In our last day in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Patrick and I visited Ixtapa.
Ixtapa is the resort-heavy, Americanized area built near the town of Zihuatanejo, on the Pacific side of Mexico. Although overly developed, and lacking much of the charm of the original town of Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa is home to a number of fantastic restaurants, bars and nightclubs. I much prefer the (more Mexican) atmosphere of Zihuatanejo; however, I do enjoy visiting Ixtapa during my Zihuatanejo holidays, and there are a couple of great, unique spots well-worth the visit.
Marina Ixtapa:
This was the first time I have ever visited the Marina, and I must say I was quite impressed by it’s beauty. Built off the main boulevard of the hotel zone, the marina is surrounded by a number of beautiful, modern apartment building and hotel complexes.
A wooden walkway along the entire marina leads yacht owners to their piers, and allows other visitors (who like me do not own multiple-million boats) to walk around, and enjoy the views. A set of unique restaurants along the walkway offer scenic vistas and good eats, at slightly higher than average prices.
Ixtapa Island:
I have visited Ixtapa Island three times now, and it never ceases to amaze me with it’s beauty. Ixtapa Island can be reached from the mainland by a 5 minute boat ride (MEX$40 per person, return) from Playa Linda in Ixtapa. Before walking down the pier and hopping into the boat, make sure to visit the crocodile reserve, where a number of crocodiles, iguanas, and turtles, live peacefully in their natural environment.
The island is small enough that one can walk around the entire area in about 30 minutes. The walk provides great views of the rugged rock island, it’s beaches, and it’s unusual desert-like flora.
As with all beaches in the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo area, a number of small restaurants line the beach, lending guests comfortable seating areas and beach beds for consumption of their food and beverages. The restaurants are not only well priced, but also offer delicious Mexican and seafood options that are well worth trying.
Ixtapa Island is great as a day visit for swimming and relaxing on the sandy beaches facing the mainland, and it also offers fantastic snorkeling on the reef in front of the coral beach on the opposite side, looking towards the open sea. Patrick and I enjoyed snorkeling among schools of different colorful fish for about half an hour, spending the remainder of the afternoon suntanning, eating and drinking Micheladas, and walking around the island.
Although we came prepared with snorkeling equipment, visitors who don’t have any can rent it out in location.
Source: Ixtapa Information
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