Zihuatanejo - the beach town on the Mexican Riviera

Ixtapa - Zihuatanejo is a spectacular combination of two totally different beach resorts. The plush and elegant tourist resort of Ixtapa was developed by the Government Agency Fonatur in 1972, while Zihuatanejo has retained the charming character of the small fishing village it once was. The cobble stone streets are lined by little restaurants, cozy cafés and small boutiques. You can stroll through an artisan's market, buy fruit in the local market (Mercado municipal) or visit the fishermen's walkway along the shore. Despite its quaint charm, Zihuatanejo offers a variety of tourist facilities and provides both casual and fine dining opportunities. If you are thinking of spending some time in the city, take a 10-minute cab ride to Ixtapa and enjoy an even wider selection of shopping and dining choices.

Zihuatanejo is a small bay, surrounded by mountains and hills belonging to the Sierra Madre del Sur, which protect the bay area, and is situated 230 kms north of Acapulco and 770 kms south of Puerto Vallarta. This provides the area with a very agreeable climate, found in few places.

Weather and clothing

Summer is very warm in Zihuatanejo. Dresses, shorts, short sleeves, swimsuits and sandals are all you will need. The average temperature most of the year, including the winter months, is around 65 - 75° F and in the summer months around 80 - 85° F. In the rainy season in the summer months there are occasional showers, mostly at night.

In the main season, during the winter months, the sun is always shining. You won't find a cloud in the sky from November to May. From June to October we have rainy season, when occasional summer showers fall mostly at night. You should bring a light sweater and maybe a light rain jacket (which you also can find here) for the summer showers, which sometimes continue until late morning. Very seldom does it rain during the day.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Weather Forecast