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Find out about our news, special offers, and more. Plan a trip using in-depth tourist attraction information, find the best places to visit, and ideas for an unforgettable travel experience. Be sure to follow us You may think in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo as the twin paradises, cobblestone streets lined with nightspots, shops, hotes, and both towns are just a short drive from one another. This double restaurants that run the gamut from casual to ultraluxurious. destination has 16 miles of coast and satisfies totally different This nice environment combine with the traditions and charm needs, from authenticity-seeking adventurers to languorous of local people, is always an invitation to get around the town. sun worshippers. Among the things this destination has to Visitors have the option to stay in one of the inviting little offer are: stunning white-sand beaches, crystal clear waters for hotels in the center of town, or in one of the small luxury all kind of water sports, luxury hotels, placid bays, and the taste hotels nestled along its lovely beaches. of small-town Mexican life. More than 150 restaurants offer plenty of delicious choices, Ixtapa is one of Mexico’s most compact planned resorts created but Zihuatanejo is the best place to try regional fish specialties in the 1970s, with a hotel strip along the Playa del Palmar, a like “Tiritas”, made of thin fish strips marinated in lemon with two- mle long stretch of beautiful white sand. Here you will red onions and sliced hot peppers, the regional favorite, the find world-class resorts equipped with enough restaurants, “pescadillas”, “ceviche”, fish and shrimp tacos, and “pescado a pools, and activities to keep families occupied for weeks. There la talla”. is also a pair of golf courses and a modern marina with slips for The average temperature is 82˚ F and sunshine 300 days a 600 vessels and upscale seafood restaurants. Ixtapa also offers year. Even during the June-September rainy season showers shopping malls, excellent boutiques, jewelry stores, handicraft are brief and usually in the late afternoon or evening. shops and a nautical atmosphere. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is just three-hour drive from Acapulco On the other hand, Zihuatanejo is a fishing village in a lovely bay and 40-minute flight from México City. The superhighway that offers visitors the opportunity to see the more traditional Century XXI that connects Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo with Morelia, side of Mexico. The original name was Cihuatlán which means Michoacán, conveniently facilitates quick access by car: from “land of women” in nahuatl, because the social organization Mexico City in 6 hours, from Toluca, Querétaro and León in 5 was a matriarchy. This place was a sacred sanctuary for hours, and from Morelia in only 3 and a half to 4 hours. the prehispanic nobility, and there are vestiges of very old civilizations as the Olmecs who lived 3000 B.C. The quaint and pleasant village features single-story white houses and © 2016 All rights reserved. Contents can not be 1 reproduced for commercial purposes. Getting to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo By Plane Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport has recently expanded and several of its areas are under renovation. It has multiple facilities including car rental desks, a restaurant and “duty-free” shops. There are non-stop flights from Mexico City, Toluca, Guadalajara, Acapulco Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary, among others. During the winter season the number of flights increases. The airport is located only 15 minutes far from Zihuatanejo and 25 minutes far from Ixtapa, both are connected by a modern four-lane highway. Federal highway 200 connects Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo with Acapulco, where modern “Autopista del Sol” connects with Mexico City. The driving distance between Mexico City and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is 637 kilómetros (396 miles). An alternate route and relatively faster between Mexico City and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is through Morelia with 667 km (414 mi), in the Autopista Siglo XXI. There are first class bus services between Ixtapa- Zihuatanejo and the rest of the main cities in the country. By Car Weather Forecast MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC ANUAL Average temperature (ºC) 25.4 25.1 25.5 26.5 27.4 28.0 27.8 27.8 27.5 26.9 26.9 26.1 26.8 Average Maximum Temperature (ºC) 31.4 31.4 31.3 32.1 32.7 32.4 32.4 32.4 31.7 32.3 32.0 31.7 32.0 Average Minimum Temperature (ºC) 20.0 20.0 20.0 22.0 24.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 24.0 23.0 23.0 21.0 23.0 Average Precipitation (mm) 23 2 4 1 17 186 154 190 216 112 17 8 1030 Average length of day (hrs) 11.7 12 12.4 12.9 13.4 13.6 13.5 13.1 12.6 12.1 11.7 11.5 12.5 Fuente: Weatherbase Current weather conditions © 2016 All rights reserved. Contents can not be 2 reproduced for commercial purposes. Map of the Coast A LÁZARO A CIDAD Lagunillas CRDENAS MEXICO Boca de 134 ALTAMITRANO Lagunillas Zumatlán Las Playa Higueritas Majahua El Mamey Troncones MEXICO Playa 200 Buenavista MEXICO Diamante 134 Pantla Ejido Playa Manzanillo Bay Barrio Nuevo Playa Principal Linda MEXICO Av. Playa Linda 200 San osé Playa Ixtapa Quieta Isla Blvrd. Playa Linda Ixtapa PLAYA Murga CUACHALALATE Ixtapa PLAYA Blvrd. Playa Linda PLAYA CAREY CORAL Blvrd. Playa Linda Punta Blvrd. Paseo Ixtapa Potererillos LAS P.de los Viveros Ixtapa ISLAS ESCOLLERAS BLANCAS Bahía del P.del Palmar Zihuatanejo Palmar Blvrd. Paseo Ixtapa Coayacoyul Llano de Av. Morelos la Puerta SACRAMENTO Ejército Mexicano Miguelito San Miguelito Playa La Ropa Playa Las Gatas El Aeropuerto Zarco Punta Internacional Playa Ixtapa - Zihuatanejo Garrobo Blanca Los Achotes MEXICO Barra de Potosí - Anchotes 200 Symbols A Barra de Potosí San Jerónimo Barra - Anchotes Potosí de Niños Héroes MEXICO Barra 200 Airporto Paddle Surf de Potosí Morros Xihuacan Petatlán Handcrafts Horseback Riding de Potosí Independencia Benito uáre Scuba Diving Boat Ride 20 de Noviembre Typical Restaurants Fishing Las Peas ATV Bird Watching Valentín MEXICO Snorkeling Sea Turtles 200 Golf Observation of Crocodiles Estero Church Surf Valentín A Kayak Windsurf ACAPLCO Marina Archeological Site © 2016 All rights reserved. Contents can not be 3 reproduced for commercial purposes. Fun Attractions In Ixtapa- Zihuatanejo Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande (Archeology Museum) This small but highly recommended archaeology museum has 6 rooms set around a central courtyard that illustrate human evolution from prehistory to pre-Hispanic era. It provides the most relevant information about the 54 archeological sites discovered in the “Costa Grande” area where there are traces of the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Tarascan and Mexica cultures. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 hrs. Parque Aventura (Adventure Park) This is a ranch surrounded by lush vegetation with exotic animals in ther natural habitat. The adventure consists in a walk in the trees from 4 to 9 meters (13 to 26 feet) altitude, going threw by different techniques: a hung bridge, a liana, a footbridge, rocking trunks, to finish flying threw the trees by zip-line. Open daily in high season and during the weekends the rest of the year, from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. Delfinario “Delfiniti” It gives visitors the chance to swimm with dolphins and know these animals better. It has several programs: Swim with dolphins, Encounter with dolphins, Delfiniti Kids, and Baby Dolphin. All activities are carefully designed and monitored by marine biologists, veterinarians and qualified personnel. © 2016 All rights reserved. Contents can not be 4 reproduced for commercial purposes. Crocodile Reserve Surrounded by lush vegetation, this lagoon-estuary next to Playa Linda is home to native wildlife, like iguanas, birds and the amazing crocodiles which can reach up to 6 meters (20 feet). Park Bio La Escollera The park main objective is to conserve and protect native species. It includes an Insectarium, a botanical garden with over 100 varieties of plants, flowers and fruit trees, an impressive waterfall of more than 37 meters (121 feet) high, and the Iguana Sanctuary with a unique atmosphere. The journey ends at the reserve where you can watch animals in their natural habitat. Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs. “Magic World” Acuatic Park It has a number of swimming pools, waterslides, a pirate ship, a village, toboggans, jacuzzies and many other fun things to do for kids. Schedule: Daily from 10:30 to 17:30 hrs. © 2016 All rights reserved. Contents can not be 5 reproduced for commercial purposes.