Husband and I may be heading there in June, and it looks like it's just what we want--laid-back, nice beaches, not too touristy or Americanized, and easy to walk to restaurants and stuff. If you've been there, was that your experience? I've seen "hiking" listed as an activity, but nothing about where that's done--anyone know?

If you have recommendations for restaurants, activities, or moderately priced (around $100) hotels, please share!

Go to www.zihuatanejo.net for tons of info & a most active message board. Check out The Hotel Irma well with in you price range on Playa Madera the most Mexican of the beaches. The Ricomar in Pozole Alley for incredibly good cheap food. In The Madera area Casa Vieja, Casa Cafe, La Gula & a number of others. Don Menos for great inexpensive Italian, The Marina Cafe & others are fun.

PS A good Hike is from Las Gatas beach to the lighthouse & beyond. Go to Otilias on that beach (Round trip boat trip 35 pesos) the next to last Cafe down the pier for directions.

Have a great time Allison! Give us a trip report on your return. We'll be there in August. Brisas del Mar looks really nice to me.

HiThere

Stewbear gave you some good advice.

I will just add a few notes.

When you click on the website that stewbear gave.
then you next click on:
"ZihuaRob's Message Board.

You can scroll down and read the many many message that are on this active board.
However near the top of the page is a black small retangular box in the middle of the page .
There is a place to type in a name and thenclick on "search"
well...

type in my name of Percy and click on search.
okay now scroll down until you come to the topic titled
"Pathway to the Lighthouse"

I gave a step by step direction of how to get to the lighthouse.

Just do not want you to get confused like I was on my first walk to the lighthouse.

Percy

"Have a great time Allison! Give us a trip report on your return. We'll be there in August. Brisas del Mar looks really nice to me."

Frankie is correct Brisas del Mar is a terrific place to stay but a bit more than a $100 I am afraid. Last season they were running about $160 US or so. Still if you can afforded a lovely place with possibly the best view on Mexico's West Coast.

Thank you all--this is great. I had been considering Brisas del Mar, but now I have some other options.

Percy, I think you helped me plan my trips to Costa Rica, too--do you go everywhere I want to go? Thanks!

allison04

I have been to Costa Rica 4 times, hardly makes me an expert on Costa Rica.

Yes,Allison I am trying to stay one step ahead of you ( LOL)!!!

I just got back from a full month in South America.
and
I am leaving for 2-3 weeks to the Baltics in mid August. Flying into Copenhagen and doing Norway ,Sweden ,Helsinki ,St. Petersburg, Tallinn Estonia, and Gdansk Poland ...then back to Copenhagen.
I have private tour guides at all places

Can help you if you decide to follow me soon !!!
Take Care and have a nice time in Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa.

Percy

www.catalina-beach-resort.com looks quite special. Had res for Christmas '07, but got 5 free nights in Mazatlan as a cruise perk.
M

Catalina is a fine hotel, however it's lots of steps down to the beach so be aware.

Sb,
We live at nearly 6800 ft and walk many "stairs": a nonissue for us.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

We stayed at Bungalows Ley and liked it. Great location! Ask for the bungalow closest to the ocean. Can't remember how much it was, but wasn't as much as $100.

Thanks! Bungalows Ley looks good, too.