Reading comfort Access planning
← Back to The Cruise Travellers
All ports › Mexico & Central America › Guerrero, Mexico
🌮 Cruise port guide

🐟 Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Twin resort towns on the Pacific: the fishing village of Zihuatanejo and the modern hotel zone of Ixtapa. Ships anchor in Zihuatanejo Bay and tender to the town pier, steps from the waterfront and Playa La Ropa.

🚤 Tender (Zihuatanejo pier)🕒 Typical call: 8–9 hrs💵 Mexican peso (US $ accepted)🗣️ Spanish
DockingTender
To townWalk — Zihuatanejo at the tender pier
Best forBeaches · Snorkeling
Don't missPlaya La Ropa
Browse all Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo tours →
Destination view of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. ZIH 04
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo destination photography; not a confirmation of your berth or current conditions. Photo: Vmzp85 · Wikimedia Commons source · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP under the same stated license. Display may crop the view.
Step by step

Getting ashore

Ships anchor in Zihuatanejo Bay and tender to the municipal pier in the center of town. Shops, the market and Paseo del Pescador are at the landing.

  1. 1
    Tender to the pier

    You land right in Zihuatanejo.

  2. 2
    Walk the waterfront

    Paseo del Pescador and the town beach.

  3. 3
    Pick a beach

    La Ropa by taxi or Las Gatas by water taxi.

💡 Pro move: Water taxis to Las Gatas leave from the pier — great snorkeling without a tour.
Where your ship arrives

Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line

Tender only.

Typical cruise-line arrival arrangements; confirm your ship’s assignment.
Cruise line / shipTypical berth / arrivalDock or tender
All linesAnchor in Zihuatanejo Bay; tenders to the municipal pier 🚤 Tender

Typical arrangements only — your ship's berth is confirmed in the daily planner.

These typical arrangements were compiled for this new guide in October 2026 and have not all been independently verified. Map links are location searches, not live ship assignments. Confirm the berth, tender landing and boarding arrangements for your sailing. Read this port’s access notes →

Sail here

Recommended cruises

These cruise lines typically include Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo on their itineraries — tap one to see its sailings in the region.

Typical lines only — which ships visit changes every season. Live sailings and prices come from Cruise Travellers' booking engine.

Worth your day

Top excursions

Compare access requirements for this port before booking an excursion →

The shore excursions most worth your time in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

BEACH

Playa La Ropa

Long, calm beach with restaurants.

⏱ 4 hrs🚕 Taxi🏖️ Beach
Find tours →
SNORKEL

Las Gatas

Snorkel behind an ancient reef wall.

⏱ 3 hrs🚤 Water taxi🤿 Snorkel
Find tours →
ISLAND

Ixtapa Island

Ferry to small beaches and snorkeling.

⏱ 5 hrs🚐 Bus + ⛴️ Boat🏝️ Beach
Find tours →
CULTURE

Town and market

Fish market, crafts and street food.

⏱ 2 hrs🚶 Walk🛍️ Shopping
Find tours →

Tours booked through Viator, Cruise Travellers' excursion partner. Check the operator’s written return-to-ship policy; a guarantee is not assumed.

No tour needed

Self-guided walks

These are sightseeing suggestions. Distances and walking difficulty labels do not establish a step-free route. Read the port-specific access notes before choosing a route.

🚶 Zihuatanejo waterfront

1.5 km · 45 min · easy

Paseo del Pescador, the basketball court plaza, the market and Playa Principal.

  1. Muelle Municipal Zihuatanejo
  2. Paseo del Pescador
  3. Mercado Municipal Zihuatanejo
🗺️ Open this route in Google Maps →
Pack for your month

Weather & best time to visit

Best time: November–April. Dry and sunny at 84–89°F / 29–32°C; June–October is the rainy and hurricane season.

MonthAvg highAvg lowRainy days
Jan ⭐88°F / 31°C72°F / 22°C0
Feb ⭐88°F / 31°C72°F / 22°C0
Mar ⭐88°F / 31°C72°F / 22°C0
Apr ⭐89°F / 32°C74°F / 23°C0
May90°F / 32°C77°F / 25°C4
Jun90°F / 32°C78°F / 26°C12
Jul91°F / 33°C77°F / 25°C12
Aug91°F / 33°C77°F / 25°C13
Sep90°F / 32°C77°F / 25°C15
Oct90°F / 32°C77°F / 25°C7
Nov ⭐90°F / 32°C75°F / 24°C1
Dec ⭐89°F / 32°C73°F / 23°C0

⭐ = best months to visit. Approximate long-term averages — check the forecast before you sail.

From Melody

Insider tips

  • 🚤
    Water taxis. The easiest way to Las Gatas.
  • 🐟
    Fresh seafood. Try tiritas, the local ceviche.
  • ⚠️
    Check advisories. Review current travel advice for Guerrero.
  • 💵
    Pesos help. For taxis and markets.
  • ⏰
    Tender time. Return an hour before all-aboard.
From the pier

Getting around

🚗 Ride-share: ⚠️ Limited
Limited; local taxis are cheap.
🚶 WalkFree

Zihuatanejo center.

🚕 Taxi to La Ropa$5–8

About 10 minutes.

🚤 Water taxi to Las Gatas$5–10 pp

About 10 minutes.

Prices are typical ranges and change — confirm before you ride.

Keep exploring

Nearby ports

Other port guides close to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Tours, prices, transport fares and pier assignments change. Always confirm with the operator, your cruise line and your ship's all-aboard time before relying on anything here.

Make it your own

Choose your day in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Tender into Zihuatanejo's fishing village, then Playa La Ropa, Las Gatas snorkeling and Ixtapa Island.

First visitPlaya La Ropa. Build around one priority, then confirm admission, transfers and time ashore.
Explore independently🚶 Zihuatanejo waterfront. Published walking routes are ideas, not verified step-free routes.
A slower dayChoose one stop with seating and a confirmed return transfer. Ask the operator for the actual distance from the vehicle to the entrance.
Advisor planning lensTender ports reward an early start; keep afternoon plans close to the pier.
Port-specific access notes

Mobility & accessibility in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Tendering is the first hurdle; the waterfront is fairly flat but streets are uneven.

Planning notes prepared October 25, 2026 for this new guide. Operator access statements have not yet been individually checked, and this is not an on-site access audit. Access can change with the ship, berth, equipment and operating conditions.

Attractions and excursions: what changes the choice

Paseo del Pescador

Waterfront walkway

Relatively level; ask about curb cuts.

Water taxis

Beach boarding

Boarding usually involves wading or steps.

A practical way to plan this port

Planning suggestion: Confirm tender access, then stay on the waterfront with lunch at the town beach.

Confirm before booking

  • Can the tender carry your device?
  • Is the pier landing step-free?

Detailed access-planning questions · Save these arrangements in your day plan

Discuss my access needs
Private · Personal · Thoughtfully paced

Curated Ashore — Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Turn the interests in this guide into a private shore-day brief. These are ideas to discuss with Melody, not confirmed bookable products.

A private take on a local highlightAsk about Playa La Ropa with a private guide, a flexible pace and a clearly agreed meeting point.
A day built around your interestsRequest food, culture, scenery or a quieter outing. Specify your budget, group size, walking comfort and ship schedule.

Before booking, request the named operator, inclusions, vehicle specification, entry tickets, cancellation terms and a written return plan. Private access, special entry and availability must be confirmed.

Request a Curated Ashore proposal Book a consultation
Your day, your pace

Build your Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo port-day plan

Save a personal checklist on this device, then print it or share your brief with Melody. Times are your inputs in ship time; this tool does not calculate travel times or guarantee return.

Before you step ashore

Plans stay in this browser when storage is available. Email opens your own mail app; nothing is submitted automatically.

Information Status

Confirm piers, fares, transfers, admission, tour duration and assistance with your cruise line and the relevant operator. Weather tables are indicative averages, not a forecast. Report a correction.