I have a feeling from what I read elsewhere that you may have been on Esmerelda Beach in Cuba, which is going to be very hard to match as according to reports it is one of the best in the Caribbean.
I think you will need input from a recent traveler as at the time of our visit the beach was still recovering from the previous year's hurricane and there were also published plans in the Coba foyer showing a proposed redevelopment of the central beach area.
Standing on the beach facing away from the water toward the hotels, I thought the hotel on the left (South) was the Akumel and on the right (North - long thin one) was the Tulum.
So, at the time, by the Akumel and centred on the jetty, there was a roped off area which was best for snorkelling, the beach was Sandy and there were plenty of sun loungers, also within easy reach of the beach bar and the pool bar and toilets in the hotel. From the Beach Bar southwards, there was a lot of beach reconstruction work going on, but the coast itself was rocks, so not easy to get into and out of the water. Further to the south around the corner is a nice secluded sandy inlet, if you feel adventurous.
From the jetty north, the sweep of the sandy beach was inviting right up to the visible headland.
The central part had a beachbar consisting of a table on the sand, then there was a hut where one could partake of the watersports, which is also the Dive centre I think. We tried body boarding but were warned about the possibility of an offshore current. Sure enough 2 of ours went out, but the other 2 wearing flippers had extra power and managed to retrieve them. That was the end of the body boarding events.
At the north end there is a nice pool bar and plenty of sunbeds, with lots of sports activities as the crew are based right there.
In the water, which you can see on Google Earth, there are large sandbag type things which are there as some sort of protection I think. Quite a few were sunbathing on the close ones, but it was difficult to get on and stay on the outside ones due to the breakers, but quite good fun trying.
According to Google Earth there is even more hotel beach past the headland to the North but we didn't realise at the time and never got that far.
If you visit Xel Ha keep your eye open for the giant turtle whilst snorkelling down the river. My kids were surprised when they were drifting down and suddenly a large turtle head popped up a couple of feet away.
Apparently, the hotel regulars try and drink in all 21 bars. That was how many there were when we were there, but we didn't manage it.