Zihuatanejo — Destination Guide: Overview

As Mexican fishing villages go, Zihuatanejo is definitely on the big side. In fact, you can't even call Zihuatanejo a "village" anymore. Yet, with its dusty streets, a bustling fishing pier and plenty of down-home shops and restaurants, "Zihua" hardly feels like a city either. So what can you call Zihuatanejo? Those seeking the best of both worlds might call it the perfect combination. You'll find luxury hotels on Playa La Ropa, offering all the mod cons of a seaside resort. Small hotels in town offer an entirely different (and decidedly less expensive) experience. Fishermen haul their catch ashore every morning down at the pier. The ...

As Mexican fishing villages go, Zihuatanejo is definitely on the big side. In fact, you can't even call Zihuatanejo a "village" anymore. Yet, with its dusty streets, a bustling fishing pier and plenty of down-home shops and restaurants, "Zihua" hardly feels like a city either. So what can you call Zihuatanejo? Those seeking the best of both worlds might call it the perfect combination. You'll find luxury hotels on Playa La Ropa, offering all the mod cons of a seaside resort. Small hotels in town offer an entirely different (and decidedly less expensive) experience. Fishermen haul their catch ashore every morning down at the pier. The local market caters to locals as much as to tourists. Nearby beaches, including Playa Madera, Playa La Ropa, and hidden Playa Las Gatas, are lapped by the tranquil waters of Bahía Zihuatanejo, offering a classic taste of Pacific paradise. There's outstanding snorkeling, sea turtle spotting during egg-laying season, and excellent sport fishing. Farther afield, you'll find world class surfing at Troncones, Saladita, and Majahua. And, gratefully, downtown Zihuatanejo still has the uneven sidewalks, family businesses and busy little chaotic intersections typical of any midsize Mexican town.

About the Expert

Danny Palmerlee is the main author of numerous Lonely Planet travel guides, including Ecuador, Argentina, South America on a Shoestring, and Pacific Northwest Trips.