Maruata
From Wikitravel
Contents
Maruata is one of many little fishermen towns scattered on the pacific Highway 200, with less than 600 inhabitants in the state of Michoacán, México, with clear blue waters and warm sandy beaches, next to a wide rivermouth, which remains dry most of the year.
[edit] Understand
The ecosystem is subtropical desert, but remains fresh due to the constant sea breeze and seasonal rains. June to November is hurricane season in the eastern pacific hurricane region. The last one to hit nearby, did so in 2002, and rearranged the sand in one of the beaches, creating an inner lagoon.
It's inhabitants are mainly first or second generation Nahuatl immigrants that came from the nearby towns in the dry sierra, but it's mostly the old people that remain bilingual, speaking both Nahuatl & Spanish, as the young people speak almost exclusively Spanish.
The main economic activity is fishing and over the past few years, backpack tourism has increased as an income source for many families.
Its sandy beaches and dramatic rock formations as well as it's laid-back atmosphere, attract hippie students from México City, Guadalajara, Querétaro and nearby cities to spend the vacation breaks in summer, winter and spring, as well as holiday brakes during the school year.
It is known as a sanctuary for two marine turtle species, as they nest on the largest of its 3 beaches, and to protect them there's a small army outpost in the outskirts of town.
[edit] Get in
There is no direct bus service to Maruata. One must take the bus to Lazaro Cardenas and inform the driver that you wish to stop at Maruata. From there, you must then take a short walk (less than a mile) to the beach, passing through town and through the small stream.
The PUREPECHA line is first class and will take you from either Morelia or Patzcuaro to LAZARO CARDENAS. From there you can catch the MICHOACANOS bus which operates from "Lazaro" to Manzanillo. The latter bus does not have a toilet but it is relatively swift and the price is right. Wave as you pass through Las Peñas.
There are buses from Morelia, Pátzcuaro and Uruapan to at least Lázaro Cárdenas, on the Michoacán coast. There are probably some that stop at Playa Azúl, before heading "down coast" to Lázaro C.
From Láz C. or possibly even Playa Azúl, you can get a bus up the very sinuous coast highway to Maruata. Just be sure you can get off there when you buy your ticket.
"Cada Loco Con Su Tema" - Don Anonimo
[edit] Get around
[edit][add listing] See
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit][add listing] Eat
There are many palapas that serve full seafood meals from 60 to 80 pesos. On the peak of season, there's a small bakery on the beach, which serves pizza by the slice and cheese bread. There are also children selling a local delicacy: pescadillas (fried fish tacos) for 3 to 6 pesos each.
A few tienditas (grocery stores) sell beer, sodas and anything you need for a camping weekend at the beach.
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
There are no real hotels, but you can get a room for 100 to 300 pesos in one of the many local houses near the beaches. Also, there are plenty of palapas (simple wooden structures supporting a palm leaf roof) that for 30 or 40 pesos per night per person provide covered tent space, showers and toilets for campers.
[edit] Get out
There are several small beach towns nearby, but probably Maruata is the least developed one. Some 60 km north is la Ticla, a beach surfers like to visit.
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