YOUR GUIDE TO IXTAPA and ZIHUATANEJO Lodgings Ixtapa - Zihuatanejo offers a great variety of accommodations - from 5 star luxury resorts to small boutique hotels and bed & breakfast inns, to economy lodging and vacation rentals. Location and ambiance is for you to decide. Go to sleep listening to the thump of the surf or walk to shops and restaurants. From the seclusion of a self contained resort on the beach, to resorts serving golf courses & the marina. Ixtapa You can find the largest selection of resort accommodations in Ixtapa. This is where the "action" is! Bustling with shops, restaurants, night life, fishing, and beach activities, Ixtapa attracts most of the visitors to the area. Most hotels in Ixtapa have pools overlooking the beach. Luxury hotels and resorts line Playa Palmar, each with a unique flavor; All with a full array of services - air conditioned suites with TV, telephone and mini-bar, restaurant, bar, swimming pool and room service. Some with spas and tennis courts. You can even choose accommodations overlooking the marina with its array of private yachts. - Choice is yours. Zihuatanejo This tranquil village offers world class resorts also & away from hustle and bustle of the crowds Ixtapa. If you would like an occasional night out, Ixtapa is just a few minutes away by taxi or car. Boutique hotels and bed & breakfast inns are popular here for those who seek a hideaway, but still wish to be close to where the action is. For the economy minded, you will find smaller hotels scattered around the center of town at affordable rates; All with basic services - some with restaurants, bars, & swimming pools. Many hotels and resorts are located on or above the beach, each one offering a full list of amenities and comforts. Zihuatanejo is another world in contrast to Ixtapa. Most economy or budget hotels are found in Zihuatanejo, are clean & have the essential bedroom and bathroom. Getting Around Unless you plan to travel great distances or visit remote beaches, taxis and buses are by far the best way to get around. Taxis are plentiful, clean and reliable, and fares are reasonable and fixed. The fare from the Ixtapa Hotel Zone to Zihuatanejo is about $4. Taxis are usually lined up in front of hotels. Your hotel can call a taxi for you. Taxis charge a 50% surcharge after midnight. Mini-buses run frequently between the Ixtapa Hotel Zone and downtown Zihuatanejo (about six blocks from the beach); fare is about 3 pesos. Most buses stop running around 11:00pm. Rental cars, fom jeeps to sedans with automatic transmission & air conditioning are available from major rental car agencies. They have locations at the airport and in Ixtapa and/or Zihuatanejo. Electric-powered golf carts can be rented in Ixtapa. They are for local transportation only (not to Zihuatanejo) and cost about $12 for one hour to $55 for 24 hours. You'll also find mopeds and bikes for rent in more than one location as well as pedicabs (Ixtapa only) known as cuatriciclos for rent. Sportfishing Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo is just being discovered as Mexico's exciting sportfishing destination. Anglers thrill at the profusion of sailfish, black and blue marlin (the record is over 1,000 pounds), as well as yellowfin tuna and dorado (mahi-mahi). The fleets are on specialized cruisers or pangas with expert and caring bilingual skippers. Scuba Diving Some 30 dive sites in the area range from deep canyons to shallow reefs. The waters here are teeming with sea life and visibility is excellent. Many opportunities exist for divers & snorkelers. Water Sports A variety of water sports is available in Ixtapa, along Playa del Palmar (the beach of the Hotel Zone) and in Zihuatanejo on La Ropa Beach. Parasailing costs about $20 for about a 10-minute ride; water skiing and wave runners cost about $30 per half-hour; banana boat rides are about $5 for a 20-minute trip. On La Ropa Beach, in front of the Hotel Villa del Sol, Hobie Cats rent for $20 per hour and classes cost $30 per half-hour. Windsurfers rent $10 per hour; classes which include 6 hours over 4 days cost $40. Golf There are two 18-hole championship courses in Ixtapa. The Campo de Golf Ixtapa designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is a wildlife preserve that runs from a coconut plantation to the beach. Part of the Marina Ixtapa complex, the highly challenging links layout Club de Golf Marina Ixtapa was designed by Robert von Hagge. Each as its own clubhouse with all facilities and a restaurant as well as tennis courts. Green fees run approximately $55; caddies or carts $20. Please click on Golf below for more information. Tennis All major Ixtapa hotels have night-lit tennis courts as do the Campo de Golf Ixtapa and the Club de Golf Marina Ixtapa. In Zihuatanejo, theHotel Villa del Sol has two courts which are primarily for guest use. Horseback Riding You can rent horses near Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo, and at Playa Linda just up the coast from Ixtapa. The beaches are excellent for relaxing rides. Guided Tours Most major hotels have lobby tour desks or travel agencies which offer a selection of sightseeing tours, land or sea, of Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and surrounding areas. There are many jungle, lagoon and sea tours also available and you can even ask the local taxi drivers to show you the crocodiles found in the area. Dining Restaurants range from simple beach eateries to deluxe establishments. Chefs, cooks and waiters are sincerely eager to please and take pride in the quality of their fare -- seafood is pre-eminent and meticulousy fresh. Regional seafood favorites include tiritas (fish strips), pescadillas (fish tacos), and a la talla (baked in foil). Meals generally cost less in Zihuatanejo than Ixtapa. Even the most glamorous restaurants in either place cost considerably less than those in other resorts such as Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta. Dress is "Look-Good" casual even at night; men rarely wear jackets much less neckties, except maybe to the finest restaurants. Most restaurants accept you as you are considering it is a beach resort.Note: there are no U.S. fast-food franchises, however, excellent hamburgers, steaks and pizza can be found. Many of the hotels in Ixtapa offer Mexican Fiesta nights with special buffets, entertainment such as folk dancing, singing and games. These events usually are held during the weekday evenings. Regardless of where you eat, tipping is the same as in most countries, between 10% and 15%, depending on service. Nightlife Ixtapa is the spot for nightlife. Most discos, clubs & larger bars can be found here, mainly in the hotel zone or in the marina area. Some of the larger resorts have their own discos. Zihuatanejo is much more quiet with most drinking establishments found in the local restaurants or hotels which close earlier than the lively nightspots in Ixtapa. Text and photos copyrighted by MexOnline.com LLC, 2004. Reprinted here by permission.