Shopping Options Abound in Ixtapa, Mexico

Ixtapa offers a number of shopping options with a wide range of merchandise on display. If you want to make sure; however, that you do not leave any shop unscoured, you can also find a variety of shopping opportunities in the nearby city of Zihuatanejo.

When planning your shopping excursions in either of these cities it is a good idea to remember that most shops do close for a lunch break as well as a siesta. Most businesses in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are open from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm and then re-open again at 4:00 pm and remain open until around 8:00 pm. Be aware that many businesses are not open on Sundays. Some businesses may open on Sunday during the busiest times of the tourist season, but generally most shops are closed on Sundays.

In Zihuatanejo you will find a variety of boutiques, clothing shops, jewelry stores and souvenir shops. The quaint streets and small shops in Zihutanejo are a shopper's paradise. Paseo del Pescador offers a number of shops that are worth checking into with merchandise ranging from Mexican crafts to embroidered dresses and woven textiles.

Ixtapa also offers a number of shopping options. In fact, there is a boulevard with a number of shopping centers where you can find both national and international name brand clothing as well as silver and leather goods. Many of the shops in Ixtapa are clustered together along streets along with cafes and restaurants. If you are looking for souvenirs of your trip you will also find a variety of typical Mexican items such as traditional clothing, hammocks and crafts in these shopping centers, known as malls.

The main shopping malls in Ixtapa include La Puerta Mall, Plaza Las Fuentes, Los Patios Mall and Plaza Ixpamar. The Marina Plaza also offers shopping options and is located near the Ixtapa Marina. You will find a wide variety of merchandise in all of these shopping centers.

In Ixtapa as well as Zihutanejo you will find a number of artisans markets which feature hundreds of stands in Zihutanejo and nearly 100 in Ixtapa. Both markets feature a wide variety of merchandise and are great places to stop if you are looking for gifts or souvenirs. Look for the one in Zihutanejo in Ave. Cindo de Mayo and the one in Ixtapa on the Boulevard.

In all of your shopping in the markets in Ixtapa as well as Zihutanejo keep in mind that bargaining is considered to be an important part of the transaction, so do not be afraid to try your hand at negotiating. Generally, in the jewelry stores and boutiques in town this is not the case but it can still be fun while shopping in the artisans markets and may even save you some money.

Most of the products you will find in the artisans markets and shops are hand-made by local artisans in the surrounding areas, making them the perfect gift to bring back as souvenirs or as momentos of a wonderful vacation.