It’s hard to believe that the idyllic little beach hamlet of Playa Cuastecomates is just two miles west of the center of the larger and more commercial San Patricio Melaque.
Yet the two couldn’t be more far apart in terms of vibe and purpose.
After spending a couple of weeks hanging out in Melaque, we decided it was time to make our way over the headland and check this place out for ourselves.
Theoretically, we could walk. But the road connecting the two towns is narrow and hilly, and its already beginning to heat up around here.
So, we arrange a taxi in the hope that it will be just as easy to grab one for the return trip.
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A few short minutes later, we arrive in a pleasant and sleepy beach town in paradise. It’s mid-morning, so we’ll see how awake things get as the day goes on. We didn’t bring any provisions with us, so we’re hoping things aren’t too sleepy today.
In addition to being a very agreeable little beach community, Playa Cuastecomates is also known for its Playa Incluyente (Inclusive Beach), designed with people with disabilities in mind.
They’ve gone to great lengths to make the town accessible for all, with braille signs, adapted beach buggies, lots of ramps, and boardwalks.
Given Lori’s background as a physical therapist, she was particularly interested in finding all of the little hidden adaptive features in town. Playa del Carmen was the first city we encountered this in and a pioneer of accessiblity in Mexico. It’s a shame they don’t do this at more beaches.
The waves in Melaque have been too high for swimming lately, so we’re excited by the prospect of being able to get back into the ocean in Playa Cuastecomates. Moments later, here we are.
The beach is small, but one of the nicest I’ve seen since Nayarit. Fairly soft sand, lots of coconut trees, and decent visibility for swimming (but not for snorkeling today, owing to the silty bottom).
The far end of the beach is dominated by the all-inclusive Hotel La Quinta Gran Bahía Cuastecomates, which appears to be the principal middrange to upmarket place to stay on the beach in town.
As I suspected might be the case, there isn’t a lot happening on the beach on this particular morning—a few fishing boats in the cove and one or two restaurants out of a half-dozen on the beach looking like they might actually be open for business.
We pick the one that looks the most functional, take a look at the menu, and make the quick decision to park ourselves there for the rest of the morning. Easy peasy.
It turns out to be a good choice—albeit not exactly cheap. These basic beachside eateries rarely are in Mexico, but you do typically get a table, some chairs, and an umbrella for as long as you want to stick around, provided you buy something.
Reviving an old mid-morning beach tradition going back to our Sayulita days, we order a Michelada. But not just any Michelada—their shrimp cocktail Michelada, which was muy rico.
For the next several hours at Playa Cuastecomates, we split our time between swimming, beach bumming, eating, and beachcombing. It almost feels like we’re on vacation.
In the back of my mind, I know days like these will be fewer and farther between as rainy season creeps in and we consider a sharp turn left and up into the highlands for several months. We do our best to soak up each lazy hour.
No big waves here, just warm, calm water. We really haven’t seen conditions quite like this since the La Paz beaches on the Baja peninsula.
All in all, we were pretty happy with our Playa Cuastecomates day trip. There’s a part of me that wishes we’d visited earlier in our time in Melaque. On the other hand, the day trip almost didn’t happen today. We’re so glad it did!
What More to Know About Playa Cuastecomates
Is Playa Cuastecomates swimmable?
Yes! Most of the year, this beach is ideal for swimmers of all ages, owing to its location in a relatively protected bay and shallow, gently sloping bottom. Best of all, perhaps, is that the beach doesn’t seem to have the same issues with crocodiles as Melaque occasionally has.
How do you get to Cuastecomates from Melaque?
If you don’t have your own wheels, we think the easiest way to get here is to take a taxi. It’s only two miles from central Melaque, so it’s a short trip.
For the return trip, you can get the number of the taxi you came with, or simply stand on the road in front of Hotel La Quinta Gran Bahía Cuastecomates and wait for one to pass. You can also ask one of the restaurants to arrange a taxi for you as well.
Given the short distance from town, we were tempted to walk, but glad we opted not to. The road is narrow and curvy with little to no shoulder. Large tour buses and suplly trucks also ply this route regularly, leaving little to no room for walking.
Is Cuastecomates a Playa Incluyente (Inclusive Beach)?
Yes it is! If you have use for adaptations and provisions for a physical disability, you’re in luck. You’ll find accomodations for visual impairments (guided sidewalks and braille) concrete paths and all-terrain mobility carts, and an area specifically designated for service animals.
More Reading for Your Mexico Trip
Pacific Coast
- Sayulita Beaches: Complete Guide to the Area’s Best
- Sayulita Hotels: A Resident’s Guide to the Best Stays
- Guide to Hiking Cerro del Mono (Monkey Mountain)
- Yelapa, Mexico: Why Visit & What to Expect
- Mazatlan Aquarium (Gran Acuario): Is it Worth It?
Central Highlands
- 6 Best Ways to Tour Teotihuacan from Mexico City
- Monte Albán (Oaxaca): Complete Guide to Visiting
- Xochimilco Floating Gardens: How to Visit + What to Expect
- Mascota, Jalisco: Detailed Guide for Planning Your Visit
Baja Peninsula