Attractions in Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo, Mexico: What to do and where to go

Bike Path

It is not only biking but admiring all the magical natural surroundings in this charming place. When you cover the 4.35 mi. of the bike path in Ixtapa, you will have the opportunity to spot the most representative plants and animals of the region. This fantastic bike lane starts in Ixtapa, goes around the golf course and goes as far as Zihuatanejo.

Costa Grande's Archaeological Museum

It is located on El Pescador Avenue, in front of Zihuatanejo's main beach. This museum concentrates on the most relevant information of all 54 archaeological sites discovered in the surroundings of Zihuatanejo and Costa Grande, where it is possible to admire the traces of Olmeca, Teotihuaca, Tarasca and Mexica cultures. The exhibition is arranged in six rooms and it showcases the development of Costa Grande, from the first settlements until the colonial era.

Diving

The coastal zone and Zihuatanejo Bay are ideal for diving lovers. You can find from sea horses, sea urchins, crabs, octopuses, moray fish, eels, to stone fish, sole fish, grouper fish, and angel fish. If you are lucky, you may see an eagle ray or a giant ray. Also found here are ''Los Morros de Potosi'', which is a system of caves of stunning beauty.

Ecotourism

Thanks to its natural richness, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a great place for ecotourism. It is truly extraordinary to ride a mountain bike, go ocean rafting, row towards Ixtapa Island, and once there, to snorkel to your heart's content. You can also do low-difficulty trekking, rappeling and hiking. Horseback riding is an excellent option for getting to know the beaches and other areas.

Fishing

The coast of the Mexican Pacific has been catalogued as an excellent place for sport fishing. The adage ''secret place for fishermen'' applies perfectly to this destination, where you can fish species such as swordfish, blue and black marlin, golden and yellowfin tuna, amongst others.

The captains of the fishing boats excel in the traditional techniques as well as in the modern ones but they also practice the ''catch and release'' technique, particularly for big game fish. It is at the discretion of the customer to use this technique.

Golf

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is proud to have two fabulous world-class golf courses, suitable for golfers of any level. The Palma Real Golf Course, with 18 championship holes, harmonizes with its setting: an ancient coconut plantation, natural lakes and tropical vegetation. The Marina Ixtapa Golf Course is known for its original course layout, with canals traversing the entire course.

Handcrafts Market

At this market, you can find a wide assortment of handcrafts made with semi-precious stones, granite painted in bright colors, seashells and coral. Likewise, but in a smaller quantity, you can find silver jewelry from Taxco, lacquer work from Olinala, ceramics and painted amate tree bark from the Central Valley region.

Island of Ixtapa

The Island of Ixtapa (Isla de Ixtapa) is a beautiful geographic formation that can be seen from the beaches of Playa Quieta and Playa Linda, located at the northern end of Ixtapa's coast. It's a very impressive sight to see, because of its large size and that fact that it is covered in the most amazing emerald-colored tropical vegetation. This island paradise can easily be visited via the many entertaining tours that frequently depart from the mainland. The excursions generally start with a boat ride along the coast, over the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean, after which you'll be taken to one of three secluded beaches on the island: Playa Coral, Playa Varadero or Playa Cuachalalate, all of which are great places to enjoy water activities or simply relax and sunbathe. The Island of Ixtapa is also popular for its delicious and rather inexpensive seafood that's freshly caught and prepared in the traditional and zesty Ixtapa Zihuatanejo way. For a whole day of fun, sun and good food, this attraction in Ixtapa comes highly recommended.

Las Gatas Beach

If you want to spend a day in a secluded beach, where you can find a wide variety of restaurants and bars as well as aquatic activities for your enjoyment, don't miss out on the opportunity to take a ''panga'' (a small boat) in the morning to take you to ''Las Gatas'' Beach (Spanish for ''cats''). This name has its origin because of the great number of cat sharks that inhabit the area, as well as a variety of multicolor fish. It is surrounded by rock formations and a submarine reef built by the indigenous people. It is always frequented because of its tranquility, its interesting coral and rocking formations and for the opportunities that it offers diving lovers.