When to Visit - Arts and Events

Mariachi bands often play on the beaches and in restaurants around Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, serenading diners with romantic ballads; the favourite being 'Zihuatanejo'. Hiring a band to serenade a sweetheart is an old Mexican tradition and they can also be hired for private functions. At Petatlán, a short drive south on the coastal highway, the Féria de Semana Santa (Easter Week Fair) is an opportunity to experience a traditional Mexican festival, as well as the town's renowned open-air gold market.

October sees the annual regatta at San Jeronimito bringing together boats from the region's villages in friendly competition, whilst in mid-November, the three-day Marlin and Sailfish deep sea 'Total Catch & Release' tournament takes place off Zihuatanejo, with winning teams qualifying for the IGFA International Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. On New Year's Eve the residents of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa gather on the beaches to release young sea turtles, hatched from eggs collected and protected since the summer. Later that evening, the 'End of the Year' party takes place in the Cancha Municipal, the main plaza of Zihuatanejo, with celebrations extending into the New Year.

Ixtapa Dining

In Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, there are more than 150 restaurants offering a wide choice of local and international cuisine. Some are located along the beach offering the chance to dine whilst enjoying sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Many serve seafood and include Mexican and Guerrero regional specialities on their menus. It is also quite common for restaurants to serve different styles of cuisine and yet be listed only under their main speciality. Local specialities include fish and shrimp tacos, ceviche cocktail, zihuatanejo tiritas (thin strips of marinated fish with onions), red clams, huge locally-caught red snapper and lobster (in season).

Ixtapa Tipping Advice

Since Mexico suffers from a great deal of poverty, foreigners are expected to be relatively wealthy. For this reason tipping is usually expected - but people may expect larger tips than seems reasonable. In fact, waiters should be tipped about 10 to 15 percent of the bill, depending on the service. Ixtapa bellboys and porters should recieve about 7 MXP. Hotel maids should recieve about 3 MXP per night and taxi drivers should not be tipped unless they provide help with your bags - then they should be paid about 4 MXP to 8 MXP.