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When you hear travelers talking about Ixtapa, Mexico, undoubtedly they will be talking about Zihuatanejo too. The cities are just four miles apart. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is part of the Guerrero’s Sun Triangle, along with Acapulco and Taxco.

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo sits on the Pacific Ocean. Ixtapa is pronounced as “eeks-TAH-pa,” and means “the white place.” Zihuatanejo is pronounced as “zee-watt-a-NEH-ho,” which means place of woman.”

Zihuatanejo is a small town with cobblestone streets. It has an old school charm with its fishing village feel and beautiful views of the bay. There are no tall buildings in Zihuatanejo. The city law has a four story maximum. However, you will find many cozy restaurants, charming boutiques and a variety of smaller hotels.

Paseo del Pescador is a terrific place to shop on the beachfront. If you love diving, snorkeling and fishing, Zihuatanejo is a great vacation destination. Despite the modern growth around it, Zihuatanejo retains its original charm and traditions.

Ixtapa is a more modern tourist area that consists of beaches, hotels and fabulous shopping. Ixtapa features many high-rise four and five star hotels. The strip of hotels is two miles long. At the beach in Ixtapa, called El Palamar, you can surf, dive, fish and much more.

The two cities, though very nearby and often associated, are extremely different. But you don’t need to choose just one. Because of their close proximity, you can visit both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo to enjoy the best of both worlds!

To learn more about Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, visit ixtapa-zihuatanejo.com, where you can get hotel, nightlife, transportation, dining and other information.

La Paz, Mexico is becoming more and more of a tourist destination. Located in Baja California, La Paz has a population of around 200,000. With tourism being the city’s number one source of income, La Paz happily will open its arms to tourists.

The main attraction for those who visit La Paz is its world class marinas. If you love water, you will love La Paz. All types of water related adventures can be had in the sea outside of La Paz.

Additionally, many tourists are attracted by the seemingly always good weather, the low cost of living and the friendly locals. Since La Paz isn’t a very big city, it has a much different feel than other touristy towns in Mexico. It’s also a relatively safe city filled with over 500 years of history.

If you are staying in La Paz, one of the best places to say is Hotel Los Arcos. Located close to both the water and downtown, this colonial-style building looks beautiful on both the outside and the inside. With very reasonable prices and a number of amenities, Hotel Los Arcos is the preferred hotel by many of the tourists who visit La Paz.

Photo credit: Flickr

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico-One of the most popular vacation destinations in Mexico since the 1920’s. The city attracts all people from honeymooners, spring-breakers, to the rich and famous. With weather always around 85 degrees, this beach is know for having nearly perfect weather.

There are a variety of beaches available. The bay features calm warm water with yellow grainy sand. While there are stretches of white sand beaches with shallow water to relax in. Pichilingue Bay and Roqueta Island are great places to scuba dive and cruise on your yacht. There are also plenty of beach activities such as water skiing and parasailing.

But it is the Nightlife that Acapulco is the main attraction for many of the tourists that flock there. Disco clubs, bars, and plenty of restaurants abound on the main strip in the city. The must-sees of Acapulco, however, are the La Quebrada Cliff Divers and the museum in the San Diego Fort. The Cliff Diver shows run about six times a day and is a great to see while the sun is setting. The Fuerte de San Diego has many artifacts showing Mexico’s wealthy history. You can even spend a day here while your cruise ship docks on the beach! Make sure to plan your next travel vacation for Acapulco Mexico.

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If you are taking a vacation to Mexico and you can’t decide the city you want to visit, consider staying at Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is a resort city in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is located on Banderas Bay, which is one of the largest bays in the Americas.

With a population of 200,000, Puerto Vallarta is a good sized city. Most of the locals work in the tourism industry. In fact, about half the people in the city are employed by businesses associated with tourism.

The most popular season for tourists to come to Puerto Vallarta is during Spring Break. During Spring Break, high school and college students come from all over the world to party in Puerto Vallarta.

However, Spring Break isn’t the only time of year Puerto Vallarta is packed with visitors. The city’s high season runs typically from November through April. Most of the vacationers in Puerto Vallarta come from the western part of the United States, however a lot of Mexicans travel to Puerto Vallarta to vacation as well.

Of all the hotspots in the city, Playa Mismaloya is usually considered the place to be. This beach is where celebrities go to when they visit Puerto Vallarta. There are also many nightclubs and bars in the area where the parties continue all day and all night.

The most popular activities in the city are water related, such as surfing, snorkeling and wakeboarding. Additionally, fishing is extremely popular among families who are visiting Puerto Vallarta.

Photo credit: Flckr

My first vacation to Mexico was to Mazatlán, many years ago and it remains one of my favorite destinations in Mexico. Mazatlán is located on the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Sea of Cortez, across from the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

You will find that resorts, shopping, dining and other activities in Mazatlán are slightly lower than the other major resort cities in Mexico.

Mazatlán consists of the city region dubbed “Old Mazatlán” and the resort region termed “Zona Dorada” - The Golden Zone.

Zona Dorada is the northern part of Mazatlán and features wonderul beaches, shopping and resorts. One of my favorite activities in Mazatlán (and all of Mexico) is fishing. Mazatlán is a big fishing port known for it’s tuna and shrimp. However sportfishing for sailfish and marlin is ever popular.

Whether you like fishing, water sports, tennis, golf, horseback riding, shopping, eating or just relaxing at the beach, you can do it all in Mazatlán.

Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán is a wonderful resort in Mazatlán that offers luxury accommodations. Each suite has a breathtaking ocean view, a kitchenette and top-notch amenities. It’s a great resort for families. Visit their website to learn more about Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán.

Photo credit: Flickr