Ixtapa Travel Guide
City Resort town in Guerrero, Mexico
85°F
Why Visit Ixtapa? #
Sun-seekers and seafood lovers come for wide Pacific beaches and easy access to the fishing village of Zihuatanejo, where fresh ceviche and grilled fish are staples. Playa El Palmar and excursions to Isla Ixtapa offer clear water, snorkeling and sportfishing that draw anglers from afar. Nights mix relaxed beachfront bars with regional Guerrero cuisine, while the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo pair delivers a low-key contrast to Mexico’s bigger resort towns.
Best Things to Do in Ixtapa
Ixtapa Bucket List
- Playa Linda (Ixtapa) - Long sandy beach with calm waters, beach clubs, and frequent boat departures.
- Marina Ixtapa - Modern marina with restaurants, fishing charters, and evening promenades along waterfront.
- Isla Ixtapa - Small offshore island reachable by water taxi, good snorkeling and local vendors.
- El Faro (Punta Ixtapa lighthouse) - Walk to the lighthouse on Punta Ixtapa for panoramic coastal views at sunset.
- Mercado Artesanal Ixtapa - Small handicraft market offering woven goods, silver jewelry, and friendly local vendors.
- Playa El Palmar - Quiet beach favored by locals for evening walks and local food stalls.
- Zihuatanejo - Neighboring fishing town with Playa La Ropa, seafood restaurants, and artisanal markets.
- Parque Arqueológico de Xihuacan - Archaeological park with reconstructed pre-Hispanic structures and on-site museum exhibits.
Best Time to Visit Ixtapa #
Visit Ixtapa in the dry season (November-February) for sunny, lower-humidity beach weather and calm seas. Avoid the June-October rainy/hurricane window if you want reliable sun and boat excursions.
Best Time to Visit Ixtapa #
Tropical climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1013 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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February
February is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 20°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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March
March is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 20°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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April
April is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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May
May is hot, feeling like 30°C due to high humidity. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 32°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (176 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 32°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (185 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 32°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (190 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (285 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is hot, feeling like 32°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (116 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is hot, feeling like 30°C due to high humidity. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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December
December is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 22°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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How to Get to Ixtapa
Ixtapa is reached mainly via Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) or by intercity bus into Zihuatanejo's bus terminal. Once you arrive, short taxis, shared vans (colectivos) and hotel shuttles are the standard ways to get into the resort area and between beaches.
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH): The airport serves regular domestic flights (Mexico City, Guadalajara) and some seasonal international services. From ZIH you can take an ADO/airport shuttle or shared taxi to Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo; journey times are typically 20-35 minutes to Ixtapa and 25-45 minutes to Zihuatanejo centre. Taxis and private transfers are widely available at the terminal.
Manuel Ávila Camacho bus terminal (Zihuatanejo): While not an airport, the long‑distance ADO bus network connects Zihuatanejo with other Mexican cities; buses arrive at the central terminal in Zihuatanejo from where local taxis or colectivos serve Ixtapa (short transfer). Travel times depend on the incoming route.
Train: There is no passenger rail service directly to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo; the nearest rail passenger services terminate well away in larger cities.
Bus: Long‑distance buses (ADO and other intercity carriers) are the main overland option. Buses run to Zihuatanejo’s central bus terminal from major cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Acapulco); from the terminal it’s a short taxi or colectivo ride to Ixtapa (10-25 minutes depending on traffic). Local shuttle vans/colectivos connect beaches and hotels throughout the resort area.
How to Get Around Ixtapa #
Ixtapa’s hotel zone and beaches are very walkable, especially around the marina and main beachfront. Short taxi rides around town are common and affordable; shared shuttles/colectivos run to nearby Zihuatanejo for a lower fare. For exploring further afield you can rent a car or take regional buses to other towns. Bring cash for taxis and small vendors, and agree a fare or ask for the meter before you get in.
Where to Stay in Ixtapa #
- Budget stays in Ixtapa (Booking) - Hostels and inexpensive hotels listed
- Tripadvisor Ixtapa listings - Good for finding low-cost options
- Barceló Ixtapa - Resort-style mid-range beachfront hotel
- Krystal Ixtapa - Well-known chain, good facilities and location
- Tesoro Ixtapa - Upscale beachfront resort with full amenities
- Hotel Emporio Ixtapa - Premium resort with sea views and services
Where to Eat in Ixtapa #
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Ixtapa's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Ixtapa #
Ixtapa’s nightlife centers on the Marina and beachfront restaurants - casual bars and live-music nights are common, but the scene is relaxed rather than late-night club-focused. For more bars, live music and a livelier after-dark atmosphere, many visitors cross to Zihuatanejo. Expect most venues to be seasonal and busier in high season, so check opening hours before you go.
Shopping in Ixtapa #
Shopping in Ixtapa is mostly tourist-oriented: marina boutiques, beachwear shops and souvenir stalls line the waterfront. For a more local market experience head into nearby Zihuatanejo, where the municipal market and artisan stalls offer handicrafts, textiles and fresh seafood. You’ll also find a handful of small malls and convenience stores in the resort area for basics and gifts.
