Mexico holiday and honeymoons; An expert guide to the Yucatan Beaches

For the best beaches in Central America the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula has hundreds of miles of wide beaches and inviting shallow turquoise waters. The soft, powder sand is a brilliant white and the clarity of vision in the warm and clear Caribbean is superb. The world’s second largest barrier reef runs parallel to the coast and offers superb diving and snorkelling excursions.

Isla Mujeres

This beautiful little island measures just 5 miles long and half a mile wide and can be reached by boat from Cancun in only 30 minutes. There are a number of nice beaches to enjoy and it feels a long way from the urban sprawl of Cancun. Its name refers to the large number of clay female idols found by Spaniards in 1518 and it houses the only known Mayan shrine dedicated to a female deity.

YUCATAN BEACH HOTELS:

Hotel Secreto

Nestled on a cove, Secreto is a sleek nine-room hideaway sitting on the quietest corner on the northern tip of Isla Mujeres. Each of the 9 junior suites have veil covered four-post beds, native stone floors, sea views and floor-to-ceiling windows opening out onto a balcony. Modern amenities are at your fingertips with Wi-Fi, CD and DVD players and satellite TV in every room. The 20m heated infinity pool is perched above the cove with fantastic views. The hotel offers; snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming with whale sharks, golf cart tour of the island or alternatively Yoga classes are held on the pool deck early each morning.

Maroma

Slightly larger than we would normally recommend, this orient express owned property is a secluded, luxurious hideaway on Mexico's historic Yucatan Peninsula, nestled on the edge of the turquoise Caribbean and protected by 200 acres of jungle preserve. Rooms vary dramatically from their small intimate garden view room to their San Niah suites with their own private plunge polls overlooking the ocean.

The Tides

Located on the fashionable Playa del Carmen, The Tides is an exclusive eight acres resort with a pristine white-sand beach. The hotel has a swimming pool with an exclusive beach club, an expansive indoor-outdoor spa, three restaurants and an innovative lounge.

Each of the 30 villas have a private plunge pool and outdoor terrace with daybeds and hammocks, sisal rugs, canopy beds with Egyptian cotton bed linen, louvered mahogany shutters and indoor and outdoor showers. The hotel offers; Scuba diving, sailing, golf, horse-riding, mountain bikes and hiking the nearby nature trails.