Zihuatanejo Travel Guide

Zihuatanejo guide: a Pacific fishing bay with calm swimming beaches, good seafood, and Ixtapa next door — how to navigate both.

Zihuatanejo (known locally as Zihua) is a Pacific fishing bay in Guerrero state — made famous internationally by its mention in The Shawshank Redemption. The town retains a genuine fishing village character alongside the tourist infrastructure: local fishing boats still work the bay, market vendors sell the morning catch, and the town centre feels lived-in rather than manufactured.

Key activities

Activity	Cost	Season	Notes
Playa La Ropa swimming	Free (sunloungers ~MXN $200)	Year-round	Best beach in the bay
Las Gatas snorkelling	Water taxi ~MXN $60 each way	Year-round	Sheltered cove, gear rental on beach
Sport fishing charter	From ~USD $250/boat (half day)	Nov–May (peak)	Sailfish, marlin, dorado
Whale watching	~USD $40–60/person	Dec–Mar	Humpback whales
Scuba diving	~USD $70–90 (2-tank)	Year-round	Outer bay reefs
Ixtapa day visit	Taxi ~MXN $100 each way	Year-round	Resort beaches, 5 km NW

All prices approximate, as of 2026.

The bay and beaches

The bay is sheltered, with calm water suitable for swimming year-round. Four main beaches:

Playa Municipal — the town beach in front of the market and the Paseo del Pescador (fisherman’s walk). Not ideal for swimming (fishing boats and activity) but atmospheric — watch the boats come in with the morning catch.

Playa La Madera — 5 minutes’ walk east from town via a cliff path. A small cove with calm water, rocky edges, and casual beachside restaurants on the hillside above. Good for a quick swim without the walk to La Ropa.

Playa La Ropa — the main swimming beach and the highlight of the bay. Two kilometres of dark sand on the south side, calm turquoise water sheltered by the bay, and a scattering of beach clubs and restaurants. Named “Rope Beach” after a silk-carrying Manila Galleon that wrecked here in the colonial period. Beach clubs rent sunloungers (approximately MXN $200) and serve food. The walk from town takes approximately 20 minutes along the bay path, or taxi approximately MXN $50.

Playa Las Gatas — accessible only by water taxi from the municipal pier (approximately MXN $60 each way, 10 minutes). A sheltered cove with calm, clear water and the best snorkelling in the bay — coral, parrotfish, damselfish, and occasional turtles. Snorkel gear rental available on the beach (approximately MXN $100). A small PADI dive centre operates here.

Where to stay

Zone	Budget	Mid-range	Boutique
Centro (Zihua)	Hostels from ~MXN $300/night	Hotels from ~MXN $800/night	From ~MXN $2,000/night
Playa La Ropa	—	From ~MXN $1,200/night	From ~MXN $3,500/night
Ixtapa	—	From ~MXN $1,500/night	All-inclusive from ~MXN $4,000/night

Named properties: Casa de la Sirena (boutique, La Ropa, from approximately MXN $2,500/night, ocean views). Hotel Irma (mid-range, La Madera, from approximately MXN $1,200/night, pool with bay views). Viceroy Zihuatanejo (luxury, La Ropa, from approximately MXN $8,000/night). Posada Citlali (budget, centro, from approximately MXN $500/night, simple, clean, central). In Ixtapa: Club Med Ixtapa (all-inclusive, from approximately MXN $4,000/night, beach and pool).

Food

Zihuatanejo’s Mercado Municipal has one of the best fresh fish markets on the Pacific coast. The market fondas serve excellent, inexpensive seafood — the morning is the best time when the catch comes in directly.

Restaurant	Location	What to order	Approx. price
Mercado Municipal fondas	Centro	Ceviche, grilled fish	MXN $60–100
Tentación	La Ropa	Seafood, Mexican	Mains MXN $200–350
Café Marina	Paseo del Pescador	Breakfast, coffee	MXN $80–150
La Sirena Gorda	Paseo del Pescador	Fish tacos, seafood	Mains MXN $100–180
Coconuts	Playa La Ropa	Seafood, sunset dining	Mains MXN $200–300

The aguachile (raw shrimp in chile and lime), ceviche, and pescado a la talla (whole fish butterflied and grilled with guajillo chile paste) are the standout dishes. The tostada stalls near the fish market are excellent and cheap (approximately MXN $25–40 each).

Ixtapa (5 km northwest)

Ixtapa was planned and built by FONATUR in 1971 as a purpose-built resort — the same model as Cancún. It has all-inclusive hotels facing a good beach (Playa Palmar), golf courses, and resort infrastructure. The atmosphere is conventional resort Mexico. For families wanting resort pools and activities with easy access to Zihua’s village character, the combination works well. Taxi between the two towns approximately MXN $100.

Playa Linda (north of Ixtapa) has a water taxi to Isla Ixtapa — a small island with snorkelling, beach clubs, and calmer water than the mainland beaches.

Getting there

Airport: Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) has direct flights from Mexico City (1.5 hours), Houston, and several seasonal US/Canadian routes. Taxi from the airport to Zihuatanejo approximately MXN $300–400; to Ixtapa approximately MXN $250.

By bus: ETN and Estrella Blanca from Mexico City (approximately MXN $800–1,200, 8–9 hours via Acapulco road). ETN has the most comfortable first-class service.

When to go

November–April: Dry season, calm seas, best overall conditions. December–March is peak season with fishing charters and whale watching.

May–October: Hotter, more humid, afternoon rains, and occasional larger Pacific swell. Fewer tourists and lower prices.

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