The “Last Best Beach”
By: Barbara Erickson
If you are vacationing in the Zihuatanejo area, we invite you to stray just 20 minutes off the beaten path to discover authentic Mexico in all its glory; Barra de Potosi – the “Last Best Beach.”
Barra de Potosi is a tiny, marginal fishing village on Playa Blanca Beach. Located to the south on Highway 200, it’s the “Last Best Beach” or southern-most beach in the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Guerrero area. The village is a short drive or bus ride away.
“Dawn on the Lagoon” Photo by Laura Kelly
Barra de Potosi is best known for its tranquil lagoon, a favorite for swimmers, surfers or nature watchers. The beachfront is lined with small restaurants, “enramadas” that serve marvelous freshly-caught seafood along with traditional Mexican dishes. With hammocks, authentic Mexican food, and a natural ocean environment, you can enjoy a wonderful day on the “Last Best Beach” in Barra de Potosi.
Barra de Potosi is perfect for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and great seafood!
The village is comprised of some 375 souls who reside in this small community with only three unpaved streets. The villagers compete for the same few niches for their livelihoods: fishing, beachside restaurants, and tourism.
Tourism means everything to the economic development and livelihood of this community. The entire village has worked extremely hard to prepare for tourists and visitors. Many women in the village formed a co-op group to make arts and crafts to sell and augment their families’ incomes.
Annual Street Fair in March
Every March, the village hosts a Street Fair to sell the arts and crafts made by the villagers. Enjoy this video of a past event – and, plan to attend the next one!
The people are quintessentially Mexican; their open friendliness and general acceptance infuse life in Barra de Potosi with a timelessness that Mexican friends call “noble,” meaning perhaps – people of their place.
So, ask your favorite taxi driver, grab a bus, commandeer a friend, and come to enjoy the amiable and hardworking people of this village! It’s an opportunity to have fun and to help support a growing town. Your visit will provide more than you can imagine!