We are back a couple of days now from our 9 day trip to Mexico. It was a hot sunny stretch of 30 degrees and sunshine every single day. It took a couple of days to acclimatize but this was one vacation where we just decompressed and relaxed from the day to day stress of our busy lives. Usually it takes hubby at least 3 days to destress, this time he was relaxing almost immediately - Mexico does that for us. I have visited Mexico about 20 times and hubby at least 10, we both love it. We have however found our new favorite town which is Zihuatanejo.
First though we spent four days in Ixtapa which was a town created by Mexico tourism in the 1970s specifically for tourists. As a result there is little true Mexican character and just a bunch of large hotels. What I didn't know before we went is that the waves in Ixtapa are extremely high as in 3-5 feet most of the year and due to that nearly impossible to swim in that area, even though there are some really nice beaches. We still managed to enjoy ourselves but our trip really got enjoyable when we switched hotels to our beachside hotel in Zihuatanejo which is a true fishing village with known history back to the 1400s. The bay is also protected so the public beaches are nice and safe for swimming.
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are in the Mexican State of Guerrero. The American government has issued a do not travel advisory to this area due to it being ran by Mexican drug cartels. The Canadian government however has issued a similar advisory but excluding both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo which are very safe to travel to. At no time did we ever feel unsafe on this trip - I often feel more unsafe in the USA than I ever do in Mexico. One thing we did note though was that the military has taken over policing in this area due to the previous police force being influenced by the cartels.
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| Crashing waves in Ixtapa |
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| View from Las Brisas Ixtapa |
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| Beachside in Ixtapa, enjoying some Tecate Beers |
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| Enjoying some chips and salsa |
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| View in Zihuatanejo from our hotel Aura Del Mar |
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| A true Mexican meal in Zihuatanejo - chicken tacos |
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Tiny 3 legged gecko the size of a quarter (other leg will grow back,not sure how he lost it)
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| Small religous shrine |
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| Zihuatanejo street - the decorations say Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) |
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| Amazing view from our balcony in Zihuatanejo Aura Del Mar |
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| Carola the parrot and her turtle friend down below - Aura Del Mar Hotel |
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| Watching basketball at the beachside municipal basketball courts (we did this a couple times) |
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| Sunset in Zihuatanejo |
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| Catch of the day - Fisherman laying out their fish for sale |
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| Fisherman's area of Zihuatanejo |
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| Playa Linda crocodile sanctuary |
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| Iguana |
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| Where you catch the panga (boat) at Playa Linda to go to Ixtapa Island in the distance |
We took no tours, had no agenda this trip. We slept as long as we wanted and then wandered around every day. One day we took a cab out to Playa Linda beach on the other side of Ixtapa. You take a little boat to an island that is for day tripping only. There are restaurants there but everything shuts down at 5pm and no one lives there. There is ultra clear water on one side where people snorkel. We decided that snorkeling was not an option as hubby's asthma was acting up but fortunately, there was no need to snorkel here to see lots of fish. We loved it. I did get munched on by one with teeth however - I would still do it again in a heartbeat. No one else seemed to get taste-tested lol. Apparently I taste good.
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| Large fish everywhere - two feet offshore! |
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| Smiling as I am surrounded by fish, a natural aquarium |
Two years ago hubby bought me an underwater Canon camera which all the pictures at Ixtapa Island were taken including the video. I hope it loads for you - you can see how cool it was to be sitting in the water with the fish around you.
We played, ate, drank, sunned, swam and then did it all over again. We love Mexico and the people there. It was an absolutely lovely trip - one of our most relaxing ones ever. So much so that I've already looked into going back to Zihuatanejo - maybe next year........our new Happy Place.
Have stayed at Las Brisas twice. I loved the private cove.
ReplyDeleteLast trip just wasn't right. Huge convention of Mexican sales reps and booming music all day. The staff at the front desk were professional, some of the waiters, well, even though we tip, it wasn't great.
Most of the staff was good, really liked their pool and beach although the waves were so high you couldn't go in other than to wade a couple feet. I do think that it is just too big and corporate for us though, I prefer smaller hotels but wanted to stay in Ixtapa to check it out. There were some really good restaurants there though that will be worth cabbing to down the road when we end up back in Zihuatanejo
DeleteWow, that looks beautiful. Mexico has been on my "must visit" list for quite some time and my lovely Mexican colleague was always telling me where to visit. At the moment I have India (maybe with my Indian friend) and Mexico tugging at my heart strings. What to do!! My initial destination that I wanted to visit when my ex left was Thailand and I still haven't made it there 9 years later! It is lovely to dream about though isn't it. I think you may have pushed Mexico up to next winter for me though!
ReplyDeleteMexico is lovely, but as with anywhere all the different parts of Mexico have different flavors. We just loved Zihuatanejo. Thailand is on our list too! We are just super tired of touring trips and really needed a relaxing one with how busy our business is, almost a necessity
DeleteBeautiful photos! So happy you had a good trip with nice weather. The water looks so wonderful there. Loved that underwater video!
ReplyDeleteThe water at that island was so clear, but the regular beaches it wasn't the same due to wave action. It is very protected there
DeleteWelcome back! I really enjoyed the photos and the video too. The only time I've seen fish that close up in the water, was in Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of Mexico, but then I've only been to tourist traps. It's wonderful that you found your new happy place. Happy planning for next year!
I think I was fortunate to first go to Mexico in the late 1980s, less tourist trap and more real Mexico. I fell in love instantly. I actually saw a moray eel at Hanauma Bay - very cool!
DeleteI am so happy y'all had a good time!!
ReplyDeleteLoved every pic and that video was awesome!
Thankyou Linda - we had a great time. Exactly what we needed to decompress and reconnect. I am sorry about the loss of your Mother, expected but never easy, hugs
DeleteIt's good to see you two know how to relax! So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOne of us knows how to relax more than the other....my other half needs to leave the country to do so
DeleteSo happy that you found Zihuat, a neat place for certain. As you say there are so many different aspects to Mexico. You both needed that break, I hope the memories sustain you for a long time.
ReplyDeleteWow, that gecko is sure TINY - so cute. The video loaded for me, that's a lot of fish! The balcony photo looks so inviting - I'm glad you had such great weather. Welcome back to winter though I'm sure it's not too bad in B.C.
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic photos! I loved your fish video, I could sit and watch it all day. Like you I can't resist snapping a roadside shrine!
ReplyDeleteI love that turquoise kaftan top you're wearing, you look so pretty and happy! xxx