Swimming with Dolphins & more…

Posted by Staff in Live Reports, Mexico

I think my last hours spent in Ixtapa might have been the most special.

Yesterday, I had the unique opportunity to swim with dolphins at Delfiniti Ixtapa, a “dolphinarium” located five minutes from the main strip of hotels, and just off the beach.  For 45 minutes I swam among the dolphins, petting, hugging and marveling at their gentle nature and intelligence.

The instructors provide a full explanation – in English and Spanish – of all the activities and the rules.  I felt completely safe and relaxed in their hands, as did the many young children enjoying their first introduction to marine life.

As if that experience weren’t enough to write home about, later that night I headed to the El Presidente Hotel for their Fiesta Mexicana, a weekly outdoor festival featuring dancers from all over Mexico, vendors selling local crafts, and tacos al pastor that were legendary. I had heard rumors that the best tacos in Ixtapa were served at this fiesta and I couldn’t wait to judge for myself.

I was not disappointed. Cooked in front of me, the meat was flavorful and tender, served simply on a small corn tortilla. On the side was a selection of chopped onion and salsas – leaving it to each hungry patron to decide how much they want to sweat.

If tacos aren’t your thing, you certainly won’t starve here. Posole, chorizo con pappas (sausage and potatoes), beans, tortillas, elote asados (grilled corn), empanadas filled with cheese and mushrooms, and traditional nopale “salad” lined the buffet table as well, along with horchata, atoles and cerveza to cool you down.

I carried my heavy plate over to a table in front of the stage to watch the dancers. Representing the states of Jalisco, Michoacan, and Veracruz, each set injected a warm, local pride  into the night.  Obviously a Saturday night favorite, the mood at this party was relaxed and joyful, with locals dancing along with the music, sipping their drinks and basically making the most of the dwindling summer nights.

It’s low season now and the heat and regular rains keep most tourists away. Only the true lovers of Mexican culture and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s unique charms remain.  It’s a different experience to travel during an off season – while the roads are empty, the lines short, and the glorious coastline extends itself only to you.

~Vanessa Torres, reporting live from Ixtapa