Version ESPAÑOL
	(Previously Casa Mia Bungalows) In IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO MEXICO A SMALL, BEAUTIFUL, SECLUDED FISHING VILLAGE.
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This sleep little fishing village on a beautiful bay is home to about 55,000 inhabitants, most involved in the business of tourism. The streets have been recently repaved with decorative red brick, and lots of shop's and restaurants have sprung up. But fishermen still bring their daily catch to the town dock in the mornings, the produce market bustles with activity and the local boys still play soccer on the beach at sunset. lt's fun just to walk around town and enjoy the malls and the local scenery.

Take a stroll along Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman's Walk) by the waterfront and browse along Cuauhtemoc and Pedro Ascencio streets where you'll see some interesting shops. The town plaza has recently undergone a complete facelift, and the clean and well-de-fined beachfront walkways lead lo any number of seafood restaurants, shops and several clean budget hotels. At night you can join the townsfolk at the plaza cheer on their favorite team in a local basketball game, which adds color to an already picturesque scene. The fishing and excursion boat activities don't make this area's beach good for swimming. A five-minute walk north takes you to the city pier, where the fishing and tour boats are moored, and the BIG catches are weighed in. The newly built walkway south, which is romantically lit at night by gas lanterns takes you past the museum, where for a small admission fee you can see some relics of the region's history.

The walk way winds southward along the rocky coast to Playa la Madera, a lovely clandestine beach popular with families who frequent the more economical bungalows and hostelries.		For excellent beaches and super panoramic views take a 10-minute drive over the hill to Playa la Ropa. lt's the same bay but it's another world.

From the mountainside you have majestic views of the bay and the town. Then you descend to the beach with its gentle waves and fine white sand. The hotels here are the best in town.

Water Sports

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The waters around Zihuatanejo have long been famed for the abundance and variety of game fish, large and small. From sailfish and marlin to rooster fish, mackerel. Wahoo, yellowtail and bonito. The best time to catch the big ones is from December through March. Fishermen can make their own rental arrangements at the pier in Zihuatanejo, where there is a modest but good fishing fleet, or make arrangements through the hotel travel desk. Other popular Water Sports in La Ropa Beach include water-skiing, parachute gliding, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing and wind surfing. Zihuatanejo Bay, especially La Ropa beach, is ideal for water-skiing. as well as wind surfing, while Las Gatas and Isla Ixtapa are popular for snorkeling. Many fine diving sites are located off the coast of Zihuatanejo-lxtapa, and excursions leave from Zihuatanejo, Las Gatas and Isla Ixtapa. Playa Quieta, near Club Med. is a favorite sailing area. Parachute gliding, meaning being harnessed into a parachute and pulled by a speedboat high over the bay, is a popular beach pastime. it's fun and usually it's safe. But accidents do happen, so be aware that it can be dangerous and that there's no one to sue in case of an accident.

Playa las Gatas

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Further south along the bay is Playa las Gatas. This beautiful. semi-isolated beach lies at the far end of Zihuatanejo Bay and is only accessible by the pangas (boats) that run between the town pier and a mini-dock on Las Gatas beach. Last boats returns at 5 p.m. The beach is protected by an underwater reef and is nestled at the foot of the mountains. It is popular for its open-air informal seafood restaurants specializing in delicious grilled lobster. It is usually quite crowded on weekends. A walk to the end of the coral and shell studded beach will bring you to 0wens Lee's "ecological center", a place where you can sit under a big shady tree and watch the sunset in perfect isolation. You can even rent a bungalow and stay there for a few days. The waters are ideal for snorkeling and diving, but it´s a good idea to use tennis shoes to walk around the rocks but not on the coral, Scuba and snorkeling gear is for rent, and instructors are available. The flies can be somewhat bother during the summer, so be sure to take along some insect repellent. From your hotel you can arrange transportation, the boat trip, lunch, and beach facilities. Check with your hotel travel desk.

Isla Ixtapa

One popular outing is by boat to charming Isla Ixtapa for swimming and relaxing on a sheltered beach facing the mainland, just north of the main Ixtapa beach, but not visible from the hotels. The island's beaches are excellent and practically free of surf. On the island is a selection of several open air palapa restaurants serving fresh fish and cold beer. The island is a national park and the habitat of many bird and animal species, including deer, armadillos and raccoons. You can take tours to Isla Ixtapa and spend the better part of a day there. Or you can take a launch from Playa Quieta on the mainland directly in front of the island. They run back and forth all day long. Playa Quieta, about a 20-minute drive north of the Ixtapa hotel zone, is a popular sailing and wind surfing beach because of its usually calm surf, which is due to the island located directly in front.