Reasons for visiting Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

On the Gold Coast, the dynamic resort center of Ixtapa and the quaint fishing pueblo of Zihuatanejo are contrasting twins. One is bold, beautiful, and full of action, and the other is a quiet wallflower, living a simple life on the outer edge of her sister's spotlight. Ixtapa is the most modern resort on Mexico's west coast, with half of its land protected as an ecological reserve. Zihuatanejo has an unpretentious, informal attitude and a serene setting along a sheltered harbor. Just four miles apart, these two towns are set in the lush valley of the Southern Sierra Madre and run along 16 miles of mountainous coastline with pure golden beaches and calm rocky shores.

Want specific advice for your vacation?

Our Travel Advisors can offer you their best recommendations and travel tips for your Cozumel vacation, honeymoon, or wedding.

›› Find a Mexico Travel Specialist

›› Plan and book your Mexico vacation

While Ixtapa is a sparkling development of all-inclusive resorts, restaurants, clubs, and shopping centers, the rural seaside village of Zihuatanejo dates back to the pre-Columbian era, when it was the privileged home of the Mayan nobility. Its inns and cafés are family-run, and native markets share your attention with the malecón (seaside promenade). Tucked into one Mexico's most picturesque bays, these towns deliver the best of everything in one neat package!

This is the ultimate "twofer" vacation spot - bounce back and forth between Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo quickly and cheaply, with cab rides averaging about US$10. Between them, the sister cities have dozens of wide beaches, championship golf, world-class scuba diving, snorkeling, and other water sports, horseback riding, and tennis.

Approximate Air Travel Time

• New York City: 6.25 hrs
• Philadelphia: 6 hrs
• Boston: 6.5 hrs
• Miami: 4.5 hrs
• Los Angeles: 3.5 hrs
• Chicago: 5 hrs
• Dallas-Forth Worth: 3.5 hrs
• San Francisco: 5 hrs

Please note that direct flights may be available seasonally. All travel times are subject to change.

Topography

Ixtapa is located on the strip of Mexico's tropical Pacific Coast, known as the Mexican Riviera. Long sandy beaches frame the resorts and the Sierra Madre del Sur forms a lush mountain backdrop. Zihuatanejo is a minimally-developed village set on a sheltered harbor, with white-sand beaches. The town prohibits construction of buildings over 4 stories.

Climate

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo have a semitropical climate and enjoy an average of 340 days of sunshine each year. Temperatures range from 73° to 93° year-round and the rainy season runs from June through September, with precipitation falling mostly in the evenings. July and August is also when many Mexican families take their own vacations here, but the beaches are still quieter than in high season. The heart of hurricane season lasts from early September to late October, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare.

What To Do & See in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Cruise the Bays

All-day or half-day cruises take you through the Pacific waters of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo under the bright sunny skies or at night, on a romantic sunset venture. An open bar, live music, dancing, and a fresh fish dinner at Ixtapa Island make a party of it!

Diving & Snorkeling

If you can dive or just plain breathe through a snorkel and paddle around, you'll see lots of pretty corals and colorful fish in the crystal-clear waters. Don't worry if you don't have your own equipment, as there are many outfitters to get you suited up in no time at all. Cruises take you to the best spots and feed you, too!

Tour the Countryside

See the real Mexico on a visit to a tropical plantation, a small-town tile factory, and the small fishing village of Barra de Potosi, whereyou can dine on the catch you watched the fishermen bring in! This idyllic fishing settlement also boasts an enormous lagoon with excellent bird- and wildlife-watching.

Isla Ixtapa

This wooded island is home to a diversity of wildlife, including armadillos, iguanas, deer, raccoons, and dozens of species of native birds. Each of the four beaches has its own character, with safe beaches and pretty snorkeling opportunities.

Museo Arqueológico

Zihuatanejo traces its history back to pre-Columbian times, when it was a sacred sanctuary for Mayan nobility. Artifacts, ceramics, and stone carvings indicating that the settlement dates back to the Olmec civilization are regularly found. Close to a thousand pre-Hispanic pieces, as well as murals and maps of "The Place of the Women" (as Zihuatanejo translates) are on permanent display.

Playa Las Gatas

This secluded beach across the bay from Playa Ropa and Zihuatanejo is the best for swimming and bringing the kids. With exceptionally clear water and an absence of undertow or big waves, the small coral reef is popular with snorkelers and divers. The only full-time resident of Las Gatas is the dive shop owner, one of those "living legend" types who charms his clients with tall tales and a colorful personality. Open-air seafood restaurants on the beach cook up your meals in a jiffy, and small shaded launches make 10-minute runs to Las Gatas from Zihuatanejo pier.

Day Trip to Acapulco

Don't miss this fantastic day trip down the coast to seethe famous cliff divers at La Quebrada and still have time for lunch and shopping in the playground of the Silver Screen stars!

Horseback Riding

Perfectly-trained horses on Playa Linda Ranch or at La Manzanillo (at La Ropa Beach) take you on a beautiful and unforgettable ride along the beach and through coconut plantations. How many times have you seen this image in a movie and wished yourself there? This is your chance!

Customs & Traditions Expo

Visit Zihuatanejo's archaeological museum, then proceed to the traditional and picturesque town of Petatlán. Sites you will visit include the famous church linked with many miracles.

Playa La Ropa

Zihuatanejo's largest and most beautiful beach has a long sweep of sand with a great view of the sunset and gentle waves. Its name, "Clothes Beach," comes from a cargo of silk that washed ashore when a galleon sank during a big storm. Some lovely small hotels and restaurants are nestled into the hills and palm groves that edge the shoreline.

Golf

One of Mexico's best-rated golf courses, the Palma Real Golf Club, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Its 18 holes provide a diverse assortment of challenges as the course wanders past lagoons and from jungle hilltops to the sands of Playa Palmar. The course also serves as a wildlife preserve! A clubhouse with 5 lighted tennis courts, a large pool, pro shop, lockers, restaurant, and bar completes the perfect golfing spot.

Fishing

Anglers have been going to Zihuatanejo for decades to fish for marlin, sailfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, and wahoo. The equipment for rent is first-rate, and boats range in size from the 24-foot pangas to 38-foot sport fishers, and catch-and-release practice is highly encouraged.

Playa Principal

Zihuatanejo’s main beach is rimmed by the Paseo del Pescador. Fisherman depart from here for their nightly journeys out to sea, and, in the early morning, display their catch for sale to the local market and restaurants.

Hotel Hopping

Since Ixtapa was developed specifically for tourists, most of what exists is the Hotel Zone backed by attractive village-like shopping centers. Many visitors enjoy "hotel hopping" along the beachfront, as each resort has a distinct, exotic setting with bars, outdoor restaurants, and shops.

Shopping

• Ixtapa's shopping centers are as gorgeous as its resorts, and they are all nestled together in Los Patios, so you needn't worry about getting around between them. There are stores that carry things you wouldn't necessarily expect to find in a seaside village, like handmade, exquisite jewelry. The prices can be high, but most are cheaper than you would find in the US.
• Zihuatanejo, on the other hand, is a haggler's and bargain-hunter's dream. Have lots of $1 dollar bills and pesos handy, because you'll find everything you want in a street market waiting for your bid, from straw hats, to wood crafts, to jeans. The Mercado Central is the local "flea market," full of stalls and priced-to-sell goods from food to pottery. There are also some good-quality craft shops, with beautiful handmade pieces priced far below their worth.

Dining in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Dinner on the Mexican Pacific Coast is all about being outdoors in one of Marina Ixtapa's fine restaurants or along the pier in Zihuatanejo. Eateries range from simple beach huts to elegant banquet halls, and at whichever end you find yourself, the chefs, cooks, and waiters are sincerely eager to please and take pride in the quality of their food. Seafood is the staple of most signature dishes and the chefs are meticulous about freshness. Regional seafood favorites include tiritas (fish strips), pescadillas (fish tacos), and a la talla (baked in foil). Meals generally cost less in Zihuatanejo than in Ixtapa, but even the most glamorous restaurant in either place costs considerably less than in other resorts. Most restaurants accept "smart casual" dress, with just a handful that require a jacket for men. Excellent hamburgers, steaks, and pizza are around if you've got a craving. Many of the hotels in Ixtapa offer Mexican Fiesta nights with special buffets, and entertainment such as folk dancing, singing, and games, usually on weekday evenings.

Nightlife in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

Discos, clubs, and bars line the Hotel Zone and marina area of Ixtapa, where the party goes on until the wee hours. Some of the larger resorts have their own discos, as well as Mexican Fiesta nights with live music, dancing, and fantastic buffets. Zihuatanejo is much quieter with most bars in the local restaurants or hotels, which close relatively early compared to Ixtapa.

For more Travel Tips and Advice for your Vacation, Honeymoon or Wedding in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo - ask a Mexico Travel Advisor!

Ready to book your Ixtapa vacation or honeymoon? Don't worry, our Mexico Travel Advisors are delighted to assist you with your Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo vacation travel plans at a time convenient for you. Call 1-888-420-9053 for courteous and timely attention or...

›› Start planning your vacation