Writer’s Note: This blog was written before both the Museum and the Parthenon remodel work was done.
We finally got around to visiting the Archaeological Museum of the Costa Grande. We pass it almost daily on our walks to Centro, and if you are visiting for a week then I would recommend stopping inside. The cost is only 10 pesos per person, and you can see everything in about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how good your Spanish reading skills are. Everything inside is written in Spanish. The museum building was built in 1947, and inside you will find artifacts discovered in the area from as far back as 3,000 years ago.
Afterwards we walked to the Parthenon overlooking the Bay of Zihuatanejo. We tried to visit the Parthenon in June, but couldn’t get past the front gate. To get there, walk up the short, but steep, gravel road located across the street from the Embarc and Sotavento condominiums. Fortunately this time the guard was there. He was dressed in regular clothes, so I hope he was the guard. Otherwise I just paid some random guy. We had been told to slip the guard an unofficial entry fee and he will let you check out the mansion. I offered him 100 pesos to let us in. As we entered there were 4 or 5 other people walking around as well. Our guard / gatekeeper turned tour guide walked us down one flight of stairs and showed us the bats that now lived there.
Arturo Durazo Moreno was Mexico City’s Chief of Police from 1976 to 1982. He was super corrupt, and built a racketeering empire to enrich himself. One of the mansions he had built was located here in Zihuatanejo. It didn’t get much use, as Durazo escaped Mexico in 1982 and was caught in Costa Rica in 1984. He spent 6 years in prison, and died in 2000.
If you can get in to the Parthenon, it’s worth the trip. 2024 Update: The newly remodeled Parthenon is now open to the public.