Thirty years ago, the Mexican government surveyed the coastline and found two wonderful beaches yet undeveloped. One was Cancun on the Yucatan peninsula, which has since then become extremely popular and, in the opinion of some, very overdeveloped.

The other beach was Ixtapa, on the Pacific Coast about 200 miles north of Acapulco, near the old fishing village of Zihuatanejo, a favorite port for cruise ships. On this smaller beach, development has been more controlled.

We visit Mexico every year, and Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo is far and ... (more)