6ta Vuelta Isla Ixtapa

Off the Pacific coast of Guerrero, swimming around Isla Ixtapa means tracing an exposed passage fringed with living coral. Known formally as the Vuelta Isla Ixtapa, this open water swimming race unfolds in the open sea off Ixtapa in Guerrero, Mexico. The event takes its name directly from the island it circles and was founded by swimmers specifically for swimmers, staged outside the rainy season for optimal logistics and calmer conditions. The course itself traces an epic route that leads athletes through a marine channel arriving from the open sea, circles the perimeter of the island, and returns back out to the open ocean. Swimmers can take on this Pacific circumnavigation across several distinct race distances, with options set at 1,000 meters, 2,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and a grueling 10,000-meter test of endurance.

Navigating the channel requires settling into an efficient rhythm early, balancing your stroke as the water shifts. In past events, race morning has drawn strong fields to the waterfront, bringing together swimmers and sports enthusiasts at the Azul Ixtapa Hotels. Participants plunge into the sea, embarking on the complete five-kilometer circumnavigation of the island. The starting pack brings together a distinctive cross-section of the ocean community, lining up hotel lifeguards and civil protection rescue personnel alongside seasoned international marathon swimmers. Over the years, the competition has welcomed accomplished figures such as Gonzalo Nadal, Carlos Acosta—famed for his double crossing of the English Channel—and Hall of Fame inductee and Guinness Record holder Jaime Lomelín.

Playa Coral: the offshore reef and Pacific swell

Rounding onto the ocean flank of the island puts swimmers in direct contact with the open sea of the Pacific. Here lies Coral Beach, facing directly out toward the horizon and protected by a small natural coral reef positioned just offshore. Breathing toward the open sea gives a panoramic view of endless blue water, while the island's rocky contours rise on the opposite side to keep your sighting true. Below the surface, Playa Coral is renowned for its rocky reef system, which serves as a thriving underwater sanctuary. The submerged rocks provide an active home for multicolored marine fauna, offering swimmers clear views of Pacific reef life darting across the seabed as they stroke through the water. The crystalline clarity here turns an exposed ocean crossing into an immersive tour of the underwater habitat.

Playa Carey: secluded turtle nesting beaches and island trails

Continuing along the shoreline brings swimmers past Playa Carey, a secluded stretch of sand also known as Sacrificio. This tranquil sanctuary is a critical natural haven where sea turtles emerge from the ocean to lay their eggs along the warm coast. Gliding past these quiet sands from the water offers an intimate perspective on one of the most untouched and protected corners of the island. Up above the high-tide line, Isla Ixtapa is compact enough that visitors can explore the entire islet on foot from end to end. Walking paths wind through dramatic rocky crags and stands of massive columnar cacti, all framed against crystalline waters. Along these quiet overland trails, visitors frequently encounter native wildlife, sharing the shade of the scrub with resident deer and wild rabbits that roam undisturbed across the island.

Playa Cuachalalate and Varadero: sheltered coves and fresh fish

Playa Varadero serves as the primary arrival point for boats ferrying passengers. With its sheltered orientation, Varadero is defined by calm, rhythmic waves that lap softly against the sand. The tranquil conditions here create a welcoming buffer, making it an easy place to come ashore after hours in the water. Playa Cuachalalate is named after a regional medicinal tree long valued by coastal communities. Its calm, protected waters make it one of the island's most popular swimming spots, as well as an ideal setting to relax post-race. Resting on the sand with salt on your shoulders and a warm ocean breeze over the cove offers the perfect finish to an island circumnavigation.