Ixtapa beaches are some of the most idyllic along the western coast of Mexico. Ixtapa is a beach resort community situated in the municipality of Zihuatanejo (in the state of Guerrero. It is about 140 miles northwest of Acapulco and is within less than 20 miles of Puerto Vallarta. Development of this beach resort community began in the 1970s as a part of a government sponsored effort to build more tourist destinations along the country’s alluring coastlines. Ixtapa began to be developed on the west coast, and Cancun on the east coast. Ixtapa is a more popular choice than Cancun for people who are averse to tourist traffic and overcrowding. There are over 5,000 hotel rooms that range from extreme luxury to relative affordability, but you will find that it is much more possible to find a retreat from the humdrum of tourist activity in the resort community of Ixtapa than many of the other popular Mexican beaches and resort locations.
Playa El Palmar
The primary beach in Ixtapa is Playa El Palmar. It is fronted by a variety of high-rise hotels, but this is perfect for you if you happen to be staying at one of them. You will find tons of great restaurants, convivial bars and music venues, and endless water related sports and activities like diving and boating. Many of the hotels and resorts offer all-inclusive packages, another reason why Ixtapa Mexico is a favorite for people traveling with families or groups of friends. You can oftentimes save a significant amount of money by bundling your vacation expenses. Staying in Ixtapa gives you this option.
Playa Vista Hermosa
If you are hunting down a bit more secluded beach in Ixtapa, you may consider visiting the Playa Vista Hermosa, a beach whose name truly says everything about it. Playa Vista Hermosa does in fact present its eager visitors with some of the most beautiful views of the sea and the tropical landscape. This is a semi-private beach in front of the Westin that you can access through the Westin Hotel entrance. As with all of the Ixtapa beaches, you can expect to find plenty of accommodations, including restrooms, changing rooms, showers, and just about everything else. This is a resort community built for tourists.
Isla Ixtapa
You could also travel off the beaten path to the Isla Ixtapa, which is not at all far from the main resort area, but requires transport by water taxi. Here you will find some more remote beaches that are suited for romantic walks and private mornings and afternoons on the beach. You really cannot go wrong with any of the beaches in Ixtapa Mexico. They tend not to be terribly crowded and you can always find a great place to eat and plenty of things to do.
La Playa del Puerto
This is a beach in Ixtapa that is great for boating, but not so much for swimming. There is no shortage of beautiful scenery here, as you will enjoy mountains and swaying palms in the background. There are some nice seafood restaurants here as well. On one end of the beach is the Municipal Pier where you can charter boats or catch a water taxi to places like Playa Las Gatas.
Playa Las Gatas
This is perhaps the best beach in Ixtapa for snorkeling. It is accessible via a footpath along the coast, beginning at the end of Playa La Ropa. It is a very nominal fee to get here from the Municipal Pier (around 40 pesos). There are dozens of seafood restaurants, great staging points for snorkeling, and places to rent gear and equipment. The Las Gatas Beach Club is located on this beach as well. It is set on a gorgeous nature preserve.
Other Ixtapa beaches include Playa Contramar and Playa La Madera. Ixtapa beaches are all about the large-scale, full-service resorts and luxury hotels that make this destination such a popular one, even when you have choices like Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco not far away. Even with the presence of some major resort complexes, golf courses, and a host of other tourist amenities in the area, you will find that the fine, white sand beaches provide the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and rejuvenating in the sun and surf.
