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. It is typically visited alongside or instead of Ixtapa — the planned resort built 5 km north in 1971. Zihuatanejo retains its village character; Ixtapa is a conventional resort strip. Most visitors prefer Zihua.

Activity overview

Activity	Cost	Duration	Notes
Playa La Ropa swimming	Free (sunloungers ~MXN $200)	Half/full day	Best beach in the bay
Las Gatas snorkelling	Water taxi ~MXN $60 each way	Half day	Calm cove, gear rental on beach
Sport fishing charter	From ~USD $250/boat (half day)	Half/full day	Sailfish, marlin, dorado
Whale watching	~USD $40–60/person	Dec–Mar	Half day
Isla Ixtapa snorkelling	Water taxi ~MXN $50 each way	Half day	From Playa Linda
Scuba diving (2-tank)	~USD $70–90	Half day	Outer bay reefs

All prices approximate, as of 2026.

Playa La Ropa

The best beach in the bay and the highlight of Zihuatanejo. Two kilometres of dark sand on the south side, calm turquoise water sheltered by the bay’s headlands, and a scattering of beach clubs and restaurants along the shore. Named “Rope Beach” (Playa de la Ropa) after a Manila Galleon carrying silk that wrecked here in the colonial period.

Beach clubs: La Perla, El Palmar, and Coconuts rent sunloungers (approximately MXN $200, often with food/drink minimum) and serve food. The water is calm enough for children. Palapas provide shade.

The walk from the town centre takes approximately 20 minutes along the bay path (scenic, flat). Taxi approximately MXN $50. The sunset from La Ropa is the best in the bay.

Playa La Madera

A smaller cove 5 minutes’ walk east from the municipal pier via a cliff path. Rocky at the edges but calm and swimmable in the centre. Several hillside restaurants above the beach have good views — Patio Mexica (mains approximately MXN $120–200) is the best for lunch with a view. Good for a quick swim without the 20-minute walk to La Ropa.

Las Gatas snorkelling

Playa Las Gatas is only accessible by water taxi from the municipal pier (approximately MXN $60 each way, 10 minutes, boats run regularly throughout the day). The cove is sheltered with a protective stone wall built in pre-Hispanic times (attributed to the Purépecha king Caltzontzin). The water is calm and clear — snorkelling reveals coral, parrotfish, damselfish, angelfish, and occasional turtles.

Snorkel gear rental available on the beach (approximately MXN $80–100). A small PADI dive centre operates from Las Gatas for those wanting to go deeper (discover scuba approximately USD $70). Several beachfront restaurants serve fresh seafood — the grilled whole fish (approximately MXN $150–200) is the standard order.

The village centre and market

The Paseo del Pescador (fisherman’s walk) runs along the municipal pier and Playa Municipal. This is where the fishing boats come in with the morning catch — the pier is busiest between 6 and 8 am. The adjacent Mercado Municipal is where Zihuatanejo functions as a working town: fresh fish, vegetables, local crafts, and cheap food. Market fondas serve excellent budget seafood (ceviche, tostadas, grilled fish from approximately MXN $40–70).

The Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande (small, free entry, Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–6 pm) covers the pre-Hispanic and colonial history of the Guerrero coast. Allow 30 minutes.

Sport fishing

Zihuatanejo has long been a sport fishing destination. Charters operate from the municipal dock, targeting sailfish, marlin, dorado (mahi-mahi), and roosterfish. Half-day charters from approximately USD $250–350 per boat (typically 2–4 people). Full-day approximately USD $400–600. Peak season is November–May for billfish. Sociedad Cooperativa Benito Juárez (the local fishing cooperative) organises charters at competitive rates.

Whale watching (December–March)

Humpback whales come to this section of the Pacific coast to give birth from December through March. Half-day boat tours depart from the municipal pier (approximately USD $40–60 per person, 2–3 hours). Dolphins are present year-round and commonly seen on the tours.

Scuba diving

Dive operators run trips to the outer bay reefs and nearby rock formations. The Morros de Potosí (rock formations south of the bay) have good visibility and marine life — schooling fish, rays, and occasional hammerhead sharks in winter. Two-tank dives approximately USD $70–90. Carlo Scuba and Ixtapa Aqua Paradise are established operators.

Isla Ixtapa

From Playa Linda (north of Ixtapa, taxi from Zihuatanejo approximately MXN $150), water taxis run to Isla Ixtapa — a small island with calm water, better snorkelling than the mainland beaches, beach clubs, and seafood restaurants. Water taxi approximately MXN $50 each way. The island has three small beaches — Playa Cuachalalate is the largest and has the best facilities.

Ixtapa

5 km northwest by taxi (approximately MXN $100). The planned resort strip has all-inclusive hotels, a golf course, and Playa Palmar — a wide beach with stronger waves than the sheltered Zihuatanejo bay. For families wanting resort infrastructure with easy access to Zihua’s village character, the combination works well. The two towns are complementary rather than competitive.

Practical tips

• Airport: ZIH airport has direct flights from Mexico City and seasonal US routes. Taxi to Zihuatanejo approximately MXN $300–400.
• Walking: La Ropa is 20 minutes from the centre. Las Gatas is water taxi only. La Madera is 5 minutes from the pier.
• Safety: Zihuatanejo is generally safe for tourists. The Guerrero state advisory relates primarily to inland areas, not the tourist coast.
• Best days: The bay is calmest in the morning. Winds can pick up in the afternoon.

More Zihuatanejo Guides

• Back to Zihuatanejo Guide
• Puerto Escondido Travel Guide — 5 hours northwest, the Oaxacan surf coast alternative
• Pacific Coast Beaches — how Playa La Ropa compares with other Pacific options
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico — what the Ixtapa resort strip offers compared to staying in Zihua
• Mexico Budget Costs — how costs compare across Mexico’s Pacific beach destinations

Plan your trip: tours in Zihuatanejo · skip-the-queue tickets · travel insurance.

See Also

• Whale Watching in Baja California — humpback whales are also present off Zihuatanejo December–March
• Scuba Diving in Mexico — where Ixtapa’s dive sites fit in the wider Mexican diving picture