($$) Definitely the luxury theater in the area, Cinema Flamingo Ixtapa provides comfy chairs and air-conditioning to accompany the movie-watching experience. Great sound system and snacks at the snack bar round out the experience.

just the facts, ma'am: Cinema Flamingo Ixtapa is open daily, the first showing is generally around 4:30 in the afternoon and the last is generally around 9 pm. Parking available.

don't miss: the hot buttered popcorn (other local theaters sell microwave popped) and a fountain soda while chilling out and watching the latest release to cross the border.

meet me @: Cinema Flamingo Ixtapa is located in the back of the Ixtapa Plaza Shopping Center, near Telcel's main office.

filed under: movies by Bev (Sep 07)

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($) Cine Paraíso has the convenience of being located in Zihuatanejo Centro and boasts three screens to choose from. It has old-fashioned folding cinema seats, but the air-conditioning is comfortable and the sound system has improved over recent years thanks to remodeling and the opening of the second and third screens.

just the facts, ma'am: Cine Paraíso is open daily; most shows start around 5 pm, and later shows start around 8:30 or 9 pm. Sunday matinees are at 11 am and 1 pm. Mondays and Wednesdays are two for one admittance for the first showing. Parking on the street.

meet me @: Cine Paraíso is located on Calle Cuauhtémoc on the corner of Nicolas Bravo.

filed under: movies by Bev (Sep 07)

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(free!) If you’re looking for a place to let the kids run off some energy, Parque Recreativo Los Amates in Ixtapa is one of the options available. Fonatur maintains the park, so the grass is green, and the area is cleaned regularly. The park has several levels with two playgrounds consisting of wooden structures with ladders, steps, platforms, slides, see-saws, swings and monkey bars. A basketball court and skate boarding area make this a welcome place for kids of all ages.

just the facts, ma'am: There are several stone benches placed throughout the park, but not necessarily in the shady locations. The park can be quite toasty in the afternoons with the sun beating down on the kids, especially in the hotter summer months, so plan your trips accordingly.

meet me @: Parque Recreativo Los Amates is located in Ixtapa between Colina de las Mariposas and Colina de las Calandrias, on the opposite side of Paseo de los Viveros from the Euro School.

filed under: sport & adventure by Bev (Aug 07)

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($$) For fun in the sun that won’t empty your wallet, don’t miss Magic World: Ixtapa. Magic World is our very own water slide park, and is full of refreshing pools, water slides, shaded lounge chairs, and lots of umbrellas. The section for children has 6 water slides of various shapes & designs and is open all day. There are two high-speed water slides for adults and older kids only which are open from 12-2 and 4-5 every afternoon. There is also a wave pool open daily from 3-4. If you get hungry, choose from any of the three restaurants on the premises. They sell hamburgers, hot dogs, burritos, chicken, and seafood. You can also organize a party at Magic World, with packages for up to 20 people that include entrance fee and food for $75 pesos per person during low season and $80 pesos per person during high season.

just the facts, ma'am: They are open every day from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. High season rates 50 pesos for locals and 80 for tourists. Low season rates are 40 pesos for locals and 60 for tourists. Children 3 years and under get in free. To get the local rate, you must show proof of your address (driver’s license, voter’s card or utility bill will suffice).

meet me @: Magic World: Ixtapa is located right next door to Hotel Ixtapa in Ixtapa.

filed under: waterlogged by Bev (Aug 07)

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($) Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa suffer from a dearth of public children’s parks. No slides, no swings, no monkey bars, at least with the safety and variety we are familiar with in the US, Canada, and elsewhere. Luckily we have Banana’s, an enclosed playroom for young kids and toddlers. They have what are probably considered jungle gyms, but they are covered in colorful padded mats, so that even a stumble can be fun. They also have an area for coloring and arts and crafts, kid-sized shopping carts and plastic groceries, building blocks, and a lounge area for waiting parents who are letting their kids roam around. Banana’s can be used for babysitting or parents can play along with their kids. There are always at least 3 staff members present.

just the facts, ma'am: Banana’s is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 8 pm, and Sundays 10 am to 7 pm. The first hour is 30 pesos, and each additional hour is 10 pesos. Although Banana’s no longer has A/C at their new location, the air is fresh and a cool breeze blows in through the upper windows. Also, there is a lovely serve-yourself snack bar, with coffee, sodas and snacks, but if you don’t want your kids to help themselves to a truckload of sugar, bring your own healthy snacks, and make sure the staff know not to give your kids anything but what you’ve brought.

don't miss: For extra fun, pay the extra 50 pesos per hour and take your toddler to the stimulation area. The entire area is covered in padded mats, and your child can run around and slide down padded slides, stack huge padded blocks and roll around on padded cylinders.

meet me @: Banana’s is now located on Calle Catalina Gonzalez, on the corner of Cinco de Mayo in Zihuatanejo Centro.

filed under: sport & adventure by Bev (Jul 07)

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Playa la Ropa is the most popular tourist beach in Zihuatanejo, chosen for its long stretch of beautiful white sand, the view of Zihua's Bay, Centro, and surrounding mountains, the abundance (and range) of restaurant options, and the luxury hotels, villas, and bungalows that line the beach. Local Mexican students flock here before and after school to swim - sometimes in their uniforms! - and Mexican families fill the beach for picnics, football (soccer) games, and sand castles most weekends and during Mexican holidays. It's always a delight to see young tourists who don't speak any Spanish joining in a rousing game of football with Mexican locals, communicating through gestures, laughter, and the international language of friendly competitive spirit.

just the facts, ma'am: You have many options for food, activities, and beach spots. Most hotels have their own restaurants (which non-hotel patrons can also eat at) and there are also stand-alone restaurants that offer standard beach fare, local seafood, hamburgers, and even a few international cuisine options. The umbrellas located at restaurants are for customers only and sometimes additionally charge a "seating fee" for prime locations. Make sure to ask about this before settling in. There are also unaffiliated umbrella options which also cost per person or per size of the umbrella (some can cover 6-8 people). At these locations, you can order food and drinks from vendors and restaurants or bring your own coolers. Of course, you can also bring your own beach umbrella and stake out your own spot. We don't advise passing much time on the beach without shade or you will be regretting it the next morning when you wake up with a raging sunburn!

meet me @: Playa la Ropa is located opposite the mouth of Zihuatanejo Bay, facing the ocean and running over 3/4 of a mile in length. You can access it via Paseo de la Ropa by turning at the 3rd bridge over the canal on Paseo de la Boquita at Plaza Kioto. (This bridge is the first one that cars can pass over as the first two are pedestrian only.) Follow the signs around the bend at the fountain of three women, up the hill, past Blue Mamou, Hotel Irma, Zihua Blue Club, the taxi stand, Kau Kan, and Puerta del Sol. You can access the beach by walking down the steep driveway of Casa Que Canta or continue on for easier access at The Tides (formerly Villa del Sol), the road near the restaurant, La Perla, or at the end of the beach with access to La Gaviota and Rossy's Restaurante.

filed under: beaches by Isahrai (Jul 07)

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Of the four beaches that frame Zihuatanejo Bay, Las Gatas is the least accessible, only reachable by pangas (small water taxi boats) or by hiking along the path & rocks between Playa la Ropa and Las Gatas. It is the remote location that makes it my favorite in-town beach as it affords both vacationers and locals an escape from Zihua Centro, traffic, and hotels. An early morning hike or afternoon boat ride to Las Gatas feels like my own mini-vacation every time. The waters are often the clearest in the area and are protected by an ancient man-made reef making it fantastic for snorkeling along the coral and for wading in the shallow waters. The terrain is a mixture of sand and small rocks so wearing water shoes is highly recommended, even while swimming.

just the facts, ma'am: The beach is lined with restaurants that offer familiar beach seafood fare, cervesas, and cocktails. It can be hard to decide where to park your beach towel for the day because they all seem so similar; the good news is - they're all good so you can't really make a bad choice! If you continue all the way to the end of the beach, you'll find Owen Lee's Las Gatas Beach Club, a rustic ecological resort that is perfect for truly escaping any worries or the frustrations of modern civilization. Past Owen's, there is a walking path to the lighthouse where you will be blown away with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

meet me @: Round trip tickets for the pangas to Las Gatas on the far side of Zihua's Bay are available for 30 pesos from several vendors near the Municipal Pier in Zihua Centro where the water taxis dock to load and unload passengers. The pangas only run until about 5 pm so make sure to check with the operator when the last pickup is for the day and keep track of time - or at least ask your waiter to do so while you keep track of your piña coladas! You can also hike to Las Gatas from the far end of Playa la Ropa. The walk's difficulty ranges from medium to arduous as the waves and tide can overwhelm the rocky path. No matter what, you will have to climb over a few large boulders and should make sure to wear slip-proof and sturdy shoes. Also, make sure to reward yourself with a silly tropical cocktail upon your arrival for mastering the trek!

filed under: beaches by Isahrai (Jul 07)

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($$$$) Carlo Scuba is located on the lovely Las Gatas Beach in Zihuatanejo. With advance reservations, a boat will pick you up from the Zihuatanejo Pier and take you to the shop to get outfitted for scuba diving or snorkeling, and from there they set off to any number of interesting dive sites. The divers are PADI certified, and they offer full instruction and certification courses for beginners, and refresher courses for novices and experienced divers.

just the facts, ma'am: Carlo Scuba is open daily for dive trips, by reservation only. Payments may be made via PayPal.

don't miss: an ice-cold post-dive beer on Playa Las Gatas with your dive instructor.

meet me @: Carlo Scuba is located on Playa Las Gatas.

filed under: sport & adventure- waterlogged by Bev (Dec 06)

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