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 Travel & Outdoors | February 2008 
Two Mexican Resorts for the Price of One
 Dr. W. Gifford Jones - The Standard
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| | Sunset on Zihuatanejo Bay (TripAdvisor) | | |
Like ham and eggs or apple pie and cheese, some things go better together. For this reason, two Mexican hideaways, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, are like kissing cousins, situated on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Known as the Mexican Riviera, they are superb locations for escaping the winter. I always had a desire to visit Ixtapa and, to my delight, found that the picturesque village of Zihuatanejo was a mere 10 minutes away. Being of Scottish heritage, I hit the jackpot by finding two holiday locations for the price of one. And I have a well-kept secret on how to stay well in Mexico, and other locations.
I resided in Ixtapa, a modern resort that shares with Zihuatanejo one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. At times, when there's a strong surf and undertow, attention must be paid to warning flags. Both locations have first-class restaurants and outstanding golf courses designed by Robert Trent-Jones.
And during winter months you can not only relax on the beach, but go whale watching during the annual migration.
Hotels in Ixtapa are centrally located along the three-kilometre stretch of beach, making them close to everything. Also, an impeccably tree-lined boulevard separates the hotels from a well-designed commercial area.
But I fell in love with the picturesque fishing village of Zihuatanejo. It's a charming little town situated on one of the most beautiful bays I've ever seen.
Although my hotel was in Ixtapa, I spent most of my time enjoying Zihuatanejo's beauty and tranquility.
From the centre of the town, it takes only a few minutes to walk to the town pier where fishing and tour boats are moored. In the morning, fishermen still bring their daily catch to the town dock where the fish are weighed.
The produce market is a hive of activity during the day and in the evening local boys still play soccer on the beach.
It's also fun to take a stroll along Pasco del Pescador (Fisherman's Walk) on the waterfront, then explore the quaint cobble-lined streets of this old town.
Both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo provide ample entertainment. But again, I spent most evenings in the quaint atmosphere of old Zihuatanejo, where there are many seafood restaurants.
Each Sunday evening, the central plaza becomes a festival of colour with local bands and dancers.
Hotels in Zihuatanejo are older and smaller than in Ixtapa. La Casa Que Canta is an exclusive hilltop hideaway and Villa del Sol a chic beachfront hotel. They are as close as you'll ever get to paradise. You can spend an enjoyable day by taking a boat from the town pier across the bay to Playa las Gatas. This beach is nestled at the foot of the mountains and is protected by an underwater reef.
It's easy to rent snorkelling and scuba diving gear. But once you've explored the reef's marine life, it's time to savour a carefree dinner at one of the many open-air seafood restaurants on the beach that specialize in succulent grilled lobster.
So if you're tired of winter's cold, here's an opportunity to escape to two beautiful Mexican retreats for the price of one.
As a medical journalist, I can't resist telling you how to keep well while travelling in Mexico and elsewhere. I stayed free of Monetezuma's Revenge and the Hong Kong Trots in trips to Mexico and Egypt by taking Dukoral. It's an oral vaccination that protects against traveller's diarrhea and enables you to spend more time on the beach than in the bathroom. Ask your doctor about it a few weeks before you go. |
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