🇲🇽 Zihuatanejo, Mexico — Cruise Port Guide
A once-sleepy fishing village turned laid-back resort — golden bays, palapa-shaded seafood, and the glossy sister resort of Ixtapa next door.
Updated September 2026
Quick facts
Getting ashore
When to visit Zihuatanejo
Best November-April (dry season); rainy season runs June-September/October with September wettest, within the broader May-November hurricane season.
Getting back to the ship on time
Return to the municipal tender pier at least an hour before all-aboard, especially after side trips to Ixtapa, since tender lines can back up in late afternoon.
All-aboard is ship's time — check it in the daily programme, and set your watch to it.
Things to do in Zihuatanejo
Playa La Ropa
Zihua's prettiest beach, calm water and palapa restaurants.
Zihuatanejo town walk
Browse the waterfront boardwalk and archaeology museum.
Ixtapa Island snorkel
Boat to a small island with calm snorkeling coves.
Sport fishing trip
Charter a panga for sailfish, dorado or tuna.
Playa Las Gatas
Boat to a sheltered beach said to be a former Tarascan bathing spot.
Barra de Potosí lagoon
Mangrove lagoon and quiet beach south of town.
Popular excursions
Bay Sail & Snorkel Cruise
Catamaran along Zihuatanejo Bay with snorkel stops and open bar.
Zihua Old Town & Ixtapa
Fishing-village malecón, artisan market and a look at Ixtapa's resorts.
What to eat
- Pescado a la talla
- Shrimp aguachile
- Tacos de camarón
- Coconut shrimp
- Fresh-caught tuna tostadas
Weather by month
Best time to visit: Nov–Apr (dry season)
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88° | 66° | 0.1" |
| Feb | 88° | 66° | 0.1" |
| Mar | 88° | 67° | 0" |
| Apr | 89° | 69° | 0" |
| May | 90° | 73° | 0.6" |
| Jun | 90° | 75° | 8.5" |
| Jul | 90° | 74° | 6.5" |
| Aug | 90° | 74° | 7.5" |
| Sep | 89° | 74° | 10.5" |
| Oct | 90° | 73° | 4" |
| Nov | 90° | 70° | 0.8" |
| Dec | 89° | 68° | 0.2" |
Local phrases
A little history
Zihuatanejo (often just 'Zihua') remained a quiet fishing village even as Ixtapa was purpose-built as a resort in the 1970s.
The bay's name comes from a Nahuatl word roughly meaning 'place of women,' tied to a local legend of a female-ruled settlement.
The town gained pop-culture fame as Andy Dufresne's dream destination in The Shawshank Redemption.
Palapa-roofed, open-air dining is the norm — expect sand-between-your-toes seafood.