About Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

The twin destinations of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo complement each other, making up one of the most varied and attractive destinations in the Mexican Riviera—Mexico’ s Pacific coast—a compelling region appealing to people of all tastes where you can enjoy a diversity of landscapes, beaches, and activities.

The small, quaint fishing town of Zihuatanejo conserves its charming heritage and humble environment. Visitors enjoy its many cobblestoned streets, handmade crafts, folk art, world-class fishing, soothing walks on the beach, harmonizing sunsets, and warm weather. The town attracts people who seek a more private and calmer retreat than what may be found in many of the more touristic resorts.

The city’s name Zihuatanejo stems from its original Nahuatl name Cihuatlan. Cihua means women and tlan means place of, giving it the meaning “place of women.” Madera Beach, one of the small bay beaches close to Zihuatanejo’s main municipal beach, received its name in the 1920s because the town became known as an exporter of fine wood. La Ropa Beach (Clothing Beach), Zihuatanejo Bay’s longest and most beautiful strand, derives from a shipwreck of a boat from

the Orient that brought all its materials to shore, strewing the stretch of white-sanded beach with its cargo of clothing and textiles.

Separated from Zihuatanejo by a hill and several coves, Ixtapa is a more refined, structured, and popular destination for people searching for modernity and common touristic comforts. Ixtapa, with its long stretch of Playa el Palmar as well as other smaller beaches, hosts an array of first-class high-rise hotels, condominiums, houses, gorgeous landscapes, two championship golf courses, Marina Ixtapa, high-end night clubs, and a variety of excellent restaurants featuring Mexican and international cuisine.

FONATUR (Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo—or the National Tourism Board of Mexico) began this tourist resort in the early ’70s to welcome high-class tourism. It is a small world-class resort for tourists who prefer to avoid the big city scene or crowded destinations. The white sands in the area gave Ixtapa its name: a Nahuatl word that means “the white place.”

Sheltered among the prolific Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo share captivating white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, warm weather, and 300 sunny days out of the year. July and August are the hottest months of the year, averaging 84º F–91º F. The cooler months, from December to February, average 70º F–73ºF. The rainy season starts in June and carries on through September and sometimes into October. The water temperatures at the beaches average 79º F annually.

A Zihuatanejo Sunset

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Beach Locations

Zihuatanejo Bay and Beaches

Playa La Ropa

La Ropa Beach, found within Zihuatanejo Bay, is located between Playa Madera and Playa Las Gatas. The beach itself is approximately one kilometer long and is easily accessible from downtown. An array of fresh seafood restaurants, hotels, and water sports providers is found along the beach. Colonia la Ropa consists of largely commercial touristic hotel and residential property, with a growing number of condominium and townhouse projects planned and under construction. The low-lying areas behind La Ropa beach afford flat, easy access to the beach, and the higher lands and lots in the hills of La Ropa area provide spectacular bay, town, and sunset views.

Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Playa Madera

Playa Madera is a 200-meter stretch of beach found within Zihuatanejo Bay between the downtown Playa Municipal and Playa La Ropa. It offers an eclectic range of restaurants, small inns, and bed-and-breakfasts. It is serviced by streets leading from the road to La Ropa just past the flood control canal and is also accessible by foot from town along a narrow seaside footpath known as the “extensión del Paseo del Pescador.” There is very little undeveloped land in the area, and much of the older, existing construction is currently undergoing major reconstruction and expansion. It is extremely accessible to the downtown core and without yet being congested.

Playa Municipal

Playa Municipal is a 900-meter stretch of beach, also known as Playa Principal, which runs from the municipal pier to the canal. From the pier, you can take a boat taxi out to Las Gatas Beach or charter anything from a small panga boat to a large, luxury fishing yacht for fishing or snorkeling trips. Near the midpoint of the beach is the zócalo and cancha (town square and basketball court), which are the focal points of downtown Zihuatanejo social life. This is a commercial area with small businesses interspersed with some of the original residential buildings of the town, many of which are being renovated and expanded into larger shops and offices as well as small hotels and guesthouses.

Playa Las Gatas

Las Gatas is located within Zihuatanejo Bay and close to its mouth, directly across the bay from the downtown area. It is protected by an ancient man-made reef and is accessible only by boat or via a somewhat rough and rocky walking path. It offers a handful of restaurants and is a great place for snorkeling. Behind and above Las Gatas, accessible via the scenic Playa la Ropa road, are areas into which infrastructure is slowly being installed by Fibazi, as well as Cerro del Vigia and other projects offering lots and condominiums with bay and ocean views.

Ixtapa Area Beaches

Playa El Palmar

El Palmar is Ixtapa’s most popular beach that stretches approximately two kilometers along the hotel zone. High-rise hotel and condominium complexes line the shore and the thundering waves usually pound into the sandy shore. Care should be exercised when entering the water here as the open ocean waves and currents can be powerful. Public beach access points are located next to the Barcelo Hotel, the Posada Real Hotel, and the Beach Club.

Playa Quieta

Playa Quieta is a long beach stretch located in front of Ixtapa Island. It is a 15-minute drive north of Ixtapa and is where Club Med is located. It is a popular sailing and windsurfing beach because of its usually calm surf.

Vista Hermosa

It is a small private beach in front of and accessible through Las Brisas Ixtapa Hotel. The elevators of Las Brisas make it easy to access the beach. The white, sandy beach stretches a few hundred yards and is fronted by open ocean. A poolside restaurant serves food and refreshments. There are a few condominium and residential projects in this area.

Playa Linda

Playa Linda is stretch some two kilometers long at the far northern end of Ixtapa. Here you can find a tourist market and ecological preserve area where visitors can observe crocodiles, giant iguanas, waterfowl, and turtles in their habitat. Residential and touristic development is slowly arriving to this area.

Ixtapa Island

Ixtapa Island, also known as Isla Grande, is located across from Playa Quieta. It has a collection of beautiful beaches (Cuachalalate, Varadero, Coral, and Carey, or Sacrificio) that are excellent for all kinds of water sports and snorkeling in particular. There are small restaurants on the beaches where you can find refreshments and seafood. You can purchase a round trip boat ride from the pier of Playa Quieta to the island at very reasonable cost.

Driving North—Troncones, Majahua, and Beyond

Pantla and Buena Vista Beach Communities

These growing beach communities are located 15 kilometers north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. There are lush vegetation, palm groves, and three kilometers of great, unspoiled beach. Access is through the town of Buena Vista on Mexican Federal Highway 200.

Troncones and Manzanillo Bay

Troncones is a 3.5 mile long beach located half hour north of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, on Highway 200 turnoff at Km. 31. A Pemex station has recently been opened near the Troncones Junction. Troncones is a small beach community and has a range of bed and breakfasts and small inns and restaurants. It extends northward to Manzanillo Bay where there is a good surf point. The small fishing village of Majahua delimits the northern end of Troncones and Manzanillo Bay.

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La Saladita

La Saladita beach is a small community 40 kilometers north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. This beach is located five kilometers off Highway 200 from the small town of Los Llanos. It is another great spot for surfing. There is no public transportation available in this area.

The Ranch (El Cayaco)

The Ranch is another great surfing point and river mouth break that has hard, fast lefts and rights. It is about one hour’s drive by car north of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo along Highway 200 near La Union and is also often accessed by panga boat from the sea.

El Miramar

El Miramar is a beachfront development surrounded by beautiful mountains, tropical growth, and beautiful beaches that are great for surfing and snorkeling. It is only 65 kilometers north of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and very convenient to the rapidly-growing port of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan.

Driving South—Playa Blanca, Playa Larga, Barra de Potosi, and beyond

Playa Larga

Playa Larga is a beachcomber’s delight: a two-kilometer stretch of beach in between the Zihuatanejo International Airport and Zihuatanejo. During the winter months, you can observe dolphins and whales in this area. There are several palapa-shaded seafood restaurants from which to choose typical coastal fare such as fish grilled with garlic, breaded shrimp, octopus a la Mexicana, and ceviche seafood cocktail.

Playa Larga

Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca beach is a long stretch of white sand south of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. The beach runs from the Zihuatanejo’s International Airport to Barra de Potosi, extending southeast from Playa Larga. There are several private condominium developments along this stretch of open ocean beach that is graced with a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean expanse and views of the Morros de Potosi islands.

Barra de Potosi

Barra de Potosi is to the south of Zihuatanejo at the end of Playa Blanca. It is located on the shores of a large lagoon that is home to an abundance of waterfowl and other species. Boat and kayak trips can be taken into this area for bird watching expeditions.

The beachfront community is small with a few guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and a number of enrramadas (palm-fronded shade roofs) offering fresh seafood along the shores. It is a wonderful area for nature lovers and beachcombers.

Real Estate in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

MBPRealEstate.com (Mexico Beach Property) offers listings for beachfront and ocean view residential properties and building lots as well as hotels, commercial, and investment properties in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Troncones, and neighboring beachside communities on Mexico’s spectacular Pacific coast.

Visit the website at http://www.mbprealestate.com to view a variety of properties currently available.

For information or general inquiries, please contact John Murphy in Zihuatanejo, Mexico by phone or email:

Office phone: +52 (755) 554-0719

Cell phone: +521 (755) 120-2637