Where to stay

Where to base yourself

Here is the honest version: we would not base in Ixtapa at all. Sleep in Zihuatanejo — it has the character, the cheap food and the real nights out — and come to Ixtapa for the day. But if you specifically want the resort strip, here is how it breaks down.

The hotel zone (Paseo Ixtapa)

This is the main event: the row of high-rise hotels lined up behind El Palmar beach. Everything faces the ocean, the beach is right there, and it is walkable, tidy and easy with kids. Best for first-timers and families who want a no-stress, everything-on-site beach holiday and do not mind that it feels interchangeable with any planned resort strip. This is where the all-inclusives sit, so it also suits anyone who wants to pay once and not think about it.

Marina Ixtapa

The far end of the strip, built around the yacht marina and the second golf course. A cluster of low-rise condos and villas, quieter and a little more residential than the hotel wall. Suits golfers and longer-stay or self-catering travelers who want space and a kitchen over nightlife.

What is not here

There is no budget backpacker scene, no boutique old-town charm, no nightlife district worth chasing. For any of that, Zihuatanejo is fifteen minutes away and does all three better. Base there; visit here.