There are a lot of issues to do in Zihuatanejo, equivalent to lounging on the seaside, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, together with exploring the tiny however charming city of the identical identify.
It’s factor that Zihuatanejo often doesn’t seem on the shortlist of well-known Mexican seashores. This low-key fishing village on the Pacific coast doesn’t get almost as a lot consideration as Cancun, Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta, giving it a extra relaxed and off-the-beaten-track vibe.
15 Greatest Issues to Do in Zihuatanejo
Not solely are there attractive seashores and lots of different issues to see in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, but in addition fantastic meals, pleasant individuals, and good climate year-round. This is without doubt one of the high locations to see in all of Mexico!
On airplane tickets and tour brochures, Zihuatanejo is commonly paired with neighboring Ixtapa, known as Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. A visit to at least one doesn’t mechanically imply that you simply’ll be seeing each.
The 2 are roughly 10 kilometers from one another and somewhat completely different: Ixtapa is extra trendy and unfold out, with tall motels and massive resorts, and its seashores are on the open ocean, not like sheltered Zihuatanejo Bay.
I’ve visited Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo many occasions through the years, often to scuba dive, and I used to be at all times shocked by the nice issues I discovered — each above and beneath the water.
You possibly can benefit from a visit to Mexican paradise by testing this checklist of the 15 finest issues to do in Zihuatanejo.
1. Hold Out at Playa la Ropa
Massive and protected against the large waves of the Pacific Ocean, Zihuatanejo Bay comprises a number of seashores, together with Playa Principal (actually, the Primary Seaside) proper subsequent to the city and secluded Playa Las Gatas on the opposite aspect of the bay.
Between these two is the biggest and nicest, Playa la Ropa (Clothes Seaside — the place this identify comes from, I’m unsure). There’s good swimming and snorkeling, particularly close to the big rock on the far northeastern finish.
It’s additionally a incredible place for watching the sundown. It’s possible you’ll find yourself sharing the view with a tranquil flock of pelicans floating on the water after their lengthy day of diving into the ocean for fish.
Playa la Ropa is a 30-minute stroll from the village, so if hanging out on the seaside comes first in your checklist of issues to do in Zihuatanejo, take into account getting a resort there.
2. Wander Round Downtown
In addition to tourism, the first exercise within the village of Zihuatanejo is fishing.
The east finish of Playa Principal is jammed with fishing boats pulled onto the sand. Earlier than sundown, anglers return with recent fish to promote to eating places or to anybody proper there on the seaside.
Playa Principal has lovely surroundings, however sadly, the water may be fairly murky. You will discover higher swimming elsewhere, like at Playa la Ropa.
As a substitute, exploring the city is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Zihuatanejo once you don’t really feel like swimming or laying within the sand.
The core vacationer space occupies two or three blocks straight behind the seaside. There are slender pedestrian streets, busy eating places, quirky cafes, and rowdy bars. Search for the stage close to the seaside, which frequently has performances and dwell music, particularly throughout Mexican holidays.
You will discover some good eating places combined in with the touristy ones within the downtown core. Attempt to discover a crowded spot that has extra Mexican vacationers and locals than worldwide vacationers to get the tastiest and most consultant meals.
After darkish, the bars get noisy and the streets get crowded, making it a wonderful space to search for issues to do in Zihuatanejo after darkish.
In the event you’d want some peace within the late hours as a substitute, search for a resort outdoors this central space. When you cross Benito Juarez Avenue to the east of downtown, issues get loads calmer and extra authentically native.
The municipal market is situated on Benito Juarez avenue simply north of the vacationer space. Go there to browse for souvenirs, purchase recent fruit and greens, and eat an affordable lunch of real Mexican meals within the tiny eating places there.
3. Stroll Down the Paseo del Pescador
Between Playa Principal and Playa Madera is a protracted concrete path constructed into the rocks and cliffs known as the Paseo del Pescador — the Fisherman’s Path.
This stroll supplies nice views of Zihuatanejo Bay and passes cozy artisanal retailers, seafood eating places with thatched roofs, and swanky worldwide eateries with in depth menus and trendy decor.
A stroll down this path is undoubtedly the most effective issues to do in Zihuatanejo, particularly at sundown. After darkish, you’ll have views of the lights on each side of the bay. However in any respect hours, this stroll is without doubt one of the compulsory Zihuatanejo actions.
4. See the Shows on the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum
On the Paseo del Pescador is the Costa Grande Archeological Museum, probably the most fascinating locations to go to in Zihuatanejo once you’ve had sufficient of the seaside.
The museum comprises six exhibition halls with artwork and artifacts present in close by archeological websites from the Olmeca, Teotihuacan, Mexica, and Tarasca cultures.
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to six:00 PM every single day besides Monday.
Deal with: Paseo del Pescador 1, Centro, 40890, Zihuatanejo, Gro., Mexico
5. Catch a Boat to Playa Las Gatas
Though Playa la Ropa is the most important, many individuals want Playa Las Gatas (the Seaside of the Cats.) It’s in a tiny cove close to the tip of Zihuatanejo Bay, and though it will get crowded, it’s extra secluded than the opposite seashores close by.
Playa las Gatas additionally has a few of the finest snorkeling within the space. In addition to coral and different sea life like starfish and countless sea urchins, there’s additionally a four-meter bronze statue of Jesus Christ erected underneath the water.
Attending to Playa las Gatas is half the enjoyable. It’s doable to stroll all the way in which from Playa la Ropa, and it’s a fairly stroll too, on twisting paths that go over and beneath the rocky bluffs alongside the ocean.
The sooner and extra scenic approach, nonetheless, is to take a ship from city.
From sunup to sunset, boats depart the docks situated on the far east finish of Playa Principal. When you’re there, you possibly can lease snorkel gear and eat at a number of respectable eating places alongside the seaside.
Or, you possibly can organize a tour from Zihuatanejo. Some excursions embody snorkeling and kayaking, whereas others mix with different locations to see in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa.
6. Scuba Dive at Los Morros de Potosi
A few of the finest diving on the Mexican Pacific coast is situated at a rocky cluster of barren islands known as Los Morros de Potosi, which is situated about an hour south of Zihuatanejo by boat.
The shallow waters surrounding the islands of Morros de Potosi are stuffed with coral reefs, faculties of fish, sea turtles, and different aquatic life like octopuses.
In the event you’re fortunate, it’s possible you’ll even see a whale on the boat journey there.
This occurred to me as soon as when two humpback whales cruised previous the dive boat, making it the primary time on a scuba diving journey that probably the most fascinating creatures I noticed had been above the floor of the water as a substitute of beneath it.
There are different nice dive websites round Zihuatanejo, with some within the small coves situated simply outdoors the bay and others on the many small islands offshore from Ixtapa.
Zihuatanejo has a number of dive retailers, all with related costs. I went with Dive Zihuatanejo and extremely suggest them.
7. Break Out the Binoculars for Some Whale Watching
Yearly from late December to late March, round 20,000 humpback whales migrate by the world. Throughout that point, a whale watching journey is without doubt one of the most fun issues to do in Zihuatanejo on the water.
In addition to humpbacks, you’ll have probability of seeing minke whales, beaked whales, a number of species of dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles, and plenty of birds.
Bilingual whale watching journeys are usually guided by a marine biologist. They preserve monitor of the whales passing by, providing you with probability of seeing them. You may as well be a part of a whale watching tour with Dive Zihuatanejo.
8. Devour Scrumptious Mexican Model Contemporary Seafood
Mexican meals is rightly thought-about one of many world’s best cuisines, and consuming seafood is important once you go to a seaside city and fishing village like Zihuatanejo.
Excellent seafood eating places abound, and discovering them is without doubt one of the high issues to do in Zihuatanejo. Typically, fancier locations have ocean views, touristy locations are a block or two from the seaside, and native hangouts with probably the most scrumptious meals are simply outdoors the downtown core.
One in every of these is Mariscos El Tiburón de la Costa, which you’ll find in entrance of a site visitors circle after strolling a number of blocks east from the tip of Playa Principal. Their in depth menu has every kind of recent seafood, some land-based choices, and tropical drinks like piña coladas and margaritas.
9. Expertise a Loopy Potato
Loopy potatoes are an anomaly of Mexican meals that aren’t well-known outdoors of northern Mexico. Though Zihuatanejo isn’t precisely north, it’s north sufficient for a lot of native eating places to have them on the menu.
A big baked potato is crammed with no matter you need: completely different sorts of meat, seafood, or greens, after which it’s smothered with cheese, salsa, and bitter cream. Mainly, no matter might be put in a taco will get put within the potato.
There’s a transparent winner for the primary loopy potato on the town: Papa Loca Zihua.
It’s outdoors of the downtown core and is unquestionably a favourite of locals. And should you’re not within the temper for a potato, Papa Loca serves wonderful tacos and different Mexican specialties as effectively.
10. Calm down All Day at Playa El Palmar in Ixtapa
In case your thought of a seaside trip is an all-inclusive resort with swimming swimming pools and a number of buffets, then the Playa Palmar (Palm Seaside) space of Ixtapa is unquestionably for you.
Not like Zihuatanejo, which is a functioning fishing village, Ixtapa is totally dedicated to tourism. Positioned in Ixtapa’s essential zone, Palmar Seaside is extensive and on the open ocean, that means nonstop waves and good bodyboarding.
Eating places, bars, and small retailers are clustered behind the row of motels on the seaside.
Centro Mercado is without doubt one of the prime locations in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for buying, particularly at night time, when the shops and slender walkways between them are lit up in colourful lights.
There are even excursions accessible that take you to the retailers and handicraft markets of Ixtapa. And for meals, you possibly can’t go improper with some nachos and massive glasses of beer at Señor Frog’s, or pizza and cocktails at Frank’s Bar and Grill.
Ixtapa continues to the north of Palmar Seaside, the place there are extra seashores, like Playa Quieta and Playa Linda. These zones are much less developed than Playa Palmar, however in addition they have many eating places, motels, and vacationer locations.
11. Experience a Bicycle By way of the Rainforest
The Ixtapa Bicycle Path begins within the Vaso de Miraflores neighborhood on the far northern fringe of Zihuatanejo, passes by the Playa Palmar space in Ixtapa, and continues over the mountains to Playa Linda.
Alongside the way in which, it passes the Parque Aztlán ecological reserve, the place you possibly can see caimans, parrots, and curious teams of coati, an unique tree mammal from Mexico and Central America.
Driving this path and exploring the park is unquestionably the most effective issues to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo to take pleasure in nature. To lease a motorcycle, you possibly can search for a motorcycle store close to the trail or e-book a non-public tour like this one.
12. Take within the Views from the Mirador Playa Linda
At kilometer 5 on the bicycle path, a smaller path branches off that results in a viewpoint excessive within the mountains above Playa Linda.
Biking down the path takes you thru the luxurious vegetation of the native rainforest, and it’s simply one of many prettiest points of interest in Zihuatanejo.
The highest of the wood platform supplies panoramic views of the forest beneath and the lengthy twisting shoreline past. There’s little doubt that this viewpoint is without doubt one of the most lovely locations to go to in Zihuatanejo.
That is a type of actions in Zihuatanejo that you simply’ll have to be in fine condition to take pleasure in as a result of it’s a steep journey as much as the point of view. Don’t neglect to carry a lot of water, sunscreen and a hat.
13. Gawk at Crocodiles within the Playa Linda Cocodrilario
On a small peninsula on to the south of Playa Linda is the cocodrilario (crocodile reserve).
Dozens of the large beasts float within the water or lounge within the mud whereas massive turtles, iguanas, and birds cross amongst them. It’s a small website, however there’s no payment to enter.
Close by is a market with native handicrafts and some eating places. Playa Linda is attractive too, and strolling down it after testing the crocodiles is a type of issues to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo once you’d like somewhat extra privateness.
14. Go {Golfing} at Ixtapa
In the event you’re questioning what to do in Zihuatanejo whereas carrying humorous checkered pants, then Ixtapa has two golf programs: the Palma Actual Golf Membership and the Ixtapa Marina Golf Membership.
Each have 18 holes and good surroundings, with ocean views and tall palm timber. Additionally they include a lot of native wildlife like birds, iguanas, and crocodiles, so suppose twice earlier than reaching into the water to really feel round for a misplaced ball.
Costs fluctuate in line with season. In the event you come at a busy time, you must most likely reserve a tee time beforehand, however should you go to in off-season, you might be able to simply present up once you wish to play.
15. Discover the Xihuacan Archeological Web site
In the event you loved the shows on the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum, then for certain you’ll wish to take a look at the just lately excavated ceremonial heart of Xihuacan.
It’s probably the most fascinating issues to see in Zihuatanejo, and definitely probably the most historic.
Xihuacan, also referred to as the Soledad de Maciel Archeological Zone, is probably not as huge or well-known as Mayan websites like Chichen Itza in southern Mexico or Teotihuacan close to Mexico Metropolis, nevertheless it’s a formidable space nonetheless.
Constructions embody a mud-brick stepped pyramid and an historical ball court docket. The small onsite museum homes quite a few artifacts and offers additional explanations in regards to the historical past of the world.
It’s somewhat far and complex to get there from Zihuatanejo by yourself, so possibility is to take a small group tour like this one, which takes about 4 hours and consists of lunch.
The Xihuacan Archeological Web site is open from 10 AM to five PM and is closed on Mondays.
FAQs About Issues to Do in Zihuatanejo
Nonetheless questioning what to do in Zihuatanejo? Try these solutions to some incessantly requested questions.
Zihuatanejo is named a captivating and pleasant fishing village and seaside city. It’s thought-about a extra laid-back various to Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta. It’s additionally well-known for being the ultimate vacation spot of Andy Dufresne within the film The Shawshank Redemption.
Zihuatanejo is a small fishing village that’s now largely dedicated to tourism. It’s situated on Zihuatanejo Bay, so its seashores have calm, flat water. The seashores at Ixtapa are on the open ocean and include largely bigger motels and resorts. Ixtapa is totally devoted to tourism.
The very best time to go to Zihuatanejo is within the cooler months from November to April. Nevertheless, it’s a good suggestion to keep away from excessive vacationer season in Mexico throughout that point, which is from Christmas to New 12 months’s and Semana Santa, the week earlier than Easter.
Sure, the seashores are good for swimming in Zihuatanejo. Most seashores are in Zihuatanejo Bay, so that they’re sheltered from the large waves and rip tides of the Pacific Ocean. As a result of it’s proper subsequent to city, the primary seaside (Playa Principal) could be a little murky, so that you’re higher off heading to Playa la Ropa or Playa las Gatas.
Zihuatanejo is usually secure, though take fundamental precautions, particularly at night time. The state the place it’s situated, Guerrero, has many harmful areas, however Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa have averted a lot of the state’s issues.
Now You Know What to Do in Zihuatanejo
As you possibly can see, there are a lot of extra issues to do in Zihuatanejo than go to the seaside. Enjoyable actions in Zihuatanejo embody snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, kayaking, {golfing}, mountain biking, and even crocodile gazing.
The charming and fairly fishing village is without doubt one of the high points of interest in Zihuatanejo. Good eating places, pleasant individuals, and a particularly laid-back vibe make it a terrific base for exploring the world and a worthwhile vacation spot in its personal proper.
Every time I went to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, I had a very completely different expertise. Whether or not it was after chilling on the seaside, devouring huge plates of coconut shrimp, or night time diving amongst neon blue bioluminescence, I at all times left questioning about once I might return for extra.
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