Playa Gaviota Azul, often referred to as Playa Forum, is situated right in the centre of Punta Cancún, near the Coco Bongo and Mandala clubs.

It features fine, light-coloured sand, turquoise waters and free public access.

Our verdict

Playa Gaviota Azul is the liveliest public beach in Cancún.

We recommend it if you want to combine swimming with restaurants and evening entertainment.

If you’re looking for peace and quiet, you should come in the morning and head south from the main entrance towards Playa Chac Mool.

The amount of rubbish, glass, tins and so on around the Coco Bongo club – stretching the entire width of the beach – is very unpleasant, even dangerous. I definitely recommend wearing shoes on this part of the beach.

Swimming and the beach’s appearance

• Fine, light-coloured sand and the typical turquoise water.
• There tend to be more people at the entrance, with music and noise from the surrounding beach clubs.
• Towards the northern end, the atmosphere is generally quieter.
• The waves are usually gentler than at Playa Chac Mool or Playa Delfines, but always pay attention to the current flag colour.
• There is virtually no natural shade.

The best time to visit is in the morning, up until around 10.00, when the beach is quieter and the sun isn’t quite so intense yet.

Public access to the beach

Entry is free and is via a narrow alleyway off Boulevard Kukulcán, between Coco Bongo and Mandala Beach Club. You do not need to go through the hotel or pay an entrance fee to the beach club.

• Public access point at Coco Bongo on the map

Don’t count on there being reliably available free toilets, showers or sun loungers in the public area itself.

Facilities are mainly available at Plaza Forum and the surrounding beach clubs, where use may be subject to a minimum spend.

Public beach or beach club?

There’s no point in paying for a beach club just for a normal swim. All you need is your own towel, water and sun protection.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for music, a swimming pool, sun loungers and a bar, the following are open right by the beach:

• Mandala Beach Club, open daily from around 11:00 to 17:30
• Coco Bongo Beach Party, a daytime party with a DJ, a swimming pool and live performances; tickets usually from 50 usd

Tickets for the Coco Bongo Beach Party

Accommodation at Playa Gaviota Azul

If you’d like to stay right by the beach and within walking distance of the nightclubs, we recommend:

• Krystal Cancun, the best beachfront location; you can book a room only, bed and breakfast or all-inclusive
• Hyatt Ziva Cancun, a more expensive family-friendly all-inclusive resort at the northern end of the beach
• Aloft by Marriott Cancun, a cheaper hotel without direct beach access, but just a few minutes’ walk from the public beach entrance

Find accommodation near Playa Gaviota Azul

How to get here

• Buses R1 and R2 run through the entire Zona Hotelera. Get off at Coco Bongo or Plaza Forum.
• If travelling by car, you can use the free on-street parking around the Hyatt Ziva hotel.
• An Uber from Cancún city centre costs around 150 mxn during the day, and over 300 mxn in the evening and at night.
• From the hotels in Punta Cancún, you can easily walk to the beach.

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