Zihuatanejo

A Pacific fishing-port town, the bay from the end of The Shawshank Redemption, next to the Ixtapa resort area and snorkeling at Isla Ixtapa.

Zihuatanejo lies on the Pacific coast of Guerrero, Mexico, about 240 km from Acapulco. It's a bayside town that still has the feel of a fishing village, and it's widely known from the ending of the film The Shawshank Redemption. About 8 km away is Ixtapa, a resort area planned in the 1970s; together the two are known as Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Zihuatanejo Bay has several beaches – Playa Municipal in the town center, La Madera, La Ropa and Las Gatas – with calm water for swimming and snorkeling. On the Ixtapa side are the long Playa El Palmar, the marina, and the Playa Linda pier for boats to Isla Ixtapa. To the southeast are Laguna de Potosí and the Xihuacan archaeological site, and to the north, Troncones is a surfing hotspot. The climate is hot: the Nov–Apr dry season is sunny with little rain and the best time to visit; whale watching runs Dec–Mar, and you can help release baby sea turtles Jul–Dec. The Jul–Oct rainy season is hot and humid, with occasional hurricanes. Getting there: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport is about 15 minutes from town, with direct flights from Mexico City (about 1 hour). Plan on 4–5 days. Note: parts of Guerrero have security problems; avoid long drives at night and check your government's travel advisories before you go.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries