Zihuatanejo’s magnificant oceangoing yacht is an unforgettable evening of fun

Sailing into the sunset is appealing to galore radical and is often connected the must-do database of adventures to acquisition portion successful Mexico. In Zihuatanejo, The Picante — a Fountaine Pajot Tahiti to those successful the cognize — is simply a 75-foot sailing catamaran with a mast tallness implicit the h2o of implicit 100′. Built specifically for the time charter business, it is the cleanable prime for the adventurous oversea lover.

It each began erstwhile the precocious Captain Tony Piazza and his woman Claire came to Zihuatanejo astatine the urgings of Apple Vacations, with whom they had a concern statement to sail charters successful Cancun from 1985. The circuit institution assured them that this portion of Mexico was the spot to be, fixed its location, beauteous waters and small competition. But it wasn’t each creaseless sailing.

The calm waters and creaseless sailing of the Zihuatanejo seashore marque it the cleanable destination for a vessel trip. (Picante)

Despite the setbacks, the Piazzas persevered. Their archetypal vessel successful Zihuatanejo was The Tristar, and they partnered with 3 others. The cockpit caught connected fire, mounting them backmost until Piazza, a shipbuilder, rebuilt it a fewer weeks later. In 2001, they made an statement with the owners of different boat, the Vitava, an 85-foot woody schooner until 2004. After doing attraction successful Mazatlan, they realized it was taking connected water. Since it needed further repairs, the proprietor returned it to the shipyard, and the Piazzas searched for different vessel to continue.

Their past acquisition was The Picante, which Piazza and 3 partners bought successful the Caribbean successful 2004, sailing done the Panama Canal to Zihuatanejo, wherever it sits today.

With the passing of Tony Piazza successful April 2023, Claire was successful the unenviable presumption of deciding whether to proceed with the business. Luckily for the thousands of tourists and locals alike, she decided to support going and, with a large squad beside her, has been moving it ever since.

Our sunset cruise started astatine 5 p.m., erstwhile we met connected the pier crossed the bay from the main formation wherever the vessel docks. You tin spot it astir everyplace connected Playa Municipal, the main formation successful downtown Zihuatanejo.

It was a lively assemblage that day, with a substance of foreigners and Mexican tourists. One young pistillate was celebrating her day with a reasonably ample radical of friends, and determination were a mates of section families I recognized arsenic well. Our captain, Carlos Ríos, welcomed everyone connected board, and arsenic we puttered retired from shore, helium went implicit the customary information guidelines. I chose to beryllium connected the comfy nett wherever I could beryllium connected the lookout for oversea life.

Mexico’s legendary hospitality is ever contiguous arsenic portion of the experience. (Picante)

As we near the bay, Rios pointed retired Bara de Potosi and the achromatic Islands of Potosi — achromatic due to the fact that of vertebrate poop — and spoke astir the bird-watching sanctuary located determination and began an absorbing communicative starting from the rim of the bay astatine the Faro Viaje, 1 of 2 lighthouses we would see. As the precocious concern successful Punta Garrobo’s improvement came into view, helium mentioned the infamous Kau Kan Restaurant, which had moved determination from Ixtapa a fewer years ago.

The Picante headed westbound present towards Ixtapa, passing by a beauteous formation known arsenic Playa Majahua and the Caves of the Majahua. Luckily, the oversea was calm this evening, and we could dilatory the engines, beryllium back, and respect the cliffs. “Otherwise,” Rios said, “It’s excessively risky and we could get sucked into the rocks.”

From there, we crossed successful beforehand of Playa Palmar, which has galore rows of hotels, including The Fontan, Sunscape, and Barcelo, and residential complexes similar the BVG, which person stood for galore years.  Just past that was the Ixtapa Marina, a 480-slip marina, the largest successful Mexico and location to the yacht of billionaire Carlos Slim, Mexico’s richest man.

The prima began a dilatory but spectacular descent to the euphony of Andres Botticelli’s “Perfect Symphony.” As the rays dipped beneath the horizon, to appreciative cheers from everyone aboard, the energetic and precise entertaining unit sprang into action, offering a repast work consisting of a airy meal of chicken, vegetables and rice, included successful the price, on with an unfastened barroom serving a assortment of drinks, including section tequila and cocktails.

The Picante rapidly turned wrong the Bay of Ixtapa and headed consecutive to the islands. It was a vertebrate watcher’s delight. Various taxon of seagulls, pelicans, Boobies, and Cormorants swooped successful and astir Torrecillas Island and wherever we were capable to witnesser the improvement of 1 of 2 stroke holes successful Mexico (a stroke hole, I learned, is formed arsenic oversea caves turn landward and upward into a vertical shaft, which tin effect successful hydraulic compression of seawater that past releases done a larboard from the apical of the blowhole).

With nutrient work retired of the way, the ever-changing euphony changed to upbeat Latin popular and requisite tequila bottles. With the assistance of the fun-loving crew, the sombreros and serapes appeared, and soon, the unit was pouring tequila consecutive from the vessel into the unfastened mouths of consenting participants and encouraged by onlookers to chant, “drink, portion drink!” The music, the costumes donned by the unit and the tequila each added to the festive ambiance of the cruise.  

Would it beryllium a Mexican vessel travel without tequila? Probably not. (Picante)

“We privation to marque definite you person a large clip connected The Picante, “said Rios. “So, aft the sunset we make the fiesta. If you person a day oregon an anniversary, we privation to marque definite it is simply a peculiar acquisition for you.”

In summation to the breathtaking sunset tours, The Picante besides offers snorkelling and whale-watching tours. For added excitement, you tin effort their Spinnaker Flying Adventure, a unsocial acquisition wherever you get into a harness connected to an A-line. The upwind catches it, and the spinnaker fills up with upwind and pulls you up astir 25 to 30 feet high.  When you privation to travel down, you shimmy to the extremity of the enactment to a waiting unit successful the h2o below. It’s an escapade that’s definite to get your bosom racing!

The Picante offers respective different options of interest. With the vantage of size, the Picante, is cleanable for backstage charters for weddings, engagements oregon firm events.

“It has been utilized by the metropolis of Zihuatanejo for promotional events and adjacent rented by radical spreading the ashes of loved ones.” said Piazza. “We enactment successful 2 of the city’s known foundation events arsenic well, the yearly Sailfest and Guitarfest held annually successful Zihuatanejo successful the months of February and March respectively.”

Information connected the sunset cruise, arsenic good arsenic everything other they offer, tin beryllium recovered connected their website.

The writer divides her clip betwixt Canada and Zihuatanejo.