Just minutes from Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach is one of Florida’s best beaches and small towns. Boasting white sands, pearl blue water and a great small town feel, Mexico Beach is a great day trip destination for visitors to Panama City Beach.
Planning a vacation in Panama City Beach? Whether you’re here for a romantic trip with your significant other or a family holiday, spending a day or two at the lovely small town of Mexico Beach is an excellent addition to your vacation.
Getting to Mexico Beach: Mexico Beach is located 20 miles to the east of Panama City Beach, and getting there is a breeze. Drive east out of Panama City on Highway 98 and you’ll pass Tyndall Air Force Base shortly before reaching the town of Mexico Beach.
Things to Do in Mexico Beach
From fishing to shopping, Mexico Beach is home to plenty of great activities that will keep your entire family occupied. We’ve picked out four of the best things to do and places to see in Mexico Beach to add to your vacation itinerary:
Visit stunning white sand beaches
Mexico Beach is home to some of Florida’s most remarkable beaches. Unlike most of the state’s other beaches, which are made up of a mix of 20 different minerals, all of the beaches near Mexico Beach are made or pure quartz crystals.
This gives the town’s beaches a unique white look that’s incredibly picturesque and beautiful. With five miles of uninterrupted beaches, there’s no excuse not to spend a day enjoying the beautiful Gulf Coast weather on the beach.
As well as looking fantastic, the white quartz that makes up Mexico Beach’s coastline has a unique benefit: even on the hottest summer days, its highly reflective material means that the sand itself stays cool, comfortable and easy to walk on.
Snorkel or dive in pearl blue water
Florida’s Gulf Coast is famous for its fantastic snorkeling, and Mexico Beach is one of its best day trip destinations for snorkeling fans. Pack your fins and snorkel (or rent them from one of many tour operators) and visit amazing coral reefs.
From colorful tropical fish to dolphins, turtles and more, the marine life you’ll see in the water around Mexico Beach is amazingly impressive. There are almost 200 reefs within reach of the city, many of which are ideal for snorkeling.
Feel like going a little deeper under the water? Mexico Beach is home to numerous dive operators that can take you out for a day of scuba diving. There are even a few historical shipwreck sites within easy reach that are perfect for a diving day trip.
Shop in charming local boutiques
Mexico Beach might be a small town, but it’s packed with great local shops and tasty restaurants. From beauty salons and health spas to gift shops and more, a variety of local businesses make enjoying a pampering or retail therapy easy.
Spend your morning on the beach, your afternoon shopping and your evening in one of Mexico Beach’s numerous great restaurants. From famous seafood restaurants to local cafés, a wide range of great places to eat, chat and socialize are on offer.
Enjoy an ecotourism adventure
Mexico Beach is home to a diverse selection of wildlife, from stunning sea turtles to native birds. With almost 60 different ecosystems on offer around the town itself, a day spent enjoying nature around Mexico Beach is never wasted.
Hike along beautiful coastline untouched by commercial development and stay on the lookout for local birds and sea turtles. Explore beautiful pine forests and spend the day out of the sun before relaxing on the beach later in the evening.
Whether you enjoy rugged hikes through the Florida countryside or relaxing walks on the beach, Mexico Beach’s wide range of natural life and beautiful scenery make it a great destination for ecotourism.