Cancún, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo continues to hold more certified beaches than any other Mexican state, cementing its position as a leader in sustainable tourism as the region prepares for the 2026-2027 season.
Cancún alone earned 53 Blue Flag distinctions, the most of any destination in the country and the highest number worldwide for certified boats.
Other destinations in the Mexican Caribbean also helped strengthen the state’s standing. Puerto Morelos renewed Blue Flag certifications for Playa Sol and Ventana al Mar. Playa del Carmen kept eight public beaches certified, including Punta Esmeralda, Playa 88, Pelícanos and Xcalacoco. Isla Mujeres maintained certifications for Playa Norte and Playa Centro.
Blue Flag, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), requires meeting 33 international criteria covering water quality, environmental management, education, safety and services. Maintaining the designation involves ongoing audits, water monitoring, proper waste management, accessibility for visitors and continuous efforts to protect coastal ecosystems.
The certifications carry weight beyond tourism prestige, according to specialists. They guarantee quality for national and international visitors, boost the competitiveness of destinations and help preserve ecosystems such as reefs, mangroves and coastal dunes that are vital to biodiversity and the local economy. The state also has 28 beaches rated suitable for recreational use in the latest sanitary monitoring by Cofepris, Mexico’s federal health regulator.
Facing challenges such as massive sargassum seaweed arrivals and the effects of climate change, state and municipal officials say keeping international certifications is key to protecting the image of the Mexican Caribbean as one of the world’s top beach destinations, while supporting tourism growth and environmental conservation.
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