Cuyutlán Black-Sand Beach

Cuyutlán's beach is known across Mexico for its dark, volcanic-mineral sand, a distinctive contrast to the pale beaches more common along the Pacific coast. The wide, open shoreline fronts the small former salt-trading town of Cuyutlán, with a handful of seafood palapas and simple guesthouses along the beachfront street. The Pacific swell here is stronger than on Manzanillo's sheltered bays, drawing bodyboarders and experienced surfers, though the undertow makes it less suited to casual swimming with children. Between roughly May and June, the beach is occasionally visited by the ola verde, a rare, large green-tinged wave formed by specific offshore conditions that draws surfers and spectators from across the region. Visitors typically spend two to three hours walking the sand, watching the surf, or eating at a beachfront restaurant. The darkest, most photogenic sand and best surf-watching views are along the central stretch fronting the town. The beach is quiet on weekdays and busier on weekends, with a further spike during the ola verde season.