Isla Ixtapa

Ixtapa Island (Isla Ixtapa or Isla Grande)  is one of the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area’s most popular attractions. The islands beaches are well known for water sports such as snorkeling, parasailing, jet ski, wave runner and banana boat rides, as well as the excellent seafood restaurants that dot the golden sands. Ixtapa Island is home to exotic fish and tropical birds with a few tame deer.

Isla Ixtapa view

Isla Ixtapa is accessible by small boats (pangas) that ferry passengers between it and the pier at Playa Quieta in Ixtapa. Boats are also available from the Zihuatanejo Municipal pier.

The island, which lies very close offshore, affords four separate beaches from which to choose: Playas Cuachalalate, Varadero, Coral and Playa Carey, also called Sacrificio. Snorkeling and skin diving are the prime attractions of this gem, and the clear waters are home to numerous colorful tropical species.

Isla Grande Beaches

Cuachalalate

Cuachalalate beach (named for a medicinal tree that grows here) is the first stop on Ixtapa Island. The main boat pier is located here. Looking across the water from the pier shows you a taste of things to come. The beach is lined with palapa roofed restaurants; 3 Sirenas (Three Mermaids), Cabaña del Buzo (Divers Cabin), Bar Ixtapa, Playa Nachos and others. Banana boats leave regularly from the beach by the pier for a bouncing ride around Ixtapa Island.  Jet skis and waverunners are available for wild rides in the Pacific. Be sure to watch out for swimmers and snorkelers! Snorkeling is popular on all the beaches of the Island. Snorkel and scuba gear is available from Oliverio’s dive shop on Cuachalalate beach.

Varadero

A short 2 minute walk on a well worn path and Playa Varadero is glimpsed through the trees. The name ‘varadero’ means boatyard so was probably used to repair boats at some time in the past. Old wooden fishing boats become lush planter boxes near the end of the footpath. Besides restaurants El Marlin, Miramar, El Indio, and Paraiso Escondido, serving seafood and cold drinks, there is often also a masseuse to relax you. Children cool themselves in the water along the shore. One of the lighthouses on the island warns ships of the surrounding rocks. Piña coladas are popular and served in their own natural containers (succulent hollowed-out pineapples!) Watersports abound including parasailing, banana boats, snorkeling, jet skis, aqua-cycles and pedal boats.

Playa Coral

Isla Ixtapa beach

A very short walk over the sand from Playa Varadero (about 50 meters) brings us to Playa Coral. Most of the restaurants that serve Playa Varadero also serve this beach. The strand is named Coral because (you guessed it!) there are shallow coral reefs teeming with tropical fish just offshore. Playa Coral is the most popular for snorkeling, being protected from motor craft by those same reefs. The waters are crystalline and inviting.

Carey, or Sacrificio

A lone palapa marks the path to the only undeveloped beach on the island, Playa Carey, or as the locals call it, Playa Sacrificio. The path carries you upward through hills that in summer and fall are green from the recent rains. The brilliant colors fade in the dry season. From the high point of the path you can look down upon the palapa shelter — a good resting place from which to enjoy views of Playa Quieta and Playa Linda, two of Ixtapa’s beaches.

From beside the palapa there are breathtaking views of the island’s coastline and the Pacific Ocean. It is an almost vertical 50 meter drop to the Pacific from the point. Near Playa Carey is another small lighthouse and a view of the mainland. Playa Carey is deserted with no restaurants or other facilities, and during turtle season holds a fenced in area for protecting and hatching sea turtle eggs, which is appropriate since ‘carey’ in Spanish means a species of sea turtle.