Ixtapa area beaches are PRIVATE - KEEP OUT!

That's what I expected. Years ago, attempting to get to some beach in the Puerto Vallarta area, we had to pass through a Westin Hotel but were stopped by hotel security. (Poor Canadians apparently stick out like a sore thumb amongst all those rich gringos). When we protested that "all beaches in Mexico are public", we were told: "Yes, they are. But to get to it, you have to go through our hotel.....and we're private."