Different snorkelling besides Las Gatas and Isla Ixtapa

Have friends coming who like snorkelling and want to give them other choices, taking a boat to a remote place or beach an option. Any suggestions appreciated and personal experiences appreciated

Playa Manzanillo is where the Picante stops for snorkeling. Boat access only. All the captains know where it is.

Cheers!

You can walk there as well take a look at google maps. the road that heads north east after you pass jungle pizza terminates at the top of the hill and becomes paths from there it is about 40 minutes down to the beach. Alternatively you could cab it to the top of the hill.

Playa Manzanillo is open to the ocean. Pick a calm day.

Right in front of Casa Sandbar! The water is crystal clear right now. From our decks we see turtles, schools of fish and dozens of snorkelers every day (along with the divers harvesting shellfish). Enter at Madera or La Ropa and work the shore all the way along the bluff.

The south end of the bay, starting right where it turns west, all the way out to Las Gatas is quite nice. We regularly see turtles, rays and lots of cool fish there.

As is typical of most places, the visibility varies daily. Today was poor, last Saturday was so clear we could see Jesus' toes. First time ever for that!

I'm still in transit returning from 12 days of snorkeling at both ends of La Ropa . The end by the Intrawest and Casa Sanbar as mentioned and the south shore all the way to Las Gatas are equally good but considerably different swims and depths and experiences.

The south shore snorkeling is as good as at Las Gatas and there are never any other snorkelers there except the oystermen.

Most days I could see the bottom around the rocks separating La Madera from La Ropa, maybe 16 feet or so.

There is a very tame Olive Ridley turtle in front of Intrawest and many more Green turtles and other Olive Ridleys at each end. I warned a lady cooling off, well behind the safety rope at the Intrawest that there was a turtle about three feet in front of her and five feet below her. She was skeptical after having come to Zihua for 25 years but the good sized turtle rose up about five feet from her for a breath and a wink and away.

I saw very few rays this year and none of the Eagle Rays that used to be very plentiful at this time of year.

There is an infestation of Moorish Idols though, that many people would prefer to the rays.

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Please be happy always

Yes, both ends are nice.

We have seen a decent number of spotted eagle rays this year, but our best guess for them not being visible is just that-warmer water, less visibility.

Hopefully you'll make it back in March, and it will be clearer!

Julio's Tours takes people to Playa Manzanillo for snorkeling. Good place and even beginners snorkel there. To get more information just click on the link below.

Right in front of Casa Sandbar! The water is crystal clear right now.

Not true. The day before you posted this was true, and it was beautiful. Swell came up and the water is now 'green' in the bay. Not clear. I was snorkeling yesterday in the bay.

Would also recommedn Playa Manzanillo

We are not attempting to post an "up to the minute" visibility report - just saying that it's really clear right now. Best it's been in years we think, but certainly the best in the past 4 years. Today is even better than Friday, not quite as good on Saturday. When we sit on our deck and watch the reef, fish, turtles and rays all day a wee difference in visibility seems trite. But thanks for opening your post by calling us liars zihuas.