Zihuatanejo has retained its fishing village charm (source)
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Downtown Zihuatanejo has retained its original fishing-village charm, thanks to its sleepy, sun-drenched streets lined with small seafood restaurants and colorful shops.
"Just walk around the block and you'll find it!" told me a fisherman whom I once had asked for directions. Indeed, this city is so small that you will know most of it after a simple walk around the downtown area.
The main pedestrian walkway Fisherman's Walk ("Paseao des Pescador") follows the main town beach and is lined with a number of small restaurants. The fishermen are notoriously discreet, though. The local fleet has shrunk considerably with the recent influx of tourism.
Plaza de Armas’ town square overlooks the main beach, playa municipal, and is the area that most clings to its fishing roots, with its colorful municipal market, early-morning roosters and slow-moving pace. The gentle Playa Municipal has several traditional restaurants popular for watching the local fishermen as they pull up their boats along the shore.
On the west side of downtown along Calle 5 de Mayo, 3 blocks from the beach, is another craft and souvenir market, Mercado de Artesania Turístico, similar to the one in Ixtapa, but larger, with 255 stands. Most popular is its selection of hand-painted, fantasy-design ceramics, an art form characteristic of Zihuatanejo. Glazed pottery in vibrant colors, silver jewelry set with deep green malachite and embroidered clothing from nearby Oaxaca can also be found.
The only place really buzzing with activity is the main pier, where boats scramble all day long to taxi sunbathers to one of the outer beaches , or to board tourists for deep-sea fishing excursions and returning with giant sailfishes and black marlins.
Next: La Ropa Beach 
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