ZIHUATANEJO | MEXICO
One of Mexico’s few remaining beach towns with local culture intact, “Zihua” is getting its turn in the limelight. Situated in the center of Mexico’s Pacific coast, Zihua offers an artistic downtown with artisan shops for handmade treasures and easy access to three white-sand beaches beneath the towering Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. The old resort aspects of nearby Ixtapa offer golf and tennis for the snowbirds who have been flocking here for decades, while other unique experiences like sea turtle releases, tobacco plantations, coconut farms, paddle-boarding, and surfing are beginning to draw millennial visitors to this picturesque cove that is best enjoyed between November and April for dry, sunny, and bearably warm days.
— DON’T MISS —
Sea Turtle Release
What’s better than baby sea turtles? Helping their conservation and repopulation efforts as you usher them off to the ocean. Travel up to Troncones for this unique experience.
Playa Larga
Overlooked by many, Playa Larga is a short 15-minute drive from town, but offers a world of its own with miles of peaceful and picturesque beach and casual locally owned beach bars.
Sunset Sail
There’s noting quite like the perspective of Zihuatanejo Bay from the water. Cheers to the end of your trip with champagne at sunset, and you might be joined by a pod of dolphins.
— eat —
Ceniza
Chef Miguel Baltazar offers beachfront wood-fired favorites at Playa La Ropa beneath thatched roofs featuring local, sustainably sourced fish and produce. Ask for the mint chocolate dessert.
Mar & Cielo
Head over to one of Zihua’s oldest institutions, hotel Casa Que Canta, to enjoy the sound of waves crashing beneath while enjoying this seafood-focused menu.
Arena Restaurant
Rent a beach lounger with umbrella and enjoy casual beachside fare at one of the best spots on Playa La Ropa with generous cocktails, ice-cold beers, and lively pet parrots.
— drink —
Hao Beach Bar
For the best evening vibe, head over to the Hao bar at The Thompson hotel for the area’s best cocktail program in their sand lounge seating or at the bar. Don’t miss the sunset view.
Puerta Paraiso Beach Club
Spend the day at Playa Larga by making this rustic chic beach club your home-base, with pool access included all day for only a $500 MXN minimum spend on food and drink.
Downtown Micro Bars
Spend an evening roaming the streets near Playa Principal downtown to discover small, “hole-in-the-wall” spots, often times jammed right next to each other for a beach bar alternative.
— STAY —
Casa Angelina
Carved into the mountainside directly above the famous white-sand beach of Playa La Ropa, Casa Angelina offers a jungle oasis with the most stunning ocean, beach, and mountain views in the entire region. Walk to Playa La Ropa and Playa Las Gatas, take a dip in Zihua’s most iconic infinity edge pool with a view, and enjoy an Angelina Margarita at the Palapa Bar for beautiful sunsets. Chef Daniel Hernandez runs the show at Casa Angelina for pre-fixe dinners beneath the stars on the Sky Deck featuring seafood from local Zihua fisherman. With an Arches Hallway, large Sky Deck, and garden, Casa Angelina has also become the perfect place for couples from around the world to tie the knot.
HAO BAR
MAR & CIELO
Puerta paraiso beach club
ARENA RESTAURANT
GETTING THERE | ✈
Fly into Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport (ZIH). The international airport offers direct flights from Mexico City, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and other major cities. Zihuatanejo is a short 20-minute straight shot from the airport.
LOVED BY LOCALS | ♥
Our staff is still working on it!
— OUR #1 HOTEL IN ZIHUATANEJO: CASA ANGELINA —
