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Where to stay Hotels in Playa Cancunito Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Cancunito. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Playa Cancunito

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Playa Cancunito: hours, prices and tips

    Time needed
    Day tours usually allow about 45 minutes here to swim and take photos. Wotif (tour listing) · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Everything you need: water, food, shade and sun protection. There are no restaurants, toilets or showers. Verplayas · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    No lifeguard. Dogs, camper vans and nudism are not allowed. Verplayas · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Playa Cancunito: what to see and do

    Swim off the white-sand beach.
    Go snorkeling.
    Rest in the shade of the rustic palapas behind the beach.
    Combine it with the pink salt ponds of Las Coloradas, a few minutes east.
    Pair it with a morning boat trip into the Ría Lagartos reserve from the Río Lagartos waterfront.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Cancunito

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa Cancunito.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Espita often include Playa Cancunito; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at TQO (Tulum): about 2 h 28 min by road to Espita, then 72 km more to Playa Cancunito, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Tulum (TQO), about 2 h 28 min by road from Espita, the base for Playa Cancunito.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Cancunito, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Espita: download a map of the way to Playa Cancunito before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    When to go to Playa Cancunito warm

    Playa Cancunito shares the climate of Espita, 72 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, November, and December.

    Playa Cancunito is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (April, May, and August); in the rainiest ones (June, August, and October) expect storms in the afternoon.

    See the month-by-month climate of Espita

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Espita

    Church of San José and its red atrium wall framed by palms, Espita, Yucatán warm
    Yucatán Espita

    Espita is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Playa Cancunito, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Closest to Playa Cancunito

    Near Playa Cancunito

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Lists with Playa Cancunito

    Beaches in Yucatán · 3

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.