Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport serves the twin destinations of Ixtapa (modern resorts) and Zihuatanejo (picturesque fishing village), on Mexico's Pacific coast.
Unlike other airports, only the dedicated 'Transporte Terrestre' service can pick up passengers directly at the airport.
How to get to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to ZIH
Parking near Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport
A small parking area is located in front of the terminal.
Rates are in line with the standards of a Mexican beach resort destination.
How to get to Ixtapa from ZIH
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Need an airport transfer?
Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com
Car rental at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport
In the arrivals area, you'll find desks for some, but not all, car rental operators.
Bring your driver's license, passport, and credit card; an IDP is almost always an additional requirement.
Hotels near Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport
Zihuatanejo
About 15-20 minutes by car from the airport (12 km) to the centre; La Ropa beach, where the resorts in this area are located, is a few minutes further along the bay.
Best for: Those who want the historic centre, seafront restaurants and La Ropa beach, with a shorter transfer from the airport than Ixtapa.
- Shorter transfer from the airport than Ixtapa
- Seafood restaurants and the village's historic centre within walking distance of La Ropa beach
- Narrow streets in the centre, not well suited to traffic during the evening rush
- La Ropa beach is smaller than Ixtapa's long stretches of sand
Recommended hotels
- Thompson Zihuatanejo, A Beach Resort, by Hyatt On La Ropa beach, born from the renovation of the former The Tides Zihuatanejo and relaunched in 2018 as Thompson; infinity pools and private pools in some suites. View availability
- Hilton Grand Vacations Club Zihuatanejo A timeshare resort on La Ropa beach, also just a few minutes on foot from La Madera beach; infinity pools and villas with a private pool in some units. View availability
Ixtapa
About 20-30 minutes by car from the airport (18 km); another 10-15 minutes separate Ixtapa from the centre of Zihuatanejo for those who want to alternate between the two areas.
Best for: Those who want an all-inclusive resort with a private beach and large pools, accepting a longer transfer from the airport than Zihuatanejo.
- Longer beaches and resorts designed to stay in all day without going out
- More choice of all-inclusive resorts than Zihuatanejo
- Longer transfer from the airport than Zihuatanejo
- An area planned from scratch in the 1970s: less village atmosphere than Zihuatanejo's historic centre
Recommended hotels
- Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa All-Inclusive by IHG On Playa del Palmar in Ixtapa, relaunched as Holiday Inn Resort after a full renovation; a central position relative to the rest of the resort strip. View availability
- Azul Ixtapa All Inclusive Resort On Playa del Palmar, opened as Meliá Azul Ixtapa in 1999 and now rebranded Azul Ixtapa, linked by a walkway to the more recent Azul Ixtapa Grand tower. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal is sized appropriately for the seasonal tourist traffic of the two twin destinations.
The recommended lead time for flights is 2.5 hours.
Map of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I take any taxi at Zihuatanejo airport?
No: only the dedicated 'Transporte Terrestre' service is authorized to pick up passengers within the airport grounds, with a ticket counter at the terminal exit.
Q. Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, which is better?
Ixtapa offers modern beachfront resorts (30-35 minutes from the airport); Zihuatanejo has a more authentic fishing-village atmosphere (20-30 minutes).
Q. How much does the transfer from the airport cost?
The Transporte Terrestre service charges roughly 640-680 pesos to Zihuatanejo and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Q. Is Ixtapa Zihuatanejo a seasonal destination?
Air traffic is especially heavy during high season, with domestic connections and a few direct routes from the United States.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights