What to Do in Zihuatanejo, Mexico 2026

We only booked a week in Zihuatanejo. We stayed five.

That’s not an exaggeration for effect — it’s just what happens once you settle into “Zihua’s” rhythm: mornings watching fishermen unload the night’s catch at the fish market, afternoons on the beach with grilled red snapper, guacamole and an ice-cold Sol, and a pace of life that makes it genuinely hard to leave. If you’ve ever wondered what happened to the sleepy Mexican fishing village before mass tourism found it, this is close to the answer.

Quick Facts Before You Go

Where Is Zihuatanejo, and How Is It Different from Ixtapa?

Zihuatanejo sits on a well-protected bay on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in the state of Guerrero. It’s often mentioned in the same breath as Ixtapa, its neighbour just 10 kilometres away — but the two couldn’t be more different in character. Ixtapa is the high-rise resort strip, with beaches that face straight into the open ocean and can bring undertow. Zihuatanejo is the original fishing village: low-rise, sheltered, and considerably more laid-back. If you want resort infrastructure, stay in Ixtapa. If you want atmosphere, stay in Zihua.

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Getting to Zihuatanejo

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport is about 12 km from town and served by a range of airlines including Delta, American Airlines and Aeromexico. Fair warning: baggage claim is chaotic — bags are unloaded into a small roped-off area, and it becomes a genuine scrum to retrieve your own, so keep your receipt handy for the checkpoint on the way out.

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Some hotels offer free shuttle transfers — worth asking before you book a taxi. Buses also connect Zihuatanejo with Mexico City, Acapulco and Morelia; ADO is a reliable operator for routes around the country.

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Top Things to Do in Zihuatanejo

Wander Paseo del Pescador and the Morning Fish Market

Head down to the Fisherman’s Path just past the basketball courts in the early morning, and you’ll catch the tail end of the night’s fishing — boats coming in, locals haggling over the best catch, seagulls hovering hopefully overhead. It’s unscripted, genuinely local, and one of the best free things to do in town.

• Time needed: 30–60 minutes
• Tip: Go early — by mid-morning the best catch is already gone and the market thins out.

Take the Water Taxi to Playa Las Gatas

A small port near the main beach runs boats across the bay to Playa Las Gatas (Cat Beach), a calmer, more sheltered stretch that’s good for swimming and snorkelling.

• Cost: Around MXN 150 round trip
• Tip: Boats run regularly through the day — just confirm the last return time before you cross.

Go Whale Watching (December–April)

Humpback whales migrate through these waters between December and April, and several local operators run whale-watching tours out of Zihuatanejo during the season.

• Best time: December to April
• Tip: Book with a local operator rather than a big resort package — smaller boats get closer without disturbing the whales.

Visit the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum

A modest but worthwhile stop, this museum covers six rooms of artefacts from across Guerrero state, spanning Olmec, Teotihuacan, Tarascan and Mexica influence — tools, pottery and weapons that tell the story of the region long before the Spanish arrived.

• Address: P.º del Pescador s/n, Centro, 40890 Zihuatanejo
• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes

Spend an Afternoon on Zihuatanejo’s Beaches

Five beaches cover most of what you’ll want from a Zihua beach day:

• Playa La Ropa — 2 km from town, lined with hotels and restaurants, good for sailing, parasailing and jet skiing
• Playa Las Gatas — calmer water, better for swimming and snorkelling
• Playa Larga
• Playa Blanca
• Playa Principal — the main town beach, right by the fish market and downtown

See the Beach That Inspired Shawshank Redemption

Zihuatanejo has a claim to cinematic fame: it’s the coastal town Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) dreams of throughout The Shawshank Redemption, and where the film’s final scene plays out. If you’re a fan of the movie, it adds a nice bit of context wandering the same coastline that gave the story its ending.

Where to Eat in Zihuatanejo

Playa Madera’s Beachfront Restaurants

Cross the bridge from the main beach toward Playa Madera (Wood Beach) for a strip of casual, fresh-seafood restaurants right on the sand. Our favourite was Valeria I — reliably good, open breakfast through dinner, closing around 7 pm.

Pizza Locas

Good enough that we ordered it to eat on our hotel balcony more than once. A solid, casual pizza option if you want a break from seafood. Address: Vicente Guerrero 10, Centro, 40880 Zihuatanejo

La Papa Loca

Open from 7 pm till late, this spot specialises in loaded baked potatoes piled high with melted cheese, pork and toppings — popular with the late-night crowd. Address: C. Heroico Colegio Militar 45, Centro, 40890 Zihuatanejo

El Cafecito

Consistently rated the best coffee in town by fellow travellers, and we’d agree. Worth the stop if you’re wandering the municipal beachfront.

Municipal Market (Boulevard Benito Juárez)

For the cheapest, most local meals in town, skip the restaurants and head to the market — good for a fast, authentic lunch on a budget.

Where to Stay in Zihuatanejo

Our pick, hands-down, was Hotel Aura del Mar on Playa Madera — private beach access, a good-sized pool, and a room with a spa bath and a balcony overlooking both the pool and the beach. It’s a genuine reason our week turned into five weeks, and we’d stay there again without hesitation.

Other well-rated options depending on your style:

• Villa del Pescador — a small, 12-room boutique hotel with a jacuzzi, pool and bay views from every room; beach is a 10-minute walk. Known for attentive, personal service.
• La Casa Que Canta — an art-deco luxury property on Playa La Ropa with an infinity pool, roof terrace and lounge bar, popular for its sunset views and considered one of the more upscale stays in the area.

Budget Guide

A rough per-person daily estimate for Zihuatanejo (2026 prices):

Seafood dinners on the beach are inexpensive relative to the quality — one of the best-value parts of a Zihua trip. Your biggest cost lever is accommodation, followed by tours (whale watching, boat trips to Las Gatas).

When to Visit Zihuatanejo

The best months are December to April — dry, warm, and whale season overlaps with the tail end of it. June to August are the hottest months, and the rainy season runs May to September, with afternoon downpours more common but rarely lasting long.

Zihuatanejo FAQs

Is Zihuatanejo safe to visit? Yes, generally considered safe for tourists. As with travel anywhere, stay aware of your surroundings and leave expensive jewellery at home.

What’s the voltage in Mexico? Mexico runs on 127V at 60Hz, the same plug type as the US and Canada.

When is the best time to visit Zihuatanejo? December through April, avoiding the June–August heat and the May–September rainy season.

How do you get around Zihuatanejo? The town itself is very walkable. For trips further out, local taxis are affordable and easy to flag down.

Is Zihuatanejo better than Ixtapa? Depends what you want. Ixtapa has bigger resorts and more nightlife infrastructure; Zihuatanejo has the fishing-village atmosphere, calmer water, and better local food. Many visitors base themselves in one and day-trip to the other.

Is Zihuatanejo the town from Shawshank Redemption? Yes — it’s the coastal town Andy Dufresne dreams of throughout the film, and where the final scene is set.

Final Thoughts

Zihuatanejo isn’t a place with a must-see checklist — it’s a place with a pace. Watch the fish market in the morning, spend the afternoon on the sand with something fresh off the grill, and let the evenings run long. We went in expecting a week. Five weeks later, we understood why Andy Dufresne picked this particular stretch of coastline to dream about.

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