The 13 best beaches in Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo

The modern Ixtapa and the traditional Zihuatanejo, separated by a few kilometers, make up the most famous beach binomial in Mexico. This is our selection of the best beaches in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, hoping that very soon you can go to the Pacific in Guerrero to enjoy them.

1. Beach Clothes

This wide 1 km long beach, the largest in Zihuatanejo Bay, is one of the favorites in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo because it has sectors with high waves, good for surfing, and others with moderate waves, convenient for swimming.

Playa La Ropa offers multiple entertainment activities, such as windsurfing , sailing, parachutes, paragliding, sky scooters , jet skiing and banana boat rides, as well as massage and yoga specialists.

In its restaurants on the beach you can enjoy fresh specialties of the Guerrero cuisine of the coast.

It has all the necessary services to spend a lovely day at the beach and its hotel infrastructure is extensive and within reach of all budgets.

Its name comes from a curious legend about a Spanish galleon that arrived from the East loaded with exotic products and capsized in the bay. Pieces of clothing made of fine silk began to arrive at the shore of the beach, being baptized as La Ropa.

Best Hotels Near Playa La Ropa

Tentaciones Hotel & Lounge Pool – Adults Only is a 5-star establishment located in Lot 97-C of the Scenic Road to Playa La Ropa.

Its comfortable rooms have a rustic style and typical Mexican decoration and it has an outdoor pool, the Tentaciones Restaurant (international cuisine) and a bar. Its spacious suites, 90 and 120 m ² , have a sea view, private bathroom, balcony, terrace, air conditioning, satellite TV and many other facilities.

Restaurants Near Playa La Ropa

Mar y Cielo Restaurant, located on the Scenic Path to Playa La Ropa, specializes in seafood and Mexican cuisine and offers a pleasant dining experience for its spectacular views, warm atmosphere and excellent quality dishes and service. Try the fish in pineapple sauce and habaneros. The sauces are molcajeteadas in sight.

Another magnificent option in Playa La Ropa is Hao, where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner informally, feeling the sand on your feet.

2. Long Beach

Two activities stand out in Playa Larga Ixtapa: surfing and horseback riding. The wide extension of the beach makes it fantastic for trotting on a horse through the fine golden sand, observing the immensity of the sea with the salty breeze caressing your face.

Its intense waves make it a great destination for surfing. In Playa Larga you can also lie down and sunbathe, rest in a hammock and take some fantastic photos of the twilight.

It is one of the best beaches in Ixtapa to taste the specialties of the local cuisine, such as fish in size, a red snapper fresh from the sea that is marinated with a sauce based on guajillo chilies and roasted directly on the coals.

Best Hotels Near Playa Larga

Sunscape Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa Resort & Spa All Inclusive is a 4-star hotel located on Paseo de Ixtapa, which offers a fabulous all-inclusive experience through its park of six restaurants specializing in Mexican, European and international cuisine.

It has four bars, including one in the outdoor pool with slides; spa and fitness center , tennis court and entertainment programs for children.

Best Restaurants Near Playa Larga

Less than 4 km from Playa Larga is Jungle Pizza, where they prepare the best wood-fired pizzas in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. It’s a tiny place, with delicious smoked aromas filling the atmosphere, and pizzas coming in and out of the oven incessantly.

Among those you should try during your stay in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo are Chipotleña and Norteña. Vegans have vegetarian options.

Mediterranean cuisine enthusiasts count on Espuma Mediterráneo, the restaurant of the hotel of the same name located on the scenic road. The views are mesmerizing and the food first class.

3. Varadero Beach (Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo)

Ixtapa Island, located in front of Ixtapa, is a small paradise for diving and other water sports in Guerrero. The short distance between the mainland and the islet is covered in 5 minutes by pangas, water taxis that take visitors to its four beaches: Cuachalalate, Coral, Sacrificio and Varadero.

Varadero Ixtapa Beach is the one with the calmest waters and those in charge of welcoming visitors are the crabs that circulate along the white sand. In the beach restaurants you can enjoy seafood delicacies from Guerrero.

Invite your partner to an Octopus in Love and your actions will skyrocket in the love bag. Be sure to get a therapeutic massage in Varadero.

Best Hotels Near Varadero Beach (Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo)

The closest hotels to Isla Ixtapa and Playa Varadero are on the mainland and one is Cala de Mar Resort & Spa , located on Paseo Plaza Linda Boulevard in the Ixtapa Hotel Zone. It works in a secluded corner on a cliff, offering wonderful views of the ocean.

It has an outdoor pool, three restaurants, bars and a gym. The Terrace Bar has three levels and is a great place to have a drink admiring the vast ocean spaces.

Restaurants Near Varadero Beach, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

El Faro, located on Paseo de la Colina, is a magnificent place for a romantic dinner in Ixtapa due to its impressive views and delicious cuisine. It is located in the upper part of the Pacifica Resort and the sunsets are a gift for the senses. If you want to impress your partner, reserve a special table with roses and torches.

4. El Palmar Beach

It is the main beach in Ixtapa and in front of its soft-textured sand is the heart of the Hotel Zone. It is common to see visitors walking along the seashore and during sunset the sky is painted in colors, giving away splendid photographs.

Playa El Palmar Ixtapa has intense waves, especially in the sector called Las Escolleras, being one of the best in the area for surfing and other aquatic entertainment. At the southern end, facing Zihuatanejo, there are some rocky outcrops and a hill that act as shelters, calming the waves.

From the beach, the Isletas de Los Morros are visible, which are the main geographical symbol of Ixtapa.

Best Hotels Near El Palmar Beach

Krystal Ixtapa is a 4-star beachfront hotel located on Bulevar Ixtapa 4 in the Hotel Zone. It is located on the beachfront and has an outdoor and indoor pool, bars, restaurants, activities for children and everything you need for a pleasant vacation in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Its rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning, balcony, cable TV, safe, hair dryer and ironing kit.

Best Restaurants Near Playa El Palmar

Restaurant María Jetzabel, located on Avenida La Playa, is a seafood restaurant whose main dishes are heavy fish, Jetzabel seafood, seafood soup, coconut shrimp, lobster, shrimp and whiting, which They serve at reasonable prices. It is in front of the beach and also has a swimming pool.

For those who cannot live without typical Mexican food, Lety’s Restaurant, at Calle de La Noria 12 in Colonia Lázaro Cárdenas de Zihuatanejo, is a charming place with friendly parrots, where you will enjoy the best guacamole in the area.

5. Las Gatas Beach

It is a picturesque and small beach of almost 400 meters in length located in the southern part of Zihuatanejo Bay. It is one of the favorite places for diving and snorkeling due to the beautiful biodiversity of its reefs.

A rocky breakwater calms the waves and the waters are shallow, which makes Las Gatas one of the most suitable beaches in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Guerrero for swimming.

On the shore of the beach there are restaurants that work in typical palapas and provide lounge chairs and other beach furniture.

Many years ago the harmless and docile cat or nurse sharks visited the beach, from which the name Las Gatas comes. From Zihuatanejo’s Municipal Pier, boats leave for a scenic tour of the bay and stop at Playa Las Gatas.

Best Hotels Near Las Gatas Beach

Hotel Irma is located on a cliff, 2 km from Playa Las Gatas, and has two outdoor pools, Mediterranean-style décor and a Mexican cuisine restaurant.

Rooms have ocean or mountain views, private bathroom, air conditioning, satellite TV, hair dryer, and safe. The views of the bay are spectacular from the hotel.

Restaurants Near Las Gatas Beach

Otilia’s Restaurant is a Playa Las Gatas establishment that serves seafood and Mexican food in a casual and friendly atmosphere. It is in a secluded area of the beach, where boats and banana boats do not arrive and you can swim safely. The sand is rocky, so you should wear beach shoes. In the restaurant they prepare the shrimp in coconut divinely.

If you cannot deprive yourself of haute cuisine even with bare feet on the sand, stop by Chez Arnoldo in Playa Las Gatas, where you will enjoy a maximum gastronomic experience from the presentation of the dishes.

6. Quiet Beach

In Ixtapa Zihuatanejo there are many beaches with calm waves, but none with the calm of Playa Quieta, whose waters are calmed by a natural reef breakwater. Due to its conditions, this beach is ideal for swimming and kayaking and windsurfing are also practiced .

It is almost 600 meters long and is located about 8 km west of the heart of Ixtapa’s Hotel Zone. Several hotels have been installed nearby, making an additional hotel zone.

Playa Quieta is great for the whole family, particularly for children, and its white sands invite you to lie down and sunbathe. Other attractions are the mangroves, fishing and taking a walk along the pier.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo what to do in Playa Quieta: Ixtapa Island is located near this beach and the kayak trip lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Best Hotels Near Quieta Beach

On Paseo Punta Ixtapa in Hotel Zone II is Azul Ixtapa Grand All Inclusive Suites – Spa & Convention Center , a 5-star hotel with luxury suites. All the suites are 63 m ² and have a whirlpool bath, balcony, terrace, living room and other facilities and amenities for maximum comfort.

It has a swimming pool, bars, restaurants, cafeteria, spa , gym and massage service. The hotel organizes sports activities, such as windsurfing , cycling and canoeing.

Restaurants Near Quieta Beach

Very close to Playa Quieta, on Paseo de Ixtapa, is the Bistro Soleiado with its stoves for cooking French, Mediterranean and seafood dishes.

At its indoor or outdoor tables you can enjoy onion soup, pasta with mussels and red chilaquiles with chicken prepared with a unique seasoning. A guitarist puts on the music.

If you fancy a good wood-fired pizza after enjoying Playa Quieta, stop by Emilio’s Pizza, located in the Ixsol Shopping Center on Paseo de las Garzas. They are prepared at the moment with fresh ingredients and they have the best national wines.

7. Barra de Potosi Beach

Barra de Potosí is a quiet community located 23 km southeast of the city of Zihuatanejo, which has a charming beach and a lagoon.

The beach has bower restaurants to eat in a relaxed way and at good prices the fresh fish and shellfish caught daily by local fishermen.

In Playa Barra de Potosí you can sunbathe, take long walks, ride horses and take an excursion through the lagoon. This body of water and its surroundings are a wild territory that is home to an avian wealth of more than 180 species and is perfect for spotting and photographing exotic birds.

Best Hotels Near Playa Barra de Potosi

If you want to have an affordable stay on the beaches in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Guerrero, a good option is to stay in Barra de Potosí in accommodations that are very close to both the beach and the lagoon. Casa Claro de Luna Barra is in Lot 1 of Fraccionamiento 1 and has double rooms and deluxe bungalows . The bungalows have a private bathroom, a fan, a mosquito net, a refrigerator, a kitchen, a coffee machine, an electric kettle and a dining area.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo cheap hotels near Barra de Potosí: Hacienda La Rusa , Hotel Paradise Lagoon, BM Zihua .

Restaurants Near Playa Barra de Potosi

Nayito Restaurant, on the beach of Barra de Potosí, offers the famous three B’s: good, nice and cheap. In Nayito they serve delicacies such as paper-wrapped red snapper, fish a la carte, strips of fish cooked in lemon with green chiles, whiting, oysters in their shells and shrimp cocktail, with friendly service and with the beach in sight.

8. Saladita Beach

This beach located 43 km northwest of Zihuatanejo is one of the most important destinations for surfing in Guerrero and in the Mexican Pacific. Its high and continuous waves make it the scene of surfing competitions, despite the fact that there are no accommodations near the beach.

However, surfers are people who pack and on the beach there is a varied gastronomic offer. You can get to the beach by public transportation from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo by boarding two units. The first bus takes you from the Ixtapa terminal to Los Llanos and the second transport goes from this point to near the beach.

Best Hotels Near Saladita Beach

The best hotels near La Saladita are found in Troncones, a beach town located 18 km to the southeast. The Inn at Manzanillo Bayes is a hotel located in Playa Troncones, with a beautiful pool and facilities that always look impeccable.

It is a small luxury establishment located in a paradise for snorkeling and diving due to the beauty and variety of marine fauna. The beach is excellent for surfing. They prepare powerful and delicious Margarita cocktails.

Restaurants Near Playa La Saladita

Majahua Palms Restaurant is an establishment located in Playa Majahua, Troncones, with an open and welcoming atmosphere. It is a nice place to eat that is part of the Majahua Palms Hotel.

The service is friendly and fast and they prepare a fish that shines for its freshness. The hotel is made up of bungalows , which are separated from the restaurant.

9. La Madera Beach

It is a 420 meter long beach located to the east of Zihuatanejo, with direct access from the street or through a walkway between the rocks that join it with the Main Beach of the bay.

It has gentle waves, being good for swimming and sunbathing. Its name is due to the fact that it was a loading point for oak, mahogany and other valuable species extracted from the nearby mountains during the colonial era. It has several restaurants to taste the local food.

Best Hotels Near La Madera Beach

Villas El Morro is a 3-star hotel, located 10 minutes’ walk from the beach, where you can stay economically in Zihuatanejo.

It has an outdoor pool, beautiful views of the bay and for accommodation it has double rooms, suites and two-bedroom apartments. The rooms have a balcony, terrace, air conditioning, minibar, free Wi-Fi, safe, minibar, microwave and coffee maker.

Restaurants Near La Madera Beach

Carmelitas Café is one of the most established restaurants in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo since grandmother Carmelita founded it, continuing the administration in the hands of her children and grandchildren. Boys who 30 years ago went to the place with their parents now bring their own families to enjoy a cuisine that has not changed despite the passing of the years.

The octopus in love, the octopus with garlic, the fish strips and the exquisite mango flan with dulce de leche continue to make people talk in this cozy family restaurant.

La Terracita, at Calle Adelita 6 in Colonia La Madera, has a reputation for serving the tastiest and most abundant breakfasts in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

10. Nice Beach

It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ixtapa thanks to its fine sands, its blue waters, its palm trees and its picturesque pier from which the boats leave for Isla Ixtapa and other beautiful places on the coast of Guerrero.

It is almost 900 meters long and has calm waters that invite you to swim and splash around. You can go horseback riding through the palm groves and the nearby jungle and it has a mangrove swamp and a famous crocodile farm where a legendary ecologist nicknamed Tamakún interacts with the lizards as if they were the house dogs.

In the wide sandy area of Playa Linda you can take walks with your partner or with your family at sunset, including your pet, to tone your body and admire the beauty of the sunsets.

Best Hotels Near Linda Beach

Park Royal Ixtapa- All Inclusive is a 4-star hotel located in Lot 5-A of Bulevar Ixtapa where you can enjoy a pleasant stay.

It has an extraordinary location in the Bay of El Palmar and has an outdoor pool, three restaurants, four bars, a cafeteria and a fitness center. The restaurants La Veranda and El Pescador serve buffets and El Italiano serves a la carte.

Best Restaurants Near Playa Linda

In the Old Quarter of Ixtapa (San José Ixtapa) is El Tiburón de la Costa, a restaurant that specializes in Mexican, Latin and seafood cuisine.

It is one of the best known for its variety of dishes with excellent seasoning and its speed of service. It has a quiet musical environment and its menu includes rice with seafood, garlic shrimp, ceviche, garlic mojo steaks, oysters and aguachile.

11. Zihuatanejo Main Beach

The typical fishing environment provides an excellent setting for this 360-meter-long beach, which is a meeting point for locals, visitors and chefs who go in the morning to buy fresh fish directly from the boats.

It is also called Playa del Puerto and is located in front of the Paseo del Pescador, which runs through this part of the city between the Municipal Pier and the Archaeological Museum. The fishermen selling their fish and repairing their fishing nets make one of the typical stamps of Zihuatanejo in this sandbank.

Along the half-kilometer promenade there are restaurants, shops and craft stalls. Zihuatanejo’s main square, home to frequent celebrations, faces the walkway and the beach.

Best Hotels Near Zihuatanejo’s Main Beach

Casa Adriana is a tourist accommodation located on Calle Eva Samano de López Mateos, in Zihuatanejo, which has an air-conditioned restaurant and free Wi-Fi. It has rooms, bungalows and suites and all have ocean views, private bathrooms, balconies, kitchens, kitchenettes, refrigerators and stoves.

Best Restaurants Near Zihuatanejo’s Main Beach

El Arrayan Restaurant is a place that people who love grills will love, since almost everything is grilled. Its seafood and grilled fish are famous in the city and the live musical atmosphere rounds off unforgettable evenings. It is located on Calle Adelita, s/n, in Colonia La Madera.

12. Cuachalalate Beach

It is the most visited beach on Isla Ixtapa, offering spectacular views and crystal clear and calm waters. It is the perfect place on the island to take a boat and take a ride around the beautiful island coastline. It is also the best place to rent water sports equipment.

Cuachalalate is a word that means “tree of the chachalaca” in the Nahua language. It is a plant species ( Amphipterygium adstringens ) that was abundant in this area of Mexico, but is currently at risk of extinction due to the intensive exploitation of its bark for medicinal purposes.

Playa Cuachalalate has intermediate waves and has palapero restaurants to enjoy snacks and dishes. It is one of the beaches in Ixtapa that can only be reached by boat, and it is recommended to board them at Playa Linda.

Best Hotels Near Playa Cuachalalate

Tesoro Ixtapa All Inclusive is a 4-star hotel that has a private beach and wonderful views of the Pacific. It has double rooms, suites for three people and two-bedroom apartments for up to seven guests.

In its restaurant you can enjoy Mexican, Caribbean, Spanish, Italian, international cuisine, pizzas, grills and barbecues. It has a large outdoor pool and a 24-hour bar.

Restaurants Near Playa Cuachalalate

Lili Cipriani is a seafood and Mexican cuisine restaurant located on Isla Ixtapa. They start working in the morning, so if you arrive on the island hungry, Lili will satisfy you.

The service is fast and the food is fresh and delicious, with handmade tortillas and an unmissable shrouded sauce. If you have been lucky on your fishing trip, Lili Cipriani prepares what you bring on the boat.

13. Contramar Beach

It is a beautiful beach with coral reefs that are good to explore by diving or snorkeling. It has a bed of polished stones that serves as a background for the varied fauna that circulates through the crystal clear and calm waters, especially hundreds of multicolored fish.

Playa Contramar is not accessible by car and the two ways to go are by walking along an old path or by hiring a boat at the Zihuatanejo Main Pier. You have to bring what you are going to consume, since there are no establishments in the sandbank.

Best Hotels Near Contramar Beach

At La Casa Que Canta you will enjoy one of the most exclusive stays in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. It is an intimate 5-star hotel located on the Scenic Path to Playa La Ropa, which has an infinity pool that illusorily unites its waters with those of Zihuatanejo Bay.

Its oceanfront saltwater pool is surrounded by rocky outcroppings, and the impressive rooms feature spacious balconies and attractive Mexican décor with handcrafted furnishings.

Restaurants Near Contramar Beach

At Deborah’s Restaurant, located in La Puerta Shopping Center, you will enjoy the best seafood cuisine in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. The food is exquisite, especially the lobster, coconut shrimp and octopus. It offers a cheap breakfast based on eggs, beans, chilaquiles and juice. The mall is central and easily accessible.

Pictures of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Photos of Ixtapa Hotel Zone:

Beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Zihuatanejo Bay photos:

What to do on the beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

In Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo there are beaches with intense waves for surfing and others with calm waters, ideal for swimming and playing with children. In the hotel zones of the region there are comfortable establishments with different price ranges that make lodging accessible to all budgets and the huts and restaurants offer all the rich variety of Jalisco cuisine. On the beaches, water and land entertainment such as sailing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, volleyball, soccer, and boat and jet boat rides are available. Near many beaches there are other natural attractions, such as lagoons, mangroves and jungle landscapes.

What is the best beach in Ixtapa?

Playa Las Gatas is small and has calm waters and its reefs preserve a beautiful biodiversity, making it excellent for swimming, enjoying with the family and practicing underwater entertainment. Playa Larga is ideal for those who love wide spaces and its intense waves make it magnificent for surfing.

What are the best hotels in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo all inclusive on the beach

The Las Brisas Ixtapa resort is a 5-star hotel located in Playa Vistahermosa that offers convenient rates including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At Azul Ixtapa Grand All Inclusive Suites – Spa & Convention Center (5 stars), located on Paseo Punta Ixtapa, you will live one of the best all-inclusive experiences in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo with its fantastic restaurants and facilities. In the 4-star category, Park Royal Ixtapa- All Inclusive (Boulevar Ixtapa), Sunscape Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa Resort & Spa All Inclusive (Avenida Paseo de Ixtapa) and Tesoro Ixtapa All Inclusive (Boulevar Ixtapa) stand out.

Do you know any of the Ixtapa beaches included in the previous selection? Have you had the privilege of enjoying the beaches of Zihuatanejo Bay? If not, we hope that very soon you will be able to pack up for the coast of Guerrero to spend a fantastic vacation tanning, swimming, snorkeling and tasting fresh-cut fish and shrimp in coconut.