Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
A fishing village on a sheltered bay and, minutes away, Ixtapa's resort strip: calm beaches, fresh seafood and Pacific sunsets.
Find your Ixtapa Zihuatanejo trip
Advanced search (one-way flight, multi-hotel)
Book unique activities at special prices.
Hotels in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo
Rates refresh automatically for 3 nights and 2 adults, from Ixtapa resorts to boutique stays on La Ropa Beach.
Beaches and islands to explore
Between Zihuatanejo Bay and the Ixtapa coast you'll find beaches for swimming, snorkeling or doing nothing at all.
- Nov–AprDry season with calm seas
- ≈1 hFlight from Mexico City
- ≈7 kmBetween Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo
- ≈20 minFrom ZIH airport to Zihuatanejo
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo in pictures
Offshore rocks, a bay full of sailboats and the beaches that made this corner of Guerrero famous.
- Rocks and hills on the Ixtapa coast · Cvmontuy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- A quiet afternoon on the bay · eurimaco (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Zihuatanejo from the bay · Nick Navarro (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Sunset on La Ropa Beach · Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA (CC BY 2.0)
- A beach on Ixtapa Island · AlejandroLinaresGarcia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Las Gatas Beach · jc_castaneda (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo FAQs
Practical answers for picking an area, a season and what to do.
When is the best time to visit Ixtapa Zihuatanejo?
November to April is dry and sunny, and the sea is usually calm, which is ideal for snorkeling and boat trips. June to October brings more rain, humid heat and the Pacific hurricane season (mid-May to November). Christmas, New Year's and Holy Week fill up fast.
What's the difference between Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo?
Zihuatanejo is a fishing town with a market, walkable streets and an enclosed bay of calm water, plus small and boutique hotels. Ixtapa, about 7 km away, is a planned resort zone with beachfront hotels, golf courses, a marina and a bike path. Many travelers sleep in one and spend days in the other; the taxi ride between them is short.
Which airport do I fly into, and how do I reach my hotel?
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH). From there it's about 20 minutes to downtown Zihuatanejo and around 30 to the Ixtapa hotel zone by taxi or authorized airport transport. Flights from Mexico City take about an hour.
Where should I stay in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo?
For all-inclusives and families, the Ixtapa hotel zone on El Palmar Beach. For a relaxed vibe and bay views, La Ropa Beach in Zihuatanejo. If you want to walk to restaurants, the market and the pier, downtown Zihuatanejo or La Madera Beach.
How do I get to Ixtapa Island?
By boat from the Playa Linda dock, about a 10-minute ride. The island has several small clear-water beaches that are good for snorkeling, plus seafood restaurants. Boats head back in the afternoon, so check the time of the last departure.
What is there to do in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo?
Snorkel at Las Gatas or Ixtapa Island, stroll downtown Zihuatanejo and its waterfront, rent a bike on Ixtapa's bike path, go sportfishing from the municipal pier and watch the sunset from La Ropa Beach. Near Playa Linda there's an estuary where you can see crocodiles and birds.
Why is the water so calm at Las Gatas Beach?
A rock barrier just offshore breaks the waves and creates a natural pool, great for swimming with kids and snorkeling. Local tradition says the wall was built by a Purépecha ruler. You get there by boat from the Zihuatanejo pier.
What should I eat in Zihuatanejo?
The day's catch: tiritas de pescado (strips of raw fish with lime, onion and chile), pescado a la talla, ceviche, and green pozole on Thursdays, a Guerrero tradition. The downtown market and family-run fondas are the way to eat like a local.
How many days should I plan?
Four or five nights let you see both towns, visit Ixtapa Island and Las Gatas and still have lazy beach days. On a long weekend, pick one base and spend a day in the other.
Carry your Ixtapa Zihuatanejo flights and hotel on your phone and check your booking right from the beach.
