Things to Do in Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo (usually shortened to “Zihua”) is a fishing village turned tourist town on the Guerrero coast, 4 hours south of Acapulco and about 6 hours from Mexico City. It’s typically visited alongside or instead of Ixtapa — the planned resort built 5 km north in 1971. Zihuatanejo has retained its village character; Ixtapa is a conventional resort strip. Most visitors prefer Zihua.

Playa La Ropa

The best beach: 2 km of dark sand on the south side of the bay, calm water (the bay provides shelter), and a scattering of small beach clubs and restaurants. Named “Rope Beach” after a silk-carrying Manila Galleon that wrecked here in the colonial period. La Perla and La Ropa beach clubs rent sunloungers (~MXN 200) and serve food. The walk from the town centre takes about 20 minutes along the bay path.

Playa La Madera

Smaller, closer to town (5-minute walk from the municipal pier), rocky on the edges but swimmable in the centre. Good for a quick swim without the walk to La Ropa. Several restaurants on the hillside above have good views.

Las Gatas snorkelling

Playa Las Gatas is only accessible by water taxi from the municipal pier (~MXN 60 each way, 10 minutes). It’s a sheltered cove with decent snorkelling — coral, parrotfish, damselfish — in relatively calm conditions. Snorkel gear available for hire at the beach. Also has a small PADI dive school for those wanting to go deeper.

The village centre and market

The Mercado Municipal is where Zihuatanejo functions as a town rather than a resort — fresh fish, vegetables, local crafts, and cheap food. Walking the streets between the Paseo del Pescador (fisherman’s walk along the pier) and the market gives a sense of the original village. The Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande (small, free) covers the history of the Guerrero coast.

Whale watching (December–March)

Humpback whales come to this section of the Pacific coast to give birth from December through March. Half-day tours depart from the pier ~USD 40–60 per person. Dolphins are present year-round.

Ixtapa

If you want a resort pool, golf, and a larger hotel selection, Ixtapa is 5 km north by taxi (~MXN 100). The two towns are typically combined in a single trip rather than choosing one or the other.