Surfing

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo attracts many surfers all year round.

Beginners and Intermediate may start with Ixtapa's Playa Escolleras.

More experienced surfers should visit the area around Kandahar. There are several spots within walking distance of Kandahar main beach, all together offering a wide variety of surf breaks that can suit all surfers, both long and shortboarders, beginners as well as pros:

• The Boca, or rivermouth, is a 20 min. walk down the beach. It's wave changes with the seasons and acts like a typical rivermouth. Fun, fast and a few different take off spots.
• La Saladita is an hour hour walk or 15 minute by boat. This is a classic left point break, predominately a longboard wave. On a good days, some shortboarder venture there as well.
• Troncones Point is another left point break that breaks over a reef, 30 min north of the main beach. The reef can make surfing scary, but once a wave backs off it becomes considerably more manageable.
• Troncones Beach Break is, well, a beach break. 45 min north of the main beach, its sppedy waves are the most challenging around.

Pointbreaks, beachbreaks, reefs and rivermouths - mostly lefts - are all available within walking distance. Gear and boat rental is widely available. Surfers flock to Kandahar all year round, but the most challenging waves are typically between May and June, with swells up to fifteen feet.

Snorkling

Only a few minutes from downtown zihuatanejo by boat, Playa Las Ropas is an excellent place for snorkling. The coral reef that grew up around the breakwater is home to many fishes. Since the beach is sheltered, the water stays much clearer than nearby La Ropa.

Another good spot is Playa Manzanillo, with a live coral reef with an even higher fish density. You will need to rent a boat to get there, and its water can be murky.