Ixtapa Explained

See also: Ixtapa, Chiapas.

Ixtapa
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Mexico
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Mexico
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Mexico
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Guerrero
Subdivision Name2:Zihuatanejo de Azueta
Established Title:Resort created
Established Date:early 1970s[1]
Population As Of:2010
Population Total:8,992
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Coordinates:17.6367°N -101.5514°W
Website:ixtapa-zihuatanejo.gob.mx

Ixtapa (pronounced as /es/,) is a resort city in Mexico, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean in the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta in the state of Guerrero. It is located 5km (03miles) northwest of the municipal seat, Zihuatanejo, and 245km (152miles) northwest of Acapulco.

In the 2005 INEGI Census, the population of Ixtapa was 6,406.

Creation of Ixtapa

Ixtapa is a government-planned tourist resort that was begun in the 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 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 culs-de-sac within them. A couple of architects were selected to build this city, some are still residents of this town. Architects Miguel Ángel Rojas and Concepción Rivera live and work in this town. The famous Mexican telenovela Marimar was filmed here in 1994.

Transportation

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: Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Interjet, Sunwing Airlines, TAR Aerolineas, United Airlines, US Airways and WestJet.

Charter Lines: Apple Vacations, Canjet, Champion Air, Funjet Vacations, Delta Vacations, Ryan International, Global Air, Transat Holidays, Sunwing Vacations, Sun Country, Magnicharters, and others.

Bus Lines: Autovias, Costa Line, Estrella de Oro, Estrella Blanca, La Linea Plus, Parhikuni, Primera Plus, Turistar/Futura, Omnibus de Mexico and others.

Popular culture

Parts of the 1987 film Hot Pursuit with John Cusack, Wendy Gazelle, Robert Loggia, Jerry Stiller, and Ben Stiller (in his first starring role) were filmed in and around the area.

See also

External links

17.6367°N -101.5514°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Ixtapa: Mexico's gem of a resort . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). (Dallas Times Herald) . Carlton . Michael . January 24, 1982. B6.