Playa San Martin, Mexico: A Divine Island Beach Oasis

Making a quick stop in Cozumel, Mexico? 

Playa San Martin has to be on your beach hit list.

This seafront gem is hidden on an island east of the Yucatan Peninsula, giving you a unique beach experience. With undisrupted views of the Caribbean Sea and a quiet vibe, this spot will add a bit of peace and quiet to your vacation. 

But don’t assume this beach is boring. Oh no. 

San Martin Beach offers breathtaking views, oceanside facilities, and glimpses of exotic wildlife—all without excessive tourism in the way. 

What more could you want? 

Keep reading to get the inside scoop on all the beach info you need before your visit. 

About Playa San Martin, Cozumel

San Martin Beach is a 5.6km (3.4 miles) public beach on the southeast coast of Cozumel Island. 

Fun fact! Locals refer to this beach as Playa Bonita. So, if gorgeous views are your thing, don’t skip this stop. 

Not all visitors make it to this unsullied beach because it’s a 30-minute drive from the island’s main town, San Miguel de Cozumel. Here, white sands aren’t blemished by touristy towns. It’s just you, the ocean, and views that span miles. A true natural beauty. 

The beauty of this beach is its serenity and remoteness. 

However, everything could change in the future, so book your visit before it makes the beaten path!

Playa San Marin is not without amenities. 

This untamed seafront still offers a beach bar, a restaurant, and typical beach facilities (including bathrooms). Good news for drivers, this beach also offers free parking. Additionally, lifeguards work at the beach but only part-time hours. 

Can’t wait until you get there? We get it! 

Catch a sneak peek of Cozumel’s white sands and blue waters via the online webcam. Remember to give the camera a wave if you pass by!

Top San Martin Beach Activities 

Got your planning notepad out? Get ready to jot down the top activities in Playa San Martin.

Undisturbed Sunbathing

Playa San Martin’s views of the Caribbean Sea are a key attraction. Who wouldn’t want to spend a day lounging in front of turquoise blue waters and a clear blue sky? 

This beach is a hot spot for chilling out and pretending the world doesn’t exist. 

Grab your beach towel and head to those fine sands ASAP!

Horse Rides

What is the best way to see the San Martin Beach coastline? 

Via a horse ride! 

Local vendors offer horse rides up and down the seafront, allowing you to capture the scenes from a majestic vantage point. 

You don’t get this service everywhere, so make the most of it.

Turtle Watching

If you’re visiting Playa San de Martin from May to October, you might be lucky enough to witness adult turtles laying their eggs on the beach. 

There’s nothing like witnessing the beauty of nature, and if you pop back in two months, you’ll spot the hatchlings reemerging! 

Luckily, dedicated ecologists and soldiers guard the turtles while hatching or laying eggs to prevent poaching. 

So, if you stumble upon this phenomenon, stand back and enjoy it from a distance—no touching!

Explore the Surf

Do you have prior experience with a surfboard? 

San Martin Beach isn’t the best swimming spot, but it offers intermediate surfers great waves. However, conditions can get a little rocky here, so it’s only recommended if you’re confident on a board. 

When in doubt, chat with a local lifeguard before diving into the deep. 

Windsurfing & Kiteboarding

Alongside stronger currents, Playa San Martin often sees stronger winds from the south. When these winds pick up, locals and tourists embrace windsurfing and kiteboarding. 

Again, this is probably a better activity for intermediates—especially when the currents are rougher. 

Bring your own equipment. There are no rental services on the beach.

Hike the Coastline

If you enjoy solitude and the raw powers of nature, pack your walking shoes and hike from one end of San Martin Beach to the other. Don’t worry. It’s not a day-long hike—in fact, it’s only a 60-90 minute walk. So, you’ll be back lounging before you know it.

It’s worth a walk, though, as you’ll have views of the full Caribbean Sea. No high-rise buildings, no loud hotels, and barely any other tourists. Just you and the coastline. Lush.

Sip a Cold Beach Drink

Not keen on watersports? 

Playa San Martin is about relaxation, too. And what better way to enjoy the beach than with a cold drink? Whether you bring your own cooler stash or purchase a tipple from the local beach bar, sipping a cold drink while taking in the views is a sure way to forget stress. 

Beach Hop

If you’re too flighty to stay in one place, it’s not an issue here! 

Playa San Martin lives next to other high-quality beaches, ensuring great fun for beach bums. 

To the north, you’ll find Chen Rio, a rock pool paradise perfect for all ages. 

To the south, you’ll come across Punta Chiqueros, another white sand beach with bars, umbrellas, and a similarly relaxed vibe.

Scuba Dive

After a chilled-out beach day, consider heading to one of Cozumel’s scuba diving schools.

Cozumel is a world-renowned destination for divers, and you can get some world-class Scuba lessons there.

The Playa San Martin reef is intact, and there’s always plenty of exotic fish waiting to say hello. 

Weather in Playa San Martin

Like all beaches, San Martin Beach is best enjoyed with warm weather and no rain.

Luckily for you, this island destination sees warm temperatures all year round, so don’t forget to pack your bathing suit!

For impeccable weather and little to no rainfall, we recommend scheduling your trip from December to April. This period sees average day temperatures of 27°C (80°F). This is the peak season, so be ready for bustling streets! 

However, if you want to aim for the quieter months, you can head there from June to September.

But this is the wet season, so pack for a spot of rain and extra humidity. These months also have an average day temperature of 30°C (86°F), so don’t scrimp on the sunscreen. Though this is slightly higher than the dry season, it feels much warmer thanks to the high humidity. Umbrellas at the ready—it’s a tropical climate, after all!

Playa San Martin experiences its highest rainfall in September, October, and November which is also hurricane season. In these months, precipitation can reach up to 187mm, so note this before you book. 

Packing List Essentials for Playa San Martin, Cozumel

Before you jet off to this exotic island, make sure your bags are packed and ready to go. We’ve curated a Playa San Martin essentials list to save you time and stress. See the picks below.

• Bathing suits
• Beach shoes/flip-flops
• Camera (don’t wanna miss those sweet views!)
• Smartphone portable charger
• Waterproof bag
• Sunscreen
• Extra cash for amenities/services
• Sunhat
• Beach towels

Map of San Martin, Cozumel

If you’re a fan of white sands and azure waters, you’ll want to mark this spot on your map. Or our map. Just mark this spot! 

How to Get to Playa San Martin

Island bliss is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lives. 

Since it’s not on the mainland, getting to Playa San Martin includes a few extra steps. 

An easy way to get there is to fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN) and go directly to the island. You can get from Cancun to Cozumel via a charter flight or a ferry + bus combination. Private flights from Cancun take up to 20 minutes, whereas a shuttle bus and ferry journey takes two hours and 50 minutes.

Alternatively, if you are slow traveling and have the time, travel from Cancun to Playa del Carmen via a bus, minivan, or car. A standard bus takes around 1.5 hours to reach Playa del Carmen. It’s definitely worth booking a stay in this town, as there’s plenty to do and see on this coastline. 

Then, you’ll need to arrive in Cozumel via ferry or cruise. The most popular route from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel is a ferry. These public ferries are inexpensive and consistent, and the journey takes around 45 minutes. 

Once you’re in Cozumel, you’ll find the beach on the southeast side of the island. 

Fancy skipping these steps? 

If you want to avoid sea travel altogether, Cozumel also boasts Cozumel International Airport (CZM). Flights regularly depart from Mexico City to Cozumel, so you can jet off without a long-winded journey. 

A Taste of Beach Life in Playa San Martin

San Martin Beach, Cozumel, is a stunning vacation destination many avid travelers don’t appreciate enough. 

You’ll have to veer off the mainland to experience these unparalleled ocean views, but the extra travel is SO worth it. Don’t overlook this extra stop on your journey!

Are you ready for a slice of island life?

When you’re ready to leave Cozumel, take a look at Bookaway’s Mexico routes for some online inspiration. You never know—you might find your next favorite destination…

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