My wife and I are nearing retirement and looking at places to consider that we feel would best fit most of our needs and desires.

Next on our list is Zihua. When we come down to visit, it is likely that we are going to stay at one of the private homes suggested in posts that I have read here on ZihuaRob's. Fortunately this website exist and provides a wealth of information. Most everything has been covered... the restaurants and many other considerations have been reviewed well enough to provided us a very good idea as to what to anticipate.

One issue we'd like to address is crime. Approximately 1.5 weeks ago I read about a bus that was robbed on the way north out of town headed toward Manzanillo. Having traveled extensively in the past 25 years, we are aware of most the do's & don'ts of getting out & about in certain locations/environments. Perhaps that incident was somewhat of an unusual occurrence.

Work has recently taken me to Mexico City, Monterrey & Guadalajara... and I have been traveling there for many years. The atmosphere has changed to some degree (most noticeably in Mexico City & Monterrey) in part due to the drug trade and the crime that follows it.

My concern is with all the media commentary (hype or otherwise) that has been in the press for the last few years about Mexico... How is the region of Manzanillo/Ixtapa/Zihua been effected? Is it reasonably safe & if so, to what extent? Is there any drug cartel presence there or not?

Thanks, any & all comments are appreciated.
David

Back in 2006, the year I retired, we decided to spend 3 months driving around to the various places in Mexico that we thought would be good candidates for places to live.
(We assumed then that our retirement income was too low to allow us to spend half the year in Mexico and half back home. We've discovered, however, that we can do exactly that.....for the past 10 years, anyway. Some might argue otherwise, but we consider this to be the best of both worlds.)
So, we spent some time in San Carlos, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Guayabitos, Guadalajara, Ajijic/Chapala, San Miguel de Allende, Patzcuaro, Morelia, Oaxaca City, Puerto Escondido, San Cristobal de las Casas, Huatulco, Playa Ventura, Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco.....and Zihua. We hadn't been to the Zihua area since the mid-90's, when we spent two weeks in Ixtapa.
Of all those places, we would still choose Zihua (or Ixtapa, if we were living here full-time). I doubt we would buy - rentals are very reasonable and you can just walk away if necessary. We've heard enough scary stories about condo purchases in Mexico, especially in touristy areas, that we would probably rule that out. (We've lived in condos for most of the past 45 years, so are totally familiar with all the pros and cons, but condo living in a Mexican tourist area can be a whole other ballgame).
Good luck in your search.

The surf inside the bay is almost never surfable. Any thing that can be ridden is at Playa las Gatas, and it's rare. Outside the bay, however, like at Troncones, are lots of great spots.

We live on a prime surfing beach in Southern California, and here in the bay, just SUP daily.

Our local surfer friend finds suitable waves now and then at the west/south end of Playa La Madera, near the rocks. And at the north end of Playa del Palmar in Ixtapa, near the Marina. We're not surfers, but I think La Saladita, a few km north of Troncones, is the prime spot for locals.

We live on a prime surfing beach in Southern California, and here in the bay, just SUP daily.

Perhaps you would want to rent for one year before you buy? I've gotten too old to buy and besides don't want to be tied to any one location. But if I were moving to MX I would buy a place in Patzcuaro and take "beach fix" trips by first class bus to Z/I. Better medical access (Morelia), moderately cool weather, less expensive and most of all more akin to real Mexican culture.

Just my 2 cents worth. Once again I would not put crime down as a deal breaker.

Compared to the other areas you mentioned that you are familiar with, Zihua and Ixtapa are much safer and frankly, in terms of the cartel presence, they are everywhere there is money to be made in Mexico. My feeling on the cartel subject has always been that as a tourist I had little to worry about from them unless I was involved in the drug trade, either as a buyer or seller, and then you are taking huge chances. But the cartels also have vested interests in tourism and want you to enjoy and spend money as they have investments in many hotels and other establishments so I have never fell at risk because of them in that part of the country. Yes, there is some petty crime as many of the locals have no jobs and the economy is not what it was in the 80's-early 90's but it has been getting better the last 5-6 years but there is still way too much population for the work available. But violent crime in Zihua against tourists is an anomaly and I certainly feel safer there than where I live. As far as the bus hijacking, it is actually a lot more common than reported, especially on those buses doing many stops and at night. It's less of an issue for the luxury buses only doing pick up at controlled bus terminals and doing weapons check there. Your comfort zone is a personal thing and you may feel different about Zihua then I do but we seem to have similar work/life experiences from what you posted and I think if you are looking for a place that has more of an authentic Mexican feel, with reasonable rates, an awesome weather and lots of friendly, genuine folks, Zihua is the place. It also offer most services you may need in terms of health, dental, theatre, etc...

But this area has no flavor of the larger cities you mentioned. As well my contacts tell me the bad guy influence is low here right now.

D

Next on our list is Zihua. When we come down to visit, it is likely that we are going to stay at one of the private homes suggested in posts that I have read here on ZihuaRob's. Fortunately this website exist and provides a wealth of information. Most everything has been covered... the restaurants and many other considerations have been reviewed well enough to provided us a very good idea as to what to anticipate.

One issue we'd like to address is crime. Approximately 1.5 weeks ago I read about a bus that was robbed on the way north out of town headed toward Manzanillo. Having traveled extensively in the past 25 years, we are aware of most the do's & don'ts of getting out & about in certain locations/environments. Perhaps that incident was somewhat of an unusual occurrence.

Work has recently taken me to Mexico City, Monterrey & Guadalajara... and I have been traveling there for many years. The atmosphere has changed to some degree (most noticeably in Mexico City & Monterrey) in part due to the drug trade and the crime that follows it.

My concern is with all the media commentary (hype or otherwise) that has been in the press for the last few years about Mexico... How is the region of Manzanillo/Ixtapa/Zihua been effected? Is it reasonably safe & if so, to what extent? Is there any drug cartel presence there or not?

Thanks, any & all comments are appreciated.
David