In Ixtapa, the Club de Golf Ixtapa Palma Real (tel. 755/553-1062 or 755/553-1163), in front of the Sheraton Hotel, has an 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The greens fee is $70; caddies cost $17 for 18 holes, $13 for 9 holes; electric carts are $34; and clubs are $23. Tee times begin at 7am, but the course doesn't take reservations. The Marina Ixtapa Golf Course (tel. 755/553-1410; fax 755/553-0825), designed by Robert von Hagge, has 18 challenging holes. The greens fee is $75 and includes a cart; caddies cost $20, club rental $30. The first tee time is 7am. Call for reservations 24 hours in advance. Both courses accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

In Ixtapa, the Club de Golf Ixtapa (tel. 755/553-1062 or 755/553-1163) and the Marina Ixtapa Golf Course (tel. 755/553-1410; fax 755/553-0825) both have lighted public tennis courts, and both rent equipment. Fees are $6 to $20 an hour during the day, $9 to $30 at night. Call for reservations. The Dorado Pacífico and most of the better hotels on the main beach in Ixtapa have courts.

For horseback riding, Rancho Playa Linda (cell tel. 044-755/557-0222) offers guided trail rides from the Playa Linda beach (about 13km/8 miles north of Ixtapa). Rides begin at 8:30, 9:45, and 11am, and 3, 4, and 5pm. Groups of three or more riders can arrange their own tour, which is especially nice a little later in the evening around sunset (though you'll need mosquito repellent). Riders can choose to trace the beach to the mouth of the river and back through coconut plantations, or hug the beach for the whole ride (which usually lasts 1-1 1/2 hr.). The fee is around $30, cash only. Travel agencies in either town can arrange your trip but will charge a bit more for transportation. Reservations are suggested in high season. Another good place to ride is in Playa Larga. There is a ranch on the first exit coming from Zihuatanejo (no phone, but you can't miss it -- it is the first corral to the right as you drive toward the beach). The horses are in excellent shape. The fee is $30 for 45 minutes.