Adventures at Sea
Fishing - Internationally renowned as a mecca for Anglers, Sailfish soaring up to 175 lbs are the primary game most of the year. Black and Pacific Blue Marlin range from 275-400 lbs (winter months are the best to catch the big ones.) Other species like high-flying Roosterfish, Wahoo, Barracuda and Spanish Mackerel stay closer to the shore. Stroll along the Paseo del Pescador in Zihuatenjo and watch local fisherman returning from sea with fresh merchandise. The International Sailfish Tournament is held in May, offering cars and cash prizes. In addition to abundant fishing, the town reverberates with parties and entertainment activities.
Diving/Snorkeling - Abundant and colorful sea life, ranging from seahorses to humpback whales, and hundreds of species in-between, await your discovery. Fifty-two dive sites are categorized for beginner, intermediate and expert divers. Because of the confluence of two currents, the local sea life is incredibly rich. Visibility reaches 100-150 feet, and the water is usually over 80 °F. Snorkeling is great at Manzanillo Beach, just south of Zihuatanejo, where the bottom is between 15-20 feet deep.
Boating - Charter your own fishing boat, or join the fun on a catamaran. The 450-acre Marina Ixtapa, with 621 yacht slips, is located near the Hotel Zone. A promenade along the slips, lined with indoor and outdoor cafes, compliments the nautical atmosphere.
Beaches
Playa Palmar - With moderate surf and a long stretch of sandy beach that extends for approximately 2 miles, this beach is where the majority of Ixtapa hotels are located. Playa Palmar also offers a great selection of watersports.
Playa Linda - Qualton Club and Melia Azul are located here. Ride horseback along the beach to the delta of Ixtapa River for an incredible view. This beach serves as a launching point for excursions to Ixtapa Island.
Playa Coral (on Ixtapa Island) - A scuba divers delight, named for the abundance of coral formations.
Playa La Ropa - Located in the center of Zihuatanejo Bay and home to many hotels and restaurants, Playa La Ropa is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach on the bay, and the best for swimming due to its clean, calm waters.
Ixtapa Island - Just a ten minute boat ride from Ixtapa's Hotel Zone, Ixtapa Island is a wildlife refuge with deer, armadillos, iguanas and birds. Its beautiful beaches induce a variety of moods and possibilities, including excellent snorkeling and diving. In the acacia forest of the uninhabited west side of Isla Ixtapa, you can observe exotic species of native birds.
Playa Las Gatas (Zihuatanejo Bay) - With its white coral sand and crystalline waters, Playa Las Gatas is considered one of Mexico's most attractive coves. A rock breakwater creates a tranquil spot for swimming, snorkeling and diving, while thatched beachfront cafes offer fresh seafood and other local cuisine.
Family Fun
Land and Watersports - Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo is not only a paradise for couples. Families will never run out of fun things to do, and many of the hotels have special programs designed specifically for kids. A variety of water fun is available along Playa del Palmar in Ixtapa, and Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo. Rent bikes or rollerblades, and cruise along the brand new 2.5-mile bicycle path. And when the kids get hungry, families can fuel up at fun, seaside restaurants.
Magic World Aquatic Park - This water wonderland is a must for kids and their parents. It boasts a variety of rides, a grand pirate ship with a series of slides (including a 100-foot slide for adventurous adults) and enough American and Mexican fast food restaurants to satisfy every appetite. There are also local craftsman selling their wares-perfect souvenirs from a perfect vacation!
Archaelogical Museum - This incredible collection of nearly one thousand artifacts, ceramics, stone carvings and murals dating to pre-Columbian times is located at the east end of Paseo del Pescador in Zihuatanejo.
Nightlife
Ixtapa's nightlife does not disappoint, with several lively bars and discos to keep everybody dancing until the wee hours of the morning. The elegant Christine Disco (at the Krystal Hotel) is the area's most posh nightclub, offering guests an incredible lightshow sure to delight and amaze. Like everything else in Zihuatanejo, the nightlife has a more casual feel, with several clubs featuring live music.
Ixtapa Golf
Ixtapa boasts two meticulously maintained world class courses, located at opposite ends of Ixtapa's hotel zone, each course is reachable by walking, or just a short taxi ride from the beachfront hotels.
The Palma Real Golf Club - The Palma Real is an 18 hole, Par 72 course with 6,898 yards designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The manicured rolling fairways run through a jungle and coconut plantation alongside the scenic Pacific coastline, with spectacular views of the ocean from many of its holes. The course is also a wildlife preserve with many species of birds, and three large lakes populated by alligators. This is a complete golf club, including pro shop, driving range, locker facilities, club house, five lighted tennis courts, swimming pool, restaurant and bar. You'll find the Palma Real at the southeastern part of Ixtapa very near the Sheraton Hotel on Ixtapa Boulevard.
Marina Ixtapa Golf Course - The Marina Ixtapa is an 18-hole, Par 72 course designed by Robert Von Hagge in 1994 to test players at all levels of skill. This 6,807-yard "Dunes Style" course features large sand traps and three kilometers of canals that snake their way though the landscape, creating a challenge for even the best of golfers. This spectacular course requires skill and precision in order to navigate the rolling terrain, expansive sand traps, and 14 water hazards. Located at the northern end of Ixtapa Boulevard by the marina, Marina Ixtapa Golf Club also offers a pro shop, club house, shower and locker facilities, bar, restaurant and lounge, tennis courts, meeting rooms and an on-course beverage cart.
