Hotels in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo
Some hotels in Zihuatanejo and its nearby beach communities are more economical than those in Ixtapa, while others are far more expensive and exclusive. The term bungalow is used loosely -- it may mean an individual unit with a kitchen and bedroom, or just a bedroom. It may also be like a hotel, in a two-story building with multiple units, some of which have kitchens. It may be cozy or rustic, with or without a patio or balcony. Accommodations in town tend to be basic, clean, and comfortable.
Playa Madera and Playa La Ropa, separated by a craggy shoreline, are both accessible by road. Prices tend to be higher here than in town, but the value is much better, and people tend to find that the beautiful, tranquil setting is worth the extra cost. The town is 5 minutes away by taxi and 10 to 15 minutes by foot.
Choosing a Hotel in Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa (or Both) -- Larger high-rise hotels and all-inclusive resorts dominate accommodations in Ixtapa and on Playa Madera. Package deals for these are readily available online. There are only a few choices in the budget range. If you're looking for lower-priced rooms, Zihuatanejo offers more selection and better values, although it also has some very expensive (and wonderful) boutique hotels. Lodgings in both towns offer free parking. High season generally runs from November 15 to April 30, and low season from May 1 to November 14. The rates quoted below do not include the 17% tax.
Playa Madera -- Madera Beach is a 15-minute walk along the street, a 10-minute walk along the beach pathway, or a cheap taxi ride from Zihuatanejo. Most accommodations are on Calle Eva S. de López Mateos, the road overlooking the beach. Many hotels are set against the hill and have steep stairways.
Playa La Ropa -- Playa La Ropa is a 20- to 25-minute walk south of town on the east side of the bay, or it's a 50-peso taxi ride.
14 Results
- Hotel
Aura del Mar
It's hard not to gush about Aura del Mar (formerly known as Brisas del Mar). It's the kind of friendly hideaway most visitors only dream about finding. The rooms are simply lovely, their walls sponge painted with bright, uniquely Mexican colors and covered with well-chosen pieces of…$$Zijuatanejo, Playa Madera
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Azul Grand Hotel
Ixtapa is home to several large all-inclusive resorts (see our reviews for the Club Med, the Sunscape, and the Intercontinental) and each has definite strengths and failings. As the newest of the resorts, the Azul had the opportunity to study the competition and do certain things…$$Hotel Zone 2, Ixtapa - Hotel
Capella Hotel Ixtapa
Families are discouraged from booking at this all-suite hotel. "We're meant to be a place for romance," the manager told me, and in that, it’s succeeding. Far and away the most honeymoon-worthy spot in Ixtapa, each room is angled over the sea cliff in such a way that its little…$$$Hotel Zone 2, Ixtapa - Hotel
Casa Kau-Kan
Wide open spaces: At this surprisingly cushy resort, that phrase describes both this hotel's isolated beach setting (it sits on a broad, and utterly deserted, strand of sand some 15 km long) and the rooms. In fact, I can’t remember another place where I’ve seen so many humongous…$$20 minutes south of Zihuatanejo - B&B
Casa Solana
New in 2014 and custom-built on the side of steep hill 10 minutes outside of Zihuatanejo proper, this chill little B&B has a lot going for it. Everything in it has been chosen with care, from the locally made bamboo furniture to lamps fashioned from Oaxacan pots to the…$$Zihuatanejo, Playa Las Gatas - Hotel
Club Med Ixtapa
Though it has its downsides—and I’ll get to those—Club Med is my favorite of the all–inclusives in Ixtapa. The reason is the same reason fans loved Audrey Hepburn: beauty and charm. On the first count, the hotel is very well-designed, a mélange of handsome art works, vibrant color…$$Hotel Zone 2, Ixtapa - Hotel
InterContinental Presidente Ixtapa
Here’s an object lesson in never assuming that a swank brand name equates to quality. Overall, this InterContinental is a disappointment. The pool area is cramped and over-crowded in high season, rooms are dated in looks and smallish in size (those that aren’t suites, of course). And…$$Hotel Zone 1, Ixtapa - Hotel
Krystal NH
One of the first hotels in Ixtapa, the Krystal is definitely showing its age. Your sliding balcony door may stick, and there might be scuff marks on the stucco walls. The décor could be dubbed "Late '80s Motel". That being said, it shares the same white sand beach as much pricier…$Hotel Zone 1, Ixtapa - Hotel
La Casa Que Canta
Its name may translate into "the house that sings," but it's the visual arts that really make this place special. Every corner is graced with some unusual—and usually exquisite—piece of folk art. And these precious items aren’t only in the public areas. The rooms have them as well,…$$$Zihuatanejo, Playa La Ropa - Hotel
La Quinta de Don Andre
If Paul Bunyan had lived in Mexico, he might have come up with a hotel that looks something like this one. Angled on a cliff with steps down to a lovely beach, it has décor that is half adobe and half log cabin, with polished wood used in the headboards, balcony rails, trim, and even…$Zijuatanejo, Playa Madera - B&B
La Villa
Usually one has to kiss an enchanted frog to get to stay in a place this magical. A converted manor home, it has the aspect of a small if rustically chic castle, complete with tower rooms, canopy-draped beds, and views that typically only eagles enjoy. Each room is on its own level…$$Zijuatanejo, Playa La Ropa - Hotel
Las Brisas Ixtapa
Is it a ziggurat or a pyramid? Whatever the answer, this massive, cubist resort, in a giant stair-like building that cascades down a steep mountain, is impressive—for its rooms, for its jungly grounds, and most importantly for its lovely and very private beach. Rooms have a…$$Ixtapa, Around Town - Hotel
Posada Citali
In the charming Centro of the town, a few minutes' amble from a bustling beach, this basic but well-maintained little motel is the choice for real budgeteers. Rooms are a bit dark, not all have A/C (though they will have a ceiling fan), and the beds can’t be called soft. But you…$Zihuatanejo, El Centro - Hotel
Sunscape Dorado Pacifico
Set on the same bustling beach as the other hotels in Zone 1, the Sunscape has pioneered some good practices in the world of all-inclusive resorts. Guests aren’t required to wear silly bracelets as identification. Instead, the staff keeps track of who’s who. Chair-hogging is strictly…$$$Ixtapa, Hotel Zone I
