WE’RE OFF TO the beach today for a brief vacation from … well, nothing really. It’s just a change of scenery and temperature.
And because we can.
Our Hacienda is ideally situated. It sits high in the cool mountains — 7,200 feet above sea level — but it’s only a 3.5-hour drive to the Pacific bay of Zihuatanejo and its upscale neighbor of Ixtapa. And the drive from here to there is 95 percent down a toll autopista, which is called an interstate above the Rio Bravo. The toll keeps the traffic sparse, another plus.
The drive goes through high mountains and valleys, orchards of mango and avocado, a lovely lake or two, plus plenty of old, high cactus.
In brief, it’s a nifty drive.
We always stay in the original town of Zihuatanejo, not the chichi, artificial Ixtapa, about a 15-minute drive away. We usually do visit Ixatapa, however, to see how the other half lives and to buy tacos in a great stand on wheels we found in the parking lot of a resort hotel.
And there’s Ixtapa Island, reached by a motor launch. It’s small, provides good snorkling over a reef and great food in a number of funky restaurants under the palm trees. Our favorite is the Restaurante Princesa.
The little island also has a nudist beach, but you cannot see it from the Restaurante Princesa.
We’ll be back when we get back.
Enjoy your vacation.
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Brenda, muchas thanks.
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Have fun Felipe. Safe travels. I want to hear an account here on the blog if you visit that island with the nudist beach. (Wink, wink) Ha ha. Have fun!
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Mike: We did not make it to the island yesterday (we’re back home now), but we’ve been there twice and never made the short walk to the nudie beach, and I doubt we ever will, so you’ll have to go yourself. Take your bride.
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A smart guy plans a vacation that doesn’t require extensive post-vacation recuperation. The only hard part of your trip is that uphill drive all the way back from the beach. You’re a smart guy.
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Ms. Shoes: I am smart. Thanks for noticing.
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Even in early December, the heat in Zihuatanejo from noon to about 6:00 p.m. was too much for us. So we spent the afternoons in our air conditioned room or the pool.
As you already know, there are numerous good places to eat in Zihua.
Saludos,
Don Cuevas
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Don Cuevas: Hot? You betcha. But I was forged in New Orleans and tempered in Texas. I can take it. I’m no soft Brooklynite or Arkansas hillbilly like some folks I know.
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We’ll be covering the east coast of MX come the weekend.
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Carole: That’s the wrong side of Mexico. Why, you can hardly hear the gunfire from over there.
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It was nice to see the hundreds of cars leaving Zihua with stuff strapped to the roofs.
Weather is perfect today! Enjoy the rest of the week.
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Tancho: We’re back already. I imagine you’re still there. We were going to stay a third night, but the AC in our hotel room went kaput about midnight. There was a ceiling fan, but I would have preferred AC. Kinda put a little damper on things, so we tossed our stuff in the car this morning and drove home. Had a great day Tuesday on Playa La Ropa, however.
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Safe travels.
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Ray: We’re home again, safe and sound. Saw nary a decapitation.
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How is the weather this time of year in Zihua? It was hot, hot, hot when I was there. But, the views, beach, fish, and tranquility at the coral beach were a nice taste of this picturesque area. If I had planned my trip effectively, I would have enjoyed a few days in the highlands as well. Next time.
Enjoy!
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Andean: It’s scorching in the afternoons is what it is. As you note, it’s a tossup. Lots of lovely stuff, but you sweat while enjoying it. Thank God for air-conditioning. We saw little evidence of the earthquake two weeks back. Lots of the roof tile on our hotel was crooked or broken. Other than that, not much.
How anyone lives in that sort of place year-round is a mystery to me. Too hot.
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