Two Towns, Two Moods, One Pacific Bay
Ixtapa is a resort area on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Guerrero, known for its long beaches, high-rise hotels and golf, and its pairing with the nearby town of Zihuatanejo. The resort was planned in the 1970s as a purpose-built destination, and it stands a few kilometres from Zihuatanejo, a traditional fishing town with a more authentic, small-scale feel. Together they are often called Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, offering a contrast of polish and village life within a short drive.
Zihuatanejo's bay is the gentler half. Its waterfront has a pier, a fish market and small restaurants serving the morning catch, while Playa La Ropa, a long, palm-lined beach nearby, is among the most admired on this coast. Playa Las Gatas, across the bay, is known for its calm water and a protective reef, and it can be reached by a short boat ride. Ixtapa's beaches, such as Playa del Palmar, are broader, with more waves and a livelier energy.
Island Days, Golf and the Catch of the Day
Isla Ixtapa, a small island just offshore, is a popular boat trip, with clear water for snorkelling, calm beaches and sea views back to the Sierra Madre del Sur. Playa Linda, at the northern end, is a long, wild stretch of sand with a mangrove estuary, where visitors can see birds and crocodiles from boats. The Palma Real golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., brings sea views and palms to a round at Ixtapa.
Food is straightforward and delicious. Fresh fish, shrimp and lobster appear in beachfront cafes, along with tacos, ceviche and pozole, the hearty Guerrero stew. In Zihuatanejo, the evening mood on the waterfront, with lights on the bay, makes for an easy dinner. Sailing and fishing are part of the culture, with sailfish and dorado caught offshore, and a tourist board can present the area as a place where a resort holiday and a traditional town sit side by side.
Read the full Ixtapa guide on Visit Travel Group, or see Ixtapa.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.