Recommend January 2012 - (Page 64)

Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Just a few minutes apart, the neighboring towns of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Paciﬁc coastline in the state of Guerrero, reveal sparkling beaches and bays amid a background of rolling hills and miles of green, courtesy of the Sierra Madre Mountains. They may sit side-by-side, but each town has a distinctive personality. Ixtapa is the more developed of the two, a former coconut plantation tagged in 1974 by Mexico’s National Trust Fund for Tourism Development to become a hot resort destination. And that it did, with top resorts—including the beautiful Club Med Ixtapa—and sparkling beaches beckoning families of all types and a lively nightlife for adults. At the modern Ixtapa Marina, visitors can sign up for sailing lessons or book a yacht for a stylish day at sea. Beaches are the main event, of course, with La Ropa, Linda and Quieta beaches topping the list. Surfers often head to Escolleras Beach. Zihuatanejo, meanwhile, is more laid-back and quiet, still staying closer to its ﬁshing-village roots even as it’s grown. The lively Paseo del Pescador—which stretches along its waterfront—is lined with seafood restaurants and souvenir stores and markets, but most head to the Mercado de Artesanias for hours of leisurely shopping. Zihuatanejo is a favorite among ﬁshing aﬁcionados, swimmers and snorkelers. Here, too, are plenty of enticing hotel options, including the multiple award winner La Casa que Canta, which looks out to Zihuatanejo Bay. Most hotels and resorts can arrange for a variety of watersports, including parasailing, or a hiking excursion into the nearby jungle. While the sister towns are popular year-round, many plan their visits around one of their annual events, including the charming Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, which this year takes place March 4-10 and welcomes local and international musicians. The drop-dead gorgeous Bay of Zihuatanejo is sprinkled with boutique hotels. Los Cabos It’s a hotter year than ever for Los Cabos, as it’s been selected to host this year’s G20 Summit. With a dramatic landscape of orange desert, dark blue waters and spots of emerald thanks to its many golf courses, Los Cabos— comprised of the towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas—is heavy in both man-made and natural appeal. San Jose, founded by Jesuit missionaries, is the place to go for art appreciation and acquisition, with dozens of art galleries and an Art Walk taking place on Thursday evenings from November through June. It’s also the site of tree-lined plazas and top restaurants—award-winning dining is one of Los Cabos’ claims to fame, after all. Half an hour away is Cabo San Lucas, where the after-hours scene is proliﬁc and where a modern marina and boardwalk is always bustling thanks to a bevy of shops, restaurants and boating and ﬁshing outﬁtters. The towns are connected by the Transpeninsular Highway, dotted by top resorts—including the beachfront Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort—and gorgeous championship greens designed by golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Pete Dye. Throughout, you’ll also ﬁnd some of the ﬁnest spas anywhere—yet another reason why George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston and so many other celebrities spend much time here. Marine attractions off Los Cabos are even more enticing. The Sea of Cortez, which John Steinbeck described as “ferocious with life,” is an underwater utopia where sea lions frolic, roosterﬁsh jump up to greet you and whale-watching during the winter months is a daily affair. It’s also home to some of the best sport ﬁshing in the Americas, with several ﬁshing events taking place annually, including Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which this year runs from Oct. 23 through the 27. Los Cabos is made for the adrenaline junkie. D44 january 2012 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2012

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: Hard Rock Hotels and Resorts
Tour Talk: Lindblad Expeditions
Holland America's Veendam
Delta Air Lines' 2012 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Las Vegas' 2012 Offerings
Hot European Tours for 2012
Hokkaido, Japan
Egypt's Antiquity Attractions are Eternal

Recommend January 2012