First timer: Best beach town?
 

We want to take a Mexican beach trip and would appreciate some opinions on different destinations. We are in our late 40s in age but more like 20s in our minds (!) We are not interested in golf or tennis, but are very active, like to walk on the beach, and hubby likes to boogieboard. Looking for a great beach in a laid back place with a hippie vibe, not real expensive but nice. What towns and or hotels/resorts might we look into?

Tulum, south of Cancun, is nothing but hippie vibe with a yoga twist. Look at hotelstulum.com and locogringo.com

Can't boogieboard here, but sounds like Isla Mujeres would be a good fit.

Also, take a look at Playa del Carmen. Has all you want, but a quite a bit busier than Tulum or Isla Mujeres.

Tulum is the quietest of the three and is a very good suggestion.

How about Ixtapa? The hotel zone is located in a bay, with a long, white sandy beach. When we were there, the surf was perfect for boogie-boarding (3 to 4 foot breaks) and the beach was great for long walks. Across the street from the hotels is a small village with lots of shops, restaurants & bars. Ixtapa is also a short drive from Zihuatenejo which is a laid-back town that really captures "Old Mexico". Isla Ixtapa is also a short water taxi ride away - a good place for snorkeling and lunch.

Playa del Carmen is a great idea, but for a little surfing, Sayulita just a 1/2 hour from Puerto Vallarta might be perfect!

You are really making me want to go to Mexico even more now! What about getting to these places? Is access easier to some than others?

It all depends on where you're coming from. Access to Playa Del Carmen is easy! Fly into Cancun, and PDC is a quick drive down the coast (45 minutes). Easy to catch a bus or rent a car or a driver.
Sayulita is a bit more of a drive, but not difficult at all.
Puerto vallarta is a close flight from the west coast of US, Cancun a closer flight from the east coast.

Numerous airlines fly from the U.S. to Zihuatenejo/Ixtapa Airport (ZIH): Aeromexico, from all major U.S. cities and Alaska Airlines, from the West coast and Phoenix. American, Continental, Frontier and Mexicana also have flights to "ZIH".

Thanks, sceneisle, for the link to isla mujeres. Do you think as first timers we can handle the logistics of going to one of these smaller places? Sorry I am clueless but really would prefer something less commercialized and "gringo."

I love Puerto Vallarta and return year after year. Nearby is Yelapa which you reach only by boat (for a somewhat more hippie vibe part of your request or smaller towns along the coastline to the north like Sayulita, Ricon de Guayambitos, San Pancho). PV has new high-end hotel resorts out in Nuevo Vallarta, but the Old Town and El Centro remains quite "Mexican" and lovely. PVR (airport code) is easy to reach from central and west coast.

Zipolite further down the west coast is (in)famous if the hippy part is most important, with smoking and bongos on the beach kind of a thing. I'm not sure there's resorts there, though. More beach cabanas, bungalows, camping is my impression.

Ixtapa/Zijuat is an excellent suggestion and similar in geography to PV. A little quieter with less nightlife and restaurant choices. I'm not sure there's anything hippy about it though.

As mentioned if you're coming from back east, Cancun is easier flight-wise, and I would suggest Playa del Carmen.

I don't think any of these suggestions would tax you logistically! All are often visited spots, and Mexico is used to visitors.

Tulum or Isla would be your best best then.

EASY to get to both...

IM, take a fast ferry (10 - 15 minutes) from Cancun.

Tulum, take a taxi, rent a car, take the bus down highway 307. (Ranges from an hour to an hour and a half depending on what medthod you choose.