transportation to Manzanillo questions

We will be spending 3 months in Zihua this winter and would like to travel north to visit a friend at the end of our Zihua stay.
He actually lives closer to Barra de Navidad at Playa de Coco's (if that matters).
I know I'm probably stuck with the bus as the flights seem pretty expensive at around $400+ for the two of us.
I know of a couple that did the overnight bus to Barra, their comment was that it was long and exhausting.
Is there a better option? What about the bus that travels up the coast? Is that something that a couple that speaks very little Spanish could do?
Other options?