Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

The airport serves two distinct destinations along the same bay: Zihuatanejo, the old fishing village with La Ropa beach, about 15-20 minutes away, and Ixtapa, the resort strip built in the 1970s a little further north, about 20-30 minutes away. Those looking for a village atmosphere, seafront restaurants and a historic centre should aim for Zihuatanejo; those who want an all-inclusive resort with a private beach and large pools find more choice in Ixtapa. Another 10-15 minutes by taxi separate the two towns, useful to know for those who want to alternate beach and village life during the stay.

Zihuatanejo

Neighbourhood · 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.

Pros

Shorter transfer from the airport than Ixtapa
Seafood restaurants and the village's historic centre within walking distance of La Ropa beach

Cons

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 in this area

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.
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.

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Ixtapa

Nearby town · 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.

Pros

Longer beaches and resorts designed to stay in all day without going out
More choice of all-inclusive resorts than Zihuatanejo

Cons

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 in this area

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.
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.

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