| Keyword |
Description |
| Shallow |
Water that is not deep, so you can usually stand and feel safe |
| All-inclusive |
A type of service where you pay one price that already covers food, drinks, and facilities |
| Sustainable (tourism) |
Tourism that tries to reduce negative environmental impacts and protect local communities and nature over time |
Isla Pasión is a small island just off the coast of Quintana Roo, near the larger island of Cozumel in the Mexican Caribbean. Despite being only about one kilometer long, it was named the World’s Best Beach in TripAdvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best, thanks to traveler reviews from around the world. Visitors love its clear turquoise water, white sand, and peaceful “isolated paradise” feeling, which make it stand out even among Mexico’s many famous beaches. The calm, shallow sea around the island is ideal for swimming and relaxing without strong waves.
Isla Pasión works as a private island and beach club, offering all‑inclusive services such as food, drinks, sun loungers, and hammocks, usually accessed through tours or day passes. Most visitors stay for two to three hours, enough time to swim, take photos, and enjoy the scenery. The island has areas for children, lockers, restrooms, and other tourist services, which makes it comfortable for families, couples, and solo travelers. It is also a popular place for weddings, since many couples want a natural, tropical setting for their ceremony.
Tour operators say the best time to visit Isla Pasión is between November and March, when the weather is better for outdoor activities and the sea is usually calmer. The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, says that this international recognition shows that the state’s strategy to promote tourism and protect the environment is working. She argues that awards like this help strengthen the local economy, create shared prosperity for residents, and attract more international visitors. Tourism, in this way, becomes both a source of income and a reason to take better care of natural spaces.
Nearby Cozumel has also received many awards in recent years, confirming its status as a major destination for beaches, cruises, and sustainable tourism. It was named “Mexico’s Best Beach” at the World Travel Awards Latin America 2025 and listed among the top 12 cruise destinations worldwide in 2026. In 2024, Cozumel was included in the “100 Most Inspiring Stories of Sustainable Tourism” for a project called “Loving Cozumel, the Guardians of Water,” which focuses on protecting water resources. Isla Pasión and Cozumel together show how tourism, if managed responsibly, can celebrate natural beauty while trying to preserve it.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Coast |
Costa |
| Comfortable |
Confortable |
| Cruise destinations |
Destinos de crucero |
Time to discuss
- Should governments invest more money in promoting beaches or in protecting the environment?
- Is it good or bad that small islands become very popular tourist destinations?
- Do awards from platforms like TripAdvisor really help local communities?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Would you like to visit Isla Pasión? Explain why or why not.
- In your opinion, what makes a beach truly special or “the best”?
