Troncones

Troncones, or ' Playa Troncones', is a small coastal town about 20 miles (32 km) north west of Zihuatanejo on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the state of Guerrero.

Understand
Hammocks and palm trees are in most yards, chickens roam the streets and loud nightlife is limited to very few weekly events, making for quiet nights. Some local hotels and restaurants offer special events such as Movie Nights and Dance Parties, mostly during the Oct-May high season.

Get in
By car, Troncones is about 25 minutes from Zihuatanejo. Negotiate with a taxi before you get in, but a taxi will usually charge about US$30 from the airport. Alternatively, there are frequent small white "combie" buses that head north on the highway from Zihuatanejo. If you board one of these, ask the driver to drop you off at the turn off to Troncones, and then take a colectivo to the township. This is a much cheaper option.

Get around
Most things are within walking distance in Troncones, but 'colectivos' run up and down the beach from Troncones to Majahua, and from Troncones to the highway for M$5 per passenger.

Do
Enjoy all kinds of activities on the town's 5-km (3-mile) stretch of nearly empty beach. Spend the day splashing around, boogie boarding and/or body surfing. Take long walks, runs, or horseback rides on the playa. Or just relax in the hammock, read, and recharge your batteries.

Snorkeling directly off Troncones Point is some of the best in the area. A public access to this area is located directly in front of Troncones Point Surf Club and Hostel (see "Sleep" below). You can learn to surf on Troncones beach and/or tackle one of the many nearby surf breaks, including Saladida, a.k.a. “The Wave Machine” (a great spot for beginners and long boarders). Local ecotour companies provide additional entertainment and exercise. Surfboards, stand up paddle boards, bikes and ATVs can all be rented in town. For the more contemplative, Troncones offers daily yoga, meditation, and chi gong classes—all with a stunning ocean view.

The major surfing area is called Troncones Point, a steady left break, where Troncones Beach meets Manzanillo Bay just to the north. Waves tend to be smaller in the winter, as the Point needs a southern swell to break well, and it is recommended for confident surfers because it is a rock bottom with some coral. Many hotels offer surfing classes.[3] There is only one surf shop, but several of the hotels have basic equipment for ding repair, waxing, fin replacement, and other emergencies. There is also a professional surfboard shaper in town who offers repair services. There are many breaks and few surfers, especially in the low season of June - October when the swell is from the south and the breaks at Troncones Point and El Rancho can hit 25 feet (7.6 m). Breaks in Troncones tend to be gentler in the "shoulder seasons" of spring and fall, and some spots are better suited to long boarders. Near the beach are two sea caves called Troncones and Majahua as well as a waterfall called Cascadas Artesianas. Sportsfishing trips to the open ocean are available as well.

Eat

 * (Steakhouse)
 * Martha's Restaurant
 * Antonio's Bar & Grill
 * Tronco Bay Inn
 * Orbe's
 * Martha's Restaurant
 * Antonio's Bar & Grill
 * Tronco Bay Inn
 * Orbe's

Sleep


Dos Palmas - 2-bedroom house with beautiful pool. Weekly rates from US$1900 to $2500. www.dospalmastroncones.com

Stay safe
Always watch for riptides as they can get strong sometimes. Small children should not be in the water without supervision as it is open Pacific coast and large waves may come even on a very calm day.

Go next
Nearby Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo serve up a cornucopia of more urban entertainments—shopping, nightclubs, movie theatres, amusement parks, dolphinariums, and miniature golf.