Zihuatanejo is a working Pacific fishing town that shares a coastline with the purpose-built resort zone of Ixtapa, and the things to do here split neatly between the two. Most days revolve around the bay’s four beaches and the boat trips that leave from the municipal pier, with a handful of markets, walkways, and day trips filling in the gaps. Everything below includes locations, hours, and prices where they matter. The Zihuatanejo travel guide guide rounds up the whole destination if you want the bigger picture first.
Things to Do in Zihuatanejo: The Main Beaches
Playa La Ropa
Playa La Ropa is the best all-round beach, a roughly 1 km curve of soft sand on the south side of the bay with calm, swimmable water and a line of palapa restaurants. You can rent loungers and umbrellas for about MXN 150 to 200 a day, and kayaks and paddleboards run MXN 250 to 300 an hour. It gets busiest from midday to 4 pm, so arrive before 11 am to claim a shaded spot. Water taxis run here from the municipal pier for about MXN 40 per person, or it is a 10-minute taxi ride from El Centro, and the where to stay in Zihuatanejo guide lists the hotels right on this sand.
Playa Las Gatas
Playa Las Gatas sits behind a stone breakwater built in pre-Hispanic times, which keeps the water shallow, clear, and protected, making it the best snorkeling beach in town. Water taxis leave from the municipal pier every 20 minutes or so for about MXN 50 to 60 round trip, and you can also walk over the rocks from Playa La Ropa at low tide. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes for the rocky entry. Snorkel gear rents for around MXN 150 to 200 a set.
Playa La Madera
Playa La Madera is the closest beach to El Centro, a 10-minute walk from the market, with gentler waves than La Ropa and a quieter, more local crowd. It is a good pick for families with young kids and for watching the sunset. A handful of small restaurants line the sand, and the calm water makes it one of the safest swimming spots in the bay.
Playa Linda
Playa Linda marks the northern end of the bay, next to a mangrove lagoon where crocodiles and dozens of bird species live. You can hire a boatman for a lagoon tour (about MXN 150 to 250 per person) to spot crocs, herons, and iguanas from the water. The beach itself is wide and backed by a few casual seafood restaurants. It is about a 15-minute drive from Zihuatanejo centro.
Things to Do in Zihuatanejo: On the Water
Isla Ixtapa (Ixtapa Island)
Isla Ixtapa is a small island just off the coast with three beaches, Playa Coral, Playa Varadero, and Playa Cuachalalate, plus a coral reef for snorkeling. Panga boats leave from Playa Linda and the Ixtapa pier throughout the day; round-trip fares run roughly MXN 70 to 100 per person and the crossing takes about 10 minutes. Playa Coral is the snorkeling spot, while Playa Varadero is quieter. Restaurants on the island serve fresh fish, and you can rent snorkel gear and kayaks on arrival.
Snorkeling in the Bay
The two best snorkeling sites are Playa Las Gatas and Playa Coral on Isla Ixtapa, where rocky reefs hold parrotfish, angelfish, and the occasional ray. Visibility is best in the dry season, from December to April, when runoff is lowest, a pattern the Zihuatanejo weather by month guide confirms month by month. Half-day snorkel boat tours from the pier, usually combining Las Gatas and the island, cost about MXN 400 to 600 per person and often include gear and a drink.
Sportfishing Charters
Zihuatanejo is one of Mexico’s serious sportfishing ports, famous for sailfish from February through May. A typical 6-hour panga charter runs about MXN 3,500 to 5,000 for up to four people, while larger sportfishers with full crews run higher. Boats leave from the municipal pier and the Ixtapa marina, and most operators include tackle, bait, and water. Book through a licensed operator and confirm whether the license is included in the price, and the Zihuatanejo events and festivals guide lists the May tournament if you want to watch or enter.
Sunset Cruises and Sailing
Evening catamaran and sailing trips out of the bay are a low-effort way to see the coastline from the water. Most sunset cruises depart around 5:30 pm, run two to three hours, and cost about MXN 600 to 900 per person with open bar and light snacks. During the December to March whale season, these same routes double as whale-watching trips, a season the best time to visit Zihuatanejo guide covers in detail.
Things to Do in Zihuatanejo: Town, Food and Culture
Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman’s Walk)
The Paseo del Pescador is the paved waterfront walkway that runs along Playa Principal from the municipal pier toward Playa La Madera, lined with sculptures, benches, and fishermen landing the day’s catch. It is free, flat, and best walked in the early morning when the pangas come in with tuna and red snapper, or after sunset when the restaurants along it fill up. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a slow stroll.
Mercado Municipal
The central market, a block or two inland from the waterfront, is where locals buy produce, spices, fresh tortillas, and seafood, and it is the cheapest place in town to eat. Fondas (small food counters) serve breakfast and lunch plates for MXN 80 to 150. It opens early, around 6 am, and winds down by late afternoon. Go in the morning for the most stalls open, and carry small bills.
Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande
This small museum near Playa La Madera covers the archaeology of the Costa Grande region, with pre-Hispanic pottery, stone tools, and pieces recovered from the bay, plus an explanation of the breakwater at Las Gatas. Entry is around MXN 30 to 40, and it takes about 45 minutes to see. It is air-conditioned, which makes it a useful escape during a hot afternoon.
The Ciclopista (Bike Path)
A dedicated cycle and walking path runs between Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, roughly 10 km end to end, flat and separated from traffic. Bike rentals are available near the path for about MXN 100 to 150 an hour or MXN 250 to 350 a day. It is an easy way to move between the two zones without dealing with a taxi, especially in the cooler early morning.
Things to Do in Zihuatanejo: Day Trips
Troncones
Troncones is a low-key surf village about 30 minutes north of Zihuatanejo, known for its long left-hand point break and dirt-road beach town feel. It is the best nearby base for surfing lessons, which run about MXN 600 to 900 for a group lesson. Even if you do not surf, the beach is wide and quiet, and the seafood restaurants on the sand are worth the drive. A taxi from Zihuatanejo costs roughly MXN 400 to 500 each way.
Barra de Potosà and Playa Larga
South of the bay, Barra de Potosà is a small fishing village where a lagoon meets a long, wild stretch of ocean beach called Playa Larga. Kayaking the lagoon through the mangroves costs about MXN 150 to 200, and the beach restaurants grill the morning’s catch. It is about a 30-minute drive from Zihuatanejo, and the shallow lagoon water makes it good for kids.
Ixtapa Marina and Golf
The Ixtapa marina holds the charter fleet and a row of shops and restaurants, and it is the departure point for many fishing and sailing trips. Next to it, the Marina Ixtapa and Palma Real golf courses offer 18-hole rounds with green fees that vary by season. If you are staying on the Zihuatanejo side, the marina is a 15-minute taxi ride, about MXN 120 to 150.
La Chole and the Countryside
For a change of scenery, the hills inland hold small ranching villages, coconut and mango groves, and a few rustic roadside restaurants serving birria and pozole. La Chole, a short drive from town, is a quiet village where a guide or taxi driver can point you to the best local kitchen. These inland spots are best visited in the dry season, when the dirt roads are passable.
For where to base yourself while ticking off these activities, the Zihuatanejo neighborhoods guide compares the bay’s districts, and the Zihuatanejo travel tips page covers transport costs and safety so you can get around without overpaying.
