Travel advisory · MexicoZihuatanejo is in or near an area where governments advise against all travel: Guerrero.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Colima · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, UK
Guerrero · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand, UK
Sinaloa · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand, UK
Chiapas · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France
Chihuahua · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, UK
Federal Highway 199 San Cristóbal de las Casas–Palenque · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
Guanajuato, south of Highways 43D and 45D · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
Guatemala border region, Chiapas · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France, New Zealand
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
Michoacán · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK
Nayarit, within 20 km of Sinaloa and Durango border · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
Nuevo León, except Monterrey · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
Piedras Negras · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
Route 85 Monterrey–Nuevo Laredo · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
Sonora · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
Tamaulipas · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, UK
Tecate · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
Tijuana · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
US border region · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, France
Zacatecas · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, UK

Also named by one government: Celaya–Irapuato–Salamanca triangle, Guanajuato (France), Culiacán and surrounding area (France), North of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas (Germany), Route 129 Martinez de la Torre–Teziutlán (France), Route 131 Tapacoyan–Perote (France), Route 180 Martinez de la Torre–Papantla secondary roads (France), Route 40 Monterrey–Reynosa (France), Southern Michoacán from Uruapán to the coast (France), Acapulco (France), Baja California, except Tijuana and Tecate (France), Ciudad Acuña (Spain), Ciudad Juárez and surrounding area (Spain), Ciudad Obregón (France), Coahuila, except southern part (New Zealand), Coatzacoalcos (France), Colonias north and north-east of the Zócalo, Mexico City (France), Durango (France), East Nuevo León, bordering Tamaulipas (France), Guanajuato (Spain), Guanajuato, Highway 45 between León and Irapuato (New Zealand), Guanajuato, south-west of Highway 45D (UK), Jalisco, within 50 km of Michoacán border (Canada), Monclova (Spain), Morelos (France), Nayarit (France), Nogales (France), Non-tourist rural areas of Baja California (Spain), Non-tourist rural areas of Chihuahua (Spain), Non-tourist rural areas of Coahuila (Spain), Non-tourist rural areas of Durango (Spain), Non-tourist rural areas of Sonora (Spain), Northern municipalities of Jalisco (UK), Northern Tamaulipas from San Fernando to US border (Spain), Northern Veracruz bordering Tamaulipas (Spain), Northern Veracruz from Martinez de la Torre (France), Route 150D Puebla–Orizaba (France), Route 190 Oaxaca–Santo Domingo Tehuantepec (France), Route 85 and 83 Monterrey–Ciudad Victoria–Tampico (France), Route 95 Mexico City–Cuernavaca (France), Selva Lacandona (France), South and south-west of Lake Chapala, Jalisco (UK), South-west Jalisco and Los Altos, except Puerto Vallarta (France), South-west Michoacán (France), South-west Tamaulipas (France), Southern Guanajuato state (France), Southern Michoacán south of Morelia (Spain), Strip within 40 km of Guatemalan border, Chiapas (UK), Tepic (New Zealand), Toluca (France), Veracruz city (France)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution	May 29, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Besondere Vorsicht walten lassen (Sicherheitslage) (regional advisories)	Oct 19, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée pour le reste du pays (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Coastal town at sunset with boats in the harbor

Zihuatanejo

A Pacific port town in Guerrero, Mexico, with a fishing-town feel, a well-protected bay, swimming at Playa La Ropa and snorkeling at Playa Las Gatas, about 5 km from the Ixtapa resort.

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Zihuatanejo is a Pacific port city in the Costa Grande region of Guerrero, Mexico, about 482 km from Mexico City and 255 km from Acapulco. It was a fishing village for most of its history, and the town still keeps that feel, with narrow downtown streets paved in stone or brick. The federal government began developing the Ixtapa resort in the 1970s, and the two places are promoted together, with Ixtapa about 5 km away. The town sits on a well-protected bay, and the Mexican government named it a Pueblo Mágico in 2023.

Playa La Ropa, about 1.2 km long, has little wave action and is considered the best beach for swimming. Playa Las Gatas is the most popular snorkeling beach, with a coral reef and a stone breakwater, and it can be reached only by boat or a rough footpath. The municipal beach in front of town is not recommended for swimming because of boat traffic near the port. Swimming is strongly discouraged at Playa Larga, Playa Blanca and Las Pozas, which have strong undertows and riptides. The airport is about 10 minutes from town. The rainy season runs from June to September, and you should check current travel advisories before you go.

Zihuatanejo in five

Fly in and do not plan an overland arrivalThe UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Guerrero, except Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa accessed by air. Check your own government's advice, and arrive by plane.UK travel advice for Mexico
Swim at Las Gatas or La RopaLas Gatas, reached by a short boat from the town pier, has sheltered water for swimming and snorkeling. La Ropa is the long beach for sunsets and seafood shacks.
Choose between the center and La RopaStay in town for walkable dinners and the waterfront, or at La Ropa for the beach. Taxis link the two in a few minutes.
Go to Ixtapa for resorts, not for the townIxtapa is a planned strip of big hotels and beaches about 15–20 minutes north. It suits golf and resorts, and Zihuatanejo suits a slower, local feel.Ixtapa
Add Troncones for surf and quietThe surf village is about 40 minutes by road and works as a night or a day on a longer stay.Troncones

Things to do in Zihuatanejo

See all attractions in Zihuatanejo

Sight · ZihuatanejoPlaya la Ropa

Hike · ZihuatanejoPlaya Manzanillo

Museum · ZihuatanejoMuseo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ZihuatanejoPut the places you like in Zihuatanejo on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa (ZIH), about 20 min from the center
Getting there: Fly into ZIH, then taxi or a pre-booked transfer
Getting around: Walkable center; taxis and buses to La Ropa and Ixtapa
Best base: The center for dinners, Playa La Ropa for the beach
Time needed: 3–5 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Poor

JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Dry, warm
FebruaryClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low21°Dry, warm
MarchClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low21°Dry, warm
AprilClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Hot, dry
MayClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hot, humid
JuneRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low25°Rains start
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Rainy
AugustRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low25°Rainy
SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rains, storms
OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Storm risk
NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, warm
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Dry, holidays

Average daily high and low in Zihuatanejo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Zihuatanejo

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 36°
Humidity: 70%
Wind: 6 km/h
Chance of rain: 14%

Zihuatanejo

02:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today31°24°14%Monday: Clear. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 14%.
Tue30°25°91%Tuesday: Fog. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 91%.
Wed30°24°76%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 76%.
Thu30°25°92%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 92%.
Fri30°25°67%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 67%.
Sat31°25°86%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 86%.
Sun30°24°57%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 57%.

Updated 10:43 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN

Amount

Converted to

MXN · Mexican Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Ixtapaabout 15–20 min by roadWide beaches, golf and an island with snorkeling offshore.Read the guide
Tronconesabout 40 min by roadA surf village with long beaches and a laid-back feel.Read the guide
Barra de Potosíabout 1 hour by roadA long beach and lagoon with birdlife south of town.

Before you go to Zihuatanejo

Bay boat and snorkel tripsLas Gatas and nearby beachesCompare day trips

Stay by Playa La RopaBeachfront or in the old townCompare stays

eSIM for ZihuatanejoData for rides and boat timesRead the guide

Insurance for Pacific coast tripsCheck cover where advice appliesRead the guide

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Rules for Zihuatanejo, checked

The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Guerrero, except the town of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa accessed by air.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

Plan around Zihuatanejo

All of Mexico

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Mexico trip

Read the guide Ixtapa

The resort strip 15–20 minutes north

Read the guide Troncones

A surf village 40 minutes up the coast

Read the guide Central Pacific Coast

The wider coast from Jalisco to Guerrero

Read the guide Travel insurance

Check cover where government advice applies

Read the guide Mexico transport

Flights, buses and transfers

Read the guide

Zihuatanejo FAQ

Is Zihuatanejo safe?

The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Guerrero, but makes an exception for Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa accessed by air. Read your own government's advice and arrive by plane if you decide to go.

Is Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa better?

Zihuatanejo for a fishing-town feel, a walkable center and calm beaches. Ixtapa for big resorts, golf and a planned beach strip. They are 15–20 minutes apart, so it is easy to see both.

How many days do you need in Zihuatanejo?

Three to five days cover Las Gatas, La Ropa, a seafood dinner and a day trip to Ixtapa or Troncones. A long weekend is enough if you only want beach and food.

What is the best time to visit Zihuatanejo?

November to March for dry, sunny days. April to June is hot and humid, and September and October carry the highest storm risk, so check forecasts and your policy terms.

How do you get to Las Gatas beach?

By a short water taxi from the town pier, or on foot along the shore path from Playa La Ropa when conditions allow. Boats run through the day, and the sheltered water is good for snorkeling.