($) Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa suffer from a dearth of public children’s parks. No slides, no swings, no monkey bars, at least not to the degree we are familiar with in the US, Canada, and elsewhere. Luckily we have Banana’s, an enclosed playroom for young kids and toddlers. They have what are probably considered jungle gyms, but they are covered in colorful padded mats, so that even a stumble can be fun. They also have an area for coloring and arts and crafts, kid-sized shopping carts and plastic groceries, building blocks, and a lounge area for waiting parents who are letting their kids roam around. Banana’s can be used for babysitting or parents can play along with their kids. There are always at least 3 staff members present.

don't miss: For extra fun, pay the extra $50 pesos per hour and take your toddler to the stimulation area. The entire area is covered in padded mats, and your child can run around and slide down padded slides, stack huge padded blocks and roll around on padded cylinders.

just the facts, ma'am: Banana’s is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 8 pm, and Sundays 10 am to 7 pm. The first hour is 30 pesos, and each additional hour is 10 pesos. Although Banana’s no longer has A/C at their new location, the air is fresh and a cool breeze blows in through the upper windows. Also, there is a lovely serve-yourself snack bar, with coffee, sodas and snacks, but if you don’t want your kids to help themselves to a truckload of sugar, bring your own healthy snacks, and make sure the staff know not to give your kids anything but what you’ve brought.

meet me @: Banana’s is now located on Calle Catalina Gonzalez, on the corner of Cinco de Mayo in Zihuatanejo Centro.

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($$) Sylvia Gotzeler established Blossom Yoga Studio in Zihuatanejo four years ago and has worked to create a satisfying yoga experience for both seasoned and novice yoga practitioners. With daily morning classes under a serene palapa roof, locals and tourists can start their day with meditation, focused breathing, and an hourlong Iyengar-based Hatha class of both relaxing and strengthening poses. Sylvia also teaches tailored private and semi-private classes in the location of your choosing. All classes are taught in English.

don't miss: Sylvia occasionally offers special 2-hourlong night sessions, especially focusing on hip opening and restorative sequences.

just the facts, ma'am: Sylvia offers group classes Monday-Saturday during the high season from 9:30 - 10:30 am. During the summer months, classes are held Monday through Friday mornings. Group classes are $10 USD or a package of 5 classes for $40 USD.

meet me @: the studio is conveniently located near centro and both Playas la Ropa and Madera on the corner of Paseo del Palmar and Calle Zafiro on th 3rd floor (follow the signs).

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($$$$) Carlo Scuba is located on the lovely Las Gatas Beach in Zihuatanejo. With advance reservations, a boat will pick you up from the Zihuatanejo Pier and take you to the shop to get outfitted for scuba diving or snorkeling, and from there they set off to any number of interesting dive sites. The divers are PADI certified, and they offer full instruction and certification courses for beginners, and refresher courses for novices and experienced divers.

don't miss: an ice-cold post-dive beer on Playa Las Gatas with your dive instructor.

just the facts, ma'am: Carlo Scuba is open daily for dive trips, by reservation only. Payments may be made via PayPal.

meet me @: Carlo Scuba is located on Playa Las Gatas.

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($$$) Fun4rent offers a variety of outdoor-adventure rentals, including one- and two-person kayaks, bicycles, mopeds, town carts, sea scooters and more. They also provide kayak tours around Zihuatanejo and also Laguna Valentin. Their goal is to be an earth-friendly business, and their tours impart information about the local ecosystem and wilderness.

just the facts, ma'am: Fun4rent is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am – 7 pm, and Sundays by appointment only. Services include free delivery of equipment rented for the full day. Tours are bi-lingual and eco-friendly.

meet me @: Fun4rent is located on Calle Agustin Ramirez, #3 Colonia Centro, across from the Jungle Bar.

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If you’re looking for a place to let the kids run off some energy, Parque Recreativo Los Amates in Ixtapa is one of the options available. Fonatur maintains the park, so the grass is green, and the area is cleaned regularly. The park has several levels with two playgrounds consisting of wooden structures with ladders, steps, platforms, slides, see-saws, swings and monkey bars. A basketball court and skate boarding area complete the experience.

just the facts, ma'am: Parque Recreativo Los Amates is located in Ixtapa between Colina de las Mariposas and Colina de las Calandrias, on the opposite side of Paseo de los Viveros from the Euro School. Parking is available at the Colina de las Mariposas entrance. There are several stone benches placed throughout the park, but not necessarily in the shady locations. The park can be quite toasty in the afternoons with the sun beating down on the kids, especially in the hotter summer months.

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($$$$) A relatively new and stunning retreat right on Trocones Beach, Present Moment is both a spa-like oasis and a place for serious personal work through intensive yoga retreats, guided meditation, dance, and healing arts workshops. With both all-inclusive packages, a la carte lodging services, and open workshops, anyone can experience Present Moment and attain a bit of spiritual calm and physical restoration on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Locals and tourists are welcome for group classes, bodywork and massage, private workshops, and to also dine at their gourmet spa restaurant.

don't miss: the late night drumming circles are one of those liberating experiences you'll remember for a lifetime. Luxury, physical transformation, and spiritual reflection all coexist peacefully at Present Moment's beautiful retreat center.

meet me @: on beautiful and serene Troncones Beach, Present Moment is about 30 kilometers north of Zihuatanejo.

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When you enter the Zihuatanejo Dive Center, administrator America Orta greets you with a friendly smile, and you know you’ve come to the right place. The dive masters and instructors are PADI certified, and ready to teach you scuba safety and basics in the on-site classrooms. Then they take you to various hotels in the area for in-water practice before you go out into the open water for the real dives.

just the facts, ma'am: Zihuatanejo Dive Center, open Mondays through Saturdays, 8:30 am – 6 pm, provides classes and gear for scuba. It also rents snorkeling equipment, kayaks, sailboats for up to 8 people, and snooba (a watersport that allows you to dive up to 10 feet without carrying heavy tanks - great for children!). English, French and Spanish spoken.

meet me @: Zihuatanejo Dive Center is located on the road to Puerto Mio, just on the other side of the footbridge, and is a quick walk from Zihua Centro.

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