Our walk, as shown in the photo ->
was a level 13 miles total, and took us a leisurely 5 hours, wearing flip-flops.
We find that walking gives you a chance to really look at things, and opportunity to stop along the way for any little thing.
Most people rent golf carts, even if they are totally staying in the main (north) town. I really don't see the need for the hassle or expense of renting a cart, unless you are staying way out of the main town. Even if you stay in the central town of Salinas you are not that far out.
We headed south along the west coast, past a string of beaches and boat tie-ups in the bay. Once we hit Salinas we wandered back and forth through the streets, walked the path around the big lake, checked out the main grocery store and bought drinks. The town square here is pretty quiet, cool, tree- shaded and relaxing. The houses are colorful, and there are a ton of birds in the lake.
Further south at the Mundaca Hacienda (closed right now for more Mayan excavations) the road splits, right out to the Dolphin Discovery on the peninsula, left to Punta Sur, the southern tip of the island. Mundaca was the local pirate who hid out here. For more history of the island, go here.
We took a great rest stop at The Joint, a fund bar, where we had big cold margaritas and listened to the music.
At Punta Sur you go past the lighthouse and gift shops and pay a few pesos to enter the "sculpture park" on the way out to the Mayan Temple at the end. There are paved walkways right down the cliffs along the water level.
Here is the really good statue of the Goddess Ixchel, the Maya Goddess of the moon, fertility, medicine and happiness. There are other statues of her scattered around the island, but this is the best one.
We headed back north along the east coast, where it is much windier and the waves crash in. We noticed that, in the past eight years or so, they have paved much of a trail, improved some beach access, and built up the southern part of the island with condos and mansions. However there are still a few local holdouts, people selling conch shells or renting surfboards from their little homes by the side of the road.
Back to Salinas, we stopped at the new craft brewery, Isla Brewing Company, and had some samples. Then we walked over to an old favorite, which has obviously been "discovered" and waited to get into the Mango Cafe for their great tacos.
After lnch it was a short walk north before we hit the Malecon, the seaside walk that leads the last few KM back almost all the way up to our hotel at Media Luna.