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City in Guerrero, Mexico
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ixtapa is a resort town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the state of Guerrero. Rolling mountains and sparkling beaches. Ixtapa was planned and built in the early 1970s on a former coconut plantation and mangrove estuary near the city of Zihuatanejo, which is 5 km away.
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Archaeology Museum
A collection of treasures, history, and culture. The museum has a large variety of pottery and intriguing stone relics.
North end of Ixtapa, the beach lives up to its name and is quite beautiful, but also a bit rougher, attracting surfers to its steady waves. Playa Linda is also where you'll find boats taking visitors to Isla Ixtapa (where there are three more beaches).
Known for its calm waters and mellow atmosphere.
Rock-strewn beach that is best for walking and admiring the ocean views and the arc of golden sands along Ixtapa.
Locally operated wildlife refuge with lots of crocodiles along with iguanas and a bevy of beautiful birds (mostly colorful tropical species like parrots and toucans).
Swim with Dolphins
Lively local water park where visitors can swim with dolphins. Clean and inviting space with friendly trainers who make kids feel comfortable.
18-hole, par 72 course designed by Robert Trent Jones. Beautiful setting amid natural lagoons and coconut palms with colorful flowering plants and various types of tropical fruit trees. Be careful because alligators live in the lagoons and can occasionally be seen strolling across a fairway.
18-hole, par 72 course designed by Robert von Hagge. Beautiful and challenging course with coconut palm groves and rolling hills with sand dunes and small water ponds with 12 scenic bridges. The club house includes an on-site restaurant and bar, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and a golf shop. Golf Digest calls it "one of the best courses in Mexico".
Traditional Mexican restaurant with some unique and highly recommended dishes include the seafood casserole, shrimp in mustard sauce, and the crayfish in ajillo (garlic) sauce.
Marina Ixtapa - seafood and pastas. Dine on the terrace or on “the ship.” The restaurant reproduced a boat that sits on land, but overlooks the water.
Reasonable prices, generous portions, and fresh seafood make El Tiburon one of the most popular restaurants in Ixtapa. House specialties include aguachile, coconut shrimp, and tuna tostadas.
Elegant dining room with panoramic ocean views, live music and attentive waiters. The tacos de jaiba and roasted salmon are recommended. Full bar with some creative house cocktails.
Comfortably upscale restaurant serving French and Italian cuisine. Fresh seafood is a specialty. Live music during dinner hours.
Casual open-air restaurant serving Canadian cuisine, eh? Live music in the evening. Follow up dinner with a Sexy Coffee (flambeed with Kahlua and brandy)/
Small, unassuming Italian restaurant with great foccacio, pizzas and pasta dishes.
Small restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. The Maretto pizza is recommended. Good selection of Italian and Mexican wines.
Classic taqueria serving all your favorite taco varieties, including picanha, and arrachera. A variety of house salsas are available to spice things up. Great place for cheap eats.
Casual Mexican steakhouse with a smattering of international dishes. Serves an excellent morning brunch with chilaquiles, sweet rolls, and French toast. Steaks are king at dinner and some of the cuts are simply huge (easily big enough to share). Known for their Cowboy Steak.
A 5-star Ixtapa beachfront resort. Has suites with private plunge pools, a spa, restaurants, and event and wedding space.
Family-oriented all-inclusive hotel with beachfront vistas. Located close to major shopping and entertainment districts. English spoken.
Beachfront on the Playa del Palmar strip.
Moderate hotel with clean, comfortable rooms, beachfront location, on-site restaurant with all-inclusive meal plans though buffet is rather is rather limited.
Older resort that caters to Mexican families. Kid friendly with organized activities available.
Moderate hotel that caters to Mexican travelers. Clean, comfortable, spacious rooms. On-site restaurants include a Mexican, Italian, and a Mediterranean theme restaurant.
Modern adults-only property with outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzis, and on-site restaurants with a variety of all-inclusive meal plans. Rooms are clean, spacious and have ocean views.
Comfortable yet modest low-rise hotel with clean, spacious, comfortable rooms at modest prices. Facilities include large outdoor pool area with daily activities including aquarobics. Loaner bicycles available. On-site restaurant.
Modest hotel with clean, comfortable rooms. On-site restaurant has good food at reasonable prices.
No frills, Moderate resort hotel with clean, spacious rooms with simple furnishings. Large, clean outdoor swimming pool. On-site restaurant has good, affordable food.
Suite hotel on a quieter street about 3 blocks from the beach. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and facilities in good condition, including the large outdoor swimming pool.
By bus
Several intercity buses travel to the main bus station (Terminal de Autobuses de Zihuatenejo). The bus station is on MEX 200 (Carretera Zihuatenejo-Acapulco), next to the Mega Soriana.
By car
Fed Hwy 200 bypasses Ixtapa and Zihuatenjeo along the north/west side of town as Careterra Zihuatanejo-Manzanillo and from the south/east side of town as Careterra Zihuatanejo-Acapulco.
By bike
Ixtapa is very bike friendly with dedicated bike routes, flat terrain, and courteous local drivers.
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Ixtapa · International · ZIH
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