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Major city · Mexico

Ixtapa

Go for 3 nights if you want a beach base with no planning: hotel zone, flat bike paths, Isla Ixtapa boats. Skip if you want a town, nightlife or budget beds — sleep in Zihuatanejo instead.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season, warm days, low rain)
avoid Sep–Oct (peak rain and storm risk), late Mar–Apr (Easter/Semana Santa crowds)
Airport
ZIH
Nights
3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Ixtapa is a planned resort strip built from the 1970s on a former coconut plantation, 5 km from the fishing town of Zihuatanejo. It is one long hotel zone (Zona Hotelera I on Playa El Palmar, Zona Hotelera II toward Playa Linda), flat, walkable and bike-friendly, with four- and five-star hotels and almost no hostels. Most travellers use it as a beach base and cross to Zihuatanejo for food and town life. Three nights covers the beaches, Isla Ixtapa and one day in Zihua; five nights if you add golf, diving or a day trip.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ixtapa, 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.

  • CoffeeCoffee or a beer at a beach barM$50–120 (≈ US$3–7)
  • Street or quick mealTaco or seafood plate at a taqueria in ZihuatanejoM$100–250 (≈ US$6–14)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, hotel zone to ZihuatanejoM$150–250 (≈ US$9–14)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$300–600 (≈ US$17–35)
  • Budget bedBudget room in Zihuatanejo (5 km away), a night, per roomMX$700 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedBudget room in Zihuatanejo (5 km away), a night, per roomMX$1,200 (≈ US$65)
  • High-end bedBudget room in Zihuatanejo (5 km away), a night, per roomMX$2,200 (≈ US$120)

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

Playa El Palmar hotel stripIsla Ixtapa boat tripsFlat ciclopista bike routesCrocodile refuge at Playa LindaTwo Robert-designed golf courses
Airports
ZIH Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International (About 20 km from the Ixtapa hotel zone; taxi or pre-booked transfer, roughly 20–30 min. Direct domestic flights from Mexico City and international flights from Toronto and Los Angeles (check current schedules).)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ixtapa: 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

Taxis are the default: short hops inside the hotel zone, and a fixed-ish fare to Zihuatanejo (agree the price before you get in). Ixtapa is flat with dedicated bike paths — the Tropical Route to Playa Linda is just under 10 km each way, and a path links Ixtapa to Zihuatanejo. Water taxis from the Embarcadero at Playa Linda run to Isla Ixtapa. A rental car only pays off for multi-stop day trips.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Zihuatanejo

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Taxi from the Ixtapa hotel zone, about 15–20 min

The fishing town next door: market, pier, Playa La Ropa and Playa Las Gatas. Go for the day and eat here.

Isla Ixtapa

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Boat from the Embarcadero at Playa Linda, about 10 min

Three beaches, palapa restaurants and snorkelling at Playa Coral. Boats run roughly 09:00–17:00; round trip about M$80 per person.

Troncones

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Taxi or car north on Hwy 200, about 40–50 min

Surf beach with few services; negotiate a return taxi or keep the driver's number.

Acapulco

overnight

Door to door: 4.5–5 h each way

Car or bus on Hwy 200, about 253 km

Too far for a day return; sleep there if you go.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Zona Hotelera I (Playa El Palmar)

The main beach strip, about 4.5 km of sand; most resorts, restaurants and shops. Best for a first trip with no car.

Zona Hotelera II (toward Playa Linda)

Quieter north end near Playa Quieta and Playa Linda; good for families and the boat dock to Isla Ixtapa.

Marina Ixtapa

Condos and marina-side restaurants and golf; 10–15 min by taxi from the main beach strip.

Zihuatanejo (5 km away)

The real town: cheaper hotels, hostels, pozole and seafood. Pick this if you want streets, not a resort strip.

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 (eat in Zihuatanejo, buses and shared boats)
Mid
M$1,500–2,500 (≈ US$85–140) excl. bed (taxi hops, one tour, mixed restaurants)
High
M$3,000 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed (resort dining, golf, private boat)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double in the Ixtapa hotel zone1 × 3 nights × MX$3,000MX$9,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × MX$2,000MX$12,000
Airport taxi ZIH to Ixtapa hotel zone, one way1 × MX$500MX$500
Isla Ixtapa boat, round trip2 × MX$80MX$160
Horseback ride, 1–2 h2 × MX$1,500MX$3,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$400MX$800
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$2,546
Trip total≈ MX$4,668 per person per day, bed includedMX$28,006≈ US$1,600

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

Prices of common things

Coffee or a beer at a beach barM$50–120 (≈ US$3–7)
Taco or seafood plate at a taqueria in ZihuatanejoM$100–250 (≈ US$6–14)
Seafood main in an Ixtapa restaurantM$250–400 (≈ US$14–25)
Taxi, hotel zone to ZihuatanejoM$150–250 (≈ US$9–14)
Bike rental, per dayM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
18-hole green fee, Palma Real or Marina IxtapaM$1,500–3,000 (≈ US$85–170) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$300–600 (≈ US$17–35)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The resort corridor is calm and heavily patrolled; the real risks are surf and lagoon wildlife, unmarked taxi fares, and Guerrero state roads outside the corridor — check local advice before driving, and travel in daylight.
  • No hostels or budget hotels in Ixtapa: cheap beds are in Zihuatanejo.
  • Agree taxi fares before departure; meters are not standard.
  • September and October are the rainiest months and storm season — check forecasts before booking.
  • Crocodiles live in the lagoons and golf-course water: keep to marked paths and do not swim in lagoons.
  • Guerrero state roads outside the resort corridor need local advice; travel in daylight and prefer toll (cuota) highways.
  • Swim with care at Playa Linda and Playa Coral: the open-Pacific side has rougher surf.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / tourist help)
078

Pocket card

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Fill in, then print or save as PDF

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IxtapaIxtapa

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Ixtapa; the US, UK and Canadian embassies are in Mexico City, with consulates in Acapulco (check which are open).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi ZIH airport → Ixtapa hotel zone: M$350–800 (≈ US$19–45), about 20–30 min
  • Taxi Ixtapa → Zihuatanejo: M$150–250 (≈ US$9–14), about 15–20 min
  • Boat Playa Linda → Isla Ixtapa: about M$80 (≈ US$5) round trip, about 10 min

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto a Zihuatanejo? — How much to Zihuatanejo? (KWAN-to a see-wah-tah-NEH-ho)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
  • ¿Tiene habitación? — Do you have a room? (TYEH-neh ah-bee-tah-SYON)
  • ¿Es seguro nadar aquí? — Is it safe to swim here? (es se-GOO-ro na-DAR ah-KEE)
  • Sin hielo, gracias — I don't want ice, thank you (seen YEH-lo GRA-syas)
  • ¿Dónde está la lancha a la isla? — Where is the boat to the island? (DON-deh es-TA la LAN-cha a la EES-la)

Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants; MXN 20–50 for porters and boat or beach 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 Ixtapa. 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 (dry season, warm days, low rain) · avoid Sep–Oct (peak rain and storm risk), late Mar–Apr (Easter/Semana Santa crowds) · 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. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ZIH: taxi and transfer bands, late-arrival fallback, hotel-zone drop-off points.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Playa El Palmar, Marina Ixtapa, Playa Linda and the Embarcadero, Zihuatanejo centre.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande, Cocodrilario Tamakun, Isla Ixtapa boats) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rainy-season and storm fixtures so the September–October verdict can go green or red.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources