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Major city · Mexico

ZihuatanejoZihuatanejo de Azueta

Stay 3 nights in Zona Centro or Playa La Ropa: walkable town, calm bay swimming, and Ixtapa 20 min by bus for resorts.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (check)
avoid Sep–Oct (check)
Airport
ZIH
Nights
3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Zihuatanejo is a fishing town on a sheltered bay in Guerrero, grown into a resort without losing its centre: a market, a pier, a beach road and Playa La Ropa around the corner. Three nights covers the town, the bay beaches and one day in Ixtapa or Troncones. Most visitors fly into ZIH, 12.5 km southeast.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Zihuatanejo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Street or quick mealStreet tacos, eachM$15–30 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Beerbottle at a beach palapa / can at an oxxoM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi Centro–Playa La RopaM$80–120 (≈ US$5–7) (check)
  • Metro or bus rideLocal bus Zihuatanejo–IxtapaM$8–10 (≈ under US$1) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personMX$350 (≈ US$19)
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$1,800 (≈ US$100)
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$3,500 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$900 (≈ US$50) · Mid MX$2,000 (≈ US$110) · High MX$4,500 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Bahía de Zihuatanejo and Playa La RopaPlaya Las Gatas and its boat pierPozole, especially on ThursdaysSport fishing and the pueblo centre
Airports
ZIH Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International (12.5 km southeast of town on Hwy 200; shared shuttle or taxi into town, no ride-share pickups at the terminal)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Zihuatanejo: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C

19°C

1 rd

Feb

31°C

19°C

0 rd

Mar

31°C

20°C

0 rd

Apr

32°C

21°C

0 rd

May

33°C

23°C

2 rd

Jun

33°C

24°C

10 rd

Jul

33°C

24°C

12 rd

Aug

33°C

24°C

13 rd

Sep

32°C

24°C

15 rd

Oct

32°C

23°C

8 rd

Nov

32°C

21°C

2 rd

Dec

31°C

20°C

1 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable. Taxis cover the bay and the airport; local buses (about M$8, check) run between Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. Lanchas from the muelle cross to Playa Las Gatas. Hwy 200 bypasses town on the north and east.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ixtapa

go

Door to door: 20–30 min

Local bus or taxi north on Hwy 200

Resort zone, Playa El Palmar and Isla Ixtapa boats; go for a beach day, not for town life.

Troncones

go

Door to door: About 25 min (check)

Taxi or colectivo north on Hwy 200

Long open beach and small guesthouses; a day works, a night is better.

Vicente Guerrero National Park

go

Door to door: Under 30 min (check)

Walk or short ride to the Blvd Playa Linda side

Created in 2023, 724 ha of dry forest and mangrove between Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa; entrance areas and any fee: check.

Acapulco

overnight

Door to door: 4.5–5 h

Bus from the Central de Autobuses on Hwy 200

253 km; too long for a return day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Zona Centro

Market, pier, restaurants and the beach walk; best for a short stay without a car.

Playa La Madera

Small bay 10–15 min walk from Centro; quieter, mid-range hotels.

Playa La Ropa

The main swimming beach, 5–10 min by taxi from Centro; resort and boutique hotels.

Ixtapa

Planned resort zone 20 min north by bus or 10 min by taxi; high-rise hotels and bars, less town.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$700–1,200 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)
Mid
M$1,500–2,800 (≈ US$85–160) excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)
High
M$3,500 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 3 nights × MX$1,800MX$5,400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × MX$2,000MX$12,000
Airport shuttle, both ways2 × MX$320 · checkMX$640
Lanchas to Playa Las Gatas, return2 × MX$120 · checkMX$240
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250 · checkMX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$1,878
Trip total≈ MX$3,443 per person per day, bed includedMX$20,658≈ US$1,200

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
Pozole, bowlM$80–150 (≈ US$5–9)
Street tacos, eachM$15–30 (≈ US$1–2)
Beer: bottle at a beach palapa / can at an oxxoM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4) / M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
Local bus Zihuatanejo–IxtapaM$8–10 (≈ under US$1) (check)
Taxi Centro–Playa La RopaM$80–120 (≈ US$5–7) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Zihuatanejo itself is a calm, walkable resort town; the real risks are the sea, the heat and Guerrero's inland roads. Use 911, keep to lit streets at night and ask locally before driving Hwy 134.
  • Sep–Oct is the rain and storm season; some beach businesses close.
  • Rip currents on open Pacific beaches: swim where locals swim, not on unpatrolled sand.
  • Hwy 134 and inland Guerrero roads: travel by day and ask locally before driving.
  • Palapa loungers on Las Gatas are free only if you order food and drinks.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

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ZihuatanejoZihuatanejo de Azueta

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in town; the US, UK and Canada have embassies in Mexico City, and most countries keep consular contacts there (check before you travel).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • ZIH airport → Zona Centro, shared shuttle: about M$160 (≈ US$9), 20–30 min (check)
  • ZIH airport → Zona Centro, private taxi: about M$550 (≈ US$30), 20–30 min (check)
  • Zihuatanejo → Ixtapa, local bus: about M$8–10 (≈ under US$1), 20 min (check)

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde está el muelle? — Where is the pier? (DON-de es-TA el MWE-yeh)
  • ¿Es seguro nadar aquí? — Is it safe to swim here? (es se-GU-ro na-DAR a-KI)
  • ¿Tiene pozole? — Do you have pozole? (TYE-ne po-SO-le)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWE-do pa-GAR kon tar-HE-ta)

Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants; MXN 20–50 for porters and boat or palapa helpers.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Zihuatanejo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (check) · avoid Sep–Oct (check) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ZIH: ETASA shuttle and taxi bands, last arrival times, Centro and La Ropa drop-offs.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Centro and the market, the muelle and Playa Municipal, Playa La Madera, Playa La Ropa.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Las Gatas boats, park entrances, market) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rain-season and storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources