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    El Palmar bay curving along Ixtapa's hotel zone, seen from above, Guerrero

    Photo by César Orozco, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Long sandy beach of El Palmar with Ixtapa's hotels behind, Guerrero

    Photo by Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Sunset over the whole bay of Ixtapa, Guerrero

    Photo by Sofia.vs08, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Palapa restaurants along the shore of Isla Ixtapa, Guerrero

    Photo by AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Sailboats and lighthouse tower at the Ixtapa marina, Guerrero

    Photo by Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Ixtapa

    Town Zihuatanejo de Azueta, Guerrero Municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta Costa Grande of Guerrero

    Zihuatanejo's planned resort twin: a long hotel beach, a marina, bike paths through mangroves, and boats to Isla Ixtapa.

    From Zihuatanejo: 10 min by car (9 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Ixtapa

    Where to stay near Ixtapa

    Hotel Fontán Ixtapa Hotel · ★★★★ · 290 m from the center Prices Krystal Ixtapa Hotel · ★★★★ · 510 m from the center Prices
    Hotels in Zihuatanejo Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Ixtapa

    Day trips around Zihuatanejo sometimes stop in Ixtapa; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.

    Private Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo City Tour ★ 5.0 (153) · From US$56
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide Tours from Zihuatanejo

    How to get to Ixtapa

    • From Zihuatanejo: about 10 min by road (~9 km)
    • 6 km west of Zihuatanejo
    • Nearest airport: Zihuatanejo (ZIH), 12 min by car to Zihuatanejo
    Rent a car at ZIH Flights to ZIH

    Route, map and directions ↓

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    Popular tours to Ixtapa

    Private Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo City Tour ★ 5.0 (153) 4 h From US$56
    Private Transportation from the Zihuatanejo Airport to your hotel in Ixtapa ★ 4.8 (102) 30–40 min From US$88
    Snorkeling Tour in Ixtapa Island ★ 4.7 (34) 4 h From US$125
    Horseback Riding in Ixtapa with Hotel Pickup ★ 4.8 (15) 1 h 10 min From US$65
    Bicycle Tour in Ixtapa ★ 5.0 (9) 2 h 30 min From US$61

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Ixtapa

    Ixtapa sits just five kilometers northwest of Zihuatanejo, but the two could hardly be more different. Where Zihuatanejo grew as a fishing village around its bay, Ixtapa was drawn up on paper. In the late 1960s the Bank of Mexico set up a fund to build new beach destinations from scratch, and Ixtapa was one of the first two, alongside Cancún. It was built in the early 1970s on what had been a coconut plantation and mangrove estuary, with a master plan by the architects Agustín and Enrique Landa Verdugo.

    The result is a tidy resort town of wide boulevards, large hotels lined up along Playa El Palmar, a marina with restaurants and a golf course, and shopping plazas. It is the place to go from Zihuatanejo for a long open beach, water sports, or a sunset drink on the marina.

    Ixtapa's best surprise is how green it is between the buildings. Flat, shaded bike paths run through the mangroves and wetlands to Playa Linda at the north end, where crocodiles often sun themselves along the ponds, and another path links Ixtapa with Zihuatanejo. Playa Linda is also where the boats leave for Isla Ixtapa.

    How to get to Ixtapa

    Drive from Zihuatanejo: 10 min, 9 km

    Ixtapa is about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Zihuatanejo by car or taxi along the boulevard that links the two. Local buses run between Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa throughout the day, and a dedicated bike path connects them too, about 10 km one way.

    6 km west of Zihuatanejo

    Directions from Zihuatanejo on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Where to stay Hotels in Ixtapa Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Ixtapa. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Ixtapa

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Ixtapa: hours, prices and tips

    Best season
    Official whale-watching season is December 15 to March 20. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo tourism office · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    You get around on your own. For Isla Ixtapa, take a boat from the pier at Playa Linda; whale tours (2 to 3 hours) leave with certified operators, some booked through Ixtapa hotels. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo tourism office · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Playa Linda sits next to an estuary with river crocodiles: respect the fences and warning signs and stay out of the fenced-off areas. Luz Noticias · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Ixtapa: what to see and do

    Rent a bike and ride the shaded path through the mangroves to Playa Linda, watching for crocodiles in the ponds.
    Spend a day on Playa El Palmar, the long beach in front of the hotels; the surf can be strong, so check the flags before swimming.
    Walk the Marina Ixtapa docks and stay for dinner at one of its restaurants.
    Take a boat from Playa Linda to Isla Ixtapa for snorkeling and seafood.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Ixtapa

    Hotel Fontán Ixtapa Hotel · ★★★★ · 290 m from the center Find on Expedia Krystal Ixtapa Hotel · ★★★★ · 510 m from the center Find on Expedia Villas Paraiso Ixtapa Hotel · 250 m from the center Find on Expedia Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa Hotel · 260 m from the center Find on Expedia Sunscape Hotel · 290 m from the center Find on Expedia Emporio Ixtapa Hotel · 300 m from the center Find on Expedia
    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips around Zihuatanejo sometimes stop in Ixtapa; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at ZIH (Zihuatanejo): about 12 min by road to Zihuatanejo, then 6 km more to Ixtapa, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zihuatanejo (ZIH), about 12 min by road from Zihuatanejo, the base for Ixtapa.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Zihuatanejo: download a map of the way to Ixtapa before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.

    Photos

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    When to go to Ixtapa warm

    Ixtapa shares the climate of Zihuatanejo, 6 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and April.

    See the month-by-month climate of Zihuatanejo

    Make Zihuatanejo your base

    Boats anchored in the turquoise bay of Zihuatanejo below green hills, Guerrero warm
    Guerrero Zihuatanejo

    Ixtapa is an easy trip from Zihuatanejo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Closest to Ixtapa

    All 8 towns and sights around Zihuatanejo →

    Near Ixtapa

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.