Ixtapa is an exciting resort located along the West Coast of Mexico that was created in the 1970s to parallel the east coast development of Cancun. Many say that Ixtapa resembles a miniature Waikiki, with several high-rise luxury hotels stretching around a 2.5 mile, golden sand, moon-shaped beach. A visit to Ixtapa cannot be complete without mentioning its’ sister city, Zihuatanejo, for here you will find the best of two very different, but equally appealing worlds. While Ixtapa is a gorgeous, young, active resort town, Zihuatanejo is a quiet, quaint, old fishing village that has been around for a very long time. Both offer excellent beaches, with Playa Quieta being the region’s best swimming beach. The 430-acre Marina Ixtapa is a major attraction for yachting and fishing enthusiasts, and there are over fifty snorkeling and scuba diving spots in the Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo area. Other activities include swimming, surfing and parasailing, and canoeing and sailing around Zihuatanejo Bay. There are a large number of yacht charters available in Ixtapa, from small pangas to large, luxury fishing cruisers. Also of interest to yachters is Isla Ixtapa, a small island just off the coast that also has a lovely beach, good snorkeling spots and a great seafood restaurant.