Last year we had gone to Tres Marias by the recommendation of friends and to my surprise after finding out about Vayma, they are side by each. Both Vayma and Tres Marias are located on the Pacific or left side of the road coming from Acapulco or beach side of the road. The first place you come to are Tres Marias and then right next to it is Vayma's. Properties on the right are on the Coyuca Lagoon and it may be noted that Tres Marias has properties on both side of the road.

To get a description on Tres Marias have a look at Pie de la Cuesta. Now before I go into a description of Vayma's let me tell you a little about the difference between both the restaurants, bar and pool, etc.,

The pool at Tres Marias is surrounded by palm trees and located trough an archway and hotel room in the back, plus it is a good size. Now the pool at Vayma's is behind the bar; the pool is different or an unusual swimming pool. It is about 4-feet deep with an island in the center, but what I like the best about it is the swim-up bar & underwater stools. It also has some bridges going across the water and lounge chairs on both side of the pool to relax.

Next to the beach area there are chair and hammocks all over the place at both places, but I love the colorful chairs at Tres Marias better than Vayma's.

The restaurant menu at both places are about the same, however I do believe that Tres Marias is just a few pesos cheaper on some of the items, but not really to much to worry about when compared to the restaurants back home. Now the only big difference was the service and maybe it was just a bad day for the waiters, but we got a lot better and faster service at Tres Marias. Both my wife and I ordered a burger and fries at Vayma's and the burger was very good and tasty but the French fries were cold which they reheated right away.

Now about Vayma's; you will discover that it a great place to relax and enjoy a day friends and family. As soon as you enter this quaint resort from the road, you start walking in the sand immediately. I found it to be low-key, kind of rustic, and very peaceful. Walking in the place about 40 feet ahead, on the right, you'll find a couple tight-fitting public washrooms or baños with swinging doors and a shower on the left. I also used them to change my clothes but like I said tight-fitting.

To the left is a palapa or when it is larger I believe they refer to it as cabana roof bar area, with tables & chairs set in the sand. The bar is very rustic and well decorated with flowers and photographs of days gone by. There are sign in English, Spanish and French as the owner was French.

Then straight ahead are more tables & chairs ... many set up on wooden decks, overlooking the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, plus a great deck build about 10 feet in the up again with tables and chairs… another wonderful place to sit and watch the sun set. So far I have not stayed to watch the sun-set but as we left they were setting up solar powered lights which should be wonderful to see as the sun has sat.

Next to or should I say behind the pool is Vayma Boutique or Gift Shop, however even though it was open I did not go in.

The beach area is very wide - the waves are huge and dangerous and I know since I am not that good a swimmer I will not go in the Ocean, of course that is why they have a great pool. Also the waves can be unpredictable as soon discovered; I was taking photographs of my friends and a few other people swimming and showing of when I relaxed for only a moment before coming out and a huge wave knocked me my camera down on there the water. I had no problem getting out but unfortunately my camera did not fare so good, it was done for, finished, broken, kaput, gone, damaged, ruined, wrecked, useless, defunct, in other words it just does not work anymore. Of course I had to bring my better Canon 30D with me with all the attachments and extra lenses, now I'm sad to say I'm left with my smaller backup camera. My spare camera is also a good quality camera but without all the extra attachments and a whole lot slower.

On the beach there's a long sizeable palapa or covering with more tables and chairs, a few plastic loungers and a few hammocks. Of course the same as at Tres Marias there is horseback riding available and also great stretch of beach area to go for a long walk. On the one end of the beach is the army/navy, not sure wish and on the other end they have sunk a rather larger boat believed to be one of the party boats that was used to go around the Acapulco bay. From the distance you can see a definite landmark of the condo or apartment that sits high above Caleta beach other than that you'd never know you were in Acapulco.

So when in Acapulco be sure to take a break at Pie de la Cuesta and enjoy a day at Vayma's or Tres Marias. And above all remember you are on Acapulco time, relax, enjoy yourselves and stay till after the sun has set, from what I'm told you will be pleasantly surprised and wanting to come back real soon.

By Fred Meulemeester