Guide to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Troncones and the State of Guerrero, Mexico

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico Vacation Guide

Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman's Walk), Municipal Beach, Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo's Paseo del Pescador, or Fisherman's Walk, is a pedestrian walkway along the Municipal beach between the Regional Museum and the fishing pier. Fisherman's Walk is wonderful place to sit on the beach under an umbrella and people watch. Evenings the Paseo fills with people socializing and dining as the sun sets and the stars come out over the bay.

The archaeological museum The Regional Museum of Archaeology is located at the southern end of the Municipal Beach. The Museum displays a of historical and archaelogical artifacts from the region. It stands beside the flood control canal that runs through Zihuatanejo dividing the downtown area from the Madera Beach district.

Fisherman's Walk is lined with restaurants offering seafood and many other delicacies, as well as a variety of stores selling rugs, arts and crafts and souveniers, and a small shell market.

Bridge leading to La Madera walkway The Paseo is a pleasant, tree-shaded walk with both local residents and tourists milling about enjoying a snack or cold beer on the benches or under the restaurant umbrellas and palapas.The walkway is surrounded by color... from the restaurants with their sunshades, to painted walls and flowers lining the sidewalk.

La Sirena Gorda Restaurant specializing in seafood and Mexican dishes, is located on the Paseo del Pescador... A good spot for an excellent breakfast or a late-afternoon fish taco. Other restaurant favorites on the walkway are Casa Elvira (seafood & Mexican specialties), The gazebo on the square Joey's Casa Marina (great home-style food), Mediterráneo Restaurant for pastas, Daniel's Restaurant, which during the winter season features dinnertime music and excellent fare, Tata's and Casa Arcadia, with happy hour all day long. And there are many more places to eat than just those!

The plaza in which the town's main basketball court is located is Zihuatanejo's town square, with benches and shade trees. The Gazebo in the square by the basketball court is sometimes used for music, at other times a play spot for the kids. Cultural presentations are put on by the Casa de la Cultura and the muncipality every Sunday evening, featuring art shows and music concerts... as well as enthusiastic basketball tournaments!

The Zihuatanejo fishing charter and Port Captain's office are located at the foot of the pier. At the charter off you can buy your tickets for the small boats, or pangas, that taxi passengers between town and Las Gatas Beach across the bay. This office will also arrange fishing charters with the local boat coop.

Near the pier, the fishermen also set up tables at which fresh fish is sold to the restaurants and public every morning. The pier itself has been recently updated and shaded benches have been installed where visitors can wait for the boats to Las Gatas in comfort.

Yearly, on the first weekend of May, Zihuatanejo hosts the International Sailfish Tournament. The event brings hundreds of fishermen and boats into town in the hopes of winning one of the many prizes offered for largest sailfish, marlin and dorado. The townspeople put out food and drink and the local oom-pah band plays up a storm. The pier, for three days, becomes a madhouse of human bodies.

Other tournaments are held throughout the year, such as the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament and the Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Tournament, both in November, and a couple of Sailfishing tournaments that usually fall in January or early February. Check our fishing page for more details.