Zihuatanejo Rental Guide

Zihuatanejo (see-wha-tah-NEH-ho), down the coast (southeast) from Ixtapa is an old fishing town on a picturesque sheltered bay that is only 1.6 miles wide. Unlike any other Mexican beach resort destination, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, only 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) apart, comprise two entirely different places with distinct lifestyles.

Zihuatanejo, on the "Mexican Riviera", is located in the northwestern part of the state of Guerrero, 237 km (147 mi) northeast of Acapulco via coastal Highway 200.

Golfers can choose between two award-winning courses, one designed by Robert Trent Jones. At one end of Ixtapa, as you enter on the way from Zihuatanejo, is the 18-hole Ixtapa Golf Club. At the other end, the Marina Ixtapa development includes a 600-slip yacht marina, and the new 18-hole Marina Golf Course.

Until the advent of Ixtapa, tranquil and peaceful Zihuatanejo was hardly known even among Mexicans. Along with Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo began to grow and the little dirt streets were paved with decorative brick. Yet, the town retains its original charm, traditions and congeniality.

The temperature averages 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with summer highs in the low 90s and winter highs in the upper 80s. During the rainy season, June through September, showers are usually brief and generally at night, so the sun shines practically every day.

Toward the end of the rainy season, the countryside and the mountainous backdrop of the Sierra Madre del Sur turn brilliantly green with multicolored blossoms of trees and flowers. A few months after the rainy season, vegetation turns gradually brown until the rainy season begins again.

This seaport has an international airport, several hotels and tourist services. The local activities are fishing and farming. Explore the cobblestone streets of the central area (el centro) where some of the best markets and traditional cuisine can be found.

The brick-paved beachfront promenade (paseo del pescador or fisherman's walk) is only a quarter of a mile long. La Madera, La Ropa, and Las Gatas are all names of the main beaches.

Other Zihuatanejo Sites Worth Visiting:

• La Casa Cafe, an outdoor, tropical patio breakfast and lunch restaurant has been dubbed a "must go" by Moon Travel Guide. Great house coffee, cappuccinos, latte & frappes, as well as a great blend of both Mexican & American foods. The owners are from Portland, Oregon and friendly and willing to share a lot of local information.