My family’s favorite port during last year’s nine-day cruise through the Mexican Riviera was Zihuatanejo. Many visitors bypass Zihuatanejo, known as Zihua to locals, for its more upscale neighbor, Ixtapa. But a laid-back, authentically Mexican beach town was what we were looking for…and it’s just what we found.

If arriving by cruise ship, don’t waste your money or time signing up for a beach excursion via bus ride. Plenty of inexpensive water taxis are available to zip you across to one of Zihua’s beaches.

My family opted for a five-minute boat ride to lovely Las Gatas beach. Tourists and locals mingle here, lazing on its sandy shore and swimming along its curved shoreline.

Lounge chairs are yours for the day in exchange for a meal purchase from one of the beachfront restaurants. You won’t find what most Americans consider to be “typical” Mexican food here. There are no enchiladas, tostadas, or tacos – just fresh fish and seafood. However, most eateries will happily make a quesadilla de queso (cheese quesadilla) for the kids if requested. For grown-ups, I highly recommend the buttery, sublime camarones al ajillo (shrimp prepared with red ajillo chiles).

Giant rocks about thirty feet from the shore create a breaker, making for calm waters perfect for little ones. As a San Diegan used to hovering over shivering children in crashing waves, I took full advantage of the warm, shallow water at Las Gatas. 

My husband and I rented snorkel gear from a beach vendor for a few bucks and took turns visiting the schools of tiny silvery fish that darted about below the water’s surface. We played in the ocean with our preschooler, sharing beach toys with generous locals. We held our nine-month-old son’s hands as he toddled along the shore. Mostly, we just hung out. We took in the view of our ship in the distance and the lush, tropical tree-filled green cliffs dotted with pale stucco homes with their red-tiled roofs. We drank limey beers while the baby dozed on our laps. We watched our daughter frolicking and splashing about for hours.

Zihuatanejo was everything a vacation should be…adventurous…fun…relaxing…beautiful.

What’s your favorite beach day destination? Leave a comment below!

For more information on this topic, see:

• Carnival Cruise Line’s Onboard Activities for Kids 
• Cruise Resources
• 10 Best Beach Hotels for Kids
• Tips for a Cabo Girlfriend Getaway