It’s a good thing that Zihuatanejo typically doesn’t appear on the shortlist of well-known Mexican beaches. This low-key fishing village on the Pacific coast doesn’t get nearly as much attention as Cancun, Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta, giving it a much more unwinded and off-the-beaten-track vibe.
There are numerous things to do in Zihuatanejo Bay, such as lounging on the beach, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, along with exploring the tiny but lovely town of the same name.
On plane tickets and trip brochures, Zihuatanejo is typically paired with neighboring Ixtapa, called Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. A trip to one doesn’t automatically imply that you’ll be seeing both.
The two are roughly 10 kilometers from each other and a little different: Ixtapa is much more modern and spread out, with tall hotels and big resorts, and its beaches are on the open ocean, unlike sheltered Zihuatanejo Bay.
Not only are there beautiful beaches and numerous things to do in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, but also fantastic food, friendly people, and good weather year-round. This is one of the top places to see in all of Mexico!
I’ve went to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo numerous times over the years, typically to scuba dive, and I was always amazed by the terrific things I found — both above and below the water.
You can make the most of a trip to Mexican paradise by checking out this list of the 15 best things to do in Zihuatanejo.
Table of Contents
1. Hang Out at Playa la Ropa
2. wander around Downtown
3. stroll Down the Paseo del Pescador
4. See the displays at the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum
5. catch a boat to Playa Las Gatas
6. scuba Dive at Los Morros de Potosi
7. break Out the Binoculars for Some Whale Watching
8. Devour delicious Mexican style Fresh Seafood
9. Experience a crazy Potato
10. unwind all day at Playa El Palmar in Ixtapa
11. ride a Bicycle through the Rainforest
12. take in the views from the Mirador Playa Linda
13. Gawk at Crocodiles in the Playa Linda Cocodrilario
14. Go Golfing at Ixtapa
15. explore the Xihuacan Archeological Site
Now You know What to do in Zihuatanejo
1. Hang Out at Playa la Ropa
Large and protected from the big waves of the Pacific Ocean, Zihuatanejo Bay includes several beaches, including Playa principal (literally, the main Beach) best next to the town and secluded Playa Las Gatas on the other side of the bay.
Between these two is the largest and nicest, Playa la Ropa (Clothing beach — where this name comes from, I’m not sure). There’s good swimming and snorkeling, especially near the large rock at the far northeastern end.
It’s also a wonderful place for viewing the sunset. You may end up sharing the view with a tranquil flock of pelicans floating on the water after their long day of diving into the ocean for fish.
Playa la Ropa is a 30-minute walk from the village, so if hanging out on the beach comes first on your list of things to do in Zihuatanejo, consider getting a hotel there.
2. wander around Downtown
Besides tourism, the primary activity in the village of Zihuatanejo is fishing.
The east end of Playa principal is jammed with fishing boats pulled onto the sand. before sunset, anglers return with fresh fish to sell to restaurants or to anybody best there on the beach.
Playa principal has stunning scenery, but unfortunately, the water can be pretty murky. You can find better swimming elsewhere, like at Playa la Ropa.
Instead, exploring the town is one of the best things to do in Zihuatanejo when you don’t feel like swimming or laying in the sand.
The core traveler area occupies two or three blocks directly behind the beach. There are narrow pedestrian streets, busy restaurants, quirky cafes, and rowdy bars. look for the stage near the beach, which typically has performances and live music, especially during Mexican holidays.
You can find some good restaurants mixed in with the touristy ones in the downtown core. try to find a crowded spot that has much more Mexican tourists and locals than international travelers to get the tastiest and many representative food.
After dark, the bars get noisy and the streets get crowded, making it an outstanding area to look for things to do in Zihuatanejo after dark.
If you’d choose some peace in the late hours instead, look for a hotel outside this central area. once you cross Benito Juarez street to the east of downtown, things get a lot calmer and much more authentically local.
The municipal market is located on Benito Juarez street just north of the traveler area. Go there to browse for souvenirs, purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, and eat a low-cost lunch of genuine Mexican food in the tiny restaurants there.
3. stroll Down the Paseo del Pescador
Between Playa principal and Playa Madera is a long concrete path built into the rocks and cliffs called the Paseo del Pescador — the Fisherman’s Path.
This walk offers terrific views of Zihuatanejo Bay and passes comfortable artisanal shops, seafood restaurants with thatched roofs, and swanky international eateries with comprehensive menus and trendy decor.
A stroll down this path is unquestionably one of the best things to do in Zihuatanejo, especially at sunset. After dark, you’ll have views of the lights on both sides of the bay. but whatsoever hours, this walk is one of the obligatory activities in Zihuatanejo.
4. See the displays at the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum
On the Paseo del Pescador is the Costa Grande Archeological Museum, one of the most interesting places to check out in Zihuatanejo when you’ve had enough of the beach.
The museum includes six exhibition halls with art and artifacts found in nearby archeological sites from the Olmeca, Teotihuacan, Mexica, and Tarasca cultures.
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day except Monday.
5. catch a boat to Playa Las Gatas
Although Playa la Ropa is the biggest, numerous people choose Playa Las Gatas (the beach of the Cats.) It’s in a tiny cove near the end of Zihuatanejo Bay, and although it gets crowded, it’s much more secluded than the other beaches nearby.
Playa las Gatas also has some of the best snorkeling in the area. Besides coral and other sea life like starfish and unlimited sea urchins, there’s also a four-meter bronze statue of Jesus Christ erected under the water.
Getting to Playa las Gatas is half the fun. It’s possible to walk all the way from Playa la Ropa, and it’s a pretty walk too, on twisting paths that review and below the rocky bluffs along the ocean.
The faster and much more beautiful way, however, is to take a boat from town.
From sunup to sundown, boats leave the docks located at the far east end of Playa Principal. once you’re there, you can rent snorkel equipment and eat at several good restaurants along the beach.
Or, you can organize a trip from Zihuatanejo. Some trips include snorkeling and kayaking, while others combine with other places to see in Zihuatanejo.
6. scuba Dive at Los Morros de Potosi
Some of the best diving on the Mexican Pacific coast is located at a rocky cluster of barren islands called Los Morros de Potosi, which is located about an hour south of Zihuatanejo by boat.
The shallow waters surrounding the islands of Morros de Potosi are full of coral reefs, schools of fish, sea turtles, and other aquatic life like octopuses.
If you’re lucky, you may even see a whale on the boat trip there.
This happened to me once when two humpback whales cruised past the dive boat, making it the first time on a scuba diving trip that I saw the most interesting creatures from above the surface of the water.
There are other terrific dive sites around Zihuatanejo, with some in the small coves located just outside the bay and others at the numerous small islands offshore from Ixtapa.
Zihuatanejo has several dive shops, all with similar prices. I went with Dive Zihuatanejo and highly recommend them.
7. break Out the Binoculars for Some Whale Watching
Every year, around 20,000 humpback whales migrate through the area from late December to late March. during that time, a whale viewing trip is one of the most exciting things to do in Zihuatanejo on the water.
Besides humpbacks, you’ll have a good chance of seeing minke whales, beaked whales, several species of dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles, and lots of birds.
Bilingual whale viewing trips like this one last three hours and are guided by a marine biologist. They keep track of the whales passing through, giving you a good chance of seeing them. You can also join a whale viewing trip with Dive Zihuatanejo.
8. Devour delicious Mexican style Fresh Seafood
Mexican food is rightly considered one of the world’s finest cuisines, and eating seafood is vital when you check out a beach town and fishing village like Zihuatanejo.
Outstanding seafood restaurants abound, and discovering them is one of the top things to do in Zihuatanejo. In general, fancier places have ocean views, touristy places are a block or two from the beach, and local hangouts with the most delicious food are just outside the downtown core.One of these is Mariscos El Tiburón de la Costa, which you can find in front of a traffic circle after walking a few blocks east from the end of Playa Principal. Their comprehensive menu has all kinds of fresh seafood, some land-based options, and tropical drinks like piña coladas and margaritas.
9. Experience a crazy Potato
Crazy potatoes are an anomaly of Mexican food that aren’t well-known outside of northern Mexico. Although Zihuatanejo isn’t quite so north, it’s north enough for numerous local restaurants to have them on the menu.
A large baked potato is filled with whatever you want: different kinds of meat, seafood, or vegetables, and then it’s smothered with cheese, salsa, and sour cream. Basically, whatever could be put in a taco gets put in the potato.
There’s a clear winner for the top crazy potato in town: Papa Loca Zihua.
It’s also outside of the downtown core and is certainly a favorite of locals. and if you’re not in the mood for a potato, Papa Loca serves outstanding tacos and other Mexican specialties as well.
10. unwind all day at Playa El Palmar in Ixtapa
If your idea of a beach getaway is an all-inclusive hotel with swimming pools and multiple buffets, then the Playa Palmar (Palm Beach) area of Ixtapa is certainly for you.
Unlike Zihuatanejo, which is a functioning fishing village, Ixtapa is fully devoted to tourism. located in Ixtapa’s main zone, Palmar beach is wide, lovely, and on the open ocean, implying nonstop waves and good bodyboarding.
Restaurants, bars, and small shops are clustered behind the row of hotels on the beach.
Centro Mercado is one of the prime places in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for shopping, especially at night, when the stores and narrow walkways between them are lit up in colorful lights.
There are even trips available that take you to the shops and handicraft markets of Ixtapa. and for food, you can’t go wrong with some nachos and huge glasses of beer at Señor Frog’s, or pizza and cocktails at Frank’s Bar and Grill.
Ixtapa continues to the north of Palmar Beach, where there are much more beaches, like Playa Quieta and Playa Linda. These zones are less developed than Playa Palmar, but they also have numerous restaurants, hotels, and traveler destinations.
11. ride a Bicycle through the Rainforest
The Ixtapa Bicycle path begins in the Vaso de Miraflores neighborhood at the far northern edge of Zihuatanejo, passes through the Playa Palmar area in Ixtapa, and continues over the mountains to Playa Linda.
Along the way, it passes the Parque Aztlán ecological reserve, where you can see caimans, parrots, and curious groups of coati, an exotic tree mammal from Mexico and central America.
Riding this path and exploring the park is certainly one of the best things to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo to delight in nature. To rent a bike, you can look for a bike shop near the path or book a private trip like this one.
12. take in the views from the Mirador Playa Linda
At kilometer 5 on the bicycle path, a smaller path branches off that leads to a viewpoint high in the mountains above Playa Linda.
Biking down the trail takes you through the lush vegetation of the native rainforest, and it’s easily one of the prettiest attractions in Zihuatanejo.
The top of the wooden platform offers panoramic views of the forest below and the long twisting coastline beyond. There’s no doubt that this viewpoint is one of the most stunning places to check out in Zihuatanejo.
This is one of those activities in Zihuatanejo that you’ll need to be in good shape to delight in because it’s a steep ride up to the viewpoint. Don’t forget to bring lots of water, sunscreen and a hat.
13. Gawk at Crocodiles in the Playa Linda Cocodrilario
On a small peninsula directly to the south of Playa Linda i