Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Isla de la Pasión, a beach on the northern tip of Cozumel, has been named the world’s best beach in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards, beating out destinations in Greece, Aruba, Portugal, Thailand and the United States.
The award recognizes the highest level of excellence in travel, given to destinations, hotels, tours and other attractions that receive a high volume of exceptional reviews from the TripAdvisor community over a 12-month period.
Isla de la Pasión surpassed beaches such as Elafonisi and Balos Lagoon in Crete, Greece; Eagle Beach in Aruba; Falésia in Portugal; Banano Beach in Thailand; and La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. Other top contenders included La Pelosa Beach in Sardinia, Italy; Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia; Boulders Beach Penguin Colony in South Africa; Falassarna Beach in Crete; and Playa Muro in Mallorca, Spain.
Located about 25 minutes by boat from San Miguel de Cozumel, Isla de la Pasión combines white sand, shallow waters and a mangrove ecosystem that supports diverse flora and fauna. Although called an island, it is actually a small peninsula or islet connected by a natural sandbar formed by hurricanes and coastal dynamics over the years.
The site also holds historical significance: in pre-Hispanic times, it was considered a sacred place by the Maya and was associated with the worship of the goddess Ixchel.
Today, Isla de la Pasión is a popular destination for tourists and cruise passengers, offering activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding and relaxation. Its calm waters make it ideal for swimming, while its mangrove ecosystem plays a key role in biodiversity conservation in northern Cozumel.
