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Ixtapa isn’t an organic city; it was master-planned by Mexico’s tourism agency FONATUR in the 1970s and opened in 1981. That means its neighborhoods are clean and logical: a beachfront hotel zone, a quiet northern beach area, a marina district, and the older fishing town of Zihuatanejo just south. The things to do in Ixtapa guide lists what to do in each area, and the Ixtapa travel guide has the big picture.
Neighborhoods in Ixtapa: Zona Hotelera (El Palmar)
The Zona Hotelera is the resort strip along Playa El Palmar, from Paseo Ixtapa north to the Playa Linda turnoff. This is where the big all-inclusives sit: Las Brisas, the Holiday Inn Resort, Posada Real and Azul Ixtapa. It’s walkable, well lit and tourist-focused, with restaurants and shops along Boulevard Ixtapa. It suits first-time visitors and families who want the beach, pools and kids’ clubs within a two-minute walk. Rooms here run from about US$90 to 300 a night depending on season. The Ixtapa weather by month guide shows which months fill these rooms fastest.
Neighborhoods in Ixtapa: Playa Linda and Playa Quieta
The northern end of the resort holds Playa Linda and Playa Quieta, the two calmest beaches, plus the crocodile reserve and the Isla Ixtapa boat pier. It’s quieter and less built up than El Palmar, with a couple of all-inclusives like the Qualton Club and several condo complexes. It suits families with young kids and anyone who wants still water. There are fewer restaurants here, so plan on eating at your hotel or taxiing south; the Ixtapa travel tips and FAQ guide has taxi costs.
Neighborhoods in Ixtapa: Marina Ixtapa
Built around a yacht harbor at the resort’s north end, Marina Ixtapa is the most upscale corner: a Robert von Hagge golf course, condominiums, a small shopping plaza and the pier for sport-fishing charters. It’s residential and calm, aimed at golfers, boat owners and longer-stay visitors. Few hotels are here, so most people stay in the Zona Hotelera and come up for golf or a meal. The best time to visit Ixtapa guide covers the best golf season.
Neighborhoods in Ixtapa: Zihuatanejo Centro
Five kilometers south, Zihuatanejo Centro is the authentic counterweight to the resort: a fishing pier, the municipal market, the seafront malecón and streets of small restaurants and budget hotels. It’s the place for cheap seafood, local culture and the events and festivals in Ixtapa guide. Budget hotels here run US$40 to 90 a night. It suits backpackers, couples and travelers who prefer a real Mexican town over an all-inclusive bubble.
Neighborhoods in Ixtapa: Playa La Ropa and Playa Las Gatas
On the bay’s eastern shore, Playa La Ropa is Zihuatanejo’s best beach and its most desirable residential area, a 1 km crescent of sand with beach clubs, boutique hotels and villas on the hillside above. Playa Las Gatas, a short boat ride away, is a protected snorkeling cove. La Ropa suits couples and longer-stay visitors; hotels here run US$80 to 250 a night. The where to stay in Ixtapa guide covers the hotels near both beaches.
