Before development, Ixtapa's main attraction was without question the white-sand beaches along the ocean, and they remain the major draw for most visitors. Playa Palmar is the main stretch of sand fronting the town's high-rise hotels. Water-sport enthusiasts flock to the sea for jet skiing and parasailing. The main beach has few public access points, so visitors not staying at the ocean front hotels may sometimes have difficulty hitting the sand. Fortunately, heading north of town will take visitors to quieter beaches like Playa Linda and Playa Quieta, which are favored by local residents more than foreign tourists. Access isn't as much of an issue there, and the waters are just as warm.
A small island just off the coast, Isla Ixtapa is mostly undeveloped. Visitors can reach it by a short boat ride from Playa Linda at the northern fringe of Ixtapa. With clear tranquil water and a coral reef, the island offers snorkeling and scuba diving.
Those looking to escape the sand and surf can head to the ropes course at Parque Aventura, about three miles north of Ixtapa. Located in a tropical forest, the park has zip lines and canopy platforms a la Swiss Family Robinson. It's open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The park's Spanish-only website is parque-aventura.com.
While Ixtapa isn't considered a hot spot for a wildlife safari, a couple of attractions let visitors check out some of the local animals. A crocodile reserve in Playa Linda houses iguanas, native birds and crocodiles. Tourists can also get close to dolphins at Delfiniti. The water park offers the chance to swim with bottlenose dolphins (for a $124 as of 2010), or visitors can just observe the marine mammals from a distance.
Delfiniti
Lote Anexo 6B
Zona Hotelera 1
Ixtapa, Guerrero México, C.P. 40880
+52 (755) 553-2736
delfiniti.com
