Bahía de Matanchén

Matanchén Bay curves south and east from San Blas for several kilometers, with a long stretch of soft, gently sloping sand. The water inside the bay is usually calm and shallow near the shore, which makes it the go-to beach for families staying in San Blas. Simple palapa restaurants line the sand, serving fish and shrimp, and vendors sell the banana and coconut bread found all over the San Blas area.

The bay is also a name in surfing history. At Las Islitas, at the northern end near a cluster of rocks, a big south swell can produce a wave that peels along the bay for an extraordinary distance, and it is often cited as one of the longest rideable waves in the world. Those days are rare, mostly in summer; the rest of the time the waves are small and friendly, good for beginners.

Farther along the bay are the beach of Los Cocos and the village of Aticama, connected by a seaside promenade, with more palapas and oyster stands. Bring insect repellent: the jejenes, tiny biting flies, are famous on this coast, especially in the late afternoon.