Beaches near Monterrey, Mexico

Monterrey, Mexico, is most famous for its mountains and hiking, so if you're looking for a beach, you may have to use it as your home base. The city in the state of Nuevo Leon is approximately 200 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, so you can travel from there for a few days at the many beaches in the neighboring state of Tamaulipas.

Always check the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory before traveling to any foreign destination. According to TripAdvisor.com, "Recent violent attacks have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states and advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution."

The Heroica Matamoros beach is very scenic and a great place to go shopping for handmade goods. The streets near the beach are lined with shops. Go bargaining for items such as pottery, rugs, and jewelry. Indulge in Mexican culture here by attending one of the many festivals held at Heroica Matamoros throughout the year.

If you are looking to get away from the city, this beach is very secluded and located near a small fishing village. Popular activities for this beach include windsurfing and kayaking. To get to Punta de Piedra Beach, you will pass through the Laguna Madre, one of the world's few hypersaline lagoons, with a high amount of sodium chloride (salt) in the water.

This beach on the Gulf of Mexico is best for water activities such as fishing, surfing, and diving. Fishing is plentiful and most popular in this area. The nearby hotels can help travelers arrange for fishing guides and charter fishing boats. Three hotels near Las Pesca are Hotel Tropicana, La Quinta Huachinango and Hotel San Juan.