Zihuatanejo has long been a special place for rest and relaxation; even in pre-hispanic times it was a winter refuge for privileged families from the Pátzcuaro region of what is now the neighboring state of Michoacán. The breakwater at Las Gatas Beach was allegedly built by Purépecha royalty to provide a safe swimming area for their women and children who were brought here from the highlands both for winter vacations and during times of regional strife. The name of Zihuatanejo comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs who called it "place of women" for the matriarchal society that dominated the region.

After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, Zihuatanejo remained a small fishing village for centuries, and to this day the fishermen and their families are considered the heart of Zihuatanejo. You can see their fishing boats lined up on the downtown beach called Playa Principal. They mostly fish during the night, arriving at daybreak with the fruits of their labors that can be bought right on the beach. Locals are accustomed to eating seafood so fresh it was swimming the night before.

Playa La Ropa is one of the jewels of Zihuatanejo. Its name means "the clothes" and comes from the shipwreck of a Chinese vessel whose cargo of clothing washed up on the beach in the 1920's. It's a perfect beach for swimming most of the year due to its normally small waves, crystal clear water and sandy bottom.

Villa Vista Condo is a 1-bedroom multilevel vacation rental condominium with 2 large living areas, a fully-equipped kitchen, 2 bathrooms and 2 showers. Located in the Punta Peñasco condominium complex on a small hill above La Ropa Beach, overlooking Zihuatanejo's bay; this spacious condo offers incredible panoramic views from its 2 terraces or pretty much anywhere else in the condo, the reward for the climb up so many stairs. It's a quiet, private and secure location, about a 10-minute walk to the beach. There's a bus stop on the road near the entrance to the condo complex, and taxis can also be caught on the roadside or called by phone. See taxi rates and phone numbers here.

Amenities include:

• A walk-through with our assistant upon check-in
• Walking distance to some of our favorite restaurants
• High-speed wi-fi, Smart TV
• Air conditioning
• Fully-stocked kitchen: air fryer, Instant Pot, large fridge
• Adults-only pool
• 1 reserved parking space
• 2 garrafones of drinking water per week
• On-call assistant for any emergencies
• Maid service for stays over 7 days
• Laundry included