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Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Basics |
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 © istockphoto.com/Alysta |
With the twin ports of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, you get two resorts in one. Ixtapa is a one-time coconut plantation turned into a world-class luxury resort and eco-preserve. Zihuatanejo is a prototypical Mexican fishing village run large. Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are located in the Mexican State of Guerrero, and have a population of about 70,000 inhabitants between them.
The mainstay of the Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo economy is tourism. Ixtapa is a planned community owned by the Mexican Tourism Development Agency FONATUR, while Zihuatanejo is
run by elected public officials. They don't allow building over six stories high in Zihuatanejo.
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo have a tropical climate, and it's hot and humid year round. The cities enjoy more than 300 days of sun each year, and the average annual temperature is 80° F (27° C). The Dry Season (winter) stretches from mid-October through May, while the Rainy Season (summer) lasts from June to mid-October.
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As you enter tranquil and pleasant Zihuatanejo Bay, you will see the pretty little fishing and tourist village of Zihuatanejo directly ahead of you. Once in the town, you will notice that it has retained its original charm, traditions and congeniality, despite the influx of tourists. The downtown area (el centro) features small restaurants, shops and a very pleasant brick-paved beachfront promenade (paseo del pescador or fisherman's walk).
Your ship will drop anchor in the bay, and you will proceed ashore via ship's tender. The tender will take you to the small pier in Zihuatanejo. The traditional Mexican village of Zihuatanejo is a one minute walk from the Zihuatanejo pier. Transit to the Ixtapa resort, only 5-miles away, takes about 10 minutes.
If you've signed up for an excursion, you will meet your transportation and/or your guide at the Zihuatanejo pier.
The Ixtapa "hotel zone" extends along a 2-mile strip of wide sandy beach called Playa del Palmar that faces the open Pacific. This area is bookmarked by a golf course at one end and a small-craft marina, replete with pleasure boats, on the other.
Don't confuse Ixtapa with Isla Ixtapa; Ixtapa is on the mainland, while Isla Ixtapa is an island a short distance to the north of Ixtapa itself. It's worth a visit. |
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 © istockphoto.com/designheidi |
The villages of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo are on Central Time, six hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or five hours during daylight savings time. Daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday of April, and ends on the last Sunday of October. |
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Spanish is universally spoken in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo; most of the shopkeepers catering to tourists also speak English.
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The U. S. Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico about the security situation in Mexico.
"Since 2006, the Mexican government has engaged in an extensive effort to combat transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The TCOs, meanwhile, have been engaged in a vicious struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity...
"There is no evidence that U.S. tourists have been targeted by criminal elements due to their citizenship. Nonetheless, while in Mexico you should be aware of your surroundings at all times and exercise particular caution in unfamiliar areas..."
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Currency
The Peso is Mexico's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the peso amount.
As of February 3, 2012, the exchange rate was roughly 12.60 Pesos per US dollar.
Just be aware: larger notes (e.g., $500 Peso notes) are often difficult to change.
Banks and ATMs
Banks with ATM machines are found throughout Ixtapa's hotels and in the village of Zihuatanejo, near where your ship's tender will dock. ATM machines in the two cities can be found at the following locations:
- Citibank: has ATMs at their branches on Ave. Ejido at Vicente Guerrero, in Zihuatanejo, and at Plaza Los Arcos, L16, in Ixtapa.
- Santander has ATMs at their branches on Blvd. Ixtapa s/n in Ixtapa, and at Av. Benito Juarez at Los Mangos in Zihuatanejo.
- BBVA Bancomer: has ATMs at their branches at Plaza Don Juan in Ixtapa, and at Av. Benito Juarez at Nicolas Bravo in Zihuatanejo.
- HSBC Mexico: has ATMs at their branches on Blvd. Ixtapa S/N, in Ixtapa, and at Av. H. Colegio Militar s/n in Zihuatanejo.
See our Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo ATM map for the locations of the above ATMs.
Using US Dollars in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
As US dollars are widely accepted in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, you don't have to change your dollars into pesos. If you're using dollars alone, make sure to bring smaller denominations to pay for incidentals and taxi rides.
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 © istockphoto.com/Tyrannosaur |
| Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo weather is almost always sunny, hot and humid. There are two seasons in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: winter, or the Dry Season, lasting from November through April, and summer, or the Rainy Season, which lasts from May through October.
In the dry season, expect daily highs in the high-80s F, with moderate humidity. In the rainy season, expect highs in the low-90s F and humidity that really gets to you; it'll rain up to 4 times per week (but in quick afternoon or evening bursts). The cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo get around 50 inches of rain each year; most of it falls from June through October. They also enjoy more than 300 days of sun each year.
In the winter months, the average sea surface temperature is in the low-70s F (about 22° C); it rises to the low-80s F in the summer months. In the rainy season, the average sea surface temperature ranges between 82° to 84° F (27° to 28° C).
August through October is the hurricane season. |
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Average Temperatures |
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Jan |
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Feb |
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Mar |
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Apr |
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May |
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Jun |
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Jul |
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Aug |
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Sep |
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Oct |
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Nov |
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Dec |
| Avg High - F |
87 |
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87 |
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87 |
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89 |
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89 |
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91 |
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91 |
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91 |
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89 |
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89 |
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89 |
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87 |
| Avg High - C |
31 |
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31 |
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31 |
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32 |
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32 |
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33 |
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33 |
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33 |
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32 |
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32 |
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32 |
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31 |
| Avg Low - F |
68 |
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68 |
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71 |
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73 |
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75 |
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77 |
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77 |
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77 |
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75 |
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75 |
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73 |
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69 |
| Avg Low - C |
20 |
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20 |
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22 |
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23 |
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24 |
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25 |
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25 |
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25 |
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24 |
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24 |
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23 |
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21 |
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Average Precipitation |
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Jan |
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Feb |
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Mar |
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Apr |
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May |
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Jun |
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Jul |
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Aug |
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Sep |
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Oct |
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Nov |
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Dec |
| Avg, Inches |
1.0 |
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0.1 |
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0.0 |
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0.0 |
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0.8 |
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7.6 |
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8.0 |
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8.8 |
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15.3 |
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4.4 |
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1.0 |
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0.5 |
| Avg, mm |
26 |
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3 |
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0 |
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0 |
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21 |
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186 |
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196 |
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216 |
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374 |
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108 |
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26 |
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11 |
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 © istockphoto.com/YinYang |
Internet Cafes
There are many Cyber Cafes in downtown Zihuatanejo and in the Ixtapa area. Rates are fairly reasonable, ranging from $15 to $75 pesos/hour. The following is only a partial list.
- Zihuatanejo Bar-Net, Below the Hotel Zihuatanejo Centro on Agustin Ramirez #9, Zihuatanejo. Drinks & snacks available. Open daily till 11:00 pm.
- Xtapa Conexxion, at Centro Commercial Ixtapa plaza #15 Ixtapa. Best internet connection in Ixtapa; coffee and drinks, nice music. $75 pesos/hour.
- Bad Bird Internet Cafe, Above Playa La Madera across from Bungalows Ley and Hotel Brisas del Mar, Zihuatanejo. Coffee and snacks served.
- Cyber Internet Cafe, Plaza Los Patios #105, Ixtapa.
See our Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Internet Cafes Map for the locations of the above internet access points.
Finding US Newspapers
US newspapers are tough to come by in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, even at the larger hotels catering to tourists from the US. The News, an English language newspaper from Mexico City, is available from some shops.
Kindle Connectivity
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In Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, you can download your Kindle newspaper and magazine subscriptions, as well as books and selected blogs, through Telcel's 3-G coverage in the city. |
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 © istockphoto.com/adamdodd |
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Local Holidays & Festivals |
Look for the following local festivals, holidays and events taking place in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo in 2012: |
- Ano Nuevo (New Year's Day), January 1. National holiday celebrated with dances and fiestas.
- Dia de los Santos Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), January 6. A national holiday celebrating the New Testament story of the arrival of the three wise men who each brought a gift to the Christ child. It's the day that children receive gifts as well as shoes full of candy, and people buy a pastry called rosca de reyes.
- Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day), February 5. Public holiday commemorating the signing of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The day is marked by festivals and a government-sponsored parade.
- Carnaval, February 15 to 22. Several cities in Mexico make a big deal out of the Carnival season; in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, it's not as big as as in Mazatlán, but they still have fun.
- Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 21. A public holiday celebrating the birthday of Benito Juarez, who rose from humble origins to occupy the Presidency of the Republic in the second half of the 19th century. Since it takes place on Wednesday in 2012, people also get off on Monday, March 19.
- Food and Wine Festival of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, March 22 to 24. Acclaimed chefs and mixologists take participants on a culinary adventure of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
- Semana Santa (Easter Week), April 1 to 8. The week before Easter is the busiest week of the year. The city provides free concerts, theater performances and fiestas. Also taking place during this period is Petatlan's County Fair, featuring livestock exhibitions, games and fun for the whole family.
- Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1. A national holiday.
- Cinco de Mayo, May 5. A Mexican holiday that commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army defeated a French force twice its size just south of Mexico City.
- Election Day, July 1. A national holiday set aside for the election of a new Mexican president in 2012.
- Independence Day, September 16. A celebratory parade through town commences at 9:00 am. Look for the delivery of the "El Grito de Dolores," the official grunt that marks the day.
- Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day), October 12. Dia de la Raza is how Mexico celebrates Columbus Day.
- Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 1 to 2. Celebrants build private altars to honor the deceased, using sugar skulls, flowers and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed.
- Revolution Day, November 20. A national holiday celebrating the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
- Inauguration Day, December 1. In 2012, this national holiday celebrates the inauguration of the new Mexican president.
- Fiesta de la Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. Marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration season.
- Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), December 12. Commemorates the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. It's a festive occasion.
- Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. A public and religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.
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 © istockphoto.com/Windzepher |
The port of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo has been a popular choice for ships making extended Mexican Riviera voyages. However, significant cutbacks on trips to peripheral Mexican Riviera ports have left this port with a much reduced schedule. In 2012, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo will host only just over 6,000 cruise ship passengers on 4 ships. If you'd like to see which cruise ships are scheduled to arrive in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, check out our Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Cruise Ship Schedule - 2012.
The following cruise line makes port in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo:
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Holland America |
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 © istockphoto.com/madisonwi |
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© 2008-2012 CruisePortInsider.com |
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