It’s Sunday morning in Ixtapa and the heat has already kicked in. This is no obstacle for taking a nice and relaxing bike ride along the bicycle path that goes all along the main hotel zone and into a preservation area called Aztlan Park. From the beginning, I can see the neatest gardening on Ixtapa Boulevard, featuring a wide variety of palm trees and different flowers.
One of the things that I really appreciate of this bicycle path is that it is mostly flat, so people don’t have to be very fit, and everyone is welcome to enjoy it.
Find nature in one bike ride
This is a known paradise for birdwatchers because there are over 300 bird species here. It is easy to see them flying over me, nestling on the trees, peeping, and chirping all over the place. The ones that are spotted more often are Texan guans, great-tailed grackle, doves, kingfisher, and white and grey pelicans. I find it funny to watch a crane standing with a relaxed air on the back of a crocodile.
Once in the Aztlan Park I observe all the different trees and small swamps that host hundreds of colorful butterflies, migrating birds, and of course a countless amount of insects (which is why I prefer to go in the morning rather than in the afternoon). There is a section where the trees form a shaded path, a refreshing tunnel I greatly appreciate.
A family of coatis just crossed the path in front of me. These animals are very cautious but, from the right distance, I can watch them travelling in groups of at least five. When I’m lucky, I can watch a white-tailed deer running on the high part of the bushes during my bike ride.
On kilometer 7 there’s a small deck looking over a big piece of swamp that is part of a lagoon. Depending on the season, I have seen crocodiles and turtles. I keep going for another kilometer to reach Playa Linda, a public beach where a crocodile pit has been built around their natural habitat (very safe of course). This is where I like to watch them rest and coexist with other species, such as cranes, turtles, or crabs.
There is also find a pier at Playa Linda where I sometimes take a small boat ride to a landmark of this destination: Ixtapa Island. It is another amazing place to observe nature, especially at the Coral beach, where snorkeling often makes my day… The moment I step into the water, I see colorful fish all around me.
In my bike ride back home, looking at the overwhelming green mountains that surround the area, I am convinced that this is no doubt an ideal place for nature lovers ♥.
