Zihuatanejo in TOP 10 Best Family Destinations in the World

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo was named among the TOP 10 "Best Family Destinations in the World for 2010" by TripAdvisor. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations-cFamily-g1)

Listed with such favorites as: Marne-la-Vallee (EuroDisney in France); Urayasu, Japan; Majorca, Spain; Anaheim & Carlsbad in California and Orlando in Florida.

In the category of "Family Destinations for the Caribbean & Mexico", Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo came in first place ahead of well-known touristic sites. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations-cFamily-g147237)

This award is a result of the votes granted by thousands of travelers based on their vacation experiences all around the World.

Among the reasons cited for voting for Zihua were the wide range of activities, including ecotouristic, that the area offers.

Another advantage of this pearl of the Pacific Riviera is the proximity to major cities in North America with direct flights from many of them.

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http://www.montecristomexico.com

Zihuatanejo, the Fishing Paradise of the Gold Coast of Mexico

Why is Zihuatanejo one of the best places for a fishing vacation?

The people in the know will list a few hard facts to answer this question:

• The water´s temperature year round is between 75 and 86 degrees
• Storms are virtually non-existent because Zihua is nestled in a natural harbor, so "lost fishing time is mostly margarita-related", says gitanasportfishing.com (1)
• There's always abundant sailfishing, and in certain months it´s mixed up with large yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, dorado, black, striped marlin and roosterfish.

According to this website, this is what the different seasons will bring to the fisherman in Zihuatanejo:

"Winter (November - Mid February) It's all about the sailfish. There will be dorado and in-shore species to go after, but... sailfish is the ticket

Spring (Late February- April) Add blue marlin to the sailfish and some more dorado. This is also the most important period for large yellowfin tuna. If your arms get really tired, you can always go for bonito and jacks one day

Summer (May - August) The sailfish continues to deliver. Dorado is now present in maximum numbers. Roosterfish can now be found reliably along the beaches. The yellowfin is still around sometime into June, blue marlin into July.

Fall (September - October) The most interesting proposition next to the sailfish is the roosterfish, which can be very good at this time". (1)

So grab your fishing gear and take advantage of the Fall rental rates for private villas in Zihua.

http://www.luxuryvillaszihuatanejo.com

http://www.montecristomexico.com

Sources: http://www.gitanasportfishing.com/

New ecotourism attraction in Zihuatanejo, showcases biodiversity of Mexico

There are more than 170 countries in the World, yet out of these, twelve alone harbor in between 60 and 70% of the total biodiversity of the planet and thus earn the privilege to be called megadiverse. Mexico is one of them (1)

Carol Canter of the San Francisco Examiner writes about a new ecotourism attraction in Zihuatanejo called El Refugio de Potosi, a 45-minute bilingual guided tour where adventurers of all ages can "get up close and personal with local flora and fauna".

"Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks whistle while they waddle into the Turtle Pond for their morning dip. Green Military Macaws and Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrots 'converse' at amplified volumes. The Chachalacas, which resemble wild turkeys, are even more boisterous!," writes Canter, adding: "Jewel-like colibris shimmer in the sunlight, their tiny wings aflutter like high-speed engines".

This might also be your best chance to view safely behind a glass, boa constrictors, scorpions and even marvel at the impressive 60-feet long skeleton of a sperm whale.

A crocodile program is also planned for later this year.

El Refugio de Potosi is a non profit venture, developed and funded by contributions and many volunteer hours, that has earned the support of the tourism community in Zihua and which has become a popular stop on eco-tours such as the serene early morning kayak/birdwatching trip on the lagoon at Refugio de Potosi offered by Zoe Kayak Tours (2)

http://www.luxuryvillaszihuatanejo.com/

http://www.montecristomexico.com/

Sources:

(1) http://www.vivanatura.org/Biodiversity.html

(2) http://www.examiner.com/active-seniors-travel-in-san-francisco/el-refugio-de-potosi-new-ecotourism-attraction-zihuatanejo-mexico

The ABC of Zihuatanejo Beaches

What do Fodor's Travel Guides Online have to say about Zihua's magical beaches:

Let´s start with Playa Las Gatas.

This is what Fodor´s has to say about this beach: "Legend has it that a Tarascan king (from an indigenous, pre-Hispanic community) built the breakwater on Playa las Gatas to create a sheltered area for his daughter's exclusive use. This beach is bordered by a long row of hewn rocks that create a breakwater. Snorkelers scope out the rocky coves, and surfers spring to life with the arrival of small but fun summer swells. The beach is lined with simple seafood eateries that provide lounge chairs for sunning, as well as kayak and snorkeling- gear rentals, and guiding services... Overlooking the beach is El Faro (the lighthouse); the view from the top is marvelous."

TripAdvisor adds in reference to the scuba diving , "King's Reef is a coral formation just offshore now being granted national protection as a natural reserve."

Secondly, Playa La Ropa.

This beach is "touristy", with several hotels and restaurants. Fodor´s describes it as "One of the most beautiful bays in Mexico.... small in scale and giving good, protected swimming. ... there's parasailing, water skiing, snorkeling, banana boats, catamarans, kayaks... and a whole kilometer of wide sandy beach lined with palm trees to just hang out on...up and down the beach are open-air restaurants—some with hammocks for post-meal siestas—and a handful of hotels

And the word about Playa Madera is:

"This is a small, flat, dark-sand beach with a sprinkling of restaurants on the sand (which

provide just about the only shade, and facilities) and a few more hotels on or just above it. Bobbing boats and the green headlands make for stunning vistas. Waves are small or nonexistent, and as there's no drop-off it's a great place for the kiddies", reads Fodor´s

Continuing with Playa Larga:

"This actually is only a small part of a 9 1/2 mile beach that charges to Playa Blanca & finally Barra de Potosi a small native fishing village that also has a large Lagoon filled with wildlife & Kayaks for rent. The beach its self has the occasional restaurants & small Inns scattered about but mostly it's wide open spaces. I often see Dolphins playing a short distance off the shore", explains Fodor´s

And finally, Playa Blanca

"Playa Blanca is actually a stretch of contiguous beach that is about 14 miles long. It is a great beach that has no people on it is still a virgin beach. it is clean and has a lot of hidden beauty.... you will love it and the sun set that is always breath taking".

Yes, there are other beaches in Zihua, but the ones above are what makes this place the paradise of the Mexican Riviera.

http://www.luxuryvillaszihuatanejo.com/

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Source: http://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/ixtapa-and-zihuatanejo/sights-nam_class:30983.html

Health and well-being in Zihuatanejo

Few places in the World have the healing, preventive and relaxation conditions of Zihuatanejo.

Based on its natural conditions such as vegetation, climate, the ideal salinity of its seas,

Zihuatanejo offers soothing, cosmetological properties and anti-oxidants that

promote the well-being of its visitors. (1)

Recognizing this fact, business, sports, film, music and TV celebrities have become enchanted with Zihua, some of them even buying real estate here and building residences to enjoy the incredible views of the bay and the romantic sunsets.

As a result, the past years have seen the surfacing of numerous spas, restaurants with specialized menus offering healing and/or preventive health alternatives and Yoga studios with

world-renown Yoga gurus such as Belen Soldevila Peiro.

http://www.luxuryvillaszihuatanejo.com/

http://www.montecristomexico.com/

Source:

(1) http://www.travelixtapazihuatanejo.com/libraries/uploaded/general/file/press/BP10_en.pdf

(2)

http://www.lajollalight.com/news/272695-put-this-adventure-on-the-list-of-oops-moments

Celebrities in Zihuatanejo from Timothy Leary to Britney Spears

The first celebrities that visited Zihuatanejo date back more than four hundred years ago when it was the favorite retreat of Tarascan kings, one of whom "built a stonewall breakwater in the shallow cove so his daughters could swim in a sheltered lagoon" (1). With the passage of time, the stonewall has grown into an active coral reef that offers great snorkeling.


Fast forward to the early 20th century, when the American author famous for his Westerns, Zane Grey, wrote his 1925 book, "Tales of Fishing Virgin Seas," inspired in Zihuatanejo, where he caught a year earlier a 135-lb. sailfish that was then a world record catch. The author, enamored with the place, wrote on the back cover of his book: "Zihuatanejo has more authentic South Seas atmosphere than the South Sea islands themselves."


Around 1963, Timothy Leary, an icon of 1960 counterculture, dismissed from Harvard for experimenting with psychedelic drugs, established in Zihuatanejo the "Mexican Freedom Center", where he and his followers aimed to give continuity to his life project of "Turn on, tune in, drop out".


Five years later, Owen Lee, a member of Capt. Jacques Cousteau's diving staff, got hooked by the magic of Zihua-- "In 1968, he sailed into Zihuatanejo Bay aboard an old wooden sailboat. He has lived here and loved it ever since" according to the back cover of his 1996 guidebook, entitled "Owen´s English Language Guide". Lee owns the Las Gatas Beach Club.


In 2005, Daniel Kennedy released "The Cooking School at Z," subtitled "a novel of romance and food in Mexico." Reviewing the book editor Catherine Krantz said it "reminds us why we love Zihuatanejo, the beauty of the place and the people here." Kennedy says his best-selling bookstore is the international airport in Sacramento, "where people want a novel for a long plane ride to shift them into a vacation frame of mind." (2)

A short time later, Canadian snowbird Elizabeth Ashe released "The Jade Pendant," totally set in Zihua. Ashe says she feels "Zihuatanejo is the most romantic and inspiring place on earth, particularly for women, and it will always hold a special place in my heart no matter where my future takes me." (2)

A moonlit beach in Zihua is the ideal place for love, as it was the place chosen by Mark Burnett, producer of hit shows such as Survivor and The Apprentice, to get down on his knees in 2006 and propose to TV actress Roma Downey. (3)

Last year it was Britney Spears´ turn to enjoy Zihuatanejo. The Princess of Pop Music, her beau, the actor and musician, Jason Schwartzman and her two sons, Sean and Jayden relaxed and enjoyed a few days under a splendorous sun.

Tom Morley, renowned yoga instructor to film celebrities such as Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Helen Hunt has also chosen Zihuatanejo to offer his health and healing therapies.(4)

http://www.luxuryvillaszihuatanejo.com

http://www.montecristomexico.com

Sources:

(1) NYT Travel Section, Sunday, May 19, 2002

(2) Michel Janicot, a writer who lives in Grass Valley, CA in http://www.adip.info/2005_2006/jan/01-history.html

(3) http://www.starblogs.net/archives/2006/11/index-p2.html

(4) http://www.travelixtapazihuatanejo.com/libraries/uploaded/general/file/press/BP10_en.pdf

Zihuatanejo among the best places to retire in the World

International Living magazine has evaluated and compared the World´s best retirement destinations for the past 15 years.

This year thirty countries were analyzed and ranked according to the following variables: cost of living, health care, quality of life, climate, safety, stability, and infrastructure, among others.

And the results were... Italy in the third place with its historic sites and beautiful cities. Ecuador came in second because of its low cost of living, great weather, beautiful landscape and a growing economy tied to the US dollar.

So, what´s the best country in the World for retiring according to this study? Well its... MEXICO! in part due to these powerful arguments:

• Extremely convenient because it´s so near to the US and Canada
• Mexico´s Senior Citizens´ Benefits Program offers up to 50% discounts on many services to retirees over the age of 60
• Mexican government has enacted many new laws encouraging foreign investment

In brief, "Mexico has become an incredible place to enjoy retirement that offers the quality of life that North Americans are accustomed to with numerous other extra benefits".

The study goes on to mention that some of the best places in Mexico to retire are located in the Pacific Ocean coastline which seldom sees hurricanes or troublesome storms and offers more than a thousand miles of incredible views with a climate similar to Hawaii´s.

The most desirable locations are: La Paz, Todos Santos, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido and... our gem of the Mexican Riviera, Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo!!

http://www.luxuryvillaszihuatanejo.com

http://www.montecristomexico.com

Source: http://www.lartp.org/seven-world-wonders/looking-for-the-best-place-in-the-world-to-retire