Barra de Navidad is a beautiful little village of about 7000 residents only 45 minutes North of Manzanillo, Mexico.
Known to more adventurous travelers for a long time, it’s now receiving more people looking for an alternative to overpopulated tourist destinations like Cancun. It was and still is mainly a farming and fishing community.
I loved visiting Barra de Navidad. Many of my friends who live nearby in places like Manzanillo make a biweekly trip up there to enjoy the surf, sand and sun. There is something special about the area. It is nice to get out and away for a day, see a different coastline, enjoy the soft sand of a different beach, and relax in the laid back atmosphere.
Top Reasons to Visit Barra De Navidad
Recently Barra has begun to grow more and more in popularity. Becoming the retreat and secret hideaway for many of the rich and famous. The cost of real estate is actually higher in Barra De Navidad than it is in Manzanillo!
The State of Jaliso has been pushing the region as a tourist destination as well. The large lagoon behind Barra de Navidad is criss-crossed by small fishing boats gathering scallops and transporting visitors and locals from Barra to Isla Navidad and the Grand Bay Hotel, recently voted the Number One hotel/resort in Mexico by the Travel Channel.
These boats (panga taxies) also carry passengers to and from the small Colima community of Colimilla where restaurants line the shore. All things told, Barra does not disappoint.
What To Expect In Barra
The streets are paved with cobblestones and bricks and many are sectioned off for pedestrian only or reduced traffic use. There are numerous hotels, restaurants and small shops. It almost reeks of quaintness and a cliche beach town vibe. The only problem is, it’s all real!
Barra actually is an honest to goodness genuine beach town! Enjoy some fresh seafood at Seamasters, ride a few waves in the glassy bay, and kick back in a hammock with a cold cerveza to watch the sunset. Sounds like paradise. When the surf is up, some of the best long boarding waves in the region can be found in Barra de Navidad.
When the waves aren’t breaking you have an incredibly clean and uncrowded beach all to yourself. It literally is still undiscovered. Barra de Navidad is one of Mexico’s best kept secrets. Since it is still relatively undeveloped when compared to neighboring Manzanillo, some of the conveniences you’d find in those regions just aren’t there.
Super markets, all inclusive resorts, big tourist attractions haven’t yet made their way into the town. If you are looking for those things, you know where to go. But if you are looking for a quaint beach town with incredible sea food and a great vibe, then Barra de Navidad is the place for you.
Top Things to See and Do in Barra De Navidad
Check out the Thursday street market. All sorts of local arts and crafts are sold, as the streets are blocked off all the way from Avenue Veracruz to Tampico. You can spend a good afternoon wandering around the tents and stands that open up selling their goods.
Birdwatchers can hire a panga to cruise the lagoon. It is a nesting site for roseate spoonbills, artisan stalls and other exotic waterfowl including pelicans.
Take a panga (water taxi) tour of the lagoon or go on a coastal sight seeing trip for a great time, and a cheap activity!
Take a short boat ride across to Pueblo Colmillia’s beach side restaurants. Some of the best sea food you have ever tasted can be had at the local eateries here. Fortinio’s and Mary’s are open 9-10pm daily, so there is always food to be found.
Lie back, relax, and enjoy Barra de Navidad’s beautiful beaches, gorgeous views, and warm waters. No doubt this will take up most of your time as you vacation in Barra.
Where to Eat In Barra
Check out Alcatraz Bay which has been nominated as the best restaurant in Barra de Navidad! You can find it on the avenue Veracruz on the lagoon near El Manglito. Known for its molcajetes (lava bowl meals). The place is quite delicious.
If seafood is what you are after, then perhaps these restaurants would be to your liking: Bananas, Fortinos, Popeye’s, Restaurant Colimilla (take a lancha to Colimilla or drive through Isla de Navidad), Mozoka, and Fredi’s on the highway in Jaluco.
Seamasters is always a great choice for some delicious food. Ask for their special (and not on the menu) hamburger with everything, or their rollo del mar, or their giant plate of BBQ finger lickin good ribs. Your tastebuds are in for a treat at this Barra restaurant!
How To Get To Barra
From the Manzanillo International Airport, it is just thirty minutes North on the highway. Just follow the signs, you can’t miss the Barra exit!
Where to Stay
There are many places to stay and find lodging in Barra de Navidad. One of the biggest hotels in Barra De Navidad is the Grand Bay hotel. Look around, you will certainly find some affordable hotels to your liking. Most important of all: Enjoy your vacation!