Playa el Palmar

Playa el Palmar is Ixtapa’s main beach, stretching in front of the Ixtapa Hotel zone. This is an area of high-rise hotels and planned tourist infrastructure. Paseo Ixtapa, the resort’s main, tree-lined boulevard, runs behind the first line of multi-storied hotels all the way to Marina Ixtapa. On the boulevard you can find a variety of excellent restaurants as well as stores selling beach clothing and accessories, souvenirs and arts and crafts.

Beaches of Ixtapa

Ixtapa has existed since the 1970s, when the Federal Government initiated the project in order to promote the area as one of Mexico’s prime tourist destinations. Prior to that time, Playa el Palmar was a long, solitary strand populated only by mangrove-lined lagoons and massive palm groves.

Today, many of the major hotel chains are located primarily on this two-mile stretch, although other smaller coves and beaches in the Ixtapa area, such as Playa Vista Hermosa, Playa Quieta and Playa las Cuatas, have also been developed.

As this beach is on open ocean, large surf can crash along this shore – be cautious when entering the water as there can be heavy undertows and backwashes. Swimming conditions are indicated along the beach with colored flags: Red : Extreme Caution – Constant strong surf and undercurrents, Yellow: Caution – Sporadic strong surf and undercurrents, Green: Swimming is safe. The beach does have lifeguards.

If the breakers are too big and strong for your swimming abilities, most of the hotels have their own swimming pools and there are is also a water park where the youngsters can always cool off and have some fun.

El Palmar Beach offers a variety of sports and watersports, including parasailing, body boarding and banana boats. Beach volleyball and soccer games are often being played along the sand. The Delfiniti Dolphinarium offers swim-with-the-dolphin sessions and encounters.

At the northern end of Playa Palmar proper, near Marina Ixtapa, is a stone jetty called “Las Escolleras”. This a favorite spot for the local surfers when the surf is up.

Another way to see Playa el Palmar is from the sea, whether by chartered boat or fishing craft, or on one of Zihautanejo’s excellent Sunset Cruises such as on the Picante Catamaran, that offers an all inclusive service with bar and snacks as well as exciting sailing and snorkeling adventures.

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