Shopping and Necessities
Zihuatanejo’s main shopping districts are expanding… whereas a few years ago the shopping district basically comprised the market area and the couple of blocks closest to the beach, now it is much more extensive. Still, the core downtown area is located within a five or six block grid in the center of town, bordered by Playa Principal (the Municipal beach), Calle Cinco de Mayo, where the stalls and booths of the Artisan’s Market are located, Ave. Jose Ma. Morelos (a boulevard just beyond the Municipal Market, where the original Electra store is located), and Blvd. Benito Juarez, which runs in front of the market itself. In this area you can find clothing and souvenirs, camera shops, paper supplies, jewelry, arts and crafts and numerous small stores offering basic food supplies and staples.
For walking and wandering in search of local products and crafts, the principal areas are 1) the first three to four blocks in from the Municipal beach and the basketball court which is also the main plaza or esplanade – this area includes Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman’s walk) which follows the beach and where the shopper can find arts and crafts; 2) along Blvd. Benito Juarez in the general area of the Municipal Market, extending also along Avda. Morelos and back a couple of blocks both behind and in front of the market; and 3) along Highway 200 as it goes through town between the airport and Ixtapa.
Zihuatanejo Market
In 2000, Zihuatanejo was either blessed or cursed (depending on your point of view) with the opening of the first supermarket of any size. Prior to that, almost everyone bought their food and other necessities in the Municipal Market, or in the small and basically-provided ISSTE (the Social Security store). If you wanted other items not found in either of those places, you walked from one small specialty shop to another, gathering your needs, or traveled to Acapulco every few months to do a large raid on the larger supermarkets there. Since the opening of the Comercial Mexicana – also called the “CM”, “La Comer” or “Comermex” by many — followed by the advent of a second large-chain supermarket called the Bodega Aurrera (known just as the “Bodega“), the traffic and selection in the market itself has declined, but it is still a fabulous place to frequent and there are certain fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and fish that are offered there that CM simply cannot compete with.
The Comercial Mexicana is located on Paseo de la Boquita (which follows the flood control canal), and the Bodega Aurrera is located on Highway 200 just up toward Ixtapa from the Town Hall and Plaza del Sol.
Shopping and Services in Ixtapa
The resort area of Ixtapa caters largely to the tourist, with boutiques, souvenir and crafts shops, restaurants and touristic services abounding. The commercial zone is concentrated along the main stretch of Ixtapa Boulavard between the two golf courses, with its variety of small malls and commercial plazas, and in the area of Marina Ixtapa, which offers lots of restaurants and some small shops. There are no large supermarkets in Ixtapa itself and most Ixtapa residents take the short jaunt over to Zihuatanejo for major shopping.
Ixtapa’s small shopping malls go by name rather than address, and the main commercial zone includes La Puerta Mall, Plaza Las Fuentes, Plaza Ixpamar and Los Patios Mall. The Marina Plaza is another small mall located at the Ixtapa Marina.
These malls and nearby shops offer a huge variety of T-shirts, bathing suits and other beachwear, souvenirs, suntan lotions and blockers and arts and crafts.
Adventure of Learning Spanish
Spanish course in Ixtapa, Mexico. The 80-hour basic Spanish course is recognized by the University of the State of Guerrero. Program includes 4-hour study session, lodging for 30 nights at Villas Paraiso hotel, breakfast, transfers to course activities, reading materials and photocopies, taxes and a regional tour.
Locally grown organic coffee ground to your liking. Located near the market on Benito Juarez 114, Zihuatanajo centro.
Purchase organically and locally-grown coffee – whole beans or ground to your liking – or enjoy a savory cup in-house. On Cuauhtemoc Street in downtown Zihuatanejo
National supermarket chain with presence in Zihuatanejo, located on Paseo de la Boquita. Phones: (755) 5455720, (755) 5548321, (755) 5548384. Fax: (755) 5548937
VTPlanguage.com–Victoria Taft Priani
Tailored, private one-on-one or group Spanish classes in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, in the location of your choice. For full info on classes as well as translation and interpretation services, please visit her website.
