I love to swim in the ocean – the buoyancy of the salt water and the strength of the sea makes me feel renewed. My goal is to try and find the quiet beach spot, and even better, a place to find some waves.
Ixtapa, located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, is south of Puerto Vallarta. It’s not a surfing spot, but about a half hour south, is Barra de Potosi, a sleepy beach area, a perfect lure to leave the resort and a place for body surfers.
My guide Francisco led us to this laid-back area – shaded long tables for dining are sunk into the sand, fishing boats are resting after their morning excursions on the sandy inlet and the ocean beckons from afar.
Restaurants are set up one after another along the beach, with a few souvenir stands ready to sell that must-have shell, necklace, ceramic bowl or bracelet. In between the tables, hammocks were set up in the shade, a perfect spot to nap.
After a lunch of spicy fish, tortillas and fresh coconut water, four of us headed to the water’s edge. The hard sand of the inlet gave way to soft sand, as we headed into the salt water waves. We got tossed around by the sea, encouraging us to swim quickly to find the calm sweet spot farther from shore.
A small group of young locals were floating on their boards, waiting for the waves so they could body surf back to shore. I watched their successes and failures, trying not get lost in watching their attempts, as the ocean kept coming pushing its powerful waves over me to the beach.
I watched as one surfer went for it, passing by me by mere inches as the wave crossed over me. I laughed at how close I was to him, and my friends laughed at me getting a sharp slap from the sea as I kept trying to watch his progress.
I revelled in the warmth of the sun, the salty lick of the ocean and the mellow state of just being able to enjoy the moment. Its what the beach does best – takes you to that place of calm and serenity. If you’re looking for a party spot, this isn’t it.
After a few hours we bid farewell to this quiet little beach, its mellow energy infused within me.