Isla Ixtapa or island is a short panga (water taxi) ride from Playa Linda and has four beaches, Cuachalate, named in honor of a medicinal tree in the area and is the most popular beach, especially in high season, with rows of stalls offering to rent a bike, take a ride on the banana rides or get under palapas while you’re served fresh fish and beer. If you want to relax with a massage on the seashore and have one of the best naps of your life, Isla Ixtapa is for you.

Next there’s Coral Beach which attracts swimmers, divers and snorkeling fans, who come to enjoy the nearby reefs that teem with colorful wildlife and abundant fish species. If you’re looking for calmer waters, follow the path that leads to Playa Varadero. Want privacy and peace? No better place than Playa Sacrifice, which does not have the convenience of a restaurant, but there’s a small hill from which you can get a wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean. Maybe calling Isla Ixtapa an “island” is a bit exaggerated. It is an island that can easily be traversed on foot, from top to bottom, in a just a few minutes. But its size does not detract from the huge number of adventures you can have in this delightful place.