Isla Ixtapa

Isla Ixtapa is a small, forested island a short boat ride from Playa Linda, ringed by several sandy coves that offer some of the clearest, calmest water in the Ixtapa area for swimming and snorkeling. Boats depart regularly from the Playa Linda pier and drop visitors at the main beach, Playa Cuachalalate, where simple palapa restaurants serve fresh seafood, including fish and shrimp caught locally, at tables set up under thatched roofs along the sand. Beyond the main beach, smaller coves such as Playa Coral and Playa Varadero offer quieter, less developed spots for snorkeling among rocky outcrops, though reaching them may involve a short walk or a separate boat hop. A visit typically runs 3-5 hours, enough time to settle in at a beach restaurant, swim, snorkel, and explore more than one cove around the island. Mornings bring the clearest water and calmest boat crossing, since afternoon wind can pick up chop both on the crossing and around the island's exposed coves. Because the island has no roads or permanent settlement beyond its beach restaurants, the pace stays unhurried, and visitors generally plan around the return boat schedule from Playa Linda rather than a fixed itinerary.