Los Ayala continued....

Los Ayala is also a bird watchers paradise and common to the area are
flocks of green parakeets soaring above the many variety of palms,
amiable pelicans,  frigate birds, prancing egrets, inca doves and
white doves, tropical king birds and even the occasional lone eagle.

The one kilometre long beach of Los Ayala is a palm fringed cove, and
perfect for swimming with soft, silky gold specked sand, a gradually
sloping shoreline and crystal clear waters.  Most days the waves lap
gently on the shore, and with the right weather and tide conditions
the blue pacific water takes on a Caribbean green hue, and the calm
water resembles a lake, offering  perfect snorkelling conditions.
Locals say with pride that Los Ayala offers one of the most beautiful
swimming beaches on Pacific Mexico’s coast.

At the south end of Los Ayala beach, the shoreline is rocky and dotted
with caves tempting one to explore a little. Los Ayala is said to be
named after a group of bandits who sought refuge here many years ago
(Los Ayalas), and the locals speak of a “Golden Door”, hidden within a
cave entrance  behind which lies a lost world, and a magnificent
treasure, still to be discovered.  Los Ayala used to be called “Beach
of the Mermaids” which seems a more fitting appellation for this
tropical oasis, far removed from bandits.

A ten minute swim around the south end of the beach takes swimmers
through some passable snorkelling, ending at the secluded and
beautiful beach called Playa del Beso (Beach of the Kiss). If one
continues swimming and heads around the next bend, they end up at
Playa del Toro (Beach of the Bull), an even more secluded beach, where
your only companions are birds, fish and the odd fisherman. Snorkelers
frequently find themselves snorkelling through schools fish.  If
swimming is not your forte, it is an easy ten minute hike to Playa del
Beso, and just another twenty minutes to Playa del Toro. The hike to
Playa del Toro takes one through the beautiful Nayarit rainforest.

The beach of Los Ayala is generally quiet and tranquil, but it has
been a favourite with Mexican families for decades and still bustles
with activity on weekends, holidays, and especially Semana Santa.
Semana Santa in Los Ayala is not for everyone, as the beach is packed,
and competing bands play music through the day and night, but it is
definitely is off the beaten path and worlds away from the more
heavily touristed beaches. The beach is lined with Palapa restaurants
serving delicious blackened fish and prawns cooked in a hundred
fashions.  It is very inexpensive to dine here and a pleasure to dine
bare foot on the sand at any of the restaurants. Beach vendors selling
pineapples stuffed with fresh fruit, and the locals carry large trays
of muffins and sometimes even more tempting donuts on large trays on
their head displaying perfect posture and balance.

The beach bustles with fishermen selling fish to the locals early in
the morning, while the tourists  delight in watching the amiable
pelicans vie for the scraps. The small town of Los Ayala even boasts
an internet café, Coffee shop serving great cappuccino and espresso,
and a disco called “Green Please” which features female impersonators
just opened.

Los Ayala, a Magical Mexican Beach Town! Come, stay a while!