Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
Peso & US Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 80,000 people call Ixtapa home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Ixtapa Mexico:
A tropical delight! The sun shines nearly every day in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, with average daytime temperatures in the mid 80's°F/20's°C. The rainy humid season extends from June through September brings afternoon showers that, along with ocean breezes, relieve the heat of the sun. While summers are humid (especially after a hard shower), Winters are dry and the weather is generally nothing short of perfect.The rainy season, winters are dry and pleasant.
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Cruise ships dock at the Port of Zhuatanejo, located just minutes from both downtown regions.
Taxis in both towns are a very affordable option. A trip between the two cities will cost you about $3. However, if you make the trip between midnight and 5am, the cost increases, so be prepared to pay $4-$5. While crowded, the shuttle buses are a safe alternative to taxis. The buses run 3-4 times per hour. Buses can be picked up three blocks north of the market in Zihuatanejo, with many stops along Ixtapa's main road, Bulevar Ixtapa.
Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa are only four miles apart, but the history of these two towns on Mexico’s West Coast are very different. One town is very quaint and over centuries old, while the other’s entire history can be measured in decades. But both are sure to captivate your interest.
Zihuatanejo’s got its name from the Nahuatl dialect, meaning "place of women." It is derived from Calzonzin, the ancient Taraskan King whose many wives were brought here for some relaxation and recreation.
In the 17th Century, Chinese ships carrying Oriental treasures would stop here on their way to New Spain, only to find they were unwelcome visitors, as pirates robbed them of their riches. Of course, visitors now are more than welcome to explore Zihuatanejo’s small village charm and rustic setting.
Having two cities situated so close together yet so different in character is a great contrast the visitors looking for a little of everything.
Ixtapa located on the west coast of Mexico, north of Acapulco, is a modern lively beach with luxury hotels and facilities. Surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains there is a full range of activities and diversions including Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, bay cruises to remote beaches and golf. Visit the great beaches or the Museo de Arqueologia de la Costa Grande. It is side-by-side with Zihuatanejo the quintessential Mexican beach village noted for its long-standing community of Swiss and Italian immigrants, and its legendary beach playboys.
n 1968, Mexico's National Tourism Development Fund decided to create a Pacific Coast tourist resort. They thought Zihuatanejo would fit the bill perfectly. Residents of the sleepy little village thought differently, fearing their cherished views of the bay would be lost behind concrete high-rises. They won out, and the government moved their massive project four miles away, to the white sand beaches of Ixtapa. Nevertheless, limited development of Zihuatanejo ("Zihua," as locals call) brought a tenfold increase in population over the past 25 years, redefining the not-so-little town's intimate scale and charming character. Still, the contrast between the two neighbors is dramatic, as Ixtapa focuses towards the future and Zihuatanejo preserves the past.
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Attractions |
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When cruise ships pull into this area they anchor offshore and tender their passengers to the pier. From the pier you will find that you can easily walk to most markets and attractions. Interestingly enough this was one of the stops seen very frequently on the original "Love Boat" TV series. Ixtapa surrounds a wide bay lined with small rocky uninhabited islands. Playa del Mar, is a two-mile long white sandy beach which gave Ixtapa its Nahuatl Indian name "the white place".
Here you will find 14 beautiful beaches, golf courses, and fine quality shops. In addition there are tennis courts and a yacht marina that add to the resort feeling. Take a tour to explore the turtles, fish, and pelicans at El Morro de los Pericos, or take a boat tour of Ixtapa Island, which is where the film Robinson Crusoe was filmed.
Ixtapa is the ideal beach resort. The two mile beach is lined by high-rise resort hotels. As you will discover, there are enough shopping malls, parks, boulevards and golf courses to keep you busy.
Zihuatanejo on the other hand is the quintessential fishing village. The bay is surrounded by quaint, cobblestone streets, fish and fruit markets, open-air plazas, and colonial-style buildings. This town is high-rise free!
Shopping and dining options are plentiful in both towns. But once you get here, you will know that the main attraction of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa is the beautiful white-sand beaches. From Zihuatanejo’s Playa La Ropa to Ixtapa’s Playa Palmar, relaxation is the key word here. Let your cares fade away with the setting sun, and enjoy.
Take a nature hike along Zihuatanejo’s coastline and see parts of Mexico unchanged since pre-colonial times. Visit a mango or coconut plantation, or observe the tranquility of local fishing villages. Then, when you’re tired of roughing it, allow yourself to be treated to every amenity you can fathom in Ixtapa. Play a round of golf at one of two world-class golf courses, and enjoy the breathtaking vistas afforded here.
Test your bargaining skills (or learn of their lack) as you wander the Tourist and Municipal Markets of Zihuatanenjo. Check out the catch of the day along the town's waterfront Paseo del Pescador, or drop in at the little Archeology Museum for a glimpse at what coastal community life was like in the pre-Hispanic years.
Zihuatanejo is all about experiencing "the good life", and to many, that has nothing to do with walking, shopping, or poking around in museums, and a lot to do with beaches. Cool your feet in the waters of the Playa Municipal where fishermen bring in the catch, or at the popular sunbathing beach at Playa Madera. Or, choose the secluded, mile-long stretch of sand at Playa la Ropa.
The pace quickens in Ixtapa, especially within the "Hotel Zone." High-rise hotels appear to march along the beach at Playa del Palmar, but they're set well back from the shore, offering an open, airy feeling to the strand. Beyond the beach you'll spot the tall masts of sailboats docked within the giant, 600-slip Ixtapa marina. Behind the ocean front hotels is a convenient shopping district: a neatly planned conglomeration of markets, malls, and vendors (vendors were provided this space following a 1990 ordinance barring them from Ixtapa's beaches). Next door is Magic World, an aquatic recreation park under development.
If you can tear yourself away from the beautiful beaches, take the opportunity to learn about Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa's history. A short stroll through the Museo de Arqueologia de la Costa Grande will whisk you back to pre-colonial times, when the area was known as Cihuatalan. Stone artifacts and ancient pottery lend credence to the idea of an extensive trade network that once existed in this region. English language brochures are available. Open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
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More Information |
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Web: www.ixtapa-zihuatanejo.org/eng/index-i.html
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