If you’re tired of fighting your way to swim-up bars in Cancun and Los Cabos, there’s another resort-laden paradise with numerous direct flights from the U.S. waiting to be discovered.
While many Canadians take advantage of flocking here to escape the blistering cold, Americans are still behind the curve, seeming to give too much credence to travel advisories in favor of the usual safe havens, Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.
Make no mistake, these are Americans’ favorite go-to’s for a reason, but even Cancun, as popular as it may be, has seen random violent crime sprees in touristy areas.
I just got back home from Ixtapa, a sunkissed resort town in the state of Guerrero boasting year-round 90-degree days surrounded by staggering green mountains and swaying palm trees over crystal clear waters and spotless beaches.
Believe it or not, I’m laying my travel reputation on the line as a former Cabo Sun journalist to tell you it’s prettier than Los Cabos and so much less of a burden on your wallet.
Despite Level 4: Do Not Travel designation from the U.S. State Department, Ixtapa is Guerrero’s lone bright spot that couldn’t feel any safer, more luxurious or authentic, especially when it comes to the region’s sinfully delicious coastal cuisine.
Zihuatanejo May Be Trendy, But Don’t Sleep On Ixtapa
“Zihua”, as locals say, has become a trendy destination on many travel lists over the past year or so, largely in part due to the lavish Thompson Hotel opening doors.
But, sometimes vacationers make the mistake of getting too comfortable sticking to the resort grounds without stepping foot in the city, and the temptation is understanding with such posh amenities being thrown at you left and right.
Even if you stay in Zihua, the up-and-coming smaller sister city of Ixtapa is worth venturing over for the beaches alone, and well-equipped for a surge in travelers with such high-end resorts such as:
- Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa
- Hotel Fontan Ixtapa
- Club Med Ixtapa Pacific
- Sunscape Dorado Pacifico
- Barcelo Ixtapa
Ixtapa is only a 20-minute cab ride from the airport (ZIH), and no, there’s no Uber here, but don’t worry about scammy taxi drivers, as rates are clearly published beforehand.
Once you arrive, you’ll discover postcard-worthy beaches, including a certified Blue Flag beach that is literally flawless. There wasn’t a speck of trash in sight walking up and down Playa El Palmar.
While rare, the only concern to keep a watchful eye on are crocodiles and occasional strong currents represented by the color of the flag posted each day.
The small town center is very walkable through the resort area, including a Senor Frogs Cantina. Every resort town has to have one, right?
My Stay At Barcelo Ixtapa
I stayed at 5-star Barcelo Ixtapa, “splurging” on the all-inclusive package for just $170 per night total for 2 people.
Try that in Cabo….
Of the resorts lined along the aforementioned Playa El Palmar, Barcelo seemed to be the most luxurious and undoubtedly offered the best pools, especially the middle pool of the resort’s trio overlooking the Pacific and security guards blocking off pestering vendors.
Shamelessly in “Vacation Mode” for 4 days, I lost count of the Pina Coladas and Cuba Libres I indulged in at both swim-up bars, but my recommendation is to pick your poison rather than house-brand, watered-down slushies.
If you can swing it, booking a corner ‘Oceanview’ room is the way to go, in my opinion, but the mountain views on the opposite side are equally stunning to wake up to.
Treating yourself to ‘Premium’ upgrades isn’t worth it as the buffets are well stocked with a variety of cuisine ranging from an omelet station at breakfast to a seafood lover’s dream on Saturdays with a sprawling feast of grilled lobster tails, spicy octopus, and shrimp paella.
If you book the standard all-inclusive package, just know you’re limited to a single specialty restaurant every 3 days, but multiple buffets and the Caracol Snack Bar more than make up for it.
$5 Well Spent: Take A Day Trip To Isla Ixtapa
The beauty of all-inclusives is you only have to worry about tipping, but if you’ve got an extra Abe Lincoln to spare, then you have to check out Isla Ixtapa via water taxi for only $5 round-trip.
You can book a tour here, but it’s easy to reach on your own and more fun to explore without the language barrier.
To get here, take a cab to Playa Linda and walk by the Crocodile Lagoon, through the souvenir shops to the Embarcadero.
Here is where you’ll buy tickets and board the water taxi. The ride itself is a sight to behold, but I recommend getting off at Playa Verdero instead of Playa Coral as it’s more of a hideaway from fisherman bringing in your soon-to-be sold “catch of the day”.
Choosing a place to eat lunch will be your only headache here, but I suggest El Indio. Ask for Carlos, who was kind enough to provide free sunscreen after my boneheaded mistake of leaving it in my room.
You’ll have a ton of options, but the servers suggest the Mahi Mahi and Ceviche. I had the latter, and it exceeded the hype, along with ice-cold cervezas and a Pina Colada served inside a pineapple.
Snorkeling equipment is only $10 to rent and well worth swimming in the calm waters.
It truly felt like we were inside an aquarium with how many vibrant species of fish we saw.
Ixtapa’s Top Hidden Gem: Ruins Yet To Be Undiscovered
As destinations such as Tulum have sky-rocketed in popularity, a key factor in their newfound fame has been how cool it is to deep-dive into former worlds, unlike anything we experience in today’s screen-addicted society.
While Ixtapa doesn’t offer staggering ruins to the levels of like Teotihicuan or Chichen Itza, just 40 minutes away is Xihuacan (a.k.a. “La chole”), a smaller site accessible by guided tours for a surcharge or free to enter on your own.
Dating back 3000 years, the well-preserved ruins of Xihuacan are still being unearthed to this day.
You’ll find a museum of artifacts used by various cultures over time amongst clay pyramids and a Mesoamerican ball court.
TripAdvisor ranks the Xihuacan Culture and Archaeology Tour as the top guide for exploring this hidden world of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s past.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
