Playa Las Gatas
A sheltered beach across Zihuatanejo Bay, protected by a stone breakwater that keeps the water calm for swimming and snorkeling. The classic way to reach it is to kayak over from Playa La Ropa and spend the day on the sand.
Guerrero (Mexico)
Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are two neighboring beach towns on Mexico's Pacific coast in Guerrero: Ixtapa is the planned resort strip with a long open-ocean beach, and Zihuatanejo is the older fishing town built around a sheltered bay.
This guide covers the essentials, including calm swimming at Playa Las Gatas and Playa La Ropa, snorkeling at Isla Ixtapa, the Paseo del Pescador and the small archaeology museum in town, a food walking tour and a cooking class, a baby sea turtle release and a guided hike to the Tiger Cave, plus five hotels and two guides to help you plan.
Don't miss
Playa Las Gatas
A sheltered beach across Zihuatanejo Bay, protected by a stone breakwater that keeps the water calm for swimming and snorkeling. The classic way to reach it is to kayak over from Playa La Ropa and spend the day on the sand.
Isla Ixtapa
A small island just off the Ixtapa coast, reached by short boat ride, with clear water, snorkeling and beachfront restaurants. It is the standard day out for visitors staying in the Ixtapa hotel zone.
Zihuatanejo Food Tasting and Walking Tour
A morning of tasting your way through Zihuatanejo's market stalls and small restaurants with a local guide. It is the best way to learn what to order before you eat on your own.
Baby Sea Turtle Release
Help release hatchling sea turtles onto the beach at a local conservation site. A guide explains the turtle life cycle and the species that nest on this coast, and hotel transport is included.
Things to do in Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Isla Ixtapa
A small island just off the Ixtapa coast, reached by short boat ride, with clear water, snorkeling and beachfront restaurants. It is the standard day out for visitors staying in the Ixtapa hotel zone.
Zihuatanejo Food Tasting and Walking Tour
A morning of tasting your way through Zihuatanejo's market stalls and small restaurants with a local guide. It is the best way to learn what to order before you eat on your own.
Baby Sea Turtle Release
Help release hatchling sea turtles onto the beach at a local conservation site. A guide explains the turtle life cycle and the species that nest on this coast, and hotel transport is included.
Mexican Cooking Class in Zihuatanejo
A four-hour hands-on class in a local family home that starts with a market visit and ends with you eating the dishes you cooked. Groups are small, so it feels like a day with new friends.
Tiger Cave Hike
A guided hike to La Cueva del Tigre through tropical vegetation, with panoramic views of the Pacific coast and mountains. A good active morning for visitors who want to see the wild side of the coast.
Museo Arqueologico de la Costa Grande
A small museum on the Paseo del Pescador covering the early history of the Costa Grande, from pottery and obsidian tools to colonial times. It is a cool, quiet break from the beach.
Paseo del Pescador
Zihuatanejo's waterfront promenade, a car-free stroll beside the bay lined with restaurants, boats and plazas. It is the best free way to spend an evening in town.
1-2 hoursDetails →
FreePlaya La Ropa
Zihuatanejo's most popular beach, a long curve of sand with calm water and restaurants that fill at sunset. It is the classic beach day in town and the start of the kayak to Las Gatas.
Half day to full dayDetails →
Playa El Palmar, Ixtapa
Ixtapa's main hotel-front beach, a broad stretch of sand beside the resort strip with open-ocean waves. It is the place for long walks, big skies and sunsets, with strong surf that calls for care.
1-3 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Thompson Zihuatanejo
Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo
A beachfront resort on Playa La Ropa with pools, a spa, plunge-pool rooms and a swim-up bar. It is the splurge pick for a polished beach stay on the calm side of Zihuatanejo.
Check rates →Catalina Beach Resort
Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo
A long-running beachfront hotel on Playa La Ropa with a private beach, sea-view terraces and a seaside restaurant. A comfortable mid-range base with a view of the bay.
Check rates →Hotel Irma
La Madera, Zihuatanejo
A well-reviewed hillside hotel above La Madera Beach, with two pools, a restaurant and ocean-view rooms, close to the center of Zihuatanejo. A comfortable mid-range pick with a strong guest rating.
Check rates →Emporio Ixtapa
Boulevard Ixtapa, Ixtapa hotel zone
A large beachfront resort on the Ixtapa strip with pools, a swim-up bar, a spa and an optional all-inclusive plan. A lively choice for families and groups who want everything on site.
Check rates →Gamma Plaza Ixtapa
Palma Real, Ixtapa
A budget-friendly hotel in the Palma Real area of Ixtapa with a pool, a restaurant and easy parking. A practical, well-reviewed base for visitors watching costs.
Check rates →Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo guides
First-Timer's Guide to Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo
What to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and how Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Isla Ixtapa fit together on a first visit.
Where to Stay in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo
A neighborhood guide to Playa La Ropa, La Madera and the Ixtapa hotel zone, matched to five hotels that are open now.
