Ixtapa, Mexico - Paradise on the Pacific!

Ixtapa, Mexico – The small gem of the Pacific

By:  Jennifer Walters, Dolphin Vacations

Remembering our honeymoon to the small, lazy seaside resort destination of Ixtapa always brightens my day. Even though it has been 10 years since that momentous trip, thankfully little has changed in this serene Pacific hideaway.  Actually, little has changed since this tourist resort area became a reality in the early 1970’s that was once a coconut plantation. The original settlement of Zihuatanejo located about 5 miles away is the quaint Mexican town with the old fashioned Mexican culture and charm and where the International Airport is located.

Besides being a small, charming ocean front destination to relax, unwind and view some of the most spectacular sunsets, this area offers wonderful excursions. One of the most memorable things we did on our honeymoon here was deep sea fishing. Because the Pacific side of Mexico is renowned for its abundance of big game fish, we came back into port with a huge Sailfish (which we decided to mount and have sent to us!) and an even larger Blue Marlin. Locals were lined up along the pier to see our catch of the day. It was exhilarating to fight those big fish for over an hour. I highly recommend trying it out! Another very popular and memorable experience in Ixtapa is swimming with Dolphins or taking a Catamaran cruise to view the famed sunsets while cruising peacefully at sea. Ixtapa Island, accessible by a 5-minute water taxi, is just a short drive away. Here, you can relax the day away while being waited on hand and foot with cool beverages and delicious seafood. This is also a popular spot to snorkel and swim in the warm Pacific. Of course, parasailing and jet skiing is available all along the coast. Shopping in the market areas and upscale boutiques for beautiful Mexican wares are very abundant and just a short walk away.

The twelve small, deluxe high-rise resorts that line Playa El Palmar beach in the heart of Ixtapa are continuously giving themselves updates in stylish room décor and grounds. Most of the rooms in Ixtapa offer breathtaking views of the Pacific and rock formations on your private balcony like the Dorado Pacifico Resort where we stayed and absolutely loved. We even slept with the slider open a couple times to listen to the wonderful sound of the pounding surf.  

You now have more options for all-inclusive resorts compared to 10 years ago when we visited, but overall Ixtapa is still a destination for those of you who enjoy venturing out and about and like to experience different restaurant atmospheres and ethnic dishes. Ixtapa and Zihuantanejo offer a diverse selection of over 200 restaurants. We experienced Italian, Seafood and of course, delicious Mexican cuisine while we were there. You can either walk across the street from your resort, drive a short distance to the charming Marina area in Ixtapa or drive to the bay on Zihuatanejo for an overabundance of dining options. We splurged one night and made reservations at the fabulous, upscale Casa de Canta restaurant overlooking the bay in Zihautanejo. It was worth every penny (or peso!) and I highly recommend it.

Like most Pacific destinations, Ixtapa enjoys little to no rain between the months of January to the beginning of May and average temps in the 80’s.

If you would like to learn more about this fantastic destination, please contact me at 616-772-9660 or e-mail at Jenniferw@dolphinvacations.net.