It’s a very good factor that Zihuatanejo normally 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.
There are a lot of issues to do in Zihuatanejo Bay, equivalent to lounging on the seashore, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, together with exploring the tiny however charming city of the identical identify.
On airplane tickets and tour brochures, Zihuatanejo is commonly paired with neighboring Ixtapa, referred to as Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. A visit to at least one doesn’t mechanically imply that you just’ll be seeing each.
The 2 are roughly 10 kilometers from one another and a bit of totally different: Ixtapa is extra trendy and unfold out, with tall lodges and large resorts, and its seashores are on the open ocean, not like sheltered Zihuatanejo Bay.
Not solely are there beautiful seashores and plenty of issues to do in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, but additionally fantastic meals, pleasant folks, and good climate year-round. This is without doubt one of the high locations to see in all of Mexico!
I’ve visited Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo many occasions through the years, normally to scuba dive, and I used to be at all times stunned by the nice issues I discovered — each above and under the water.
You may benefit from a visit to Mexican paradise by testing this record of the 15 finest issues to do in Zihuatanejo.
1. Dangle Out at Playa la Ropa
Giant and protected against the large waves of the Pacific Ocean, Zihuatanejo Bay comprises a number of seashores, together with Playa Principal (actually, the Major Seaside) proper subsequent to the city and secluded Playa Las Gatas on the opposite facet of the bay.
Between these two is the most important 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 unbelievable place for watching the sundown. You might 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 seashore comes first in your record of issues to do in Zihuatanejo, contemplate getting a resort there.
2. Wander Round Downtown
Moreover tourism, the first exercise in 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 seashore.
Playa Principal has stunning surroundings, however sadly, the water will be fairly murky. You will discover higher swimming elsewhere, like at Playa la Ropa.
As an alternative, exploring the city is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Zihuatanejo whenever you don’t really feel like swimming or laying in the sand.
The core vacationer space occupies two or three blocks instantly behind the seashore. There are slender pedestrian streets, busy eating places, quirky cafes, and rowdy bars. Search for the stage close to the seashore, which regularly has performances and dwell music, particularly throughout Mexican holidays.
You will discover some good eating places blended in with the touristy ones in 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.
Should you’d desire some peace in the late hours as an alternative, search for a resort outdoors this central space. When you cross Benito Juarez Avenue to the east of downtown, issues get quite a bit calmer and extra authentically native.
The municipal market is situated on Benito Juarez road 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 in the tiny eating places there.
3. Stroll Down the Paseo del Pescador
Between Playa Principal and Playa Madera is an extended concrete path constructed into the rocks and cliffs referred to as the Paseo del Pescador — the Fisherman’s Path.
This stroll offers nice views of Zihuatanejo Bay and passes cozy artisanal outlets, seafood eating places with thatched roofs, and swanky worldwide eateries with intensive menus and classy decor.
A stroll down this path is undoubtedly among the best issues to do in Zihuatanejo, particularly at sundown. After darkish, you’ll have views of the lights on either side of the bay. However in any respect hours, this stroll is without doubt one of the compulsory actions in Zihuatanejo.
4. See the Shows on the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum
On the Paseo del Pescador is the Costa Grande Archeological Museum, one of the vital fascinating locations to go to in Zihuatanejo whenever you’ve had sufficient of the seashore.
The museum comprises six exhibition halls with artwork and artifacts discovered 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 each day besides Monday.
5. Catch a Boat to Playa Las Gatas
Though Playa la Ropa is the most important, many individuals desire 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 number of the finest snorkeling in the world. Moreover coral and different sea life like starfish and countless sea urchins, there’s additionally a four-meter bronze statue of Jesus Christ erected below the water.
Attending to Playa las Gatas is half the enjoyable. It’s potential to stroll all the way in which from Playa la Ropa, and it’s a reasonably stroll too, on twisting paths that go over and under the rocky bluffs alongside the ocean.
The quicker and extra scenic manner, nevertheless, is to take a ship from city.
From sunup to sunset, boats go away 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 first rate eating places alongside the seashore.
Or, you possibly can prepare a tour from Zihuatanejo. Some excursions embody snorkeling and kayaking, whereas others mix with different locations to see in Zihuatanejo.
6. Scuba Dive at Los Morros de Potosi
A number of the finest diving on the Mexican Pacific coast is situated at a rocky cluster of barren islands referred to 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, colleges of fish, sea turtles, and different aquatic life like octopuses.
Should you’re fortunate, you could 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 I noticed probably the most fascinating creatures from above the floor of the water.
There are different nice dive websites round Zihuatanejo, with some in the small coves situated simply outdoors the bay and others on the many small islands offshore from Ixtapa.
Zihuatanejo has a number of dive outlets, all with related costs. I went with Dive Zihuatanejo and extremely suggest them.
7. Break Out the Binoculars for Some Whale Watching
Yearly, round 20,00zero humpback whales migrate by way of the world from late December to late March. Throughout that point, a whale watching journey is without doubt one of the most fun issues to do in Zihuatanejo on the water.
Moreover humpbacks, you’ll have a very good likelihood of seeing minke whales, beaked whales, a number of species of dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles, and many birds.
Bilingual whale watching journeys like this one final three hours and are guided by a marine biologist. They hold observe of the whales passing by way of, supplying you with a very good likelihood of seeing them. You can even be a part of a whale watching tour with Dive Zihuatanejo.
8. Devour Scrumptious Mexican Fashion Contemporary Seafood
Mexican meals is rightly thought-about one of many world’s most interesting cuisines, and consuming seafood is crucial whenever you go to a seashore 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 seashore, and native hangouts with probably the most scrumptious meals are simply outdoors the downtown core.
Certainly one of these is Mariscos El Tiburón de la Costa, which you could find in entrance of a visitors circle after strolling a couple of blocks east from the tip of Playa Principal. Their intensive 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 fairly so 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: totally different sorts of meat, seafood, or greens, after which it’s smothered with cheese, salsa, and bitter cream. Mainly, no matter could possibly be put in a taco will get put in the potato.
There’s a transparent winner for the primary loopy potato in city: Papa Loca Zihua.
It’s additionally outdoors of the downtown core and is certainly a favourite of locals. And when you’re not in the temper for a potato, Papa Loca serves glorious tacos and different Mexican specialties as nicely.
10. Loosen up All Day at Playa El Palmar in Ixtapa
In case your concept of a seashore 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 certainly for you.
In contrast to Zihuatanejo, which is a functioning fishing village, Ixtapa is absolutely dedicated to tourism. Situated in Ixtapa’s major zone, Palmar Seaside is vast, pretty, and on the open ocean, that means nonstop waves and good bodyboarding.
Eating places, bars, and small outlets are clustered behind the row of lodges on the seashore.
Centro Mercado is without doubt one of the prime locations in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for purchasing, particularly at evening, when the shops and slender walkways between them are lit up in colourful lights.
There are even excursions accessible that take you to the outlets and handicraft markets of Ixtapa. And for meals, you possibly can’t go fallacious 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 additionally they have many eating places, lodges, and vacationer locations.
11. Journey a Bicycle By the Rainforest
The Ixtapa Bicycle Path begins in the Vaso de Miraflores neighborhood on the far northern fringe of Zihuatanejo, passes by way of 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 certainly among the best 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 personal 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 in 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 offers panoramic views of the forest under and the lengthy twisting shoreline past. There’s little doubt that this viewpoint is without doubt one of the most stunning locations to go to in Zihuatanejo.
That is a type of actions in Zihuatanejo that you just’ll have to be in good condition to take pleasure in as a result of it’s a steep journey as much as the point of view. Don’t overlook to convey numerous water, sunscreen and a hat.
13. Gawk at Crocodiles in 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 in the water or lounge in the mud whereas large turtles, iguanas, and birds go amongst them. It’s a small website, however there’s no price to enter.
Close by is a market with native handicrafts and some eating places. Playa Linda is beautiful too, and strolling down it after testing the crocodiles is a type of issues to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo whenever you’d like a bit of extra privateness.
14. Go {Golfing} at Ixtapa
Should you’re eager about what to do in Zihuatanejo whereas sporting humorous checkered pants, then Ixtapa has two golf programs: the Palma Actual (Royal Palm) Golf Membership and the Ixtapa Marina Golf Membership.
Each have 18 holes and beautiful surroundings, with ocean views and tall palm bushes. In addition they include numerous 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 range based on season. Should you come at a busy time, you must in all probability reserve a tee time beforehand, however when you go to in off-season, you could possibly simply present up whenever you need to play.
15. Discover the Xihuacan Archeological Website
Should you loved the shows on the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum, then for certain you’ll need to take a look at the just lately excavated ceremonial middle of Xihuacan.
It’s one of the vital fascinating issues to see in Zihuatanejo, and definitely probably the most historic.
Xihuacan, also called the Soledad de Maciel Archeological Zone, is probably not as large or well-known as Mayan websites like Chichen Itza in southern Mexico or Teotihuacan close to Mexico Metropolis, nevertheless it’s a formidable space however.
Constructions embody a mud-brick stepped pyramid and an historic ball court docket. The small onsite museum homes quite a few artifacts and offers additional explanations concerning the historical past of the world.
It’s a bit of far and sophisticated to get there from Zihuatanejo by yourself, so a very good choice is to take a small group tour like this one, which takes about 4 hours and contains lunch.
The Xihuacan Archeological Website is open from 10 AM to five PM and is closed on Mondays.
Now You Know What to Do in Zihuatanejo
As you possibly can see, there are various extra issues to do in Zihuatanejo than go to the seashore. 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 folks, and an especially laid-back vibe make it an ideal 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 totally different expertise. Whether or not it was after chilling on the seashore, devouring large plates of coconut shrimp, or evening diving amongst neon blue bioluminescence, I at all times left questioning about once I might return for extra.
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