Things to do in Zihuatanejo
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Buseo Nautilus Divers
Snorkeling is good at Playa Las Gatas and even better at Playa Manzanillo, especially in the dry season, when visibility is best. Buseo Nautilus Divers offers a variety of dives and NAUI courses and certification.
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Casa Elvira
This old hand turns out some tasty food like oysters Rockefeller, jumbo steamed shrimp and broiled octopus with garlic. Vegetarians will appreciate the soup, salad and spaghetti choices. Order the coconut custard for dessert.
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Playa La Ropa
If you walk over the hill along the steep Carretera Escénica for 15 to 20 minutes (less than 1km) from Playa Madera, you'll reach the broad expanse of Playa La Ropa, named for a Spanish galleon that wrecked and washed its cargo of silks ashore. The beach is bordered by palm trees and seafood restaurants. It's an enjoyable walk, with the road rising up onto cliffs that offer a fine view over the water. One of Zihua's most beautiful beaches. You can also rent sailboards and sailboats.
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Picante
Picante, a 23m catamaran based in Bahía de Zihuatanejo, offers a couple of different excursions. The ‘Sail and Snorkel’ trip (M$950 plus M$90 for equipment rental, 10am to 2:30pm) sails south of Zihua to the prime snorkeling of Playa Manzanillo’s coral reef. The ‘Magical Sunset Cruise’ (M$675, from 4:30pm to 7pm) heads around the bay and out along the coast of Ixtapa. Prices include open bar, food and transportation to and from your hotel. Reservations required.
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Playa Las Gatas
Isolated Playa Las Gatas is named for the whiskered nurse sharks who once inhabited the waters. It's a protected beach, crowded with sunbeds and restaurants. It's good for snorkeling (there's some coral) and as a swimming spot for children, but beware of sea urchins. Beach shacks and restaurants rent out snorkeling gear. Boats to Playa Las Gatas depart frequently from the Zihuatanejo pier. Buy tickets at the booth at the foot of the pier; one-way tickets can be bought on board.
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Playa Larga
About 10km south of Zihuatanejo, just before the airport, Playa Larga has big waves, beachfront restaurants and horseback riding. Nearby Playa Manzanillo, a secluded white-sand beach reachable by boat from Zihuatanejo, offers the best snorkeling in the area. To reach Playa Larga, take a 'Coacoyul' combi (around $6, 10 minutes) from Juárez opposite the market and get off at the turnoff to Playa Larga; another combi will take you from the turnoff to the beach.
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Whisky Water World
Sportfishing is popular in Zihuatanejo. Sailfish are caught here year-round; seasonal fish include blue or black marlin (March to May), roosterfish (September to October), wahoo (October), mahi mahi (November to December) and Spanish mackerel (December). Deep-sea fishing trips cost anywhere from around $2000 to around $4300, depending upon the size of the boat. Trips run up to seven hours and usually include equipment. English is spoken at Whisky Water World .
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Zihuablue
This huge club is spread over three levels; the top two include a hookah bar, an outdoor terrace with canopied beds and comfy couches, and an outstanding restaurant (mains M$135 to M$260) run by French chef and Zihua gastronomy pioneer Edmond Benloulou. The lower level features La Valentina, a Mexican restaurant recently transplanted from Mexico City. Frequent live music invites dancing on the open-air terrace. The drinks are strong and the views superb.
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Bistro del Mar
This beautiful, beachside bistro – part of the Hotel Brisas del Mar complex – exemplifies contemporary Mexican cuisine by fusing Latin, European and Asian flavors. Rotating specialties include jumbo shrimp marinated in a sweet-and-sour sauce, flambéed in tequila, on a bed of sweet-corn cake. With its landmark sail roof over candlelit beachside tables, Bistro del Mar is a romantic treat for the heart, soul and stomach.
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Los Braseros
With over 20 years in business and 140 dishes on the menu, this is a wonderful place to sample specialties from all over Mexico. Founder Leonel still works the grill on occasion to give his staff a day off. Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying one of the sensational tacos al pastor (M$6). Equally tempting are the trademark alambres, tasty mixes of grilled fish, meat, veggies and cheese.
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La Casa Café
What do you get when you take two transplants from Portland, Oregon, and plunk them down on a back street in Zihua? A sweet little café that draws locals, expatriates and tourists alike with M$20 breakfast specials, great cappuccinos and refreshing fruit drinks like the Zihua Zinger, a blend of cucumber, pineapple, pear, apple, orange and cilantro (wipe that skeptical grimace off your face and try it!).
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El Manglar
One of several seafood restaurants on Playa La Ropa, El Manglar (the mangrove) is unique for its jungle setting in a protected reserve that's home to crocodiles, iguanas, birds and turtles. The menu features a blackened 27-spice tuna, mahi mahi and filet mignon. Out back, there's also an RV park with showers and bath (around $200 per day).
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Doña Licha
Licha is well known for its down-home Mexican cooking, casual atmosphere and excellent prices. There are always several comidas corridas from which to choose, including one delicious specialty, pollo en cacahuete (chicken in a peanut sauce); all come with rice, beans and handmade tortillas. Breakfasts are huge.
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Puerta del Sol
This romantic restaurant perched on the cliffs between Playas Madera and La Ropa has spectacular bay and sunset views. And the international menu is on fire, literally. Start with a flambé steak, followed by flaming bananas in Kahlua and finish off with a fiery Irish or Spanish coffee. Reservations are a must in high season.
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Cafetería Nueva Zelanda
Step back in time at this spotless diner, where you can order a banana split or chocolate malt with your shrimp taco and chicken fajitas. Everything is available para llevar (to go), it’s a great place for breakfast, and you can get a decent cappuccino anytime. There are entrances on both Cuauhtémoc and Galeana.
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Zihua Pancake House
The best breakfast spot in town, this popular open-air restaurant with a prime people-watching spot serves American favorites like eggs Benedict, French toast, waffles and, of course, several types of pancakes. It also has a full cocktail bar pouring Mimosas, Bloody Marys and other hair-of-the-dog drinks.
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Coconuts
For a romantic dinner downtown, this upscale place is hard to beat. Fairy lights fill the outdoor courtyard, service is attentive and dishes include seared tuna with green papaya salad, shrimp-stuffed chiles rellenos and filet mignon with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables.
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Cenaduría Antelia
Antelia’s popular and friendly eatery has been dishing out tasty antojitos mexicanos and desserts since 1975. Tuck into a tamal de chile verde or a bursting bowl of daily pozole, and top it off with calabaza con leche (squash in milk) for dessert.
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La Casa Vieja
A hidden gem located in a residential neighborhood near Playa Madera, Casa Vieja is popular with locals and in-the-know tourists for great, traditional Mexican food and hospitality. There’s live music most nights, and pozole figures prominently on the menu every Thursday.
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Jungle Bar
Bob your head to the kick-back bass pulsing at this streetside bar with fun staff and cheap drinks. It's a good place to meet locals and other travelers. The jungle murals were painted by local artist Malinalli of Hostel Rincón del Viajero fame.
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Restaurant Kau-Kan
High on the cliffs, this renowned gourmet restaurant enjoys stellar views. Making a selection is exhausting when faced with choices like stingray in black butter sauce, marinated abalone or grilled lamb chops with Dauphinois potatoes and mint sauce.
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Tamales y Atoles Any
This friendly place serves consciously traditional and excellent Mexican cuisine under its big palapa roof. The real highlights are the to-die-for tamales and atoles, a sweet, flavored hot drink made of corn flour.
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Carlo Scuba
Carlo Scuba, run by a third-generation family operation based at Playa Las Gatas, offers dives, snorkeling trips, instruction and PADI certification. Prices include pick-up and drop-off at Zihuatanejo pier.
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Il Paccolo
Six night a week this low-key patio bar features live music from 8:30pm onwards – everything from jazz to ’80s and ’90s pop to Beatles covers. The menu (mains M$70 to M$170) revolves around ribs, steak, pizza and pasta.
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Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande
This small archaeology museum houses exhibits on the history, archaeology and culture of the Guerrero coast. Most signs are in Spanish, but gringos can get by with the free English-language handout.
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