Tranquil Pacific Resort

Ixtapa and its neighbor Zihuatanejo, provide a delightful contrast, and two distinct examples of Mexico's costal towns. Ixtapa is a sleek beach resort with shopping centers. Zihuatanejo is more rustic and slow-paced, and popular with tourists because of its village-like atmosphere, cobblestone streets, and open-air restaurants. Both towns are clean and well kept, not over-developed, and remain relatively uncrowded.

The entire area offers more than a dozen beautiful beaches. And perhaps the greatest quality of the area, besides the abundance of sun, sand, and sea, is the range of experiences possible - from elegant and sophisticated to traditional and rustic.

What to Do

Visit the Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course and club in Ixtapa, complete with natural water hazards - including alligators; and the new golf course Marina Ixtapa, designed by Robert Von Hagge. Take a trip to Isla Ixtapa, a wildlife preserve with trails, beaches, and palapas (casual, make-shift restaurants set up wherever there's space). You can also rent snorkel and scuba equipment - the diving is great. And a day on land could include shopping for crafts, leather goods, beachwear, and silver.

Dining and Entertainment

In Zihuatanejo, anglers return with their catch early in the day, offering a variety of fresh lobster, snapper, oyster, clams, tuna, and sailfish in restaurants throughout the area. Take a short trip to the long beach of Playa Blanca, and visit palapas that serve pescado a la talla (whole fish charbroiled on spits.

The action after dark centers around the hotels. Fiestas - colorful stage shows featuring Mexican music and dances - can be found almost every night. And many hotels offer discos and live music. Zihuatanejo features more subdued activities, including local bars with relaxed atmospheres and live music.