Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo

Ixtapa is a natural paradise, and for this reason it was distinctively chosen by the Mexican government to become a hot spot tourist heaven; and on a minor scale, it was also chosen by Patawalk as a virtual tour destination. The history of this place is very straightforward, at one point, Ixtapa used to be a coconut plantation, but in 1968 the government along with one of Mexico's wealthiest banks planned and constructed what is now a tourist resort. As you'll see the city is organized in a very meticulous manner, the blocks are huge and conspicuously fashioned in odd shapes. As further proof of Ixtapa's purpose as a tourist destination is the over five thousand hotel room and villas available to the public. Most of the hotels here belong to well-known international chains, and can be found within the 2-mile long hotel strip.

The name Ixtapa comes from the Nahuatl language and it means, "The White Place." Upon laying eyes on the beautiful and quite pristine beaches of Ixtapa, you'll know why it was called "The White Place." Regardless of which beach you visit, you'll notice that all of these have sands as white as snow and oh, so fine and soft! Also, the city is constantly maintained, so its cleanliness really stands out.

As a hot-spot for tourists, Ixtapa provides tourists with a vast array of activities. Here you can enjoy anything from beach volleyball, horse-back riding, shopping, snorkeling, parachuting, scuba diving, to surfing and everything else in between.

One of Ixtapa's main beaches is El Palmar, which offers a variety of water sports including surfing and swimming. A nearby attraction is La Mariana de Ixtapa which has the capacity to dock over 100 yatchs and it even has a golf course! Another interesting and fun-filled must-do activity in Ixtapa is parachuting. Here, you can take a parachute ride which allows you to truly take in the entire city and the surrounding areas. If you're looking for something much more exhilarating and a total adrenaline rush, then take the plunge or should I say drop off a plane and skydive. Another popular Ixtapa beach is Linda Playa (Beautiful Beach) and it truly honors its name. This beach is in the northern part of Ixtapa and unlike most other beaches this one features not only a pier where you can visit a nearby island but at the entrance of the pier you can see a small swamp with real-life alligators, whoa! Horseback riding is readily available at this particular beach. Playa Quieta (Calm Beach) is another excellent beach. Although only one mile long, this beach is definitely calm and peaceful; it is the perfect spot to truly relax.

Aside from all the entertainment in the beaches, the city of Ixtapa offers other options. For instance, if you'd like to take a break from the beach but still want to have aquatic fun, then you must go to Magic World. This is an aquatic recreation park, something like an aquatic theme park. You'll find a pool with waves (which mimics the ocean), water slides for all ages and levels of expertise, and even a pirate ship. Ever heard of swimming with the fishes? Well, at Delfinti you can. Here you are offered the opportunity of a lifetime, to swim with the Dolphins and you can even have your young child do so too. Enjoy a little of the wilderness by going to Parque Aventura (Adventure Park) where you can walk through trees on a hanging bridge or a zip-line. These are things you can only see in the movies, so why not experience it in real life?

But not all activities are reserved for the day. Ixtapa proudly boasts of an active and fun-filled nightlife too. The night is always young in Ixtapa and you can find it all in the boulevard and surrounding areas. Let me recommend Christine Club Ixtapa, which offers a wealth of music and is the perfect combination of all kinds of vibrant music; so dress to impress. Something more informal and perfect for you no matter your age is the classic Senor Frogs.

If you're in the mood for some shopping then go downtown. Ixtapa has a boulevard dedicated to all kinds of shopping centers and specialty stores. Whatever it is you're looking for, be it a leather coat, silver jewelry, or a simple ornament, you'll surely find it here. But one thing you must surely buy is a world-famous "hamaca" (hammock). Interestingly, this lounging invention is native to this state. Another staple of this state that you must acquire is a pair of "huaraches," which are handmade leather sandals.

Before you start packing that two-piece bikini and that sunscreen, first come take the virtual tour at Patawalk!

motion activated sprinkler