Playa Uaymitun is a gorgeous stretch of coastline that sits along the Northern Yucatan’s Emerald Coastline. Mention it to any tourist and they have likely never even heard of it.
This gorgeous spot is so off the beaten path that even Mexicans are not familiar with Playa Uaymitun unless they have been born and raised in Merida, Progreso, San Bruno, or other areas in the nearby Yucatan. Even then, Uaymitun is not a crowded, popular, or well-known place. This spectacular beach is one of the Yucatan’s best-kept secrets.
Playa Uaymitun
Playa Uaymitun (way-mee-tun) sits between the beach town of Chicxulub and the coastal community of San Benito. It is a secluded, natural beach framed by palm trees and coconut groves with soft, white powdery sands that run parallel to translucent azure waters.
If you were looking for one of the best beaches in the Yucatan close to Merida that exudes a tropical island getaway feel, Uaymitun would be it. There are no sunbed rentals or street vendors walking up and down the sand selling coconuts and chicharron here.
In fact, there are no businesses or amenities in the area at all. Uaymitun is backed by sprawling beach homes and mansions.
It is not a private beach and anyone is permitted to access it. However, since it is hidden from view from the main road, and the entrance to the beach is not obvious, you will often find that Uaymitun is completely empty.
You may find the occasional local sitting outside their beachfront garden or heading out into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico in a little boat, but generally, there are very few people here. This rings true whenever you visit the Yucatan, be it in the peak winter season, or in the summer.
Most of the beach homes and mansions here are used as summer homes, so they are not occupied all year round. Despite the seclusion, Uaymitun feels very safe and by no means secluded or creepy.
Since there is little to do here by way of activities, visiting Uaymitun provides an opportunity to rest and relax. Come here with a little picnic, a flask of coffee, and a good book to sit and watch the sea.
Getting to Playa Uaymitun
The best way to get to Playa Uaymitun is if you are renting a car in Mexico and are planning on driving along the Emerald Coast. The entrance to the beach is not obvious and there is no parking lot in the area.
So, you need to find a grassy area on the side of the road where you can pull your car over and safely park. Access to the beach is via a somewhat dirt trail that leads you through a small field.
The beach is directly in front of you. A left turn leads you to the most beautiful section of the beach.
If you are driving, you may want to consider visiting Playa Uaymitun as part of a wider Yucatan road trip. You can start in Progreso and head all along the coastline up to Dzilam de Bravo, stopping briefly at the Laguna Rosada pink lakes and the ancient Mayan city of Xcambo, before continuing towards remote El Cuyo.
There are several boutique hotels in the town of Telchac Puerto, and the coastal village of San Bruno. In San Crisanto, you will find a lot of villas and self-catered accommodation for rent.
Uaymitun also makes a nice beach day trip from Merida. However, there is no public transport to the area.
You will be able to get an Uber or a Didi cab from either Progreso or Chicxulub for between 50 and 100 pesos. However, you may struggle to find a cab to go back.
So, you should either preorder your cab to meet you around Uaymitun at a certain time or you will need to walk a little along the main road back towards Chicxulub until you find a driver. (If you do this, make sure that you have plenty of charge on your phone, and don’t leave it until it is getting dark to walk back!)
Playa Uaymitun FAQs
Do you still have any burning questions or concerns about visiting Playa Uaymitun for the first time? Hopefully, you will find the answers you are looking for below.
Where is Playa Uaymitun?
Playa Uaymitun is a beach located in Northern Yucatan. It can be found on kilometer 17 of the Progreso to Telchac Puerto highway. It is 52.8km away from the city of Merida, and 17.1km away from the beach town of Progreso, respectively.
When is the best time to visit Playa Uaymitun?
The best time to visit Southern Mexico in general is between November and March. This is technically the Yucatan’s winter season, and temperatures are a lot more bearable at this time of year than during the hot, humid, summer months.
In the summer, temperatures in the Yucatan often soar as high as 104° F and up! In the winter, expect daily averages between 82° F and 87° F.
June to October is also the rainy season and the hurricane season. So, although rainstorms are usually brief, there is a lot more adverse weather than in say, January in Mexico, when rainfall is at a minimum.
Similarly, there is a lot of sargassum (seaweed) on the beach in the summer months. Since there is nobody on Uaymitun to clear it (unlike at serviced beaches in Cancun, Mahahual, etc), piles of it often accumulate. While this isn’t the worst thing in the world, it can take away from the beauty of the beach somewhat.
Final Thoughts
American flamingos migrate from Celstun and Sisal in the western Yucatan, to Las Coloradas in the east, around March/April. If you are lucky, you may see some flying overhead.
Will you be heading to Playa Uaymitun or any other beaches and coastal communities in this part of Mexico? Do you prefer remote, secluded beaches or beaches lined with restaurants and bars?
If you are traveling to Mexico for the first time, you may also enjoy reading this post on safety in the Yucatan. Have a wonderful trip! Buen Viaje! xo
