Ixtapa (Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Ixtapa in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

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Ixtapa, Mexico offers a planned Pacific resort, Playa El Palmar, marina walks, cycling trails, golf and boat trips near Zihuatanejo for relaxed beach holidays.

Planned Resort, Open Pacific Coast

Ixtapa occupies a broad stretch of Mexico’s Pacific coast north-west of Zihuatanejo, with a landscape shaped as much by modern planning as by palms, sand and ocean. Developed as a purpose-built resort from the 1970s, it is more spacious and ordered than historic Zihuatanejo: hotels, apartment complexes, landscaped avenues and the marina are arranged around Playa El Palmar, the principal beach. The result is a destination designed for an easy resort rhythm, with long coastal views, generous public spaces and relatively straightforward connections between the beach, accommodation areas and golfing facilities.

Beach, Marina and Outdoor Life

Playa El Palmar is Ixtapa’s defining public space, offering a long Pacific shoreline for swimming conditions that vary with weather and surf, sunset walks and beachside relaxation. Inland, the Marina Ixtapa brings a different atmosphere, with berths, restaurants and promenades overlooking the water. The Ciclopista de Ixtapa provides one of the area’s most enjoyable ways to explore, linking landscaped resort scenery with quieter stretches of vegetation and wildlife habitat. Golf courses, tennis facilities and water-based excursions add to the neighbourhood’s recreational character without changing its essentially coastal identity.

A Gateway to Zihuatanejo

Ixtapa is not the same place as old Zihuatanejo, whose harbour, central market and winding streets lie nearby to the south-east. The two destinations are commonly visited together, connected by local buses, taxis and road links, but they offer contrasting experiences: Ixtapa is spacious, resort-oriented and planned, while Zihuatanejo feels more rooted in an older fishing-town landscape. Within Ixtapa itself, expect a quieter evening pace away from the marina, broad roads that favour walking or cycling in daylight, and a visitor scene centred on the beach, outdoor recreation and hotel-based facilities.

Explore Ixtapa on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Ixtapa, mapped for you.

Ixtapa essentials

Getting There

Ixtapa is served by Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport, located inland from the resort area, with taxis and pre-arranged transfers providing the most direct onward connection. Visitors arriving from Zihuatanejo can travel along the coastal road by local bus, taxi or private vehicle; the two destinations are close but separated by stretches of road rather than joined by a continuous waterfront route. Long-distance buses generally serve Zihuatanejo, from where local transport continues towards Ixtapa. Hotel transfers can be convenient for travellers carrying luggage, while independent visitors should confirm the authorised airport transport arrangements before leaving the terminal.

Getting Around

Ixtapa is relatively easy to navigate on foot within individual resort zones, particularly around Playa El Palmar, the hotel corridor and Marina Ixtapa, although its broad roads and separated developments make distances feel longer than they appear on a map. Local buses and taxis connect the resort with Zihuatanejo and nearby beaches. The Ciclopista de Ixtapa is useful for cycling and walking, but riders should remain alert at road crossings and in hotter weather. Shade varies, and some routes are more comfortable early or late in the day. Accessibility can also differ between public paths, hotel grounds and beach approaches.

Safety

Use ordinary coastal-resort precautions in Ixtapa: keep belongings close on the beach, avoid leaving valuables unattended in vehicles and take care around traffic when crossing the wide resort roads. Sun, heat and dehydration can become more immediate concerns than distance, so water, shade and sun protection are important during walks or cycling. Follow posted beach and lifeguard advice, particularly when surf conditions change. After dark, use established, well-lit routes and licensed or hotel-arranged taxis when travelling between resort areas, the marina and Zihuatanejo, especially if carrying luggage or unfamiliar with the road layout.

Emergency Situations

Mexico’s national emergency number is 911 for police, fire and medical emergencies. State the location as precisely as possible, giving the hotel, marina, beach access point or nearby road and, where necessary, ask hotel staff or a Spanish-speaking local to assist with communication. For urgent medical care, contact the accommodation provider or emergency services rather than relying on informal directions, since facilities and services may be located outside the immediate resort zone. Keep travel insurance details and identification accessible, and follow official beach warnings or evacuation instructions if issued.

Do's and Don'ts

Respect beach and marine-environment guidance, take rubbish with you and avoid disturbing wildlife or coastal vegetation along the cycling and walking routes. Ask before photographing local people, boat crews or private activities, and remember that hotel grounds and residential developments are not automatically public spaces. In restaurants and shops, a polite greeting and patience are appreciated; tipping is customary for good service, though the amount should reflect the circumstances rather than an assumed fixed rule. Keep noise low near residential accommodation at night, and do not treat the resort as a licence to ignore local beach, traffic or environmental regulations.

Local Tips

Orient yourself by the three main visitor zones: Playa El Palmar for the open coast, Marina Ixtapa for waterfront promenades and dining, and the inland hotel and golf areas for resort facilities. The Ciclopista offers a more revealing view of Ixtapa’s landscape than travelling only by taxi, particularly where it passes through greener stretches. For a change of scenery, local transport makes it practical to combine Ixtapa with Zihuatanejo, but allow time for the road journey rather than planning the two as one compact walking district. Carry sun protection, water and a light layer for breezier evenings.

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics

English	Local	Say it
Hello	Hola	[oh-lah]
Goodbye	Adiós	[ah-dee-ohs]
Yes	Sí	[see]
No	No	[noh]
Please/You're welcome	Por favor/De nada	[por fah-vor/deh nah-dah]
Thank you	Gracias	[grah-see-ahs]
Excuse me/Sorry	Perdón/Lo siento	[pair-dohn/loh see-en-toh]
How are you?	¿Cómo estás?	[koh-moh ehs-tahs]
Fine. And you?	Bien. ¿Y tú?	[bee-ehn. ee too]
Do you speak English?	¿Hablas inglés?	[ah-blahs een-glehs]
I don't understand	No entiendo	[noh ehn-tee-ehn-doh]

Eating & Drinking

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to see the menu, please	Me gustaría ver el menú, por favor	[meh goo-stah-ree-ah behr ehl meh-noo, pour fah-vor]
I don't eat meat	No como carne	[noh koh-moh kahr-neh]
Cheers!	¡Salud!	[sah-lood]
I would like to pay, please	Me gustaría pagar, por favor	[meh goo-stah-ree-ah pah-gahr, pour fah-vor]

Emergencies

English	Local	Say it
Help!	¡Ayuda!	[ah-yoo-dah]
Go away!	¡Vete!	[veh-teh]
Call the Police!	¡Llama a la Policía!	[yah-mah ah lah poh-lee-see-ah]
Call a doctor!	¡Llama a un médico!	[yah-mah ah oon meh-dee-koh]
I'm lost	Estoy perdido/a	[ehs-toy pair-dee-doh/ah]
I'm ill	Estoy enfermo/a	[ehs-toy ehn-fehr-moh/ah]

Shopping

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to buy...	Me gustaría comprar...	[meh goo-stah-ree-ah kohm-prar]
I'm just looking	Sólo estoy mirando	[soh-loh ehs-toy mee-rahn-doh]
How much is it?	¿Cuánto cuesta?	[kwan-toh kweh-stah]
That's too expensive	Eso es demasiado caro	[eh-soh ehs deh-mah-see-ah-doh kah-roh]
Can you lower the price?	¿Puedes bajar el precio?	[pweh-dehs bah-har ehl pree-syoh]

Time & Numbers

English	Local	Say it
What time is it?	¿Qué hora es?	[keh oh-rah ehs]
It's one o'clock	Es la una	[ehs lah oo-nah]
Half past (10)	Son las diez y media	[sohn lahs dyehs ee meh-dee-ah]
Morning	Mañana	[mah-nyah-nah]
Afternoon	Tarde	[tahr-deh]
Evening	Noche	[noh-cheh]
Yesterday	Ayer	[ah-yehr]
Today	Hoy	[oy]
Tomorrow	Mañana	[mah-nyah-nah]
1	Uno	[oo-noh]
2	Dos	[dohs]
3	Tres	[trehs]
4	Cuatro	[kwah-troh]
5	Cinco	[seen-koh]
6	Seis	[says]
7	Siete	[syeh-teh]
8	Ocho	[oh-choh]
9	Nueve	[nweh-veh]
10	Diez	[dyehs]

Transport & Directions

English	Local	Say it
Where's a/the...?	¿Dónde está...?	[dohn-deh ehs-tah]
What's the address?	¿Cuál es la dirección?	[kwahl ehs lah dee-rehk-syohn]
Can you show me (on the map)?	¿Puedes mostrarme (en el mapa)?	[pweh-dehs mohs-trar-meh (ehn ehl mah-pah)]
When's the next (bus)?	¿Cuándo es el próximo (autobús)?	[kwan-doh ehs ehl proh-ksee-moh (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)	Un boleto (a ....)	[oon boh-leh-toh (ah)]

History of Ixtapa

From Coastal Land to Resort Planning

Before tourism transformed the area, the coastal plain around present-day Ixtapa was associated with agricultural land, coconut cultivation and small-scale local activity rather than a large urban settlement. Its broad shoreline and proximity to Zihuatanejo made it suitable for planned tourism, but the resort was not an organic extension of the older town. In the 1970s, Mexico’s national tourism development agency, FONATUR, selected Ixtapa for one of its integrated resort projects, bringing coordinated investment in roads, utilities, hotels and recreational facilities. This planning created the spatial character visitors see today: wide avenues, landscaped grounds and separated hotel, residential, commercial and leisure zones.

The Resort Takes Shape

During the late twentieth century, Ixtapa developed as a complementary resort to Zihuatanejo, using the older town’s cultural and maritime identity while offering a purpose-built setting for larger hotels and organised recreation. Playa El Palmar became the neighbourhood’s principal public beach, while golf, tennis and marina facilities broadened its appeal beyond seaside bathing. New accommodation and commercial areas were arranged along the coast and inland corridors, giving Ixtapa a low-density, spacious appearance compared with more tightly built Mexican resort centres. The division between resort infrastructure and older local communities also became part of the area’s social geography, with visitors frequently moving between Ixtapa’s planned environment and Zihuatanejo’s established urban centre.

A Mature Coastal Destination

As Ixtapa matured, its identity expanded from a hotel development into a wider leisure district supported by a marina, golf facilities, cycling routes and excursions to nearby beaches and islands. Landscaped public areas and the Ciclopista helped preserve access to the coastal setting while accommodating continued tourism growth. The resort remains closely linked commercially and geographically with Zihuatanejo, yet its built form continues to reflect its planned origins. Contemporary debates around coastal development, environmental protection and public access are relevant to the area’s future, particularly where tourism infrastructure meets beaches, wetlands and remaining vegetation. Ixtapa’s history is therefore visible less in old buildings than in the deliberate layout of the resort itself.