Playa El Palmar is Ixtapa's main beach, a long crescent of golden sand stretching along the hotel zone. The surf is moderate -- good for boogie boarding and body surfing, though swimmers should watch for undertow. Beach vendors rent chairs and umbrellas, and you can arrange banana-boat rides, parasailing, and jet-ski rentals right on the sand.
Behind the beach, Paseo Ixtapa runs the length of the hotel strip with restaurants, souvenir shops, and beach-gear stores. Any bus from downtown Zihuatanejo to Ixtapa drops you here. For a different perspective, hire a boat from Zihua and see the beach from the water.