Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico

What to do in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Cruise the Bays

All-day or half-day cruises take you through the Pacific waters of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo under the bright sunny skies or at night, on a romantic sunset venture. An open bar, live music, dancing, and a fresh fish dinner at Ixtapa Island make a party of it!.

Diving and Snorkeling

If you can dive or just plain old breathe through a snorkel and paddle around, you'll see lots of pretty corals and colorful fish in the crystal clear waters. Don't worry if you don't have your own equipment because there are many outfitters to get you suited up in no time at all. Cruises to take you to the best spots and feed you, too!.

Tour the Countryside

See the real Mexico on a visit to a tropical plantation, a small town tile factory, and the small fishing village of Barra de Potosi, where you can dine on the catch you watched the fishermen bring in! This idyllic fishing settlement also boasts an enormous lagoon with excellent bird- and wildlife-watching.

Isla Ixtapa

This wooded island is home to a diversity of wildlife, including armadillos, iguanas, deer, raccoons, and dozens of species of native birds. Each of the four beaches has its own character, with safe beaches and pretty snorkeling opportunities.

Museo Arqueológico

Zihuatanejo traces its history back to pre-Columbian times, when it was a sacred sanctuary for Mayan nobility. Artifacts, ceramics, and stone carvings indicating that the settlement dates back to the Olmec civilization are regularly found. Close to a thousand pre-Hispanic pieces, as well as murals and maps of "The Place of the Women" (as Zihuatanejo translates) are on permanent display.

Mexican Fiesta

Don your party duds and head for a sensational celebration of Mexican tradition. Folkloric ballets showcase characteristic dances from different regions, and mariachis sing, until you can't resist jumping up and dancing!.

Playa Las Gatas

This secluded beach across the bay from Playa Ropa and Zihuatanejo is the best for swimming and bringing the kids. With exceptionally clear water and an absence of undertow or big waves, the small coral reef is popular with snorkelers and divers. The only fulltime resident of Las Gatas is the dive shop owner, one of those living legend types who charms his clients with tall tales and a colorful personality. Open-air seafood restaurants on the beach cook up your meals in a jiffy and small shaded launches make 10-minute runs to Las Gatas from Zihuatanejo pier.

Day Trip to Acapulco

Don't miss this fantastic day trip down the coast to see the famous cliff divers at La Quebrada and still have time for lunch and shopping in the playground of the Silver Screen stars!.

Day Trip to Mexico City

Fly away for a day and visit the highlights of Mexico City, including the main square, cathedral, national palace, anthropology museums, the pyramids of Teotihuacán, and more, with a stop for lunch.

Horseback Riding

Perfectly-trained horses on Playa Linda Ranch or at La Manzanillo (at La Ropa Beach) take you on a beautiful and unforgettable ride along the beach and through coconut plantations. How many times have you seen this image in a movie and wished yourself there? This is your chance!.

Customs and Traditions Expo

Visit Zihuatanejo's archaeological museum, then proceed to the traditional and picturesque town of Petatlán. Sites you will visit include the famous church linked with many miracles.

Lobster Night

Take a short tour with an entertaining and expert guide along the cobblestone streets of Zihuatanejo, then settle in for a top-notch lobster dinner.

Playa La Ropa

Zihuatanejo's largest and most beautiful beach has a long sweep of sand with a great view of the sunset and gentle waves. Its name, "Clothes Beach," comes from a cargo of silk that washed ashore when a galleon sank during a big storm. Some lovely small hotels and restaurants are nestled into the hills and palm groves edge the shoreline.

Playa Palmar

This white-sand arc on the edge of Ixtapa's Hotel Zone has lots of activity. Its beauty belies an often rough surf, so use caution and don't swim when a red flag is posted!.

Playa Vista Hermosa

A lovely stretch of calm water at the far end of Playa Palmar impressive natural rock formations.

Golf

One of Mexico's best-rated golf courses, the Palma Real Golf Club, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Its 18 holes provide a diverse assortment of challenges as the course wanders past lagoons and from jungle hilltops to the sands of Playa Palmar. The course also serves as a wildlife preserve! A clubhouse with 5 lighted tennis courts, a large pool, pro shop, lockers, restaurant, and bar completes the perfect golfing spot.

Fishing

Anglers have been going to Zihuatanejo for decades to fish for marlin, sailfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, and wahoo. The equipment for rent is first-rate, and boats range in size from the 24-foot pangas to 38-foot sport fishers, and a catch-and-release practice is highly encouraged.

Water Sports

Most hotels have all sorts of water sports diversions to get you out on the surf and having the time of your life! Some favorites are wave runners, banana boat rides, and the always-exhilarating parasailing.

Playa Principal

Zihuatanejo's main beach is rimmed by the Paseo del Pescador street. Fisherman depart from here for their nightly journeys out to sea, and in the earthly morning display their catch for sale to the local market and restaurants.

Playa Madera

Accessible via a narrow footpath from Playa Principal; gentle waves and a sprinkling of small hotels and restaurants.

Hotel Hopping

Since Ixtapa was developed specifically for tourists, most of what exists is the Hotel Zone backed by attractive village-like shopping centers. Many visitors enjoy "hotel hopping" along the beachfront, as each resort has a distinct, exotic setting with bars, outdoor restaurants, and shops.

Marina Ixtapa

The new marina is just up the beach from the Hotel Zone, a collection of canals, islands, shops, villas, boat slips, and restaurants that make up one of Mexico's premier mega-resort developments. There's also a tennis facility and new 18-hole golf course.

Shopping

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Ixtapa's shopping centers are as gorgeous as its resorts, and they are all nestled together in Los Patios, so you needn't worry about getting around between them. There are stores that carry things you wouldn't necessarily expect to find in a seaside village, like hand-made, exquisite jewelry. The prices can be high, but most are cheaper than you would find in the US.

Zihuatanejo, on the other hand, is a haggler's and bargain-hunter's dream. Have lots of $1 dollar bills and pesos handy because you'll find everything you want in a street market waiting for your bid, from straw hats, to wood crafts, to jeans. The Mercado Central is the local "flea market" full of stalls and priced-to-sell goods from food to pottery. There are also some good quality craft shops, with beautiful hand-made pieces priced far below their worth.