Faro de Bucerías

Faro de Bucerías is a small coastal village of about 400 people in the municipality of Aquila, in the Nahua country of the northern Michoacán coast, and the name of the bay in front of it. The bay is set among green hills, rocky headlands and islets, with a lighthouse on the point and a small rocky island joined to the beach by a strip of sand. Its water shifts from deep blue to bright turquoise, and it is the beach on this coast best known for what lies under the surface.

The southern part of the bay is calm, which makes it good for swimming, snorkelling and diving, while the other side takes the open swell and its stronger currents suit surfers and confident swimmers. Off the shore there are rocky reefs with plenty of marine life, and among the rock formations lie the remains of a sunken ship that has become an artificial reef covered in coral. Visibility runs from about 6 to 30 m and the water is warm. The islets and rocks are nesting places for gulls, pelicans, frigatebirds and other seabirds, and they are also the best dive spots. You can explore them on a day out, and the stretch of shore here includes Playa Maroma.

The village has a community ecotourism centre with rustic lodging, food cooked by local women and bike trails, plus a few cabins and small hotels. Along the beach there are palapas for camping with drinking water, bathrooms, showers, electricity, dining areas and grills, and camping is cheap, with use of the services included. Restaurants serve fish and seafood, including pescado zarandeado. Divers can rent equipment if they bring their certification. Palma Sola, a quieter beach framed by mango trees, banana plants and coconut palms, is just 2 km further along the coast.