Town 6 km west of Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo's planned resort twin: a long hotel beach, a marina, bike paths through mangroves, and boats to Isla Ixtapa.
Ixtapa sits just five kilometers northwest of Zihuatanejo, but the two could hardly be more different. Where Zihuatanejo grew as a fishing village around its bay, Ixtapa was drawn up on paper. In the late 1960s the Bank of Mexico set up a fund to build new beach destinations from scratch, and Ixtapa was one of the first two, alongside Cancún. It was built in the early 1970s on what had been a coconut plantation and mangrove estuary, with a master plan by the architects Agustín and Enrique Landa Verdugo.
The result is a tidy resort town of wide boulevards, large hotels lined up along Playa El Palmar, a marina with restaurants and a golf course, and shopping plazas. It is the place to go from Zihuatanejo for a long open beach, water sports, or a sunset drink on the marina.
Ixtapa's best surprise is how green it is between the buildings. Flat, shaded bike paths run through the mangroves and wetlands to Playa Linda at the north end, where crocodiles often sun themselves along the ponds, and another path links Ixtapa with Zihuatanejo. Playa Linda is also where the boats leave for Isla Ixtapa.
What to see and do
Rent a bike and ride the shaded path through the mangroves to Playa Linda, watching for crocodiles in the ponds.
Spend a day on Playa El Palmar, the long beach in front of the hotels; the surf can be strong, so check the flags before swimming.
Walk the Marina Ixtapa docks and stay for dinner at one of its restaurants.
Take a boat from Playa Linda to Isla Ixtapa for snorkeling and seafood.
Getting there
Ixtapa is about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Zihuatanejo by car or taxi along the boulevard that links the two. Local buses run between Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa throughout the day, and a dedicated bike path connects them too, about 10 km one way.
6 km west of Zihuatanejo
Directions from Zihuatanejo on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Ixtapa
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Weather warm
Ixtapa shares the climate of Zihuatanejo, 6 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Make Zihuatanejo your base
Ixtapa is an easy trip from Zihuatanejo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Zihuatanejo
-
Playa Larga
· Beach · 6 km away
A long, open beach just south of town near the airport, with seafood enramadas and room to spread out; the surf is strong. -
Isla Ixtapa
· Nature reserve · 12 km away
A small wooded island off Playa Linda with calm beaches, snorkeling over coral, and palapa seafood restaurants. -
Barra de Potosí
· Town · 16 km away
A fishing village on a mangrove lagoon south of Zihuatanejo, with beach palapas, kayaks, and over 200 bird species. -
Troncones
· Town · 23 km away
A laid-back surf village north of Ixtapa: five kilometers of beach, a well-known left point break, and small guesthouses. -
Xihuacan
· Archaeological site · 29 km away
One of Guerrero's largest archaeological sites, at La Soledad de Maciel, with a huge ball court and an INAH site museum. -
Petatlán
· Town · 32 km away
A Costa Grande town known for its pilgrimage sanctuary of Padre Jesús and its gold shops; busiest in Holy Week.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.