Travel Guide IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO Contents

DISCOVER IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO 01

IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO PROFILE 02

IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO ATTRACTIONS 03

IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO DINING 09

IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO SHOPPING 12

IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO NIGHTLIFE 13

THINGS TO DO IN IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO 14 DISCOVER IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are lovely vacation spots on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. They are blessed with sun and beaches, and located near one another. For decades, their very different atmospheres have been attracting all kinds of travelers.

They are located less than 10 minutes apart on the Costa Grande in Guerrero, in an area with beautiful bays nestled between cliffs and incredible beaches backed by mountains covered in dense green tropical vegetation. Because of their location on the west coast, visitors staying at the hotels in Ixtapa -Zihuatanejo will be treated to a pleasant climate and spectacular sunsets with bright orange, gold, and pink hues that reflect off the ocean.

Ixtapa is a modern tourist destination with hotels for all budgets and a large marina for more than 600 boats. Here, the modernity and colonial architecture blend seamlessly to give this charming resort city an elegant and distinguished touch. Meanwhile, Zihuatanejo is a quaint and cozy fishing village with cobblestone streets.

1 IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO PROFILE

Since its founding, it was planned and developed as a resort destination.

Two destinations with distinct characteristics, located less than 10 minutes from one another.

Beautiful public and private beaches.

The perfect place to relax and have fun.

Sunsets that will take your breath away.

Offers all types of water sports and outdoor recreational activities.

Nightlife and entertainment are guaranteed, both along Ixtapa Boulevard and in downtown Zihuatanejo.

2 IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO ATTRACTIONS

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo offers a mix of coastal life and modern Mexico. In addition to its natural beauty, you can enjoy all kinds of water sports, sunset cruises, deep sea fishing, golf, bird watching, and fascinating museums housed in majestic colonial buildings. But there’s no doubt that the beautiful beaches and warm ocean waters are what has made this destination along the Pacific Coast of Mexico world famous.

BEACHES

Stretching for more than 20 miles, the beaches of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo are considered among the most beautiful in Mexico and the main attraction in this destination. The clear waters and golden sands provide the perfect setting for the spectacular sunsets that have made the Pacific Coast of Mexico famous. Here, you’ll find mostly quiet beaches where you can spend quality time with family and friends.

The most popular and traditional beaches along the bay are: Municipal Beach, La Madera Beach, La Ropa Beach, and Las Gatas Beach, where you can also rent all types of boats.

LAS GATAS BEACH

If you want to spend the day at a secluded beach with a wide variety of restaurants and bars, as well as water sports, then hire a “panga” (fishing boat) to take you to Playa Las Gatas Beach. This beach gets its name from the large numbers of cat sharks that inhabit the waters nearby, along with a myriad of colorful fish. It is popular for its calm waters and a great destination for diving enthusiasts, with interesting coral and rock formations.

3 EL PALMAR BEACH

This is the most famous beach in Ixtapa, with golden sands and spectacular sunsets. It is located in the Ixtapa Hotel Zone and offers water sports and skydiving. LINDA BEACH

With large waves most of the year, this beach is a popular place for hosting surfing tournaments. From here you can take a boat to Isla Ixtapa. As you approach the beach you’ll pass a natural protected lagoon that is inhabited by crocodiles, which you can see from a secure lookout point. It also offers horseback riding on the beach at sunset. PRINCIPAL BEACH

This beach is located in downtown Zihuatanejo and here is where you’ll find the dock for departures to Las Gatas Beach. LA ROPA BEACH

Extending for more than half a mile, this is the longest beach on Zihuatanejo Bay. It has a peaceful setting where you can enjoy a variety of water sports, and it’s also home to restaurants and bars serving delicious traditional dishes. It gets its name from the legend of a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast, resulting in clothing and textiles floating ashore.

4 ECOTURISM

With an abundance of natural attractions, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a great destination for a variety of ecotourism activities. It’s extraordinary for mountain biking, ocean rafting out to Isla Ixtapa, and once there, snorkeling in a peaceful setting. You can also enjoy beginner mountaineering, rappelling, and hiking. Horseback riding is a great option for exploring the beaches and other picturesque areas.

FISHING

The Pacific Coast is rated as an excellent destination for sport fishing. One of the best places along the coast to enjoy this activity is Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, which is considered among the three best sport fishing destinations in the world. Here it’s possible to catch sailfish, black and blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, and mahi-mahi, among others.

5 COSTA GRANDE ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM

This museum is located on the Paseo del Pescador, in front of the main beach in Zihuatanejo. It showcases the most important information about the 54 archeological sites discovered around Zihuatanejo and the Costa Grande, where you’ll find artifacts from the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Tarasca, and Mexica civilizations. The exhibits are displayed in six halls and tell the story of human evolution in the Costa Grande region, from the earliest settlements up until colonial times. SCUBA DIVING

The coastal area and Zihuatanejo Bay are ideal destinations for scuba diving enthusiasts. The waters are home to everything from seahorses, sea urchins, crabs, octopus, and eels to stonefish, grouper, angelfish, and flounder. If you’re lucky, you might even see a giant manta ray. Here you’ll also find Los Morros De Potosi, an incredibly beautiful underwater cave system.

6 GOLF

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo features two fantastic world-class golf courses for golfers of all ability levels. The Ixtapa Golf Course is a championship 18-hole course in a natural setting with an old coconut plantation, natural lakes, and tropical vegetation. The Marina Ixtapa Golf Course is known for its challenging holes and saltwater inlets on the course. BIKE PATH

Not only is this bike path great for cycling, but it also provides the perfect setting to appreciate the incredible natural beauty of this dream destination. As you pedal along its 4.3 miles (7 km), beginning in Ixtapa and continuing around the golf course to Zihuatanejo, you’ll see a variety of local plant and animal life.

7 ISLA IXTAPA

An impressive sight to behold, Isla Ixtapa is a large landform covered in dense tropical vegetation that rises out of the ocean in front of Playa Quieta Beach and Playa Linda Beach. This island can be easily visited on fun boat tours that will take you to any of its three beautiful beaches, which are great for enjoying a variety of water sports or simply just to relax and sunbathe. Another of the island’s charms is that you can dine on delicious seafood at very reasonable prices.

8 IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO DINING

The cuisine of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is an essential part of the variety of delicious flavors offered in the state of Guerrero. Here are some of the dishes that you must try when you visit Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

“TIRITAS DE PESCADO ESTILO ZIHUATANEJO”

This is one of the most traditional dishes of Zihuatanejo. The dish is prepared by marinating filets of mahi-mahi, sailfish, or skipjack in lime juice. The marinated strips of fish are then combined with sliced onion and chilies and seasoned with a pinch of salt. It’s important not to “cook” them too much in the lime, otherwise you risk losing the fresh fish flavor.

9 GUERRERO STYLE PORK POZOLE

This dish is served with avocado, sea salt, red chilies, oregano, onion, chiles capones (pasilla chilies stuffed with green tomatoes and cotija cheese), cheese, and fried pork skins. It can be green or white and is prepared with pork. As local tradition dictates, pork pozole is eaten on Thursdays and often accompanied by a delicious aged mezcal.

PICADITAS

This is a delicious appetizer that’s always on the menu at the traditional palapa restaurants located on the beaches of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Picaditas are prepared with black beans, shredded cheese, and cabbage.

10 APORREADILLO

This dish is one of the most popular and well- known in the region. It is made with dried beef, scrambled egg, and a ranchero sauce that includes chilies, onions, tomatoes, and garlic. It is often eaten with corn tortillas, refried beans, and cheese.

TRIPE STEW

This dish is only sold on Sundays in the most traditional corners of the region. In Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo they add corn kernels to the dish, like they do with pozole.

OTHER TRADITIONAL DISHES

If you get a chance, be sure to also try tamales “nejos” wrapped in banana leaves, pork stew baked in a clay pot, marinated fish tacos, lobster dumplings, grilled whole fish in adobe sauce, Zihua style ceviche, oysters on the half shell, and chocolate clams (which are named for the color of their shells, not their flavor).

11 IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO SHOPPING

The shops in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo are great places to browse and find souvenirs at excellent prices, especially if you’re trained in the art of bargaining. You’ll find clothing like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and dresses with distinctive “Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo” branding, and figurines made of wood and stone, such as onyx, as well as a high-quality traditional item from the state of Guerrero: the famous silver from Taxco. DOWNTOWN ZIHUATANEJO

You’ll love strolling along the peaceful streets and alleyways in the quiet downtown area of Zihuatanejo. Here, you can find warm weather clothing and footwear, as well as hats and beach accessories at all price points. For those looking to spend a bit more, there are local artists, including painters, sculptors, and goldsmiths, who exhibit and sell their work in the fine art galleries that are located in the most traditional area of Zihuatanejo. You’ll also find silver from Taxco and handmade products from all over Mexico.

12 SHOPPING DISTRICT OF IXTAPA (ARTISAN MARKET)

Located just a few yards from the hotels that make up the Ixtapa Hotel Zone, the main shopping area extends for two blocks and consists of several local artisan markets where you can find plenty of souvenirs from your trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. You’ll find everything from traditional crafts made out of semiprecious stones, hematite, brightly painted granite, sea shells and coral, to silver jewelry from Taxco, traditional lacquered items from Olinala, pottery, and painted bark paper from the Central Valley region.

13 IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO NIGHTLIFE After dark, music and fun take over the friendly atmosphere of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. There’s live music at some of the many bars, as well as charming restaurants, and lively nightclubs, full of colors, lights, and good vibes.

Ixtapa has many clubs and innovative nightspots located along Paseo Ixtapa Boulevard, where the atmosphere is very chic, so you’ll want to dress up and look your best. They have all the latest music, technology, and special effects. There are also places that offer a fun mix of nightclub, bar, and restaurant, with communal tables, great music, and a laid-back atmosphere.

In Zihuatanejo you’ll findrestaurants and bars where you can enjoy a delicious dinner and music that will make you want to get up out of your chair and start dancing. There are also places where alternative rock music blares from the speakers, making it clear that live music and great drinks are where it’s at.

14 THINGS TO DO IN IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO

Visit the beaches of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

Discover the beautiful Isla Ixtapa.

Practice your swing at one of the two largest golf courses in Ixtapa.

Enjoy water sports like surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

Take a deep sea fishing trip.

Spend a fun night out at the clubs along Paseo Ixtapa Boulevard or at one of the restaurants and bars in Ixtapa.

Admire spectacular sunsets.

Try one of the traditional seafood dishes and shop for souvenirs.

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