The ULTIMATE Zihuatanejo Mexico Travel Guide for First-Timers

The beaches of Zihuatanejo sit on the Pacific Ocean, on the western edge of Guerrero. Besides Zihua, there are some other famous Guerrero beach towns, like Acapulco, Ixtapa and Troncones.

The drive from Zihuatanejo to Acapulco takes about five hours in normal traffic.

The 11 Best Things to Do in Zihuatanejo Mexico

1. Visit the Best Beaches in Zihuatanejo

There are several great beaches in the Bahía Zihuatanejo (Zihuatanejo Bay), like Playa la Ropa, Playa Contramar, Playa Madera and Playa Larga.

The main beach in Zihuatanejo, Playa Principal (AKA Playa Municipal), is close to Downtown, but not ideal for swimming.

You can get to the more secluded, like Playa las Gatas, by taking a panga boat (water taxi) across the bay.

Head to the main pier in Zihuatanejo, and you can jump on a boat headed to Playa las Gatas for about $50 pesos ($2.50 USD) per person, round trip — or you can join this snorkeling tour.

I recommend Playa la Ropa Beach (Clothes Beach), one of the best Zihuatanejo beaches.

This beach is named after a shipwreck that crashed just off shore hundreds of years ago, spilling a large amount of cargo and clothing which eventually washed up on-shore.

2. Take a Walk on the Zihuatanejo Pier

The Pier in Zihuatanejo is the perfect spot for an evening stroll along the sea to take in the laid back lifestyle in Zihuatanejo.

It’s also lively during the day, especially at the fish market, which is a fun experience. When on the pier, don’t forget to take a photo at the ZIHUA sign.

🐟 Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman’s Path)

The Paseo del Pescador starts at the pier and ends at Playa la Madera.

It is a paved pathway that meanders just next to the sea, passing homes, colorful murals and sculptures along the way.

The Paseo del Pescador is popular with walkers and runners who take in the sea-breeze while exercising.

3. Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande (Zihuatanejo Museum)

Located near the municipal beach in Downtown, the Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande showcases the rich history of this area.

The exhibits offer a glimpse into the Olmec, Cuitlateca, Mexica, Tarascan and Teotihuacan cultures of the Guerrero Coast.

⚠️ Note: Most displays in the Zihuatanejo Archaeological Museum are in Spanish only, so make sure you know at least some Spanish words if you want to visit.

4. Go Snorkeling in Zihuatanejo

There is an artificial reef in Bahía Zihuatanejo (Zihuatanejo Bay) that dates back hundreds of years, and attracts lots of marine life.

The beaches south of Downtown Zihuatanejo, including Playa las Gatas and Caleta del Chon, are some of the best Zihuatanejo snorkeling spots.

For the real best snorkeling in Zihuatanejo, you’ll have to visit nearby islands because they have the healthiest reefs and clearest water.

These include Isla Ixtapa (Ixtapa Island), Isla del Zacatoso (Zacatoso Island), and Los Morros de Potosí, all accessible only by boat tours.

Located one state west of Guerrero, there’s amazing snorkeling at Manzanillo Beach in Colima State.

This is actually called the best snorkeling area in Zihuatanejo, though it’s in another city.

At just 15 minutes, it’s an easy drive from Zihuatenento to Manzanillo Beach.

5. Horseback Riding in Zihuatanejo

This Horseback Riding on the Beach Tour goes along Playa Larga, past coconut plantations and mangrove trees in the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area.

Enjoy pleasant landscapes and vistas of mountain ranges, a lagoon, and the Pacific Ocean while on a gentle horseback ride.

The tour is suitable for both beginner riders and the more experienced.

If you want, bring the horses some of their favorite snacks, apples and carrots, as a thank you gift. Round-trip transport from your hotel in Zihuatanejo is included.

6. Take a Day Trip to Ixtapa Mexico

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are usually referred to as Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico, like they are one place!

Most travelers heading to one will usually visit the other on the same trip. Located just five miles (8 km) apart, it’s easy and quick to get to Ixtapa from Zihua.

Ixtapa is much more built up than Zihuatanejo, so it offers more things to do.

One of the best things to do in Ixtapa is take a boat tour to Isla Ixtapa Island, which has some of the best snorkeling in the area.

⛵️ Note: This is also one of the best Zihuatanejo tours, and you can take the boat from either city.

7. Zona Arqueológica Soledad de Maciel (Xihuacan)

Xihuacan Pyramids, located at the Soledad de Maciel Archeological Zone, may not rank among the most massive or famous ruins in Mexico, but they are worth checking out.

These are actually the only ancient ruins in Zihuatanejo, and located about 45 minutes away.

Though relatively close by, it’s a bit complicated to get to Xihuacan from Zihuatanejo on your own.

Even if you have a rental car, I’d still recommend the group tours listed below, which include a knowledgeable guide, entrance to the ruins, transportation and lunch.

8. Go Shopping in Zihuatanejo

The best place for souvenir shopping in Zihuatanejo is Centro (Downtown).

If you’re looking for handicrafts and artesanias, go to El Jumil, the Mercado de Artesanías Zihuatanejo (Zihuatanejo Artisan Market), and La Zapoteca for handwoven textiles by Mexican artisans.

Head to Abel & Julia to buy sterling silver goods from Taxco, Mexico.

Taxco is an old silver mining town located in the mountains of northern Guerrero State. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico, and one of its pueblos magicos (Mexico magic towns).

🛍️ Zihuatanejo Travel Tips for Shoppers

Don’t miss the Eco-Tianguis Sanka Organic Market, held Saturday mornings from 9am-1:30pm.

This organic market, located near the Archaeological Museum in Zihuatanejo, is a favorite among locals for great shopping at great prices.

9. Try the Best Restaurants in Zihuatanejo

Not many know this, but traditional Mexican food is very regional — and it’s not all tacos and burritos!

In Guerrero State, you’ll find local specialties like pozole, a stew made with meat and hominy, and barbacoa de chivo, shredded, barbecued goat meat.

Located on the coast, there’s plenty of great seafood that’s caught fresh daily.

Head to the beachfront restaurants to try tiritas, the local Zihuetenejo take on ceviche, as well as fish tacos, cócteles (seafood in a red tomato salsa), and zarandeado (“shaken fish”).

If you’re looking for an upscale dinner in Zihuatanejo, the best places are located outside of Downtown.

Check out Patio Mexica Cooking School and El Arrayan in Playa la Madera, and Espuma and El Suspiro, both located near Playa de la Ropa and Playa los Gatos.

⚠️ Zihuatanejo Travel Tips: For the best views of Zihuatanejo, reserve a table just before sunset at La Vista in the Pacífica Grand Zihuatanejo Resort & Spa.

It’s a more upscale restaurant, but the sunset views over Zihuatanejo Bay are worth the price of admission. In fact, the restaurant’s name, La Vista, means “the views.”

10. Sample Local Guerrero Coffee

Guerrero State produces a lot of the coffee in Mexico, with ideal growling climates in the Sierra Madre mountains.

Sample some at Cafe Caracol, Cafa Galeana and Cafe Zihuatanejo, which all sell locally-grown coffees that come from the mountains near Zihuatanejo Ixtapa.

11. Take a Day Trip to Troncones, Guerrero

Troncones is one of the best Mexico surf towns, and located about 45 minutes from Zihua.

In Troncones you’ll find great waves, friendly locals, some restaurants on the beach (like Roberto’s Bistro), and little else — but for surfing in Mexico, it’s a paradise.

🏄‍♀️ Want to learn to surf in Zihuatanejo instead? Join Ivan to see the best surf beaches in Zihuatanejo and he will teach you how to catch a wave.

▶︎ Book your Zihuatanejo surf lesson here

How do I get to Troncones from Zihuatanejo?

The best way to get from Zihuatanejo to Troncones is on this tour, or by rental car.

When renting a car in Mexico, I recommend and use Discover Cars for all my car rentals in Mexico.

Public transportation in this part of the country isn’t reliable, and you don’t want to risk being stuck in Troncones.

If you don’t have a rental car, you can try to negotiate a day rate with a Zihuatanejo taxi driver.

For an eight hour day, this will cost about $1,500-2,000 pesos ($90-120 USD), and they drive you to Troncones, stay all day as you enjoy the town, and drive you back to Zihuatanejo at the end of the day.

Where to Stay in Zihuatanejo Mexico

Ready to discover the best places to stay in Zihuatanejo?

The best Zihuatanejo resorts and hotels are listed below, all located in the main parts in town and on the main beaches.

If you’re not sure what part of town you want to stay in, check out the neighborhood guides below to learn more.

Best Hotels in Zihuatanejo Mexico

🏝️ Thompson Hotel Zihuatanejo

The nicest and best hotel in Zihuatanejo is Thompson Zihuatanejo, A Beach Resort.

Located right on the beach, the views are incredible.

Though it’s located in a laid back beach town, you get 5 Star service and a lot of great amenities at this resort.

🏝️ Tentaciones Hotel Zihuatanejo

For an adult getaway, opt for Tentaciones Hotel, with its comfy suites and lush grounds

Located on a cliff overlooking some of the best bayfront Zihuatanejo real estate, but just a two minute walk from the beach, you’ll feel like royalty at Tentaciones Zihuatanejo.

The 3 Best Neighborhoods in Zihuatanejo

1️⃣ Centro (Downtown Zihua)

Downtown Zihuatanejo is the heart of town, and where you’ll find the most restaurants, banks, pharmacies, things to do and more.

It has a typical small Mexico beach town feel, inexpensive shopping in the local mercados (markets) and great people-watching.

The Zihuatanejo Pier and its lively fish market are the major attractions here.

There’s also the Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande (Costa Grande Archaeological Museum), the only museum in Zihuatanejo, located right on the waterfront.

Best Hotels in Downtown Zihuatanejo

• Zihua Mia Hotel Boutique
• Hotel Del Pescador (Beachfront)
• OYO Hotel Posada Lys (Budget Friendly)

2️⃣ Playa la Madera

La Madera Zihuatanejo is a residential neighborhood overlooking a swimmable beach that is popular with locals.

It’s a short walk from Downtown Zihuatanejo, and a 20 minute walk to Playa la Ropa. La Madera is a quieter area, with nice hotels and great seaside dining.

3️⃣ Playa las Gatas & PLAYA LA ROPA

These beaches are in the south of the city, and popular with expats in Mexico. They are less crowded and ideal for snorkeling and relaxing at a beach bar.

If you’re staying here, you’ll definitely want a rental car because there’s not much within walking distance.

Ixtapa Mexico Mini Guide

It’s hard to write a guide to Zihuatanejo without talking about its neighboring town of Ixtapa (pronounced icks-taa-paa).

Since you were searching for a Zihuatanejo travel guide, you likely want to visit Zihuatanejo, but Ixtapa is still worth checking out.

After all, it’s one of the best Mexico resort towns.

Many choose to stay in Zihuatanejo for more cultural experience, but still enjoy all the best things to do in Ixtapa — like snorkeling on the best Ixtapa beaches, visiting Ixtapa Island, and more.

Ixtapa is a Mexico resort town, and among the best Mexico coast cities with plenty of amenities, great infrastructure and lots of all inclusive resorts.

It is much more lively than Zihuatanejo, which is more of a bohemian beach town that has retained an authentic Mexican feel.

There are certainly some great all inclusive resorts in Ixtapa, like the gorgeous Barceló Ixtapa All Inclusive, but Ixtapa isn’t anywhere near as charming as Zihua, and doesn’t feel as authentic.

The two cities attract a very different crowd. Ixtapa is similar to Cancun, Cabo or Puerto Vallarta — three of the top resort towns in Mexico.

Zihuatanejo is much more laid back, and closer in feel to Sayulita, Isla Holbox Island, Huatulco and other Mexico hidden gems.

Zihuatanejo Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a pretty laid back beach town with friendly locals who are welcoming to visitors.

You’ll still want to stay aware of yourself and your surroundings, and follow general travel safety measures, as you would anywhere.

💡 Zihuatanejo Travel Tips: You might hear locals calling each other zanca or zancas (plural). It’s similar to “dude” in the U.S., and loosely translates to friend or brother. If you’re called zanca, it’s a sign of great respect.

It is popular with Canadian and U.S. expats (short for expatriates), and “snowbirds” who only come down for the winter.

With its low cost of living, good quality of life and warm weather, it’s easy to want to live in Zihua.

Budget travelers can get by on about $25 USD per day for food and drink, but there are also more luxurious options.

Your Zihuatanejo hotel will likely provide drinking water, but you can’t drink the tap water in your room unless you boil or filter it.

💧Water Filter Bottle: Mexico Travel Essential

Use code SOLO15 for 15% OFF your entire order. ▶︎ SHOP NOW!

I use this Water-To-Go Bottle to filter my Mexico drinking water, so I don’t get sick in Mexico.

Even though you’re drinking filtered water — know that not all filtered water in Mexico is created equal.

These bottles have a three-stage filter that removes 99.99999% of waterborne pathogens, microplastics and more.

These are also the Zihuatanejo busy season or high season months, so expect higher price tags.

🌡️ Zihuatanejo Weather by Month

If you want to visit Zihuatanejo during the low season or slow season, you should be able to find some great travel deals in October and May.

These are the shoulder season months, when the weather is still pretty good and the high season prices haven’t kicked in yet.

The Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Airport is located only about 15-20 minutes from the beaches of Zihuatanejo, and 30-40 minutes from Ixtapa, Mexico.

You can find direct flights to Zihuatanejo from the U.S., but usually only during the high season from about November to March.

In all other months, you’ll find connecting flights through Mexico City International Airport (code: MEX) and Tijuana International Airport (code: TIJ).

However, if you plan to just stay in Zihuatanejo on the beach, you can grab an inexpensive taxi as you’re exiting the airport.

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport taxis run about $200-300 pesos ($12-18 USD) for up to four passengers.

If you have a larger group, the shuttles cost more, but are still economical.

You can also rent a car, but I only recommend this if you’re planning to explore the surrounding areas and beach towns.

🚙 Zihuatanejo Travel Tips: For a complete guide to Mexico car rentals, check out Renting a Car in Zihuatanejo: Everything You Need to Know.

There are also cabs everywhere, especially near the Zihuatanejo Pier.

You can also use the public buses and colectivos (shared vans), but you’ll want to ask a friendly local to assist you with using them.

There are plenty of taxis though, so make sure you have cash (in pesos) on you at all times for when you need to pay for cab rides.

People in the service industry, your hotel staff and tour guides will likely speak English, but many Zihuatanejo locals won’t.

Personally, I think it’s always a good idea to brush up on your Spanish before traveling to Mexico — just in case.

Download the FREE Duolingo App and get in a little practice before your Zihuatanejo vacation, so you’re comfortable with everyday basics and casual niceties.

Once a sleepy fishing village, Zihua is now known as a laid back alternative to nearby Ixtapa.

It has some of the best beaches in Mexico, so you’ll enjoy water activities, snorkeling and swimming.

It’s also known for the Zihuatanejo Shawshank Redemption connection, and you can read more about this below.

Have you been wondering about the Shawshank Redemption Mexican town?

Many think it’s Zihuatanejo, but this isn’t quite the case — and I’m about to shed some light on why Zihua is so closely associated with this 1994 film.

In the movie Shawshank Redemption, Andy (Tim Robbins) mentions longing for his dream life in Zihuatanejo.

In the film’s final scene, you see Andy on a beach that he calls Zihuatanejo Mexico. However, it’s actually Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

📺 Zihuatanejo Mexico Fun Facts: There’s also a Zihuatanejo How I Met Your Mother connection. In Season 2, Episode 21, titled Something Borrowed, Marshall says he’s going to “go live with the guys on the beach in Zihuatanejo.”

Ultimate Zihuatanejo Travel Guide

My Final Thoughts: Is Zihuatanejo Worth Visiting?

If you love hidden gems, taking the road less traveled, and going off the beaten track, then prepare to fall in love with Zihuatanejo Mexico.

For culturally-minded travelers seeking the “real” Mexico (ie. non-resort towns), you will also enjoy traveling to Zihuatanejo.

Unlike other places off the beaten path in Mexico, Zihua is so easy to access because the airport is just minutes from the beaches.

It’s also close enough to a bigger town, Ixtapa, that you’re not far from anything you might need in case of emergency.

If you’re looking for one of the best non-touristy places in Mexico, Zihua is it.

There’s beautiful beaches (especially La Ropa Beach and Las Gatas Beach), charming local mercados, delicious street tacos, beachfront bars, and nice Zihuatanejo hotels — this town has it all.