Traveling with kids

We stay on Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo. We have just had two of our sons families and 4 grandchildren (ages 8 months – 5 years) visiting us for a couple of weeks. Previously other grandchildren up to 13 years old have visited. It’s a great destination for kids – lots to keep them easily and thoroughly entertained and busy.
I am sure your kids will have fun in you AI Hotel pool, but for beach days, the surf/undertows/riptides are usually too strong on Playa Palmar to be to be very safe for young children. Others may have a different opinion.

I would suggest a number of day-trip excursions.

Playa la Ropa. One of the best, dare I say it, family beaches in the world. No safety issues. Calm clear water. Nice sand. 1 km long for walks. Reasonable snorkeling at north and south ends. Super “feet in the sand” restaurants for inexpensive shade/snacks/cerveza.

Ixtapa Island. A 40 peso panga trip ( which the kids will enjoy). Good safe snorkeling at Playa Coral and the best (again my opinion) swimming beach for kids in the whole area at the beach to the west of the panga dock beach. Lots of restaurant choices. We like Ixtapa Bar Restaurant. Great service and the the bill always correct to the peso.

Playa las Gatas, by panga from the pier in Zihua.

A little longer excursion with kids would be to la Barra for lunch at one of the beachfront enramadas. Usualy big waves but a great beach for walking. Kids really enjoy a panga trip through the mangrove channels in the lagoon (about 1 hour).

If you want to get away from your hotel for some evening meals there are a multitude of on- the- sand restaurants in centro and along Playa la Ropa that are easy easy with kids and very kid friendly. (Some favourites – Daniels, by la cancha in Centro and Rossy’s or Patys! on Playa la Ropa.

All of these day-trips, or trips from Ixtapa to Zihua are easily done by taxi, but MUCH more fun using the local buses/combis/pasajeros.
Have a great holiday.