Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Things To Know About Zihuatanejo


By Sean Elstins

Zihuatanejo is the fourth largest city in the western part of Mexico's state of Guerrero. It is located northwest of the popular vacation destination, Acapulco and itself has been developed for tourists. Despite this, it maintains a small, traditional atmosphere.

Located on a well-protected bay, the city was for a long time known as a sleepy fishing village. A great place for sport fishing, development of a tourist industry began in the 1970s with the introduction of resorts. Now, it is the third most visited area of Mexico; just behind Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.

The city offers activities for everyone, as it is located on the water and at the edge of the Sierra Madre del Sure Mountains. It has attracted large immigrant populations from Italy and Switzerland with its charming narrow, brick lanes and downtown area, called 'El Centro.'

The city is centered on a basketball court and benches, rather than the typical plaza expected of most cities in Spanish-speaking countries. Festivals, performances and community events are held regularly here. This includes an annual fundraiser, the Annual Zihua Sail Fest, which consists of various musical, artistic, and culinary events, as well as boat shows and races and auctions. It showcases local artists and craft makers, and it is aimed at raising funds for children's programs in the municipality.

The waterfront contains a quaint walkway, lined with trees that leads from the water, beaches and fishing pier to the wildly popular archaeology museum. Along the way, visitors can stop into one of the many restaurants, shops and market places open to shoppers. This is also where the cities vibrant nightlife lets loose.

The downtown does not have a plaza, but is centered on a basketball court with benches. This serves as the focal point of the town, and is often host to various festivals, performances and concerts throughout the year. This includes the famous Annual Zihua Sail Fest, which covers five days each year. Visitors come from around the world to see musical performances, parties, boat races, auctions and art sales, with proceeds going to help disadvantaged children's programs within the region. In the past, more than six hundred forty thousand pesos were raised for such programs.

The city's waterfront is home to a vibrant nightlife, which includes a wide variety discos, clubs and restaurants that have made it popular for visitors. As you move away from the water, you will move towards the mountains. Nestled in the Sierra Madre, lies a large park where visitors can participate in bird watching and other outdoor activities. An archaeological site, the Tierras Prietas, is inviting to many tourists, as are the more than four hundred twenty species of plants that call the park home.

Since the 1970s, tourism has established itself as the city's strongest industry. Fishing, however, was a popular source of income before then, and it is still the go-to job for many of the locals. Other industries include timber, livestock, and growing crops such as coffee, beans, sesame seed, corn and others.

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