Ixtapa

Ixtapa has about 340 days of sunshine a year.

Ixtapa is a government/company-built resort town for older people. DOn’t mistake me; it’s still beautiful and all, but unless you’ve got people to go with, most of the tourists there are 50 and up, and come with friends. I ran out of things to do after 4 days. :( Get a hotel by the ocean, and KEEP IN MIND that their “3 star hotel” is a Canadian 1.5 star hotel. I got very sick from the over-processed food at my cheap, reasonable, oceanfront 3 star.

If you want to see Mexico and have no ability to travel wisely or take care of yourself in foreign places, Ixtapa is for you. The Army is the police, so don’t stare when you see people riding around in pickups with assault rifles. The company that built Ixtapa makes very sure their bread and butter is well-guarded. If you want to see what every employee in Ixtapa lives like, go to Zihuatenejo next door. It’s a lesson in capitalist-induced poverty.

On the other side is Playa Linda, or, Linda Beach. It’s small, has very nice sand, and you can take a ferry to a nearby island for snorkelling and eating. The vendors are pretty much the same no matter if you’re in Ixtapa, Zihua or Playa Linda. There’s horseback riding and a free (but very smelly) crocodile pit. Playa Linda seems to have far fewer tourists, so it’s worth the $2 bus fare.

There is a constant stream of buses running between and through Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Playa Linda. I believe the last one leaves Zihua at 1AM, and they start around 8AM. Keep an open mind and you’ll be less rocked by the stark differences between visiting this area and visiting an average small American city. I strongly suggest taking a “cultural tour” approved by your tourism agency representative. Mine was very educational; we did a lot of interesting things in one day.

I worked at a resort in Ixtapa for 10 months, and thought it was INCREDIBLE. Amazing weather, beautiful beaches, friendly people, fun clubs to party at, cheap beer and I learned how to surf while I was here! Some of my favourite memories are sharing a bucket of Cornona’s with friends on the beach in Zihuatanejo, sailing and snorkeling around Ixtapa island and dancing to salsa outside in crazy rainstorms.

touristy, much more than zihuatanejo

I went there 10 years ago in the glory days of my 20’s. I had a great time with my girlfriends and would love to go back but there are so many other places to see. I came home with a new tattoo, a great tan and recovering skin from the sun poisoning I got while there. I didnt let a little sickness ruin my good time. Everyone is super friendly and the prices are fantastic. Its a great place to relax during the day and party at night. It isnt comercialized and as far as I know the crime is low. The streets are not lined with bar after bar so it doesnt attract a crazy-all-day-long crowd. Just dont go around the end of April/begining of May. The Mexican college’s have some kind of school break around that time and they get crazy. The kids were leaving on our first day and the hotels had had it with them.

Two of my old friends and I are planning to visit in march as a get together since I moved away in December.