Not long after arriving here we were sitting on some steps at a plaza waiting for the man to cook us some cheap and tasty tacos. It wasn't surprising to find street food available at nearly eleven at night, but a little cafe selling all kinds of hot chocolate was a surprise. But then again, the lively bars were only just beginning to get going, and this is a city filled with students, after all, and famed for live music and entertainment. It has a unique feel, an...

Our first so-called "chicken bus" from the historical town centre to the marina was full of kids playing loud music on their way to school. So, although we have started our journey at a tourist resort, it wasn't long before we felt we were experiencing the real Mexico. From the marina, it was a two hour return trip over rough sea to the Marietas Islands. This is where La Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach) can be found, after swimming 200m through a tunnel. We picked...