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    Sailboats anchored in Zihuatanejo Bay below wooded hills, the bay whose western shore holds Playa Contramar, Guerrero

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

    Playa Contramar

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

    A cove of surf-polished stones at the western end of Zihuatanejo Bay, with clear water for snorkelling and no services at all.

    From Lázaro Cárdenas: about 1 h 30 min by road (~100 km) How to get there ↓

    Near here

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    Plan your visit to Playa Contramar

    Where to stay near Playa Contramar

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Contramar.

    Hotels in Playa Contramar Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Contramar

    Day trips and guided outings from Zihuatanejo often include Playa Contramar; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

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

    How to get to Playa Contramar

    • From Lázaro Cárdenas: about 1 h 30 min by road (~100 km)
    • 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.

    Tours from Zihuatanejo, near Playa Contramar

    Private Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo City Tour ★ 5.0 (153) 4 h From US$56
    Baby Sea Turtle Releasing Sightseeing Tour with Luis de la Maza ★ 4.9 (148) 3 h 30 min From US$61
    Xihuacan Culture and Archaeology Tour ★ 4.8 (118) 4 h From US$89
    Las Gatas Beach Kayaking and Snorkeling Tour ★ 4.9 (113) 5 h From US$94
    Zihuatanejo Food -Tasting and Walking Tour (Not for vegetarian) ★ 4.8 (87) 3 h From US$72

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

    About Playa Contramar

    Playa Contramar is a small cove at the western end of Zihuatanejo Bay, off Paseo del Morro in the Centro district. Unlike the sandy beaches around the bay, its shore is made of round stones polished smooth by the surf, and the water is usually clear with gentle waves. Tucked away behind the houses and villas on the hillside, it rarely draws a crowd, and there are no vendors or loud music.

    The real draw is underwater: tropical fish swim among the rocks and coral formations, and regulars say to look for a tunnel through the rocks. Nobody rents gear here, so bring your own mask and snorkel.

    There is no restaurant, palapa or stall either, so pack water, food and some shade for the day. Getting there over land is awkward: a path of about 300 metres runs down to the beach from Andador Contramar, and many people would rather arrive by boat, or by kayak or paddleboard from Playa La Ropa on the far side of the bay.

    The beach no longer looks entirely natural. Owners of the land around it were allowed to modify it, and the stone terrace of a neighbouring villa covers about half the shore; some visitors also complain about private access and building work nearby. Local families come down on Sundays, so weekdays are the quietest time to go.

    How to get to Playa Contramar

    The beach is inside the town of Zihuatanejo itself, on the western side of the bay, off Paseo del Morro. From Andador Contramar, a residential street, a path of about 300 metres drops down to the cove; visitors describe the way in as tricky, so wear sturdy shoes. The alternative is to come by water: by boat, or paddling a kayak or paddleboard over from Playa La Ropa.

    No colectivo goes to the beach. A taxi within Zihuatanejo costs the 55-peso minimum fare from the centre (official fares in force since April 2026); from Ixtapa the minimum is 70 pesos and the ride to central Zihuatanejo costs 120. Local urvans link Ixtapa with downtown Zihuatanejo in about 15 minutes.

    From Mexico City, Estrella de Oro, Costa Line and Senda run buses from the Terminal del Sur (Taxqueña) to Zihuatanejo's bus station in about 10 to 11 hours; by car it is about 620 km via Toluca, Morelia and Uruapan to federal highway 200. The US State Department tells travellers not to go to Guerrero; move around by day and ask at your lodging about local conditions before heading out.

    Directions to Playa Contramar on Google Maps

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

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

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    From the nearest cities to Playa Contramar

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

    Before you go to Playa Contramar: hours, prices and tips

    Best time of day
    Weekdays; local families crowd in on Sundays. Wanderlog · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Water, food and your own snorkel gear: there are no restaurants, vendors or gear rental on the beach. Wanderlog · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa Contramar: what to see and do

    Snorkelling among rocks and coral, looking for the tunnel through the stones.
    The shore of round stones polished by the waves.
    The view across Zihuatanejo Bay towards Playa La Ropa.
    The path down from Andador Contramar.
    A quiet weekday, when hardly anyone comes.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Contramar

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa Contramar.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Zihuatanejo often include Playa Contramar; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at ZIH (Zihuatanejo): about 12 min by road to Zihuatanejo, then 2 km more to Playa Contramar, 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 Playa Contramar.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Contramar, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Zihuatanejo: download a map of the way to Playa Contramar 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.

    When to go to Playa Contramar warm

    Playa Contramar shares the climate of Zihuatanejo, 2 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and April.

    Playa Contramar is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (May, July, and August); in the rainiest ones (August, September, and October) expect storms in the afternoon.

    See the month-by-month climate of Zihuatanejo

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Zihuatanejo

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

    Zihuatanejo is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Playa Contramar, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Closest to Playa Contramar

    Near Playa Contramar

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

    Lists with Playa Contramar

    Beaches in Guerrero · 19 Beaches near Zihuatanejo · 12

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.