One day we went on a trip out to Isla Ixtapa, an island just a little offshore and a little north of Ixtapa which is about ten minutes by bus to a beach called Playa Linda where you can take surfing lessons or do some boogie boarding (also there is a market there and some beach restaurants)...and there are some caiman crocodiles, BIG suckers...
Then you go to a pier and buy tickets for the water taxi to take you over to the island (a 5 minute ride, 35 pesos return- keep your ticket)....
lotsa pelicans by the main pier!
There are beach restaurants on all the main beaches in the Zihua area. How they work is you just get to sit there free of charge (all have loungers and chairs/tables/palapa umbrellas) and use the banos/showers as long as you buy drinks and/or food from them. Beers were usually around 15 to 20 pesos in the area.
This beach was called Playa Coral for obvious reasons.
Nice white sand but chucks of coral so tough on the tootsies. Once the snorkel groups with their lifejackets cleared off it was actually quite peaceful. Snorkeling was so-so, we saw lots of puffers, rays, the ubiquitous Sargent Majors, a couple barracudas, and the other usual suspects. And a tiny octupus which was cool.
Looks like my GFs are ready to go snorkeling!
One of the guys wanted to get one of these drinks this lady was having.... until he found out what goes in it...rum, gin, vodka, AND tequila.
Once we had our fill snorkeling we wanted over to one of the other beaches (there are 5 total), Playa Varadero, very quiet with a great view of the mainland with the mountains in the background, great for swimming. Last boat headed back at 5 so we had to leave.
Waiting for the boat...
The beach vendors came here, and had the best stuff! My GF Julie bought a gorgeous hammered silver pendant (silver was huge here, as Taxco is close) - we called her ‘the Crow’ as she is attracted to shiny things. And she also made a deal out at the island this day for two large carved and painted wooden fruit bowls that were gorgeous, in black, dark green and purple with grapes on them.
The vendor, Domingus, agreed on a price of 750 pesos, but she wanted him to bring the bowls to our hotel that night....he insisted she take the bowls and he would come to pick up the money at 7. Now that is trusting!
He showed at 7 on the dot and at first we never recognized him without his hat, we told him he looked much younger than earlier, he laughed.
The shopping there in general was very good. I bought a hammered silver pendant as well, and a clown shell pendant, also some great handmade paper pieces with holes punched in to make a sun and moon. The other girls found some great stone masks strung in a wooden frame too. Someone told us tourism was down this year, likely because of bad press about Guererro, so we did our part to support the local artisans.
Well, the last day arrived and we were sad our friends were all leaving....the night before we played some poker...
one more drink by the pool before their pickup at noon.....
and they were off. They had a GREAT time, for all four it was their first trip to Mexico and they loved it.