Day Trips
Three-and-a-half hours northeast of Acapulco by car, Taxco (via Hwy. 95; Tourism office at Av. de los Plateros 1; Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, Sun 8am-12pm; 762/622-2274) is a charming colonial mining town in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Known as Mexico's "Silver City," its picturesque cobblestone streets (bring good walking shoes), colonial-era monuments, small museums, and most famously, fine silver at rock-bottom prices, make it a perfect beach break. Many of the artisan shops of the Plaza Borda, located on the city's main square, have been creating beautiful silver jewelry and housewares for generations. The plaza is dominated by the Iglesia de Santa Prisca (Plaza Borda; daily 6am-9pm), a church whose cheery pink façade makes for a colorful (and handy) landmark. Venture inside to see beautiful vaulted ceilings and paintings by Mexican artist Miguel Cabrera. Wander up the side streets around the plaza and you'll be rewarded with both beautiful vistas of surrounding hills dotted with red-tile rooftops and many more silver shops, some of them offering even better bargains than those on the main plaza.
For an alternative taste of Pacific coastal life à la Mexican Riviera, follow the coastline north (via Hwy 200) for about 160 miles to reach the neighboring beach resorts of Ixtapa and Zihuatenejo. Scenic Ixtapa (Tourism office at Paseo de las Gaviotas #12, Mon-Fri 8am-8.30pm, Sat 8am-2pm; 755/553-1270; www.ixtapa-zihuatanejo.com) is a haven for luxury travelers, with exclusive hotels, top-notch services, and an altogether modern infrastructure that welcomes vacation indulgence. Ixtapa straddles a sandy strip between the Pacific Ocean and the stunning Sierra Madre mountain range, with upscale resorts, restaurants, golf courses, scuba diving, bay cruises, and of course, beach lounging; in other words, plenty of activities to fill up a sun-filled day. For those seeking an encounter with more traditional, unpretentious Mexican culture, a 4-mile trip from Ixtapa to the rustic town of Zihuatanejo (Tourism office at the City Hall; Mon-Fri 9am-3pm; www.ixtapa-zihuatanejo.com) promises just that.
