Fishing:  
Right at the pier, Cooperativo de Pescadores Azueta (Paseo del Pescador 81, Zihuatanejo, Mexico. PHONE: 755/554-2056) has a large fleet of boats with VHF radios; some have GPS. The outfit charges $150 for trips in small, fast skiffs with up to four passengers or $250 for larger, more comfortable, albeit somewhat slower craft.

Cooperativo Triángulo del Sol (Paseo del Pescador 38, Zihuatanejo, Mexico. PHONE: 755/554-3758) offers day trips in boats from 26 to 36 feet. Prices are in the $150 to $270 range.

VIPSA (Hotel Las Brisas, Paseo Vista Hermosa, Ixtapa, Mexico. PHONE: 755/553-0003) is a reliable bet in the Ixtapa area, with boats for that can handle four to six passengers; prices range from $300 to $450.

You can arrange fishing trips with the boat cooperative (tel. 755/554-2056) at the Zihuatanejo town pier. They cost $130 to $300, depending on boat size, trip length, and so on. Most trips last about 7 hours. The cooperative accepts Visa and MasterCard; paying cash saves you 20% tax, but don't expect a receipt. The price includes 10 soft drinks, 10 beers, bait, and fishing gear, but not lunch. You'll pay more for a trip arranged through a local travel agency. The least expensive trips are on small launches called pangas; most have shade. Both small-game and deep-sea fishing are offered. The fishing is adequate, though not on par with that of Mazatlán or Baja.

Other trips combine fishing with a visit to the near-deserted ocean beaches that extend for miles along the coast. Sam Lushinsky at Ixtapa Sport-fishing Charters, 19 Depue Lane, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 (tel. 570/688-9466; fax 570/688-9554; www.ixtapasportfishing.com), is a noted outfitter. Prices range from $295 to $445 per day, for 8.4 to 13m (28-42 ft.) custom cruisers, fully equipped.

Boating:  
Probably the most popular boat trip is to Isla Ixtapa for snorkeling and lunch at the El Marlin restaurant, one of several on the island. You can book this outing as a tour through local travel agencies, or go on your own from Zihuatanejo by following the directions to Playa Linda above and taking a boat from there. Boats leave for Isla Ixtapa every 10 minutes between 11:30am and 5pm, so you can depart and return as you like. The round-trip boat ride is $3. Along the way, you'll pass dramatic rock formations and see in the distance Los Morros de Los Pericos islands, where a great variety of birds nest on the rocky points jutting out into the blue Pacific. On Isla Ixtapa, you'll find good snorkeling; diving, and other watersports. Gear is available for rent on the island. Be sure to catch the last water taxi back at 5pm, and double-check that time upon arrival on the island.

Local travel agencies can usually arrange day trips to Los Morros de Los Pericos islands for birding, though it's less expensive to rent a boat with a guide at Playa Linda. The islands are offshore from Ixtapa's main beach.

Sunset cruises on the sailboat Nirvana, arranged through Yates del Sol (tel. 755/554-2694 or 755/554-8270), depart from the Zihuatanejo town pier at Puerto Mío. The cruises cost $49 per person and include an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. There's also a day trip to Playa Manzanillo on the very comfortable, rarely crowded sailboat. It begins at 10am, costs $78 per person, and includes an open bar, lunch, and snorkeling gear. Schedules and special trips vary, so call for current information.

Boating and fishing expeditions from the new Marina Ixtapa, a bit north of the Ixtapa Hotel Zone, can also be arranged. As a rule, everything available in or through the marina is more expensive and more "Americanized."

Sailboats, Windsurfers, and other watersports equipment rentals are usually available at stands on Playa La Ropa, Playa las Gatas, Isla Ixtapa, and at the main beach, Playa Palmar, in Ixtapa. There's parasailing at La Ropa and Palmar. Kayaks are available for rent at hotels in Ixtapa and some watersports operations on Playa La Ropa.

Diving:
The PADI-certified Carlo Scuba, on Los Gatos Beach (tel. 755/554-6003; www.carloscuba.com), arranges scuba-diving trips. Fees start at $55 for a one-tank dive, or $80 for two dives, including all equipment and lunch. This shop has been around since 1962, and is very knowledgeable about the area, which has nearly 30 different dive sites, including walls and caves. Diving takes place year-round, though the water is clearest from May through December, when visibility is 30m (100 ft.) or better. The nearest decompression chamber is in Acapulco. Advance reservations for dives are advised during Christmas and Easter.

Surfing:  
Numerous surf spots are to be found along the almost 500 km extension of the Pacific Coast of the State of Guerrero, Mexico. In Zihuatanejo: Playa Las Gatas, Playa La Madera, in Ixtapa: Playa Escolleras.  Surfing is particularly good at Petacalco Beach north of Ixtapa.