About Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
The twin destinations of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo complement each other, making up one of the most diverse and attractive destinations in the Mexican Riviera – Mexico’ s Pacific coast – a compelling region where you can enjoy different types of environments, landscapes, and an array of beaches, appealing to people of all kinds of taste.
Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo
The small quaint fishing town of Zihuatanejo is the traditional side of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, conserving its charming heritage and humble environment. It still possesses many cobblestone paved streets, hand made crafts, folk art, world class fishing, soothing walks on the beach, harmonizing sunsets and warm weather; attracting people that seek a more private and calmer retreat.
The city’s name Zihuatanejo stems from its original Nahuatl name ‘Cihuatlan.’ ‘Cihua’ means women and ‘tlan’ means place of, giving it the meaning “place of women.” Madera beach received its name in the 1920’s because the town became known as an exporter of fine wood. La Ropa Beach, meaning Clothing Beach, derives from a Chinese shipwreck that brought all its materials to shore, strewing the stretch of white-sanded beach with it’s cargo of clothing and textiles.
Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Separated from Zihuatanejo by a hill and several coves, Ixtapa is a more refined and popular destination for people searching for a more modern feel. Ixtapa, with its long stretch of Playa el Palmar as well as other smaller beaches, hosts an array of first-class high rise hotels, condominiums, houses, gorgeous landscapes, two championship golf courses, the first class Ixtapa Marina, restaurants and night clubs.
FONATUR (Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo – or the National Tourism Board of Mexico) began this tourist resort in the early ’70s welcoming high class tourism. It’s a small world class resort for the tourist who don’t gravitate toward the big city scene or crowded destinations. The white sands in the area gave Ixtapa its name; a Nahuatl word that means “the white place.”
Looking out over the bay
Sheltered among the prolific Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo share their captivating white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, warm weather and 300 sunny days out o the year. July and August are the hottest months of the year, averaging 84º F-91º F. Cooler months, December – February, average 70º F-73ºF. The rainy season starts in June and carries on through September and sometimes through mid October. The water temperatures at the beaches averages 79º F annually.
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Text prepared by Antonio Kunze for MBPRealEstate.com