There are now seven shopping centers between Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, with over a thousand shops selling everything from hardware to local handicrafts to fine Gucci leathers. At the handicraft markets in Zihuat (Av. Cinco de Mayo) and in Ixtapa (along Bulevar Ixtapa), you can see Mexican families hard at work making pottery and other crafts for sale. The former has over 200 vendors and the latter over eighty.
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When shopping in either Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, watch out for special sales and promotions. Signs will read either “oferta” (on sale), “rebaja” (reduced price), or “liquidación” (close-out). Remember, you can bargain for items at handicraft markets but not in regular shops. When you want to shift gears, take the fifteen-minute ride by minibus or taxi into Zihuatanejo. Here, you'll find enough boutiques lining the cobblestone streets to fill an entire day of browsing. Sparkling silver jewelry, luxurious blankets, and unique wood
arvings are available at the FONART Shop (government handicrafts shop). You can also try the small street market near the zócalo behind the malecón, Paseo del Pescador, the main beach promenade running along Playa La Madera and Playa Principal. Prices here tend to be lower than in Ixtapa. As a break from shopping, be sure to stop at a waterfront café for a leisurely lunch of red snapper and beer while listening to a band of strolling musicians.
Calles Alvarez and Pedro Ascensio, two streets in Zihuatanejo filled with great handicraft shops, are a favorite of visitors. Here, you'll find colorful ceramic wall plates, ironwood fish and bird sculptures, clay or wooden ceremonial masks, bark paintings, beautifully decorated boxes, and hand-tied hammocks in various sizes. And there's nothing like a pair of handmade huaraches (leather sandals) to keep your feet cool. Be careful when purchasing silver jewelry, however. While all of it looks shiny and beautiful, some is just plated, or plata, and other pieces are alpaca, or nickel silver. Be sure to look for the number .925 stamped on the piece, indicating sterling silver, and buy in a shop rather than from a handicraft vendor. Generally, shops remain open from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. and 4 to 8 P.M. Mondays through Saturdays.
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