|
Playa
La Ropa is a long extension of white sand lining the inner
reaches of Zihuatanejo bay to the south of town. It measures approximately 1.2 kms (.75 mile) in walking length.
It's considered by many visitors to be the best
beach in the bay and the area and is certainly one of the most convenient.
La Ropa is a wonderful walking beach that provides, in addition
to accommodations for every taste and budget, a string of great
seafood and international restaurants and water sports and activities
ranging from boogie boards, water skiing, parasailing, jet skiis,
and catamarans to beach volleyball and horseshoe pitching.
La Ropa is easily accessible from downtown Zihuatanejo
by bus, taxi or foot. Taxis frequent Paseo Palay la Ropa that runs through the palm grove and cabs can usually be found awaiting passengers at the taxi stand in front of the lobby to the Villa del Sol, in the parking lot of La Perla at at the parking lot/turnaround next to La Gaviota at the end of the beach, which is also the end of the La Ropa bus route.
The waves on La Ropa are general mild
and allow for great swimming as well as water skiing and banana
boat rides. During the winter season, sailboats moor along the beach
a couple of hundred yards offshore. Restaurants on La Ropa offer a variety of seafood, Mexican and International
cuisine in an ideal atmosphere.
Lets take a little walk from the town end of the beach down toward the Las Gatas Beach extremity...
The rocky point at the northwest end
of La Ropa beach holds impressive residences and guest houses built
upon the rocks surrounding La Casa Que Canta and Villa de la Roca.
The rocks below provide a good spot for snorkeling.
In December of 2004, Club Intrawest, a multi-colored hotel/shared-ownership complex with an impressive restaurant palapa commanding a stunning view of the bay, was completed and opened for business. It is located next to the Sotavento Hotel and also offers Zi Bar at pool level.
Spectacular views are also afforded from
the Sotavento / Catalina hotels perched on the hillside. The Sotavento
was the first major hotel to be built with direct access to this
wonderful stretch of beach. Both the Sotavento and the Catalina
bars are great spots for enjoying the brilliant sunsets over Zihuatanejo
Bay. Massage tables are often set up in this area and good massages and reflexology sessions and be had for reasonable prices.
Below the Sotavento/Catalina are several
restaurants such as Elvira's La Ropa, Paty's Mar y Mar and Doña Prudencia,
which is connected to the Villas Mexicana Hotel. Both Elivira La Ropa and Paty's Mar y Mar are popular spots for beachside breakfasts, fresh fish dishes and happy hour sunset drinks. Catamaran rentals
are available along the beach in this area as well.
Between the Villa Mexicana and Villa
del Sol is a small artisan's market where you can find T-shirts,
hammocks, rugs, embroidered blouses and souvenirs. On all of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo's
beaches one regularly comes across roving vendors selling anything
from peanuts, dried fruit and coconut snacks to silver from Taxco.
Next along the beach, hidden by coconut palms and interspersed with pools and manicured gardens, the prestigious Hotel Villa del Sol itself offers two great restaurants, La Cantina, next to the artisan's market, and the Villa del Sol Restaurant proper.
Various hotels along La Ropa sponsor
the local turtle conservation campaign, setting up fenced-off areas
in which turtle eggs found along the beach are gathered and protected
during incubation (August through December). When hatched, the baby turtles are kept in tubs and released periodically
back into the ocean. This is done at sunset and the hotels routinely invite guests and beachgoers to help release these tiny creatures into the sea.
Next along the beach from Villa del Sol are Bunglows Palacio-Vepao and Las Urracas - both standbys for comfortable and reasonable beachside accommodations
La
Perla Restaurant and Sports Bar, two-thirds of the way along
Playa la Ropa, has a long history of good seafood and Mexican specialties, and you can always drop
into the sports bar and catch up on your favorite basketball, football
and baseball teams.
Beach umbrellas are for rent at several
points along the beach. These umbrellas come out in force during
the busy Christmas, and Easter holidays, even though they're
not much in evidence the rest of the year. La Ropa and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
is general is busiest during the two weeks around Christmas and
New Year, and the two weeks around Easter and Holy weeks.
Hotel
Casa del Mar (formerly Omar, then Hotel Paraiso Real) and El Cocodrilo restaurant are located next to a small
estuary that is home to several crocodiles that can often be seen
sunning themselves on the sandy shore. These reptiles are well fed
by the nearby restaurants and as an endangered species they are
under federal protection. The crocs have lived in this estero for
years and are not known to attack - but caution is advised and they
should not be provoked.
Right next to the estero across from El Cocodrilo is El Manglar - somewhat hidden in the mangrove vegetation lining the inlet - with a menu of outstanding and unusual seafood creations as well as a lot of the good old standbys.
Next along the beach is El Pirata, which has grown from a very small beachfront palapa to a much more substantial restaurant and beach hangout. Behind El Pirata several vacation rental units are available.
Rossy's restaurant near the southern
end of La Ropa offers an upstairs deck - perfect for watching the
crowds along the beach and the spectacular sunsets over the bay. Below Rossy's is the quiet El Marlin restaurant, behind which is a well-stocked Miscelanea El Gallita (small store) where you can purchase soft drinks, beer, snacks, a limited supply of fruits and veggies, cigarettes, etc. Beside the store is a small restaurant offering a range of simple, good food including tacos and seafood dishes. The store gives onto a large parking area where the Centro-to-La-Ropa bus stop is located. Buses run.
2006: Learn about the Virgin of La Ropa, which appeared on the bole of a plum tree next to the bus stop.
La Gaviota seafood restaurant is the
last restaurant on the southern end of the beach with a
good selection of fresh fish and shellfish. The rocks at this end
of the beach all the way to Las Gatas provide a good area for snorkelers.
Beyond La Gaviota and slightly up the hill overlooking the far end of La Ropa is an neighborhood which holds several private homes, vacation rentals and a couple of hotels, including Hotel Don Francisco.
A rough path over the rocks along the shoreline can also be followed all the way to Las Gatas beach. Those braving this path should be aware that there are a couple of spots on it that require a bit of scrambling over the boulders - it's a good idea to wear shoes that will adequately protect your feet for this route.
Part of La Ropa area which is steadily developing and coming into it's own is the road through the palm grove that gives vehicle access to the whole stretch of the beach as well as to the road above the far end of La Ropa and Las Gatas.
Through the palm grove itself, several small hotels and vacation rentals are available. Although not right on the beach, they are surrounded by greenery and are only a couple of minutes' walk away from the wonderful waves of La Ropa. Included here are Villas del Palmar, Hotel JB and Casa Tucanes.
On the fork leading to the end of the Ropa, the bus stop and La Gaviota, one passes Villas los Arcos, Casa Luna, Hotel and Restaurant Palma Real (reputed to serve fantastic breakfasts) and Rossy's Hotel, among others. In the area behind El Marlin and the estero is another cul-de-sac with a number of rentals available. This road also gives access to the back entrance to El Manglar restaurant that also provides space for RV parking and basic hookups.
On the fork leading up the hillside toward Las Gatas are condominiums, Restaurant La Escollera (with stunning views of the bay), Casa Leo, Amuleto and a growing number of private residences. This road curls all the way up the mountain and leads to the new hilltop development of Cerro del Vigia.
|
