Hotel Boutique Bahia Tolok
Right on the water with its own dock – ideal for relaxed sunsets, with spacious rooms, sea views and hammocks on the balcony (from about €85/night).
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Offshore island near Cancún
My first stop in Mexico: a small, laid-back island off Cancún, with the turquoise Playa Norte, quieter beaches and a colorful old town, reachable by ferry from Puerto Juárez in just 30 minutes.
Right on the water with its own dock – ideal for relaxed sunsets, with spacious rooms, sea views and hammocks on the balcony (from about €85/night).
Airbnb with a nautical design right in the center, just a few minutes from Playa Norte (from about €100/night) – perfect for fully soaking up island life.
Tip: since the island is small, a golf cart or bicycle is worth it either way.
At the northern tip, this is for me one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico: glass-clear, turquoise water, fine white sand and calm, shallow water for swimming and snorkeling.
Right next to Playa Norte, livelier, with beach clubs and loungers, especially lovely at sunset.
In the south of the island, worth it for snorkeling fans, with colorful fish and coral right near the shore.
My go-to spot for breakfast, my absolute favorite place on the island with French toast and freshly squeezed juices.
With smoothie bowls and pancake towers, a visit is worth it.
I was here almost every evening, the margarita there is a clear recommendation.
Tip: some bars automatically add a tip to the bill, so it's worth double-checking.
I drove a rented golf cart to Punta Sur, the southernmost tip of the island with impressive cliffs, a small Maya temple and a great sea view (admission approx. 30 MXN, golf cart for 2 hrs approx. 650 MXN). Along the way there are lots of photo spots and small beaches for spontaneous stops.
A trip to the underwater museum MUSA or, depending on the season, swimming with whale sharks is also worthwhile from here.