Day trips

Day trips from Ixtapa

The best “trip” from Ixtapa is barely a trip at all — Zihuatanejo is fifteen minutes away and is where you should be spending your evenings anyway. Beyond that, a couple of genuinely worthwhile outings sit close by.

Zihuatanejo — 15 minutes

Not really a day trip, more the other half of your stay. The real town: a working fishing bay, a proper market, cheap seafood, the calm beaches of La Ropa and Las Gatas, and actual nightlife. Absolutely worth it — do it most days you are here.

Isla Ixtapa — short boat ride

Boats leave from the Playa Linda pier just north of the hotels; the crossing is only a few minutes. A small island with sheltered coves, snorkeling and beach restaurants. Half a day, easy, and a nice break from the strip. Worth it, especially with kids or a snorkel mask.

Playa Las Gatas — via Zihuatanejo bay

A protected, shallow beach reached by a short water-taxi from the Zihuatanejo pier (roughly 10 minutes on the water). Calm enough for small children, with snorkeling and simple seafood palapas. Worth it for a lazy swim day.

Troncones — about 45 minutes to an hour

A low-key surf and beach village up the coast, the antidote to Ixtapa’s polish: dirt roads, yoga, empty sand and better waves. The drive is roughly 45 minutes to an hour, approximate. Worth it if you want a taste of the un-resorted coast — skip it if you only have a day.