The twin cities of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are located in neighboring bays along a stretch of Mexican Pacific coast called La Costa Grande, 153 miles northwest of Acapulco, in the state of Guerrero. Visitors to this unique location will find the comfort of a luxury meeting venues in Ixtapa, with the tranquility of a sleepy fishing village in Zihuatanejo.
The Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International airport (ZIH), located only a 10-minute drive from downtown, offers flights from several major U.S. and Canadian destinations including Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Kansas, L.A., Houston, Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago, as well as Mexico City and Toluca. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is also accessible via Mexico's elaborate highway system, and a new toll road has just been constructed from Puerto Vallarta to the UNESCO World Heritage Site capital of Morelia, in the state of Michoacan.
On top of having year-round, near-perfect weather, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo provides all of the amenities necessary for small to mid-size conferences, executive meetings, incentive travel and beach weddings. This business tourism destination also has a host of exciting pre- and post- event excursions and activities, ranging from bio-parks and birdwatching, to surfing and world-class golf.
With a total of 76 hotels and 7,365 rooms, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo remains an intimate environment for meetings tourism and special events. Hotel venues include the Melia Azul All-Inclusive Beach Resort and Convention Center, which offers 400 luxurious ocean-view rooms, 6 restaurants, 4 bars and 3 swimming pools. The convention center has 21,530 square feet of event space for up to 2,400 participants. Located in Ixtapa, the resort amenities include an open-air theater, a professional soccer field, tennis courts, a gym and a variety of outdoor activities.
Water activities are plentiful in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, whether attendees are relaxing on one of the many surrounding beaches, snorkeling, scuba-diving, surfing the waves, sea kayaking, windsailing or casting their reels in world-class sport-fishing waters. Sailing is also a big attraction; the Calypso, a 40-foot, double-mast oceanic sailboat, offers tours of Ixtapa bay, perfect for group outings and sunset cruises. For a more cultural experience, check out the La Costa Grande Archaeological Museum, or see what treasures you'll find at the artisan craft markets. Other activities include swimming with bottlenose dolphins and taking a trip to the water amusement park.
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo offers many eco-tourism options: birdwatching in the San Luis de Potosi Refuge, visiting the Insectarium, Botanical Garden and Iguana Sanctuary of the Bio Park, exploring the Eco-Tourism Mangrove Park and observing wildlife off the beaches of Ixtapa Island. Due to unique currents, the area has a stunning variety of sea life, including humpback whales, sea turtles and coral reefs.
