Visions of sunshine and wellness are an effective cure for the mid-winter blues. Wellness Week at Viceroy Zihuatanejo may be just what the doctor ordered.
Set for March 13-19, 2017, it’s a continuation of the successful "Way to Wellness" program introduced at the property last year.
The Wellness Week roster of (complimentary) activities includes yoga, meditation, Aqua FIT, paddle boarding, paddle board yoga and cooking classes. Running guru Dr. Jason Karp will lead group runs. Author and program founder Dr. Edward Taub will lecture on stress relief and healthy lifestyles.
Known formerly as The Tides Zihuatanejo, the Viceroy has 46 guest rooms and suites housed in tile-roofed casitas. The property is known for its lush garden setting and beachfront location on Playa La Ropa or “clothing beach.” The name stems from a colonial-era mishap in which a Spanish galleon ran aground, disgorging its cargo of fine silks from India.
Though it’s now a fixture of cruise itineraries, Zihuatanejo — or Zihua —retains the charms of a quiet fishing village. Visitors still find palapa-roofed eateries serving the catch of the day. Cobbled downtown streets are filled with family-run restaurants, cozy bars and artisan alcoves.
"As a destination, Zihuatanejo is particularly well suited to travelers who want to recharge. The laid-back lifestyle is virtually stress-free, but also quite active, given the many water and beach sports. We’re leveraging the lifestyle advantages with wellness activities and healthy cuisine to create a truly holistic and comprehensive wellness experience for travelers,” Viceroy Zihuatanejo General Manager Martin Kipping tells Travel Agent.
Zihuatanejo’s proximity to the resort town of Ixtapa is always a selling point. The two towns are four miles apart and share an international airport.
“We have both destinations in one trip. It means that we offer a traditional small town, with fishing activities and warm people. And we have Ixtapa, where visitors can find big hotels, golf courses and of course good weather all year,” Zihuatanejo Convention and Visitors Bureau Spokesperson Dessirée Dufóo tells Travel Agent.
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are part of the Guererro state coast known as the Mexican Riviera. It runs on a diagonal slant. Acapulco is 140 miles “down” (southeast) the coast, while Puerto Vallarta is 400 miles “up” (northwest) the coast.
Sheltered by the Sierra Madre del Sur, the area between Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo includes 12 beaches, numerous coves and cliff sides with panoramic views.
Soon, it will also include a new resort community.
Florida-based developer Jorge Pérez has commenced work on a multi-use project in the cliffside Punta Garrobo area of Zihuatanejo. CEO of The Related Group, Pérez is joining forces with sbe founder and CEO Sam Nazarian. The latter oversees lifestyle brands that include SLS Hotels, Delano and Mondrian.
The new project is called SLS Reserve Luxury Hotel and Residences. It’s set on 200 acres, and will feature designs by Italian architect Piero Lissoni. In addition to villas, condos and three beach clubs, SLS Reserve will include a boutique hotel managed by sbe. Other amenities include a “serenity and yoga walking path,” fitness center and yoga studio, kids/teen club, tennis courts, bike trails, nature trails and a heliport. There’s also an historic lighthouse on the property.
As of yet, there’s no opening date for the hotel. But published reports indicate that the Zihuatanejo project and a similar SLS development in Cancun are set for a 2020 completion.
Meanwhile, west coast visitors will enjoy an enhanced infrastructure to coincide with the new project. The governor of Guerrero State has announced a new investment for the road connecting Punta Garrobo to the international airport.