Ixtaqua Swim & Run

At the quiet northern end of Ixtapa's coastline, Playa Linda opens toward Isla Ixtapa. This shoreline hosts the Ixtaqua Swim & Run, an aquathlon held in the open sea at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. The multisport gathering sets its staging area on the sands of Playa Linda at Qualton Club Ixtapa. The challenge begins with a 2-kilometer sea swim that sets out from the hotel beach, heads across the water directly facing Isla Ixtapa, and loops back to the very same sand. Every swimmer takes to the ocean wearing goggles and a swimming cap, tethered to a mandatory tow float buoy for safety along the course.

After emerging from the surf and changing onto dry ground, athletes pull on a shirt displaying their race number and transition directly into the 5-kilometer run. The running segment unfolds entirely along the coastal bike path, divided into two distinct 2.5-kilometer stretches along the shore. Held in late October, the entire competition is steeped in the festive atmosphere of Mexico's traditional Day of the Dead commemorations. Athletes can take on the distance as solo competitors from the age of 15, testing their endurance across both elements on the Pacific shore. Alternatively, the event welcomes relay teams sharing the course, including a junior mixed category where minors aged 12 to 14 can team up with an adult partner.

The Pacific waters off Playa Linda: coral reefs and underwater canyons

The sea at Playa Linda is characterized by very calm waves. Swimmers stepping off the sand encounter a settled surface that makes navigation remarkably steady, allowing for an uninterrupted stroke rhythm from the very first meters. The area provides ideal conditions for distance swimming, free from the punishing breakers typical of open ocean beaches. Beneath the surface, the marine environment drops into deep underwater canyons and sustains thriving coral reefs. These warm waters harbor an impressive variety of ocean wildlife, where starfish and camouflaged crabs settle into the reef beds while delicate seahorses hide among the subaquatic flora.

Isla Ixtapa: water taxi crossings from the Playa Linda pier

Directly beside the race venue and the hotel beach, a convenient pier provides immediate access to water taxis shuttling across the channel. The small boats carry passengers across the narrow strait to nearby Isla Ixtapa, the very island that provides the visual focus of the 2-kilometer swim course. Glancing out at the island from the beach gives a clear sense of the morning's course across the bay. The crossing turns the island into an effortless post-race excursion once the timing chips are returned. On Isla Ixtapa, visitors discover places that invite a leisurely recovery swim. It is a peaceful place to spend the afternoon floating in clear Pacific waters.

Playa Linda beachfront: tropical village grounds and Jalapeño Restaurant

The host property at Qualton Club extends across 15 acres of manicured tropical gardens, where low-rise accommodation buildings establish the friendly, communal atmosphere of a camp-style village. Between the palms and flowering shrubs, the layout keeps the entire venue quiet and self-contained throughout the race weekend. Directly on the sand, the Jalapeño Restaurant serves casual lunch and snacks accompanied by sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. It provides the natural gathering point once the racing concludes, where competitors can sit back under the warm sea breeze and gaze out across the calm waters where they completed their morning swim.