Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo Beach Locations

Zihuatanejo Bay and Beaches

Playa La Ropa

La Ropa Beach, found within Zihuatanejo bay, is located between Playa Madera and Playa Las Gatas.The beach itself is about .8 miles long and easily accessible from downtown. An array of fresh seafood restaurants, hotels and water sports providers are found along the beach. Colonia la Ropa consists of largely commercial touristic hotel and residential property, with a growing number of condominium and townhouse projects being planned and under construction.

Playa la Ropa

Playa Madera

Playa Madera is a 200 m stretch of beach found within Zihuatanejo Bay, between the downtown Playa Municipal and Playa La Ropa, providing a handful of restaurants, small inns and bed-and-breakfasts. It is serviced by streets leading from the road to La Ropa just past the flood control canal and is also accessible by foot from town along a narrow seaside footpath known as the“extension del Paseo del Pescador.” There is very little land in this area that has not already been developed and much of the older, existing construction is currently undergoing major reconstruction and expansion. It is extremely accessible to the downtown core and it’s beaches without yet being congested.

Playa Municipal

Playa Municipal is a 900 m stretch of beach, also known as Playa Principal, that runs from the municipal pier to the canal. On the pier you can take a boat out to Las Gatas or on a fishing trip. Near the midpoint of the beach you can find the zócalo and cancha (town square and basketball court), which is the focal point of dpwntown Zihuatanejo.  This is a commercial area with small businesses interspersed with some of the original residential buildings of the town, many of which are being renovated and expanded into larger shops and offices as well as small hotels and guesthouses.

Playa Municipal and downtown Zihuatanejo

Playa Contramar

Playa Contramar is a rocky beach in a small cove in the Almacen / Puerto Mio neighbourhood and a great place to snorkel. It is located at northeastern end of Zihuatanejo bay. Contramar is only accessible by boat.

Playa Las Gatas

Las Gatas is located in Zihuatanejo Bay close to its mouth, directly across the bay from the downtown area. It is protected by a man made reef and is accessible only by boat or via a walking path. It has a handful of restaurants and is a great place for snorkeling. Behind and above Las Gatas, accessible via the scenic Playa la Ropa road, are areas into which infrastructure is slowly being installed by Fibazi, as well as Cerro del Vigia and other projects offering lots and condominiums with bay and ocean views.

Ixtapa Area Beaches

Playa El Palmar

El Palmar is Ixtapa’s most popular beach that stretches approximately 2 Km. along the hotel zone. It is lined by high-rise hotel and condominium complexes and the waves usually pound thunderingly into the sandy shore. Care should be exercised when entering the water here as the open ocean waves and currents can be powerful. Public beach access points are located next to the Barcelo Hotel, the Posada Real Hotel and by the Beach Club.

Playa Linda

Playa Linda is stretch some 2 Km long at the far northern end of Ixtapa. Here you can find a tourist market and ecological preserve area where visitors can observe crocodiles, giant iguanas, water fowl and turtles in their habitat. Residential and touristic development is slowly arriving to this area.

Playa Quieta

Playa Quieta is a long beach stretch located in front of Ixtapa Island. It is a 15 minute drive north of Ixtapa where Club Med is located. It is a popular sailing and windsurfing beach because of its usually calm surf.

Vista Hermosa

It is a small private beach in front of and accessible through Las Brisas Hotel. The elevators ofthe Brisas make it easy to access the beach. It has a few hundred yards of white sandy beach and open ocean. There is a poolside restaurant that serves food and refreshments. There are a few condominium and residential projects in this area.

Ixtapa Island

Ixtapa Island, also known as Isla Grande, is located across from Playa Quieta. It has a collection of beautiful beaches (Cuachalalate, Varadero, Coral and Carey, or Sacrificio) that are excellent for all kinds of water sports and snorkeling in particular. There are small restaurants on the beaches where you can find refreshments and seafood. You can purchase a round trip boat ride from the pier of Playa Quieta to the island for approximately $3 USD.

Driving North – Troncones, Majahua and beyond

Pantla / Buena Vista Beach Communities

These growing beach communities are located 15 Km.north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. There is much vegetation and palm groves, 3 Km. of great unspoiled beach and it is a relatively quite area. Access is through the town of Buena Vista on Mex. Federal Highway 200.

Troncones and Manzanillo Bay

Troncones is a 3.5 mile long beach located half hour north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, on highway 200 turnoff at Km. 31. A new Pemex Station has been opened near the Troncones Junction. It is a small beach community and has a range of bed & breakfasts and small inns and restaurants. It extends northward to Manzanillo Bay where there is a good surf point.

Majahua Beach

Majahua is a minute fishing village a few minutes to the north of Troncones and Manzanillo Bay.There is access through the Troncones road and is in walking distance of some of Mexico’s most famous surfing spots.

La Saladita

La Saladita beach is as mall community 40 Km. north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. This beach is located 5Km. off highway 200 from the small town of Los Llanos. It is another great spot for surfing. There is no public transportation available to this area.

The Ranch (El Cayaco)

The Ranch is another great surfing spot which has hard, fast lefts and right off a point. It isan hour drive north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo along Highway 200 near La Union and is accessible by car on a rough dirt road or panga.

El Miramar

El Miramar is surrounded by beautiful mountains, tropical growth and beautiful beaches that aregreat for surfing, sailing and snorkeling. It is only 40 miles north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Driving South – Playa Blanca, Playa Larga, Barra de Potosi and beyond

Playa Larga

Playa Larga is a 2 Km.Stretch of beach in between the International Airport of Zihuatanejo and the town of Zihuatanejo. It is only 15 minutes from Ixtapa. In certain times of the year you can observe dolphins and whales in this area.

Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca is beach stretch of white sands south of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. It runs from the International Airport of Zihuatanejo to Barra de Potosi, extending south-east from Playa Larga.

Barra de Potosi

Barra de Potosi is to the south of Zihuatanejo and at the end of Playa Blanca. It is located on the shores of a large lagoon that is home to an abundance of water fowl and other species. Boat and kayak trips can be taken into this area for birdwatching expeditions. The community is small with a few guest houses and bed and breakfasts and a number of enrramadas offering fresh seafood along the shores.

Barra de Potosi, south of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

La Barrita

La Barrita is a small town located 20 minutes from Petatlan and 40 minutes from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. It is another popular surfing destination.

Papanoa

Papanoa has beautiful beaches, spa of thermal waters and a mirador where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the ocean. It is found 80 Km south of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo on Highway 200. The turnoff is located between Papanoa Ranch and San Pedro La Loma.

Puerto Vicente Guerrero

Puerto Vicente Guerrero is small fishing village with an old Mexican charm. It is a great fishing destination for roosters, inshore fishing and deep sea fishing. It is only 40 miles south of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

See the Regional Locator Map for the location of these beaches