If you’re bored with preventing your technique to swim-up bars in Cancun and Los Cabos, there’s one other resort-laden paradise with quite a few direct flights from the U.S. ready to be found.
While many Canadians make the most of flocking right here to flee the blistering chilly, Americans are nonetheless behind the curve, seeming to provide an excessive amount of credence to journey advisories in favor of the same old secure havens, Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.
Make no mistake, these are Americans’ favourite go-to’s for a cause, however even Cancun, as in style as it might be, has seen random violent crime sprees in touristy areas.
I simply received again house from Ixtapa, a sunkissed resort city within the state of Guerrero boasting year-round 90-degree days surrounded by staggering inexperienced mountains and swaying palm bushes over crystal clear waters and spotless seashores.
Believe it or not, I’m laying my journey status on the road as a former Cabo Sun journalist to let you know it’s prettier than Los Cabos and a lot much less of a burden in your pockets.
Despite Level 4: Do Not Travel designation from the U.S. State Department, Ixtapa is Guerrero’s lone vivid spot that couldn’t really feel any safer, extra luxurious or genuine, particularly relating to the area’s sinfully scrumptious coastal delicacies.
Zihuatanejo May Be Trendy, But Don’t Sleep On Ixtapa
“Zihua”, as locals say, has grow to be a stylish vacation spot on many journey lists over the previous yr or so, largely partially as a result of lavish Thompson Hotel opening doorways.
But, typically vacationers make the error of getting too comfy sticking to the resort grounds with out stepping foot within the metropolis, and the temptation is knowing with such posh facilities being thrown at you left and proper.
Even in case you keep in Zihua, the up-and-coming smaller sister metropolis of Ixtapa is value venturing over for the seashores alone, and well-equipped for a surge in vacationers with such high-end resorts similar to:
Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa
Hotel Fontan Ixtapa
Club Med Ixtapa Pacific
Sunscape Dorado Pacifico
Barcelo Ixtapa
Ixtapa is simply a 20-minute cab trip from the airport (ZIH), and no, there’s no Uber right here, however don’t fear about scammy taxi drivers, as charges are clearly revealed beforehand.
Once you arrive, you’ll uncover postcard-worthy seashores, together with a licensed Blue Flag seashore that’s actually flawless. There wasn’t a speck of trash in sight strolling up and down Playa El Palmar.
While uncommon, the one concern to maintain a watchful eye on are crocodiles and occasional sturdy currents represented by the colour of the flag posted every day.
The small city middle could be very walkable by the resort space, together with a Senor Frogs Cantina. Every resort city has to have one, proper?
My Stay At Barcelo Ixtapa
I stayed at 5-star Barcelo Ixtapa, “splurging” on the all-inclusive bundle for simply $170 per night time complete for two individuals.
Try that in Cabo….
Of the resorts lined alongside the aforementioned Playa El Palmar, Barcelo gave the impression to be essentially the most luxurious and undoubtedly provided the perfect swimming pools, particularly the center pool of the resort’s trio overlooking the Pacific and safety guards blocking pestering distributors.
Shamelessly in “Vacation Mode” for 4 days, I misplaced rely of the Pina Coladas and Cuba Libres I indulged in at each swim-up bars, however my suggestion is to select your poison quite than house-brand, watered-down slushies.
If you possibly can swing it, reserving a nook ‘Oceanview’ room is the best way to go, for my part, however the mountain views on the other aspect are equally gorgeous to get up to.
Treating your self to ‘Premium’ upgrades isn’t value it because the buffets are properly stocked with a wide range of delicacies starting 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 ebook the usual all-inclusive bundle, simply know you’re restricted to a single specialty restaurant each 3 days, however a number of buffets and the Caracol Snack Bar greater than make up for it.
$5 Well Spent: Take A Day Trip To Isla Ixtapa
The great thing about all-inclusives is you solely have to fret about tipping, however in case you’ve received an additional Abe Lincoln to spare, then it’s a must to try Isla Ixtapa through water taxi for under $5 round-trip.
You can ebook a tour right here, however it’s straightforward to achieve by yourself and extra enjoyable to discover with out the language barrier.
To get right here, take a cab to Playa Linda and stroll by the Crocodile Lagoon, by the memento outlets to the Embarcadero.
Here is the place you’ll purchase tickets and board the water taxi. The trip itself is a sight to behold, however I like to recommend getting off at Playa Verdero as a substitute of Playa Coral because it’s extra of a hideaway from fisherman bringing in your soon-to-be offered “catch of the day”.
Choosing a spot to eat lunch will likely be your solely headache right here, however I counsel El Indio. Ask for Carlos, who was form sufficient to supply free sunscreen after my boneheaded mistake of leaving it in my room.
You’ll have a ton of choices, however the servers counsel the Mahi Mahi and Ceviche. I had the latter, and it exceeded the hype, together with ice-cold cervezas and a Pina Colada served inside a pineapple.
Snorkeling tools is simply $10 to hire and properly value swimming within the calm waters.
It actually felt like we have been inside an aquarium with what number of vibrant species of fish we noticed.
Ixtapa’s Top Hidden Gem: Ruins Yet To Be Undiscovered
As locations similar to Tulum have sky-rocketed in reputation, a key issue of their newfound fame has been how cool it’s to deep-dive into former worlds, in contrast to something we expertise in at the moment’s screen-addicted society.
While Ixtapa doesn’t supply staggering ruins to the degrees of like Teotihicuan or Chichen Itza, simply 40 minutes away is Xihuacan (a.okay.a. “La chole”), a smaller website accessible by guided excursions for a surcharge or free to enter by yourself.
Dating again 3000 years, the well-preserved ruins of Xihuacan are nonetheless being unearthed to today.
You’ll discover a museum of artifacts utilized by numerous cultures over time amongst clay pyramids and a Mesoamerican ball courtroom.
TripAdvisor ranks the Xihuacan Culture and Archaeology Tour as the highest information for exploring this hidden world of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s previous.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.