| Meaning "white place"
in Náhuatl, the resort town of Ixtapa was founded in 1972
by FONATUR
(the National Fund for Tourism Development). Ixtapa is the place
to go for luxurious resorts and discos.
Zihuatanejo, only 10 kilometers (four miles) to the south, is a
fishing town, full of cobblestone streets, boutiques and traditional
markets. On Sunday night, there is dancing and folkloric music at
the zócalo.
NATURAL WORLD
These two places share impressive vistas with the crashing waves
of the Pacific to the west, and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain
chain to the east.
One secret that these beaches have to offer during winter months
is great whale-watching during their annual migration.
BEACHES
Playa La Ropa (Beach of the Clothes ) is located south of town.
It was named after a wrecked Spanish galleon coming from the Philippines
spilled its cargo cargo of fine silks which then washed ashore.
More than 30 scuba diving sites are in the vicinity, including
some in Zihuatanejo Bay
TURTLES
Four of the world's marine turtle species -- the leatherback,
olive ridley, hawksbill turtle and the black turtle -- live and/or
nest in the waters and beaches around Zihuatanejo. The hotels along
Playa La Ropa participate in a turtle conservation program. More
information about Mexico's turtles, here.
CRAFTS
Numerous boutique stores offer local crafts, including woven straw
hats, silver and leather goods.
LANGUAGE
The name Zihuatanejo is from the Nahuatl "Cihuatlán"
meaning "the place of women" because it was a matriarchal
society.
INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT
Keeping in line with the original mission of FONATUR which is
to maintain half of the property free from commercialism, the hotels
of Ixtapa are all centrally located on a two-mile stretch of beach.
A new highway running between the Pacific coast and large inland
cities including Morelia
promises to reduce travel time from 12 hours to four.
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