Tourist Atracctions

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Ixtapa Beaches

Playa El Palmar 1,476.77 miles

This is Ixtapa's main beach, a broad stretch of pleasantly-soft sand,a walkable 2.37 kilometers(1.5 miles) long. It is known as the"Ixtapa Hotel Zone" because it is lined with most of the resort's important beachfront hotels. Facing the open sea, this wide crescent beach is good for surfing, while the at the south end (toward Zihuatanejo), the water is calm where the shore is protected by big rocks and a high bluff. Thanks to Ixtapa's Master Plan, there is ample green space between the hotels. Each has its own extensive beach area with umbrella-covered lounges where staff waiters serve food and beverages. also enjoy beach activities, water sports and, of course,watching the sunset over the Pacific. The seascape here is punctuated by Ixtapa's signature islets called Los Morros, just offshore.

Playa Quieta 359.88 miles

Appropriately named "Quiet Beach", this is a lovely one-third-mile sandy beach named for its calm water, good for swimming, kayaking and windsurfing. It is located just up the coast from the Hotel Zone (a 10-minute drive by car or taxi; a bit longer by local bus). Three major beachfront hotels are located here, making this area a "second hotel zone".

Playa Linda 541.37 miles

A mile up the coast from Playa Quieta, this tranquil fine-sand beach is good for swimming. From a small pier on the beach, skiffs take passengers to Ixtapa Island just offshore. There is horseback riding through the adjacent jungle and coconut plantation. Next to the street, an enclosed natural mangrove lagoon called "El Cocodrilario" is home to crocodiles that swim and bask in the sun, a fascinating ecological attraction.

Isla Ixtapa

Just offshore (a ten-minute boat ride from Playa Linda), this small wooded island with four lovely beaches is delightful for a day of sunning, swimming snorkeling, eating, even scuba diving. The main beach, Cuachalalate, and Varadero and Coral also, are lined with palapa-topped seafood restaurants. The calm waters are great kayaking, aqua-tricycling, jetskii and banana-boat riding. A short walk across the island takes you to Playa Varadero which "faces the sunset". The small Playa Carey is secluded, and Playa Coral on the north shore has crystal-clear water for snorkeling. Outboard skiffs run frequently (from 9 am until 5 pm) between the Playa Linda pier and docks at both Cuachalalate and Varadero beaches; round-trip costs approximately $35 pesos.

Alternatively, larger boats leave from the Municipal Pier in Zihuatanejo for a 30-minute scenic tour to Ixtapa Island; round-trip costs approximately $250 pesos. Skiff service between Playa Linda and the island also operate from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.