Barra de Potosí has two beaches: Playa Larga and Playa Blanca. The lagoon, estuary and rock formations known as the Morros de Potosí also offer different ways to shape your stay. You can choose between the beach, birdwatching, boat and rock excursions, and local cuisine. When planning, take into account the availability of individual boat trips and excursions.
Beaches, sandbar and lagoon
Playa Larga and Playa Blanca are Barra de Potosí’s two beaches. A sandbar separates the lagoon from the sea; the water rises there during the rainy season. If you’re including both the coast and lagoon in your plans, the rainy season is a specific point to bear in mind: the water level at the sandbar rises then.
Birdlife at the estuary
The Barra de Potosí estuary is a natural refuge for hundreds of bird species that breed there each year. Barra de Potosí is also home to more than 270 migratory bird species, as well as bird species native to the region. Along the shores of Laguna de Potosí, small boats offer birdwatching trips and photographic safaris. This gives you two different ways to enjoy the area: observe birds or capture subjects on a photographic safari. Confirm that boats are available locally before making this a firm part of your itinerary.
Excursion to the Morros and early mornings
The Morros de Potosí are large rock formations in the Pacific Ocean. On an excursion, you can see caves and clear water. Sea conditions and the availability of excursions can vary, so check both locally. The sunrise in Barra de Potosí offers a different experience: it’s best to get up early for it. The exact time changes with the season. The planning considerations are therefore different: for the sunrise, an early start matters; for an excursion to the Morros, sea conditions and availability should be checked.
Local cuisine
Rustic restaurants on Barra de Potosí’s beach serve tortillas cooked on a comal, molcajete salsas, and fresh fish and seafood. Mentioning the comal and molcajete makes the preparation methods, as well as the ingredients, part of the culinary offering. What individual establishments offer may change. If there’s a particular dish you’d like to try, ask locally.
December celebration
For decades, Barra de Potosí has celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. During the celebration, a procession passes through the town, and decorated boats make a religious journey on the lagoon. If this celebration is important to your trip, plan your dates around December 12 and ask locally about the specific events.
A 2020 UAM publication reports that a sailfish tournament was held in Barra de Potosí during the first days of December. It mentions the third edition in 2017 and the promotion of tourism during the low season as its aim. If you’d like to plan your trip around it, check in advance whether a new edition has been announced.
Plan your journey
The nearest airport is in Zihuatanejo. Barra de Potosí is about 20 minutes away via the Playa Blanca–Barra de Potosí road; traffic, weather and road conditions can affect travel time. Treat this estimate as approximate. From Petatlán, you can take public transport toward Zihuatanejo, get off in Los Achotes, and transfer there to transport to Barra de Potosí. Check this route locally before departure. The two travel tips differ: a rough journey time is given for the drive, while the public transport route specifies a transfer in Los Achotes.
Discover more destinations: Papanoa, Iguala, Acapulco, Técpan De Galeana, El Coacoyul, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Coyuca De Benítez, Bajos Del Ejido
For the broader travel overview: Guerrero.
