I’m always on the hunt to explore lesser traveled beach locations, especially in Mexico, so when a friend of mine recently traveled to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, I knew I had to see it for myself. The over-arching area of Ixtapa-Zihuatenjo is made up of the two separate towns – Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, or commonly known as Zihua. Thankfully, this shorter version is a bit easier to pronounce :).
Zihua is a sleepy beach town set along the beautiful bay. While it may be on the smaller side, there’s tons to explore, with some incredible beaches, delicious food, and local festivities.
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What to Know Before Going
- WHEN’S THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
- Peak tourist season is between December and April. This coincides with the dry season, so the chance of rain during your trip is less likely.
- During peak summer months, you can experience the town with more locals and Mexican tourists. Don’t be surprised if you hardly run into any English speakers during this time.
- No matter what time you choose to come, be prepared for hot weather. The heat is a consistent in Ixtapa-Zihua, and doesn’t fluctuate too much over the months. In the hottest month of July, temps average at 84 degrees, and in the coldest, January, temps average at 79 degrees.
- The water also stays consistently warm here, so anytime of the year is good to take a dip in the ocean. Even in the coldest month, March, the water has an average temp of 79 degrees.
- IS IXTAPA-ZIHUA SAFE?
- Ixtapa-Zihua is in the state of Guerrero, which has high travel warnings coming from the US. When first looking into this town, I was a little worried, but can assure you, from the moment we landed here, I felt nothing but safe. The locals are extremely friendly, and everyone here is looking to enjoy their beautiful surroundings!
- As with any place you travel to, of course, don’t let your guard down, and pay attention to your surrondings at all times, but if saftey is a concern, know it’s a safe town.
- TAXIS & GETTING AROUND TOWN
- There are multiple taxi stands around the city, which makes getting around a breeze! When in town, you’ll find taxis all around, where they are easy to flag down.
- But if you’re staying outside the city center (like we did), they’re not as easy to come by. We lucked out and had a taxi stand right next to our Airbnb, so make sure to look in advance where the closest one is to you.
- Taxis will not take credit cards, so you’ll need pesos to get around.
- EXCHANGE YOUR DOLLARS TO PESO IN ADVANCE
- While at most restaurants, you’ll be able to use your credit card, make sure to have pesos handy for taxis and local shops & restaurants.
- If you can, avoid exchanging at the airport, as you’ll get worse exchange rates.
How To Get There
Luckily for us, there is a direct route from Los Angeles to Zihua! Compared to Tulum or Cancun, the flight feels quite quick at just under 4 hours. There’s only one direct route per day between LA and Zihua, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Or, if you’re looking to save a few dollars, you can hop on a quick flight out of the Tijuana airport through the Cross Border Express entrance. With CBX, you don’t have to worry about crossing the border – you’ll cross from the San Diego side. There’s a $35 entrance fee to use CBX, but when comparing prices between LAX and TIJ, I’ve typically found you can shave off anywhere from $100-200 per ticket.
If you’re not coming from LA, you can take a flight into Mexico City, where you’ll be able to connect to Zihua on just a quick hour flight. You could even make a longer trip, and spend some time in Mexico City before hitting the beach town (which I highly recommend if you have time!).
The airport in Ixtapa-Zihua is quite close to both towns – just a 20-minute drive away from both Ixtapa and Zihua. It’s about $300 pesos to get into town, and you can easily find cabs waiting at the curb to take you to your hotel.
Ixtapa or Zihua?
One of the main questions that comes up when planning a trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is which town to stay in? In Ixtapa, you’ll find more high-rise hotels & condo buildings, whereas Zihua is a bit less built up. Head to Ixtapa if you want more of a resort feel! The town was actually developed by the Mexican Government to increase tourism to the state of Guerrero and has plenty of all-inclusives to choose from.
We decided to stay in Zihua completely on our trip to explore the city & local vibes of the town. I wanted an experience where I could explore fully and fully dive into the local scene. If you have the time, you could split your stay between the two towns to experience both sides, as they’re only a 20-minute drive between the cities. For our first trip, we stayed on the Zihua side and left extremely happy with our decision.
Where To Stay
There’s plenty of incredible hotel finds in Zihua, as well as tons of cool Airbnbs. Most options are quite reasonably priced, especially if you come during off-season. You’ll notice that during peak months, hotel pricing jumps quite high. Avoid Dec-early Feb to avoid peak pricing.
La Casa Que Canta, $$$
This hotel is the most sought-after hotel in all of Zihua, and it’s no surprise why. The stunning hotel sits cliff side, right on the beach, with beautiful views from every room. The pool sits cliff side, perfect for lounging and taking in the views. If you can afford the price tag, it’s worth it for the luxe expereince.
- Approx. $350-600/night
- Book a room HERE
Thompson Zihuatanjeo, Hyatt, $$-$$$
For another luxe stay, check out the Thompson hotel for incredible vibes on La Ropa. The hotel has two pools, and is directly on the beach in La Ropa.
Depending on the time of the year, prices range from $175-500 per night, with peak pricing (Dec-Jan) starting out at $700 a night. You’ll get cheaper pricing during off-season, but similarly to other locations, you’ll pay the most during holiday timing in Dec, Jan & early Feb.
- Approx. $175-500/night (peak pricing in Dec/Jan can be as high as $700/night
- Book a room HERE
Tentaciones Hotel, $$
For a good price, you can also stay at Tentaciones, a beautiful hotel on the cliffs of La Ropa beach. This hotel also has an incredible hotel on property (see below), with a gorgeous infinity pool on the cliffs. Pricing ranges a good bit, simiarly to the other hotels, so check prices for your timing in advance, and stay here during off-season for the best rates.
- Approx. $200-400/night
- Book a room HERE
Espuma Hotel, $$
Espuma hotel is owned by the same group as Tentaciones, where you can get similar vibes for a bit cheaper of a rate. On the opposite side of the street from their sister restaurant, you’ll have similar views, along with an infinity pool on the cliffs, too. The interior of the hotel is beautiful, with a authenic feel.
- Approx. $170-300/night
- Book a room HERE
Hotel Irma, $
For the best bang for you buck, head to Hotel Irma on La Ropa, where you’ll get a beautiful view of the bay, two pools, and ocean views from your room. It’s the best price, and while you won’t have the luxurious & curated vibes of some of the other hotels, you’re still in the best area to stay.
- Approx. $85-150/night
- Book a room HERE
Where to Eat & Drink
Casual
- Carmelitas: Come for breakfast or lunch – food is incredible, and service is top-notch. Try the machaca, a local beef dish
- La Flechita Roja: Best tacos in town, open 24/7
- La Papa Loca: Think tacos but made in baked potatoes, with plenty of toppings to choose from
- Restaurantes Mexicanos Any: Classic Mexican food in a causal setting
Upscale
Tentaciones
The MUST-GO restraunt you need to try in Zihua is Tentaciones, located up on the hills overlooking the bay. First off, the location is absoutley magical. But, on top of that, the food was perfection, and the staff took care of us like family.
Tentaciones is a hotel located in La Ropa, with stunning views from all angles. The restraurant is open to the public, though, so you don’t need to be a guest to enjoy!
Since we came during off-season, we basically had the restaurant to ourselves. Make a reservation an hour before the sun sets, that way you can take in the views in sunlight, sunset, and at night – you won’t be dissapointed. You can book via Opentable HERE.
As soon as we arrived, we were offered free welcome drinks, made by the friendly bartender. Get the special – it was delightful. They let us sip our drinks in the lounge, taking in the views (and taking tons of photos) before we sat at the table. If possible, try to request the corner table for the best views.
Dinner is served as either a 3 or 5 course meal, with the 3 course being approx $135pp outside of drinks. You can choose from multiple options for each course. The menu changes seasonally, but if you see the tuna tostada on the menu, definitley try! All the food was AMAZING – super fresh with incredible presentation. Not to mention the service – our server was the best – even getting up to take photos of us with backlighting from the lamps (if you know, you know!).
We stayed in an Airbnb across the street, and were able to just walk over to the restaurants. Beware, if you walk, you do need to climb many, many steps – but it’s all worth it, and you’ll burn a few calories before the meal you’re about to devour.
Bandidos
Head into Downtown Zihua for one of the best food experiences you can have in town. Bandidos is a well-known, locally owned restraurant, famous for their table-side salsa (which you MUST TRY).
If you can time it, try to go on a night of a soccer game. We lucked out and stumbled upon the restaurant during a Mexcio soccer game, and the vibes were incredible. Tons of locals gathered around to watch the game, while devouring some top-tier food. They also have salsa nights on Fridays, perfect to watch the locals dance, or join in yourself!
The table-side salsa just might be my favorite thing I tried on the trip. It’s made-to-order, and you can choose your level of spiceness. It was so incredibly fresh and made to perfection.
The coconut shrimp was also amazing – it’s one of my favorite foods, so I had to try it at almost every restaraunt we went to. But, the molacjete is where the restaraunt shines. You can choose between a few meat options for this bowl of hot broth and veggies. It’s a flavorful expereince worth every penny!
Coconuts
Another restaurant in Downtown Zihua, Coconuts is known for their – you guessed it – coconut shrimp. We didn’t end up making it here, but have heard really great reviews of the fried shrimp, as well as the live music they have daily. I did find the prices to be quite high for what they were offering, but if you have a chance to stop by for the vibes and a few bites, it’s known to be great!
What to Explore
Head to La Ropa Beach
La Ropa is one of the prettiest beaches you can access without hopping on a boat (or driving decently far). Our Airbnb was close enough that we could walk down to the beach from it. Pack a towel and some snacks, and head down to the beach for the day! The water is so calm, it’s perfect for swimming the day away.
The beach has quite a few restaurants to choose from, so if you want to take a break from relaxing to grab a bite and maybe a drink, you have plenty of options, too!
Buy a Day Pass/Cabana at the Thompson Hotel
If you want a more high-end experience, and don’t feel like just plopping a towel down on the beach, head to the Thompson Hotel on La Ropa for the day. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy, but you will need to pay 1500 pesos per person fee to rent a palapa, which includes a 1000 peso credit.
Not only will you get a palapa to relax at right on the beach, but you also get access to their pools for the day!
For about $83 USD for the day per person, we found it to be a good deal, epescially as you can use it for food + drinks throughout the day. Make sure to bring a floatie, if you can – the beach is so calm right here, you can spend the day relaxing in the ocean.
Spend the Day at Playa Las Gatas
While you’re in Zihua, you have to check out Playa Las Gatas for crystal clear beautiful water. The beach is only accessible by boat (or a pretty strenous, long hike). Head to the pier in Zihua to hop on a water taxi to for a 20-min ride to the beach.
If time allows, try to go on the weekday, rather than the weekends. On Saturdays & Sundays, the beach can get very overcrowded. We managed to go on a Friday, and left around 9AM to enjoy the peace of the island before the crowds came in.
Boat rides start at 8AM, and leave the island at 5PM. You can buy tickets directly on the dock for $100 pesos pp. You’ll find some other tour operators charging much more than this, so beware, and follow the locals on this one!
You’ll get dropped off on the small pier at Las Gatas, and instantly be taken aback by the beautiful beach. From there, walk past the restaurants and head to the palm tree area of the beach, where you’ll find it to get less crowded.
You can bring your own snorkel gear, or rent directly on the beach. The water tends to be much clearer, earlier in the day, so keep that in mind as you plan your trip. Find the coral chunks, and you’ll find more fish nearby!
There’s plenty of restaurants, so be sure to grab a quick bite while on the beach. We had some of the best coconut shrimp here! And, make sure to grab a drink in a coconut for maximum beach vibes.
Take a Day Trip to Ixtapa Island
Just off the coast by Ixtapa, you can take a boat ride to the small Ixtapa Island to explore 3 beaches for the day. Similarly to getting to Las Gatas, there will be many tour operators charging a pretty penny to get to the island, but you can easily jump on a boat at the pier yourself.
You’ll need to take a taxi to Playa Linda in Ixtapa, where you’ll be able to buy a ticket for a boat to the island. Round trip tickets are $100 persons pp.
When you reach Ixtapa Island, you’ll have your choice to get off at Playa Varadero or Playa Cuachalalate. The island is small, so don’t feel pressured to chose where you’ll spend all day, as you can easily walk between all beaches on the island.
- Playa Varadero: This is the first beach your boat will come to, and is the main arrival & depature point for Ixtapa Island. Because of this, it has pretty heavy boat traffic. There’s plenty of restaurants here, though, as well as water activites.
- Playa Coral: We ended up spending a majority of the day here, as it has incredible snorkelling with clear waters. No boats can access this beach, so you’ll have calmer waters. You can bring your own snorkelling gear, or rent with or without a guide to explore the coral reefs. The coral is quite sharp here, so bring water shoes if possible.
- Playa Cuachalalate: This beach is named after the tree that grows here, and faces the Ixtapa hotel zone. It also has tons of restaurants to choose from, where you can post up on chairs and order food & drinks. There’s also water sports available for a fee. We spent the rest of our afternoon hanging out here.
Tip – before you arrive, bring an underwater cover for your phone. If you didn’t grab one in advance, you can buy one from someone selling on the pier before getting on the boat the Ixtapa Island. You’ll want this while snorkeling – the water is so clear, you can get photos of all the fish you’ll see easily!
Walk along the Malecon
If you’re staying in La Ropa like we did, you can walk along the ocean via the Malecon all the way to Downtown Zihua. We spend plenty of time on the Malecon, taking in the views, and it should not be missed! Who doesn’t like a beautiful walk along the beach?
Explore Downtown Zihua
Downtown Zihua is a colorful and vibrant town, with plenty to explore. Spend a bit of time wandering around the streets and taking in the beauty of it all. There’s plenty of places to find souveniers & gifts to bring back home!
Don’t miss the local Sunday night celebrations in Zihua, where the entire Downtown turns into a party with street vendors, DJs, activities for the kids, etc. The locals flock to basketball courts to have a good time, so join in on the fun!
Further Places to Explore
If you have more time in Zihua, there’s plenty more amazing spots to explore that are a bit further out!
Playa Larga
South of Zihua, you’ll find Playa Larga, which translates to large beach. You can plan a horseback riding along this huge coastline, which I’ve heard rave review for!
Manzanillo Beach
If you’re looking for the best snorkelling, head to Manzanillo Beach! You’ll need to rent a boat to take you here, but it’s worth it if you enjoy snorkelling. Just know that the beach here isn’t a sandy one, so plan to stay in the water while you’re here.
Playa Troncones
A 40 min drive north, you’ll find the quiet beach of Playa Troncones. Well known in the surfing community, the beach has great waves, and is a more chill spot to relax & spend your day.
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