Welcome to the Mexican Riviera!

Zihuatanejo Bay is naturally enclosed, so the water is calm and the beaches have little surf. Our guests have access to Playa Contramar via a stone stairway, which winds down to this small beach at the Northwestern end of the Bay. This beach is shaded by palm trees and is only accessible by boat or by footpath. This area is very sheltered and the water is calm. The swimming and snorkeling are excellent.

There are four other beaches within Zihuatanejo Bay:

La Playa Principal, which is the public beach located in front of the town. The municipal pier is located at one end. The local fisherman beach their skiffs here during the day. They fish at night and in the morning display and sell their catch to the local market and restaurants.

Playa La Madera "Wood Beach" gets it's name from the Spanish colony days when it was the shipping point for mahogany, oak, pine and cedar wood cut from the local forests. This beach is reached by walking along a narrow, seaside trail which you can pick up on the other side of the Museo Arquelógico (Archaeological Museum - see below).

Playa de Las Gatas, which is at the extreme Southern end of the Bay, is accessible by water taxi from the Municipal Pier or a footpath along the rocky coast from La Ropa. There is no road. According to local legend a Tarascan king named Iréhpan and his family used this beach as a Winter vacation retreat. An invasion of man-eating sharks in the Bay prevented his family from swimming. So Iréhpan ordered his slaves to build a stone breakwater off of the beach to keep the sharks out. Today this breakwater is overgrown with coral and offers the finest snorkeling and diving in the area. This beach gets it's name from a species of harmless, whiskery nurse sharks that used to be common in the area. Open air fresh seafood restaurants line the beach and lounge chairs are available for rent.

Local Points of Interest in Zihuatanejo

The Paseo de Pescador (Fisherman's Walk) also know as the malecón, is a 1/3 mile long promenade through the most picturesque part of town. It runs from the Municipal Pier to the Museo Arquelógico. There are many shops and small restaurants in this area, and it is a very pleasant place to enjoy a cool drink and enjoy the sights.

The Costa Grande Archaeological Museum is located at the South end of the Fisherman's Walk. Here you will learn the history of the people who have lived in this area over the past 5,000 years through an exhibit of artifacts found at archaeological sites in the Costa Grande region.

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Golf

There are two world-class golf courses in nearby Ixtapa:

The Marina Ixtapa Club de Golf was designed by Robert von Hagge. Phone: 011-52-755-31410 Fax: 011-52-755-30825. Call at least one day in advance. Visit their website.

The Campo de Golf Palma Real was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Phone: 011-52-755-31062 Fax: 011-52-755-31030.

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Eco Tourism

Kayak Rentals & Tours - Fun4RentMexico, located in El Centro, Zihuatanejo rents kayaks, bicycles, scooters, beach motos and more. Visit their website.

Adventours - Explore the wonders of nature that abound in our tropical paradise. Enjoy snorkeling among coral reefs, kayaking in calm and warm ocean waters, swimming at enchanted beaches, and biking through lush jungles. See native plants, birds, fish and other exotic animals of Mexico, some on the endangered species list. Visit their website.