What are the best things to do with kids in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
- Derrik Chinn
- Correspondent
- Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Your kids will be enchanted by the endless wildlife and nature in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, from sea turtles and iguanas to amazing waterfalls and rainforests. Any of Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ picks for the best things to see and do with kids are sure to keep them happily entertained:
1. Surrogate a sea turtle. From May through October, sea turtles come ashore to nest on beachfront hotel property, and staff and trained volunteers proudly take on the role of foster parents by moving the eggs to incubation corrals until they hatch. The newborns go into holding tanks until they're ready to be released into the ocean, and hotel guests and passersby alike are welcome to lend a hand in sending the little guys off into the waves.
2. Croc out. After play time at Playa Linda, stop by nearby Popoyote Lagoon, home to a wild enclave of crocodiles, some of which measure up to 20 feet in length. No need to worry about accidentally stepping on someone's tail; fences safely separate their turf from yours.
3. Frolic in a pre-Hispanic pool. Catch the ferry at Playa Municipal out to Playa Las Gatas, where an ancient underwater wall in the ocean commissioned by a Purépecha chief smoothes what would otherwise be rather choppy waves and keeps sea life from invading your swimming fun.
4. Swim under a waterfall. Bio La Escollera Park, located on Playa Las Gatas scenic route 26-A, is a well-protected wonderland of some 100 varieties of plants, flowers and fruit trees, all of which are crawling with iguanas, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions and other specimens of jungle life most kids see only in glass terrariums back home. But the main attraction is without a doubt the 120-foot waterfall, so bring your swimsuit.
5. Go for a bike ride. Take a tour de flora and rent bikes for a ride along either the 5-mile trail that starts at the Ixtapa marina and passes Parque Aztlan eco-reserve or the 2.5-mile path that connects Ixtapa and Zihua through the rainforest.
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On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
Where is the best ocean swimming in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Before you answer, "Where can't I swim in the ocean?" be aware that the currents off the coast of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo are often worthy of perpetual red flags, which makes many of its beaches good for sunning only. Use extreme caution when swimming at any beach that opens directly to the Pacific, or play it safe and opt for coves like those at Playa La Madera, Playa del Puerto or Playa Manzanillo. The underwater stone wall at Playa Las Gatas works as a barrier to lessen the ocean's pull, making it safe for swimmers and snorkelers, too. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
What is the best thing to bring home from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
If you're unable to find someone who can freeze-dry a few pounds of the Jurassic-looking marlin you caught yourself, Taxco silver comes in as the runner-up souvenir to bring home from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, say our Forbes Travel Guide editors. Vendors sell the stuff in either Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo's mercados de artesanias or any of the boutiques in the towns. Just be sure it's legit silver, not alpaca, which is basically pricey nickel. Also of local relevance are the intricately lacquered wooden boxes from Olinalá, a remote town in the Guerrero highlands known as the most important center for lacquer production in the country. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
What are the five best Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo food experiences?
In a fisherman's paradise like Guerrero, where hefty catches often yield more than you know what to do with, it's no surprise that Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s most memorable food experiences all involve fresh seafood. Here are Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ five picks for the best dishes Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has to offer:
1. Marisco huts. To get a taste of just how fresh it is, sink your teeth into the morning's catch at one of the marisco huts along Paseo del Pescador. Be sure to try tiritas de pescado (literal translation: little strips of fish), a locals’ creation that involves minimal ingredients: finely sliced fresh fish, strips of onion, Creole pepper, a little salt and lime juice that cooks the fish sans flame.
2. Marlin or mahi mahi. Hang near the docks for the first weekend in May for the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Sailfish Tournament, and keep an eye out for excess amounts of marlin or mahi mahi. When they weigh up to 500 pounds, there's bound to be plenty to share.
3. Food and Wine Festival. Late March brings the Food and Wine Festival in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, a weekend of classes, star chef sightings, house tours and catamaran rides past nearby fishing villages.
4. Mexican cooking classes. If you have a few hours to spare, swing by the Zihuatanejo Cooking School near Playa La Ropa for a crash course in the complexities of Mexican culinary basics like chiles rellenos, quesadillas and black bean soup.
5. Caldo de Cuatete and Guintatán. No matter how high the mercury in the thermometer, be sure to try caldo de cuatete and guintatán — blue sea catfish soup and dried fish simmered in coconut milk, respectively — Guerrero specialties that you’ll find in most any Ma-and-Pa eatery in town. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
Where is the best nightlife in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
If Ixtapa after dark is a slingback stiletto, with its large discos full of party-hardy tourists, primped Mexicans in miniskirts and their popped-collared boyfriends, Zihuatanejo nightlife is more on par with a flip-flop — which really should be taken as a compliment in so much that you're able to dip into the best of both worlds in one evening, if you care to do so. Large night clubs or anthros in Ixtapa's Zona Hotelera like Le Rouge, LV Disco Club, Mentiritas and Christine are where you'll sweat to electro-house, hip-hop and reggaeton until sun-up. Meanwhile, over in Zihuatanejo, the sounds of live bands, karaoke showdowns and the occasional bikini contest spill out of cantinas along downtown's main drag like Bandidos, El Canto de la Sirena and Coconuts. Zihuatanejo is more intimate and puts up less of a front, but most places turn in for the evening around midnight — if you're looking to keep the party going, it’s your cue to hop in a cab and deadhead to Ixtapa. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
What’s the best way to see Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in one day?
For the best way to see Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in one day, Forbes Travel Guide’s editors recommend starting with breakfast at one of the stands at Mercado Central in downtown Zihuatanejo — either birria tacos or chilaquiles should set you back no more than three or four bucks. Then rent a bike for the day, starting with a lap or two around a few blocks in the city center before heading onto the paved, 2.5-mile bike path that cuts through the rainforest, eventually arriving at Ixtapa. Once you're there, reward yourself with a swim in the ocean and a siesta on the beach (all of which are public according to federal law, despite the fact that they're seemingly claimed by the surrounding high-rise resorts).
Have lunch at Nueva Zelanda (in the strip mall Manzana 2), a Mexican spin on the roadside diner that serves up tortas (sandwiches) and licuados (fruit smoothies). Then make a pit-stop at Ixtapa's Mercado de Artesanias afterward while you digest a bit — but begin your return trek to Zihua before all the mosquitos commence attack at dusk. Turn in your wheels and head back to your hotel for a shower and a change before hitting the streets again for dinner, followed by beers at Barracuda's, a friendly seashell-clad dive downtown on Pedro Ascencio. Upsize to a caguama, Mexico's version of a forty. You've earned it. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
Where is the best shopping in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Finding the best shopping in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a subjective experience. For instance, both Ixtapa and Zihua have mercados de artesanías — on Boulevard Ixtapa and Calle Cinco de Mayo, respectively — that sell everything that anyone who's ever traveled in Mexico before has already seen: loudly colored blankets, inflatable water toys, oversized T-shirts depicting cartoon frogs in various states of intoxication and hammocks. At more than 250 vendors, Zihua's installment is the larger of the two, which ups your chances of finding a better selection of silver from Taxco, a mining town on the eastern edge of Guerrero, as well as Guerrero-style ceramics.
However, for a more authentic shopping experience, Forbes Travel Guide’s editors recommend heading over to Zihua's Mercado Central on Avenida Benito Juárez between avenidas Nava and González, where locals go for meats, produce and spices. Pick up some fruit for the hotel room and some sea salt for home. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
What are the best things to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Not surprisingly, most of the best things to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo involve the water (and one involves the jungle). There’s no reason not to take advantage of the beautiful seascape and amazing fishing opportunities while you’re here — and Forbes Travel Guide’s editors have searched out the five top things to make your stay a memorable (and pleasurable) one:
1. Sail-fishing at Zihuatanejo. Sport Fishing Magazine ranked Zihuatanejo second among the world's sail-fishing destinations in 2001, a title that has since baited sea-hunter hobbyists from near and far hook, line and sinker. The winter months are a fisherman's paradise, when private boats belonging to snowbirds who come to hunt barracuda, mahi mahi, marlin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna fill the bay and international fishing tournaments fill the calendar. No need to feel left out if you're not a member of the yacht club; affordable charters on small panga boats allow enthusiasts on a budget to have a go at bringing home the catch of the day.
2. Sunning at Playa La Ropa. Playa la Ropa, or Clothing Beach, apparently earned its nickname hundreds of years ago when the cargo of an Indian textile ship somehow accidentally wound up going overboard and later washed ashore. A mile-long stretch of sand located southeast of town, La Ropa's timid waves make it the principal beach for swimming and sunning in Zihua.
3. The Zihua Sail Fest. This event happens annually in February, but vessels start showing up as early as November for the five-day fundraiser to benefit local kids in need. The white-canvased watercraft travel from as far as Alaska and the Caribbean for chili cookoffs, concerts, auctions, exhibition races and a boat parade.
4. Zip-line in an adventure park. Take in a spider monkey's eye-view of the jungle while soaring through the treetops and teetering your way across hanging bridges at any of the several adventure parks between Ixtapa and Zihua. Zip-line tours, preferably done early in the day before the heat kicks in, average two to three hours and run $50 to $70.
5. Go whale-watching. Every winter the entire length of the North American Pacific shorefront becomes a front-row seat for spotting humpback and gray whales en route from Alaska to give birth in the warmer waters off the coast of southern Mexico. The experience is trumped only when the docile giants begin their return migration in March, now with their newborns in tow. The cliffs overlooking the beaches of Ixtapa and Zihua make for prime lookout points, but if you really want to get up-close and personal with the mammoth mammals, hop onboard a whale-watching day trip. -
On September 19Derrik Chinn answered the question:
What are the best things to do with kids in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Your kids will be enchanted by the endless wildlife and nature in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, from sea turtles and iguanas to amazing waterfalls and rainforests. Any of Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ picks for the best things to see and do with kids are sure to keep them happily entertained:
1. Surrogate a sea turtle. From May through October, sea turtles come ashore to nest on beachfront hotel property, and staff and trained volunteers proudly take on the role of foster parents by moving the eggs to incubation corrals until they hatch. The newborns go into holding tanks until they're ready to be released into the ocean, and hotel guests and passersby alike are welcome to lend a hand in sending the little guys off into the waves.
2. Croc out. After play time at Playa Linda, stop by nearby Popoyote Lagoon, home to a wild enclave of crocodiles, some of which measure up to 20 feet in length. No need to worry about accidentally stepping on someone's tail; fences safely separate their turf from yours.
3. Frolic in a pre-Hispanic pool. Catch the ferry at Playa Municipal out to Playa Las Gatas, where an ancient underwater wall in the ocean commissioned by a Purépecha chief smoothes what would otherwise be rather choppy waves and keeps sea life from invading your swimming fun.
4. Swim under a waterfall. Bio La Escollera Park, located on Playa Las Gatas scenic route 26-A, is a well-protected wonderland of some 100 varieties of plants, flowers and fruit trees, all of which are crawling with iguanas, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions and other specimens of jungle life most kids see only in glass terrariums back home. But the main attraction is without a doubt the 120-foot waterfall, so bring your swimsuit.
5. Go for a bike ride. Take a tour de flora and rent bikes for a ride along either the 5-mile trail that starts at the Ixtapa marina and passes Parque Aztlan eco-reserve or the 2.5-mile path that connects Ixtapa and Zihua through the rainforest. -
On July 30Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Where are the best places to eat in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Gussied-up greasy spoons, unassuming houses of regional delicacies, internationally renowned cuisine: When it comes to places to eat, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo serves it all. Its tropical placement along the southwestern coast allows for a wide variety of readily available produce, plus the restaurant scene not surprisingly reflects its proximity to the ocean. Start your culinary travels with Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ five best places to eat in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo:
1. La Sirena Gorda. The name of this Zihuatanejo restaurant literally translates as “The Fat Mermaid,” and her hefty breakfasts of omelets, chilaquiles and pancakes leave you feeling just like that — and happily so. The place is popular among tourists and locals alike, so word to the wise: The early bird misses the inevitable waiting list.
2. Mediterraneo. This no-fuss place near Our Lady of Guadalupe church on Cinco de Mayo in Zihuatanejo wins the crowd-pleaser award, with a Mediterranean catch-all menu that spans seafood, pasta, chicken and beef. Not to be missed are the tuna sashimi and filet mignon, best served alfresco on the patio.
3. Do Any. Visit this festive eatery on Calle Ejido in Zihuatanejo for authentic takes on Mexican staples like tamales and pozole. It serves more than 15 varieties of the former, including pork, squash blossoms, corn and pineapple; the latter is a pork and hominy stew, the would-be chicken soup of Mexico’s gastronomic soul.
4. Garrobo’s. Save room for huachinango a la Zihuatlan, a fish dish that’s marinated in almond sauce, at Garrobo’s downtown on Juan N. Alvarez. The place has been around for more than 30 years, which in a tourist hive such as this means they must be doing something right.
5. Kau-Kan. The array of mahi mahi carpaccio, eggplant salads, stingray steaks and tuna rolls stuffed with sea bass tartar at Kau-Kan (on Camino Escénica headed to Playa La Ropa above Playa La Madera) has been called the best food in town, and it all tastes even more amazing when accompanied by the view at sunset. -
On July 30Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best places to eat in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Gussied-up greasy spoons, unassuming houses of regional delicacies, internationally renowned cuisine: When it comes to places to eat, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo serves it all. Its tropical placement along the southwestern coast allows for a wide variety of readily available produce, plus the restaurant scene not surprisingly reflects its proximity to the ocean. Start your culinary travels with Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ five best places to eat in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo:
1. La Sirena Gorda. The name of this Zihuatanejo restaurant literally translates as “The Fat Mermaid,” and her hefty breakfasts of omelets, chilaquiles and pancakes leave you feeling just like that — and happily so. The place is popular among tourists and locals alike, so word to the wise: The early bird misses the inevitable waiting list.
2. Mediterraneo. This no-fuss place near Our Lady of Guadalupe church on Cinco de Mayo in Zihuatanejo wins the crowd-pleaser award, with a Mediterranean catch-all menu that spans seafood, pasta, chicken and beef. Not to be missed are the tuna sashimi and filet mignon, best served alfresco on the patio.
3. Do Any. Visit this festive eatery on Calle Ejido in Zihuatanejo for authentic takes on Mexican staples like tamales and pozole. It serves more than 15 varieties of the former, including pork, squash blossoms, corn and pineapple; the latter is a pork and hominy stew, the would-be chicken soup of Mexico’s gastronomic soul.
4. Garrobo’s. Save room for huachinango a la Zihuatlan, a fish dish that’s marinated in almond sauce, at Garrobo’s downtown on Juan N. Alvarez. The place has been around for more than 30 years, which in a tourist hive such as this means they must be doing something right.
5. Kau-Kan. The array of mahi mahi carpaccio, eggplant salads, stingray steaks and tuna rolls stuffed with sea bass tartar at Kau-Kan (on Camino Escénica headed to Playa La Ropa above Playa La Madera) has been called the best food in town, and it all tastes even more amazing when accompanied by the view at sunset. -
On July 30Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Where are the best places to stay in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Figuring out where to stay in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo depends on what sort of accommodations you prefer. Think of Ixtapa as a showboat fleet of modern resorts with regional flair, perfect for the traveler who prefers to stay put and enjoy the linens (not to mention the multimillion-dollar cliff-top views from the infinity pool). Meanwhile, over in Zihuatanejo, stylish boutique hotels offer a more individualistic, stylishly playful take on home away from home in a quaint village setting. Here are Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ five top picks to help you choose where to stay in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo:
1. Capella Ixtapa. Sink ever so swankily off the grid at this 59-room hotel and spa stacked into the remote cliffs overlooking the ocean just north of Ixtapa. Stone stairways descend the hillside to the pool and multiple restaurants all the way down to a small beach, but the rocky cove means ocean swims aren't really an option. Golf, scuba, snorkeling, sailing, horseback riding, cycling on the resort’s own seven-mile track, hikes through the surrounding jungle and xochilt-flower pamper fests at the spa, however, are — and should definitely be taken advantage of.
2. Amuleto. You’ll find not a single alarm clock nor TV in sight at this cluster of bungalow suites on Camino Escenico 9 headed toward Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo. But private patios with hammocks and plunge pools make it all too easy to not even notice.
3. La Casa Que Canta. A multi-tiered adobe structure perched on a hill overlooking Zihuatanejo Bay, “The House that Sings” on Camino Escenico headed to Playa la Ropa makes up for its distance from the Pacific by filling one of its two pools with salt water. But if you’re looking for a more secluded concrete pond experience, nearly half of this hotel’s 25 suites are equipped with private pools. If you’re planning on splurging, this would be the place to do it.
4. Villa Guadalupe. On Camino Escenico headed to Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo, this luxurious hotel features infinity pools and lush landscaping while adhering more to traditional design that plays off Zihuatanejo’s fishing-town heritage, with palapas and kitschy-cool Mexican revolutionary themes.
5. Viceroy Zihuatanejo. Its location in the middle of a crescent-shaped bay with 1,000 feet of private beach, the beach suites with private plunge pools and its three pools — including an infinity pool — win this hotel high marks with picky travelers. Rent a swinging bed palapa for the day to chill out right by the water. -
On July 30Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best things to see and do with kids in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Your kids will be enchanted by the endless wildlife and nature in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, from sea turtles and iguanas to amazing waterfalls and rainforests. Any of Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ picks for the best things to see and do with kids are sure to keep them happily entertained:
1. Surrogate a sea turtle. From May through October, sea turtles come ashore to nest on beachfront hotel property, and staff and trained volunteers proudly take on the role of foster parents by moving the eggs to incubation corrals until they hatch. The newborns go into holding tanks until they're ready to be released into the ocean, and hotel guests and passersby alike are welcome to lend a hand in sending the little guys off into the waves.
2. Croc out. After play time at Playa Linda, stop by nearby Popoyote Lagoon, home to a wild enclave of crocodiles, some of which measure up to 20 feet in length. No need to worry about accidentally stepping on someone's tail; fences safely separate their turf from yours.
3. Frolic in a pre-Hispanic pool. Catch the ferry at Playa Municipal out to Playa Las Gatas, where an ancient underwater wall in the ocean commissioned by a Purépecha chief smoothes what would otherwise be rather choppy waves and keeps sea life from invading your swimming fun.
4. Swim under a waterfall. Bio La Escollera Park, located on Playa Las Gatas scenic route 26-A, is a well-protected wonderland of some 100 varieties of plants, flowers and fruit trees, all of which are crawling with iguanas, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions and other specimens of jungle life most kids see only in glass terrariums back home. But the main attraction is without a doubt the 120-foot waterfall, so bring your swimsuit.
5. Go for a bike ride. Take a tour de flora and rent bikes for a ride along either the 5-mile trail that starts at the Ixtapa marina and passes Parque Aztlan eco-reserve or the 2.5-mile path that connects Ixtapa and Zihua through the rainforest. -
On July 30Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best things to see and do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
Not surprisingly, most of the best things to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo involve the water (and one involves the jungle). There’s no reason not to take advantage of the beautiful seascape and amazing fishing opportunities while you’re here — and Forbes Travel Guide’s editors have searched out the five top things to make your stay a memorable (and pleasurable) one:
1. Sail-fishing at Zihuatanejo. Sport Fishing Magazine ranked Zihuatanejo second among the world's sail-fishing destinations in 2001, a title that has since baited sea-hunter hobbyists from near and far hook, line and sinker. The winter months are a fisherman's paradise, when private boats belonging to snowbirds who come to hunt barracuda, mahi mahi, marlin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna fill the bay and international fishing tournaments fill the calendar. No need to feel left out if you're not a member of the yacht club; affordable charters on small panga boats allow enthusiasts on a budget to have a go at bringing home the catch of the day.
2. Sunning at Playa La Ropa. Playa la Ropa, or Clothing Beach, apparently earned its nickname hundreds of years ago when the cargo of an Indian textile ship somehow accidentally wound up going overboard and later washed ashore. A mile-long stretch of sand located southeast of town, La Ropa's timid waves make it the principal beach for swimming and sunning in Zihua.
3. The Zihua Sail Fest. This event happens annually in February, but vessels start showing up as early as November for the five-day fundraiser to benefit local kids in need. The white-canvased watercraft travel from as far as Alaska and the Caribbean for chili cookoffs, concerts, auctions, exhibition races and a boat parade.
4. Zip-line in an adventure park. Take in a spider monkey's eye-view of the jungle while soaring through the treetops and teetering your way across hanging bridges at any of the several adventure parks between Ixtapa and Zihua. Zip-line tours, preferably done early in the day before the heat kicks in, average two to three hours and run $50 to $70.
5. Go whale-watching. Every winter the entire length of the North American Pacific shorefront becomes a front-row seat for spotting humpback and gray whales en route from Alaska to give birth in the warmer waters off the coast of southern Mexico. The experience is trumped only when the docile giants begin their return migration in March, now with their newborns in tow. The cliffs overlooking the beaches of Ixtapa and Zihua make for prime lookout points, but if you really want to get up-close and personal with the mammoth mammals, hop onboard a whale-watching day trip.