Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo is a fishing town on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in the state of Guerrero, that shares its bay with the purpose-built resort zone of Ixtapa. The two halves give you a choice: a working Mexican port with a market, a waterfront walkway, and beach palapas, or a modern resort strip with golf, marinas, and all-inclusive hotels. The climate is tropical with a long dry season from November to May and a rainy season from June to October, and the ocean stays warm enough to swim in every month of the year.

Welcome to Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo started as a fishing village, and that identity still shapes it: the pangas land their catch at the municipal pier each morning, and the town’s restaurants grill it the same afternoon. The bay curves around four beaches, Playa Principal, Playa La Madera, Playa La Ropa, and Playa Las Gatas, with La Ropa the softest and Las Gatas the calmest for snorkeling. Six kilometres north, Ixtapa was built in the 1970s as a planned resort development, and it holds most of the area’s large hotels, the marina, and the golf courses. Between them, the two zones cover almost every kind of Pacific beach holiday.

Zihuatanejo Weather at a Glance

Zihuatanejo runs hot and humid year-round, with daytime highs between 31°C and 33°C (88°F and 91°F) in every month. What changes is rain. The dry season from November to May sees under 30 mm a month, while the rainy season from June to October brings 140 to 280 mm a month, mostly as short, heavy afternoon storms. Sea temperature stays between 27°C and 30°C (80°F and 86°F) all year, so swimming is always possible. The full numbers, month by month, are in the Zihuatanejo weather by month guide.

Zihuatanejo Seasonal Snapshot

• Winter (December to February): dry and sunny, highs around 31°C (88°F), the busiest and priciest season, with whales offshore.
• Spring (March to May): hot and mostly dry, warming to 33°C (91°F) by May, with the guitar festival, Semana Santa, and the sailfish tournament.
• Summer (June to August): the rainy season begins, with 170 to 200 mm a month, hot nights, and the year’s lowest hotel prices.
• Autumn (September to November): September is the wettest month at 280 mm, then rains taper through October and November as the dry season returns.

Zihuatanejo Guide: Explore by Topic

1. Zihuatanejo Weather by Month: the full monthly table of temperatures, rainfall, sea temperature, and sunshine, plus what to pack for each season.
2. Best Time to Visit Zihuatanejo: which months win for beach weather, low prices, and few crowds, and why to avoid September.
3. Things to Do in Zihuatanejo: the four beaches, Isla Ixtapa, snorkeling, fishing charters, and the best day trips.
4. Zihuatanejo Events and Festivals: SailFest, the guitar festival, the sailfish tournament, and Mexico’s national holidays, month by month.
5. Zihuatanejo Neighborhoods: El Centro, La Madera, La Ropa, and Ixtapa compared, with the traveler each one suits and typical room prices.
6. Where to Stay in Zihuatanejo: specific hotels across the luxury, mid-range, and budget tiers in each district.
7. Zihuatanejo Travel Tips: airport transfers, taxi and combi costs, money, visas, safety, and the tap-water question.

Zihuatanejo Location and What Shapes Its Climate

Zihuatanejo sits on the Costa Grande of Guerrero, at about 17.6 degrees north latitude on a wide, sheltered bay backed by the Sierra Madre del Sur. The mountains block much of the interior’s weather, while the warm Pacific current keeps the sea around 28°C (82°F) on average. The result is a tropical savanna climate: reliably hot, with a pronounced dry season when the Pacific high sits offshore, and a summer rainy season driven by the North American monsoon and occasional tropical cyclones. Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking in September and early October.

Zihuatanejo Quick Facts

• Best beach months: December to April, with under 15 mm of rain and calm, clear water.
• Warmest months: April and May, with highs around 33°C (91°F).
• Wettest month: September, averaging 280 mm of rain.
• Sea temperature: 27°C (80°F) in winter to 30°C (86°F) in late summer.
• Airport: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH), 11 km southeast of town.
• Time zone: Central Standard Time (UTC-6), no daylight saving.

Where to Stay in Zihuatanejo

Choose Playa La Ropa for the best beach and boutique hotels, Ixtapa for large resorts and all-inclusive packages, or El Centro and Playa La Madera for the cheapest rooms and the most local atmosphere. Room rates run from about MXN 500 a night in town to MXN 8,000-plus for beachfront and cliffside luxury. The full breakdown, with specific hotel names in each tier, is in the where to stay in Zihuatanejo guide.

Suggested Hotels in Zihuatanejo

Thompson Zihuatanejo, A Beach Resort by Hyatt

A 56-room luxury resort on a long private stretch of Playa La Ropa with an ocean-view pool, full-service spa, and multiple restaurants. Best for couples and honeymooners who want a polished, high-end beach stay. Check rates and availability

Las Brisas Ixtapa

A large beachfront resort in the Ixtapa hotel zone with pools, multiple restaurants, and direct access to Playa El Palmar. Best for families who want a classic resort stay with everything on site. Check rates and availability

Hotel Zihuatanejo Centro

A straightforward downtown hotel with a pool and restaurant, a two-minute walk from the main beach and the pier. Best for budget travelers who want the cheapest practical base in the middle of everything. Check rates and availability