| Ixtapa | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Ixtapa Bay | |
| Municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta in Guerrero | |
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Ixtapa
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Guerrero |
| Municipality | Zihuatanejo de Azueta |
| Resort created | 1970s |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 6,406 |
| Website | http://www.ixtapa-zihuatanejo.gob.mx |
Ixtapa is a beach resort in the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta, in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It is located 5 km (3.1 mi) to the northwest of the municipal seat, Zihuatanejo, and some 245 km (152 mi) northwest of Acapulco.
In the 2005 INEGI Census, the population of Ixtapa was 6,406.
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Ixtapa is a government-planned tourist resort that was begun in the early 1970s and constructed on what was once a coconut plantation and mangrove estuary.
In 1968, the Bank of Mexico created a special fund for the creation of new tourist destinations on the country's coastlines. The first two such destinations were Cancún, in the state of Quintana Roo, and Ixtapa, next to the town of Zihuatanejo. The development of Ixtapa was supported by a loan from the World Bank.
The master plan for Ixtapa was developed by architects Enrique and Agustín Landa Verdugo, who also participated in the choice of the site. Their project defined the tourist destination's street layout and zoning. The project is organized in super-blocks with irregular shapes, with the high-speed streets separating these blocks, and cul-de-sacs within them. A couple of architects were selected to build this city, some are still residents of this town. Architects like Miguel Ángel Rojas and Concepción Rivera live and work in this town. The famous Mexican Telenovela 'Marimar' was filmed here in 1994.
With 5000+ hotel rooms, Ixtapa offers a wealth of lodging options to choose from. Many hotels and resorts offer all-inclusive packages for those seeking the experience of a high-end resort. Several large hoteliere chains have properties in Ixtapa, including Melia, NH, Holiday Inn, Park Royal, Capella Ixtapa, Hotel Ixtapa Palace Resort & Spa, and Club Med. Visitors can always connect with private condo rentals most often with very attractive pricing as compared to hotels: Ixtapa Tesoro Resort is a good source of 4 star quality condos for rent by private owners.
Ixtapa can be reached by air, bus and highway and has its own airport, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International. Flights are available from Mexico City, several provincial cities, and various places in the United States and Canada.
Airlines: Aeromexico, Click, Interjet, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways, WestJet.
Charter Lines: Apple Vacations, Champion Air, Funjet Vacations, MLT Vacations, Ryan International, Sunwing Vacations, and others.
Bus Lines: Autovias, Costa Line, Estrella de Oro, La Linea Plus, Parhikuni, Primera Plus, Tap, Turistar/Futura, Via Plus.