Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo sit next to each other on Mexico's Pacific coast but feel like different places. Ixtapa is the planned resort town: modern hotels, palm-lined boulevards, and a marina. Zihuatanejo, a short drive away, is the original fishing village with cobblestone streets and a slower rhythm. The cruise port sits between the two, so you can go either direction. Zihuatanejo's Playa La Ropa is one of the better swimming beaches on this stretch of coast, with calm water and palapa restaurants right on the sand. For food, ceviche from a street stall in Zihuatanejo or grilled fish at a beachfront restaurant in Ixtapa are both worth doing. The town market in Zihuatanejo sells handicrafts, embroidered textiles, and silver jewellery. Taxis between the two towns run frequently and cost very little.