La Ticla

LA TICLA

Text and photos: Pedro Silva Glass / CANAL235.COM

The hills of the Sierra de Coalcoman and Rio Ostula line the beach of La Ticla, where "surfers" and tourists arrive from around the world to enjoy the waves and the setting of this famous tourist eco hostel. 

La Ticla is located between the ports of Manzanillo, Colima and Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, in the coastal zone of Aquila, a few minutes from La Placita and Duin, traveling from the state of Colima. 

You can get a bus leaving from Manzanillo and Tecoman, or private car. Going down highway 200, a battered dirt road leads to the lodge located at the end of the village, inhabited by just a couple of hundred Nahua Indians, mestizos and a minority of foreigners, who are accustomed to the presence of "tourist".

On the beach some huts have been built, and excellent "palapas" that become perfect camping areas for the hundreds of visitors who come each season to participate or enjoy the spectacular surfing tournaments and other activities related to the sea and scenery. 

Nice palapas on the beach

Usually pretty good surf

A river mouth but not always open

La Ticla or the Ostula lagoon

My 2007 visit to La Ticla

Original article in Spanish

Playa Azul

Michoacan is not just the Colonial cities in the highlands or the indigenous arts and crafts of the Patzcuaro area. It also has a long, rugged and beautiful coast line. Playa Azul is in southern Michoacan just north of Lazaro Cardenas and down highway 37 from Uruapan.

This was my second time in Playa Azul and I'm a little more impressed than I was last summer. In the winter there are people there, more businesses are open and they keep the town clean. Last summer it looked abandoned. The beach is long and flat with no protection from the open ocean. We watched a number of fishing pangas struggling to get out over the waves. Had a nice sunset but can't recommend a beach restaurant since our dinner was very average. The food stands in the center of town are good for juice and coffee in the morning.

Main beach intersection

Sunset over hammocks

Fishing boat going out at sunset
Scene downtown Playa Azul